Inbred Corn Line MN5 Breeding via Molecular Markers

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The development of new corn inbred lines is a time-consuming and unpredictable process due to the complexity of inheritance and environmental factors, making it challenging to identify genetically superior plants with desirable traits such as high yield, disease resistance, and drought tolerance.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of the inbred corn line MN5, which is a yellow dent corn with superior characteristics, including high yield, disease tolerance, and drought resistance, along with methods for producing hybrid seeds and plants using self-pollination, backcrossing, and tissue culture techniques to maintain homozygosity and introduce transgenes for enhanced traits like male sterility and herbicide resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional breeding procedures are used to develop new corn inbred lines, then genetic diversity and adaptability are maintained, but the process is time-consuming and unpredictable taking 8-12 years

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepredictability of breeding outcomesVSAvoidbreeding cycle duration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by using molecular markers to identify and select genetically superior plants before conventional breeding cycles are completed. DNA markers are used to predict trait inheritance patterns and identify superior parents in advance, accelerating the breeding process and reducing the 8-12 year cycle time while maintaining reliability in outcomes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/conventional breeding system with molecular biology techniques. DNA-based molecular markers and genetic analysis substitute for traditional phenotypic selection methods, enabling faster identification of superior genetics without requiring multiple growing seasons, thus reducing time while improving predictability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If replicated evaluations are conducted to accurately estimate genetic worth, then measurement precision of genetic value is improved, but the complexity and cost of breeding programs increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of genetic worth estimationVSAvoidbreeding program complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes complex replicated field evaluations with molecular marker-based genetic analysis. DNA markers provide direct measurement of genetic value without requiring multiple replicated observations across different environments, thereby achieving high measurement precision while reducing breeding program complexity and cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces molecular markers as intermediaries between the plant genotype and phenotypic expression. These markers serve as proxies that directly indicate genetic worth without requiring observation of actual plant performance across multiple environments, simplifying the evaluation process while maintaining accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If selection is based on phenotypic observations in unique environments, then adaptability to local conditions is improved, but true genotypic value is masked by environmental factors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocal environment adaptabilityVSAvoidaccuracy of genotypic value identification
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses molecular markers as intermediaries that directly reflect genotypic value independent of environmental conditions. These genetic markers serve as unbiased indicators of true genetic worth, allowing accurate identification of superior plants even when phenotypic expression is masked by environmental variability in unique local conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces phenotypic observation-based selection with molecular genetics-based selection. DNA markers provide a direct window into genetic composition that is not influenced by environmental factors, enabling accurate genotypic value identification while still allowing selection of plants adapted to local conditions through molecular characterization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS7479587B2Inbred corn line MN5
Publication Date: 2009.01.20 KWS SAAT SE & CO KGAA

AI summary

An inbred corn line, designated MN5, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of inbred corn line MN5, to the plants and plant parts of inbred corn line MN5 and to methods for producing a corn plant, either inbred or hybrid, by crossing the inbred line MN5 with itself or another corn line. The invention further relates to methods for producing a corn plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic plants produced by that method and to methods for producing other inbred corn lines derived from the inbred MN5.