Inbred Corn Line MN7 Breeding Efficiency

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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 adaptability.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of the inbred corn line MN7, which is a yellow dent corn with superior characteristics, including high yield, resistance to stalk and root lodging, and adaptability to various regions, along with methods for producing and utilizing this line through self-pollination, backcrossing, and tissue culture to maintain genetic stability and introduce desirable traits like male sterility, herbicide resistance, and improved nutritional quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional breeding methods are used to develop new corn inbred lines, then genetic diversity and adaptability can be explored, but the process becomes time-consuming and unpredictable

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadaptabilityVSAvoidbreeding time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-establishing a large population of inbred lines (超过1000条自交系) with known genetic characteristics before hybridization. This preliminary genetic resource preparation allows breeders to quickly assemble superior hybrids without extensive field testing of new inbred lines, significantly reducing breeding time while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes molecular marker technology to create genetic copies or proxies of desirable traits. By using DNA markers to identify and select plants with desired genetic characteristics, the method accelerates the identification of superior inbred lines and hybrids, reducing the time required for phenotypic evaluation while preserving genetic diversity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Measurement precision

If extensive field testing and evaluation are conducted to identify superior inbred lines, then accuracy of selection improves, but cost and time expenditure increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveselection accuracyVSAvoidbreeding cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical/phenotypic evaluation systems with molecular marker-based genetic analysis. Instead of conducting extensive field trials to observe plant performance, the method uses DNA markers to directly assess genetic potential for yield, disease resistance, and other traits. This substitution maintains high selection accuracy while dramatically reducing time and resource costs.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces molecular markers as intermediary indicators that correlate with desirable traits. These genetic markers serve as proxies for complex phenotypic characteristics, allowing breeders to screen for superior inbred lines through simple DNA analysis rather than expensive and time-consuming field evaluations, thereby maintaining selection accuracy while reducing costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If large populations of inbred lines are evaluated to ensure genetic superiority, then quality of hybrids improves, but complexity of breeding program increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehybrid qualityVSAvoidbreeding program complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the breeding program into distinct phases: (1) development and characterization of inbred lines using molecular markers, (2) assembly of hybrid combinations based on complementary genetic traits, and (3) validation of selected hybrids. This segmentation allows systematic evaluation of large populations without overwhelming complexity, as each phase has specific, manageable objectives and criteria.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the evaluation parameters from complex phenotypic measurements to simple molecular marker profiles. By assessing inbred lines based on their genetic makeup rather than requiring extensive field performance data, the program can evaluate larger populations more efficiently while maintaining hybrid quality through selection of genetically superior combinations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS20100293631A1Inbred corn line MN7
Publication Date: 2010.11.18 LIMAGRAIN EURO SA

AI summary

An inbred corn line, designated MN7, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of inbred corn line MN7, to the plants and plant parts of inbred corn line MN7 and to methods for producing a corn plant, either inbred or hybrid, by crossing the inbred corn line MN7 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 corn line MN7.