Oilseed Hybrid Seed Production Using Timed Pollen Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for producing hybrid seeds, particularly in crops like soybeans and wheat, are inefficient and costly due to the need for male sterility, physical isolation, and proximity of male and female plants, leading to high contamination rates and resource-intensive practices.
Innovation Solution
A method involving timed and intentional application of male pollen to female plants during a specific window when undesirable pollen is not shed, eliminating the need for male sterility and isolation, using preserved or fresh pollen collected from controlled environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If male sterility and physical isolation methods are used to produce hybrid seeds, then seed purity is improved, but production cost and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by collecting and preserving male pollen in advance before the pollination window, then applying it at the optimal time when female flowers are receptive. This eliminates the need for complex isolation structures and male sterility induction, achieving high seed purity through timing control rather than physical or genetic barriers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the temporal parameter of pollination by applying preserved pollen during a specific pollination window when female flowers are receptive but before self-pollen is shed. This parameter change in timing achieves high seed purity without requiring complex isolation mechanisms or male sterility.
2Manufacturing precision
If male sterility induction methods are used, then self-pollination is prevented, but production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent collects and preserves male pollen in advance before the pollination window, then applies it at the optimal time. This preliminary action eliminates the need for expensive male sterility induction methods while ensuring prevention of self-pollination through controlled timing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses preserved pollen as a disposable resource that can be stored and applied as needed. This replaces expensive and complex male sterility induction methods with a simple, cost-effective pollen application approach that achieves the same goal of preventing self-pollination.
3Manufacturing precision
If physical isolation of male and female plants is implemented, then cross-contamination is reduced, but land use efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by collecting and preserving pollen in advance, then applying it at the optimal pollination window. This eliminates the need for physical isolation between male and female plants, allowing both to be grown together in the same field and significantly improving land use efficiency while maintaining cross-contamination control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the pollen from male plants in advance and preserves it for later application. This separation of pollen collection from plant growth allows male and female plants to be grown together without cross-contamination, improving land use efficiency while maintaining seed purity.
4Productivity
If proximity planting of male and female plants is used, then pollination efficiency is improved, but contamination from undesirable pollen sources increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by collecting and preserving pollen in advance from controlled sources, then applying it at the optimal pollination window. This allows proximity planting of male and female plants for high pollination efficiency while preventing contamination from undesirable pollen sources through controlled timing and source selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent collects and preserves pollen from designated male plants in advance, then applies it when female flowers are receptive. This preliminary collection and controlled application ensures high pollination efficiency through proximity planting while preventing contamination by using only the intended pollen source.
Data Source
AI summary
This invention describes a new method to generate oilseed seed. The process involves the delivery of pollen of the male parent at will, as available either in a preserved pollen bank, or using real-time collection from male plants as they become available. Desired pollen is delivered to fertile females during the period when viable pollen from the females and locally proximal unrelated plants is not being released. The delivered male pollen is in such amounts and fortuitously timed that it preferentially pollinates the females. Such fortuitous timing may involve the intentional application of pollen to females a day or two prior to female parent pollen becoming viable, and/or during several periods wherein female parent pollen and/or other proximal plant pollen is not being shed.