Maize Inbred PH1W6W Marker-Assisted Breeding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current maize breeding techniques face challenges in combining desirable traits such as disease resistance, drought tolerance, and uniformity, which are essential for efficient crop production and yield improvement.

Innovation Solution

Development of a novel maize variety, PH1W6W, through selective breeding and genetic manipulation to introduce desired traits, including resistance to various stresses and improved agronomic characteristics, by crossing inbred lines and using backcross conversion and transformation processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional plant breeding methods are used to combine desirable traits, then multiple traits can be integrated into a single variety, but the breeding process is time-consuming and yields are limited by conventional selection methods

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecombination of desirable traitsVSAvoidbreeding process time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs molecular marker-assisted selection to change the parameter of trait detection from phenotypic observation to genotypic analysis. This allows breeders to identify and select for multiple desirable traits simultaneously at the molecular level, dramatically accelerating the breeding process while maintaining the ability to combine complex trait combinations that would be difficult to select through traditional phenotypic methods alone.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If traditional breeding selection is used to improve yield and uniformity, then crop performance can be enhanced, but disease resistance and stress tolerance are difficult to combine with yield improvement

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveyieldVSAvoiddisease resistance and stress tolerance
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses molecular markers as intermediaries to bridge the selection of yield-related traits and disease resistance traits. These markers serve as genetic signposts that allow simultaneous selection for multiple traits including yield, uniformity, disease resistance, and stress tolerance without the trade-offs inherent in traditional breeding, where selecting for one trait often compromises another.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If mechanical harvesting is used to improve efficiency, then crop production efficiency increases, but uniformity of plant characteristics becomes critical and harder to achieve with traditional breeding

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveharvesting efficiencyVSAvoiduniformity of plant characteristics
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by using molecular marker-assisted selection during the breeding process to pre-establish uniformity in plant characteristics before mechanical harvesting. Breeders can select for uniform germination, stand establishment, growth rate, maturity, plant height, and ear height at the genetic level, ensuring that the resulting varieties meet the strict uniformity requirements of mechanical harvesting systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS9426960B2Maize inbred PH1W6W
Publication Date: 2016.08.30 PIONEER HI BREED INTERNATIONAL INC

AI summary

A novel maize variety designated PH1W6W and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH1W6W with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH1W6W through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH1W6W or a locus conversion of PH1W6W with another maize variety.