Maize Inbred PH41JG Breeding via Marker-Assisted Selection

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Solution Overview

Problem

The development of new maize varieties and hybrids is a time-consuming process, taking six to twelve years, and existing technologies face challenges in combining desirable traits such as disease resistance, drought tolerance, and high yield in a stable and agronomically sound manner.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of the novel maize variety PH41JG, which involves crossing with another maize plant to introduce traits like male sterility, disease resistance, and improved agronomic characteristics through backcross conversion, genetic manipulation, and transformation, along with the use of cytoplasmic or nuclear factors to prevent self-pollination.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional maize breeding methods are used to combine desirable traits, then disease resistance and yield improvement can be achieved, but the development process takes six to twelve years which is excessively time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisease resistanceVSAvoidbreeding cycle duration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs preliminary action by pre-establishing recurrent parent inbred lines with desired agronomic traits and pre-screening donor parents for specific disease resistance genes. This preparatory work is done before the actual breeding cycle begins, allowing the multi-year selection and crossing process to proceed more efficiently with predetermined genetic components already optimized for the target traits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The breeding program is segmented into distinct phases: (1) selection of recurrent parent with desired agronomic characteristics, (2) identification and crossing with donor parent possessing specific resistance gene, (3) backcrossing generations with selective screening, and (4) final variety development. This segmentation allows parallel processing of multiple crosses and selections simultaneously, reducing the overall time required compared to sequential traditional breeding.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If multiple desirable traits are combined in a single maize variety, then yield and agronomic performance improve, but the complexity of the breeding program increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveyieldVSAvoidbreeding program complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The recurrent parent inbred line serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the foundational agronomic traits (yield potential, plant architecture, maturity), acts as the genetic background for stacking multiple resistance genes through backcrossing, and maintains uniformity across breeding populations. This multi-functionality reduces program complexity by using a single genetic backbone rather than managing multiple separate breeding lines for different traits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses molecular markers as intermediaries to track and select for multiple desirable traits simultaneously during backcrossing. These markers serve as mediators between the complex multi-trait selection process and the final variety development, allowing breeders to efficiently identify and select plants carrying the desired combination of agronomic traits and resistance genes without complex phenotypic screening.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Stability of the object's composition

If backcross conversion and genetic manipulation are used to introduce traits, then genetic stability and uniformity are maintained, but the manufacturing complexity of the breeding process increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegenetic stabilityVSAvoidbreeding process simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical/phenotypic selection methods with molecular marker-assisted selection. Instead of visually screening and manually selecting plants based on phenotypic expression of traits, DNA markers are used to directly identify and select plants carrying the desired genetic sequences. This substitution maintains genetic stability through precise molecular identification while streamlining the breeding process by eliminating complex phenotypic evaluation steps.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The breeding program uses isogenic recurrent parent lines as genetic copies or near-copies of the desired final variety background. By repeatedly backcrossing to this standardized recurrent parent, each breeding cycle produces progeny that are genetic copies of the target variety except for the specific resistance gene being introduced. This copying approach ensures genetic stability and uniformity while simplifying the breeding process through standardized, repeatable procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS10136605B1Maize inbred PH41JG
Publication Date: 2018.11.27 PIONEER HI BREED INTERNATIONAL INC

AI summary

A novel maize variety designated PH41JG and seed, plants and plant parts thereof are provided. Methods for producing a maize plant comprise crossing maize variety PH41JG with another maize plant are provided. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH41JG through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby are provided. Hybrid maize seed, plants or plant parts are produced by crossing the variety PH41JG or a locus conversion of PH41JG with another maize variety.