Maize Inbred PH42HT Breeding via Backcross Conversion

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Solution Overview

Problem

The development of new maize varieties and hybrids is a time-consuming process, requiring six to twelve years from the first cross to delivering finished seed to farmers, 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 PH42HT, 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 specific breeding processes to produce hybrid maize seeds and plants with enhanced traits.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional maize breeding processes are used to combine desirable traits, then disease resistance and yield improvement can be achieved, but the development time becomes excessively long (6-12 years)

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisease resistanceVSAvoidbreeding development time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-establishing a diverse panel of inbred lines with known disease resistance traits and agronomic characteristics before the actual breeding program begins. This pre-characterization allows for rapid selection and crossing decisions, eliminating time-consuming trial-and-error phases in traditional breeding.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes key breeding parameters by implementing standardized evaluation protocols for disease resistance across multiple environments and generations. This standardization accelerates the selection process while maintaining reliability, reducing the overall development time without sacrificing trait quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

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

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

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the breeding program into distinct modular phases: (1) development of specialized inbred lines with specific traits, (2) controlled crossing experiments to combine traits, (3) evaluation of hybrid performance. This segmentation allows each phase to be optimized independently, managing overall program complexity while achieving multi-trait combinations for high yield.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates universal inbred lines that serve multiple functions - they can be used for disease resistance breeding, yield improvement programs, and as parental lines for various hybrid combinations. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of lines needed in the breeding program, simplifying management while maintaining productivity goals.

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

3Stability of the object's composition

If stable and agronomically sound varieties are developed through traditional methods, then trait stability is achieved, but the process requires excessive time and resources

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetrait stabilityVSAvoidvariety development time
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements systematic feedback mechanisms where each generation of breeding is evaluated against predefined stability criteria for disease resistance and agronomic traits. Performance data from field trials feed back into selection decisions, allowing rapid identification of stable trait combinations and eliminating unstable lines early in the process, thereby reducing time to develop stable varieties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical selection methods with molecular marker-assisted selection and genomic evaluation systems. These biotechnological tools provide rapid, accurate assessment of trait stability without requiring extensive multi-generation field testing, significantly reducing the time needed to confirm stable varieties while maintaining rigorous stability standards.

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

Data Source

PatentUS11419298B1Maize inbred PH42HT
Publication Date: 2022.08.23 PIONEER HI BREED INTERNATIONAL INC

AI summary

A novel maize variety designated PH42HT and seed, plants and plant parts thereof are provided. Methods for producing a maize plant comprise crossing maize variety PH42HT with another maize plant are provided. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH42HT 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 PH42HT or a locus conversion of PH42HT with another maize variety.