Maize Inbred PH486R Trait Integration

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

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 single variety that is agronomically sound across different conditions and environments.

Innovation Solution

A novel maize variety, PH486R, is developed through careful breeding and selection, incorporating traits like male sterility, disease resistance, and drought tolerance, achieved through backcross conversion, genetic manipulation, and transformation, allowing for the creation of stable, high-yielding hybrids with specific agronomic characteristics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional breeding methods are used to develop new maize varieties, then desirable traits such as disease resistance and drought tolerance can be combined, but the development process takes six to twelve years

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisease resistanceVSAvoiddevelopment time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-selecting and characterizing inbred lines with specific desirable traits (disease resistance, drought tolerance, high yield) before hybridization. The inbred PH486R is developed with predetermined characteristics including resistance to northern corn leaf blight and tolerance to drought stress, allowing breeders to start with pre-validated genetic material rather than beginning breeding programs from scratch.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes copying by creating and propagating inbred lines that can be repeatedly used as parental stocks. The inbred PH486R serves as a reusable genetic resource that can be crossed with multiple different inbreds to produce various hybrids, all inheriting the desirable traits of PH486R. This copying approach eliminates the need to redevelop the same trait combinations for each new variety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Adaptability or versatility

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

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveagronomic performanceVSAvoidbreeding program complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the complex task of combining multiple traits into manageable components through the development of specialized inbred lines. Each inbred line is optimized for specific traits (PH486R for disease resistance and drought tolerance, other inbreds for yield components), and the hybridization process combines these segmented trait packages. This segmentation reduces breeding program complexity by allowing independent development and validation of each parental line's specific traits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent demonstrates universality through the creation of inbred PH486R, which serves multiple functions: it provides resistance to northern corn leaf blight, tolerance to drought stress, and contributes to high yield performance when crossed with suitable partners. This multi-functional inbred can be used in various hybrid combinations across different environments, reducing the need for separate breeding programs for each trait combination.

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

3Stability of the object's composition

If stable, high-yielding maize hybrids are developed for multiple environments, then yield consistency improves, but the time required for testing and validation increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveyield consistencyVSAvoidtesting and validation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by conducting preliminary multi-environment testing and characterization of inbred PH486R to validate its stability across different conditions before using it in hybrid development. The inbred has been pre-tested for consistency in disease resistance and drought tolerance across multiple locations and years, establishing its reliable performance profile in advance. This preliminary validation reduces the time needed for subsequent hybrid testing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes feedback by systematically evaluating hybrid performance across multiple environments and using this information to refine selection criteria and breeding strategies. Performance data from multi-environment trials feed back into the breeding program to identify the most stable hybrid combinations, allowing for more efficient validation of yield consistency in future generations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS20220295721A1Maize inbred PH486r
Publication Date: 2022.09.22 PIONEER HI BREED INTERNATIONAL INC

AI summary

A novel maize variety designated PH486R and seed, plants and plant parts thereof are provided. Methods for producing a maize plant comprise crossing maize variety PH486R with another maize plant are provided. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH486R 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 PH486R or a locus conversion of PH486R with another maize variety.