Seed Blend Customization for Trait Expression Levels

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need to develop strategies for optimizing the efficiency and productivity of plants used in commercial processes by utilizing harvested plant material with various traits requiring different target expression levels, which existing technologies have not effectively addressed.

Innovation Solution

The method involves blending seeds from different plant varieties to achieve a predetermined level of primary traits in the harvested plant material, allowing for customization of the blend for specific industrial or agricultural uses, where the target level of traits is achieved by mixing seeds from varieties that exhibit desired traits, and the resulting plant material can be optimized for downstream uses such as fermentation feedstocks, biofuel, and human consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If seeds from a single plant variety are used, then the plant material exhibits uniform traits, but the efficiency and productivity for commercial processes requiring different target expression levels cannot be optimized

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveefficiency and productivity of commercial processesVSAvoidability to achieve different target expression levels

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the seed population into multiple varieties, each expressing the trait of interest at different levels. By dividing the crop into distinct varieties with differentiated trait expression, the system enables optimization for various commercial applications requiring different target expression levels, thereby resolving the contradiction between productivity and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention applies local quality by creating spatial or compositional variation in trait expression levels across different plant varieties within the same crop. Each variety possesses a specific quality level of the trait of interest, allowing customization for different downstream uses while maintaining overall crop productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple plant varieties with different traits are cultivated separately, then each variety can be optimized for specific uses, but the complexity of management and harvesting increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecustomization for specific industrial or agricultural usesVSAvoidcomplexity of seed mixing and variety management

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges multiple plant varieties into a single seed blend that can be planted together in the field. By combining varieties with different trait expression levels into one manageable system, the invention enables customization for specific uses while simplifying agricultural management and harvesting operations compared to cultivating varieties separately.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The seed blend system provides multi-functionality by enabling a single crop to serve multiple commercial applications simultaneously. The blended seeds produce plant material with a range of trait expression levels that can be utilized for different downstream uses, making the system universally applicable to various industrial and agricultural needs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If transgenic technologies are used to improve agronomic performance, then plants exhibit desirable traits, but the ability to achieve specific target expression levels for commercial processes remains unaddressed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedesirable traits such as resistance and toleranceVSAvoidprecision of target expression levels for commercial uses

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the parameter of trait expression level by utilizing multiple transgenic varieties, each engineered to express the trait of interest at a different level. This parameter variation within the transgenic system enables precise control over trait expression to match specific commercial process requirements, thereby resolving the contradiction between reliability and manufacturing precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS9125357B2Methods for the commercial production of transgenic plants

Publication Date: 2015.09.08 SYNGENTA CROP PROTECITON AG

AI summary

Compositions and methods for producing a crop having a predetermined level of at least one primary trait of interest are provided. The compositions comprise seeds and plants exhibiting a primary trait of interest. Primary traits include traits that improve or otherwise facilitate the conversion of harvested plant material into a commercially useful product. The predetermined level of the primary trait is obtained by blending harvested plant material from at least two varieties of plants, wherein at least one of the varieties exhibits the primary trait. The blend can be customized for use in a variety of commercially important industrial or agricultural downstream uses.