Sorghum Inbred Line Breeding for Drought Tolerance and Yield

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sorghum varieties lack a combination of desirable traits such as resistance to diseases and insects, tolerance to heat and drought, improved yield, and enhanced agronomic qualities like uniformity and mechanical harvestability, which are essential for commercial crop development.

Innovation Solution

Development of a novel sorghum line, 2PRQV78R, through backcross conversion and transformation, incorporating specific traits such as disease and pest resistance, drought tolerance, and improved yield, while maintaining genetic integrity and hybrid vigor.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional plant breeding is used to develop new varieties, then genetic diversity and adaptability are improved, but the time required to achieve desired traits and uniformity is excessive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegenetic diversityVSAvoidbreeding time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-establishing a germplasm repository containing sorghum lines with pre-selected desirable traits (disease resistance, drought tolerance, insect resistance) before the actual breeding program begins. This allows the breeder to start with pre-qualified genetic material rather than developing all traits from scratch, significantly reducing the time required to achieve uniformity and desired characteristics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses an intermediary approach by introducing a controlled pollination system with selective parents as mediators. The breeder uses specific parent lines (e.g., PHKUOBBE and proprietary inbred lines) that carry desired traits, and through controlled cross-pollination, transfers these traits to the target variety. This intermediary breeding strategy accelerates the process compared to traditional uncontrolled selection methods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If inbred varieties are developed to facilitate mechanical harvesting, then uniformity of plant characteristics is improved, but genetic variability and adaptability are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical harvestabilityVSAvoidgenetic variability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by maintaining different genetic characteristics in different parts of the breeding program. The base germplasm repository maintains high genetic variability and adaptability, while the specific inbred lines developed from this germplasm are selected for uniformity and mechanical harvestability. This allows the system to have both genetic diversity at the population level and uniformity at the variety level.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses universality by creating a multi-functional breeding system where the same germplasm repository serves multiple purposes: maintaining genetic diversity, providing parents for inbred line development, and supplying material for both mechanical harvestability and genetic variability. The system is designed to simultaneously achieve uniformity for harvesting and maintain adaptability through the diverse germplasm base.

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

3Productivity

If multiple desirable traits are combined in a single hybrid, then productivity and quality are improved, but the complexity of breeding programs increases

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

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the breeding program into distinct modular components: a germplasm repository containing lines with specific traits (disease resistance, drought tolerance, insect resistance), a selection process for mechanical harvestability, and a hybridization program. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies the overall program management while achieving multiple desirable traits in the final hybrid.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS12543680B2Sorghum inbred 2PRQV78R
Publication Date: 2026.02.10 PIONEER HI BREED INTERNATIONAL INC

AI summary

A novel sorghum variety designated 2PRQV78R and seed, plants and plant parts thereof are provided. Methods for producing a plant comprise crossing sorghum variety 2PRQV78R with another plant. Sorghum seed, plants and plant parts produced by crossing sorghum variety 2PRQV78R with another plant are described. Methods for producing a plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into 2PRQV78R include one or both of backcross conversion and transformation. Hybrid sorghum seed, plants or plant parts produced by crossing the sorghum variety 2PRQV78R or a locus conversion of 2PRQV78R with another sorghum variety are disclosed.