Soybean Variety D404401 Breeding for Yield and Disease Resistance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current soybean breeding methods face challenges in developing stable, high-yielding varieties with desirable traits such as disease resistance, drought tolerance, and improved nutritional quality, as they rely on conventional breeding techniques that are time-consuming and unpredictable, and often result in varieties that are not genetically superior due to environmental and genetic variability.

Innovation Solution

The development of the soybean variety D404401, which combines improved traits through a breeding program involving crossing, selection, and genetic transformation, including the introduction of a transgenic gene for glyphosate tolerance and resistance to diseases, insects, and improved nutritional quality, allowing for the creation of stable and high-yielding soybean plants.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If conventional breeding techniques are used, then variety development follows traditional methods, but the process is time-consuming and unpredictable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebreeding timeVSAvoidpredictability of variety development
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-selecting parental lines with desired traits (disease resistance, yield potential, nutritional quality) before crossing. The breeding program systematically evaluates and selects parents based on specific criteria, preparing the genetic material in advance to accelerate variety development and improve predictability of outcomes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms through systematic evaluation and selection processes at multiple breeding stages. Performance data from field trials, disease resistance assessments, and nutritional quality analyses are used to guide subsequent breeding decisions, allowing continuous improvement and more predictable variety development outcomes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If conventional breeding techniques are used, then traditional variety development occurs, but genetic superiority is limited due to environmental and genetic variability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegenetic superiorityVSAvoidenvironmental and genetic variability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the breeding program into distinct phases: parental selection, controlled crossing, progeny evaluation, and variety registration. This systematic segmentation allows for targeted improvement of specific traits while managing genetic variability, leading to more reliable genetic superiority in developed varieties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes parameter changes by systematically varying breeding parameters such as selection criteria, crossing designs, and evaluation conditions. This approach allows the breeding program to optimize for specific traits (disease resistance, yield, nutrition) while controlling for environmental variability, thereby achieving superior and consistent genetic performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple desirable traits are combined in a single variety, then improved agronomic quality is achieved, but the breeding complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecombination of desirable traitsVSAvoidbreeding program complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by developing parental lines that possess multiple desirable traits simultaneously (disease resistance, yield potential, nutritional quality). These multi-functional parental lines serve as versatile sources of genetic material, allowing the breeding program to combine multiple traits efficiently without proportionally increasing complexity.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements merging by systematically combining desirable traits from different parental lines into unified variety profiles. Through controlled crossing and selection, the program integrates disease resistance, yield characteristics, and nutritional quality into single varieties, managing complexity through structured breeding designs and evaluation protocols.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS9338983B2Soybean variety D404401
Publication Date: 2016.05.17 MONSANTO TECHNOLOGY LLC

AI summary

The invention relates to the soybean variety designated D404401. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety D404401. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety D404401 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety D404401 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.