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US 12,492,408 B2Granted
Methods for hybrid corn seed production
AssigneeMonsanto Tehnology LLC
InventorsPaul Cannon, Edward J. Cargill, Charles T. Foresman, Michael A. Hall, Scott C. Johnson, John A. Miklos
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods for improving the efficiency and productivity of hybrid corn seed production are provided herein. Various methods to improve the transfer of pollen from male corn plants to female corn plants, and thus increase yield, are provided herein. Without being limiting, these methods include varying the height of male and female corn plants in a field, as well as varying the number, arrangement, and ratio of male-to-female rows in a field.
Claims41
A method of producing hybrid corn seeds with consistent production stability comprising:
- a. fertilizing a plurality of female inbred corn plants with pollen from a plurality of male inbred corn plants to produce hybrid corn seeds, wherein the plurality of female inbred corn plants have an average height that is at least 10% lower than the average height of the plurality of male inbred corn plants, and wherein said female inbred corn plants comprise a mutant allele of a brachytic 2 (br2) locus comprising a mutation or edit in the br2 locus as compared to a wildtype br2 locus;
- and
- b. harvesting said hybrid corn seeds from the plurality of the female inbred corn plants, wherein the yield or seed yield of hybrid corn seeds produced in step (b) is less variable and is at least 5% greater as compared to a yield or seed yield of control hybrid corn seeds that are harvested from control female inbred corn plants that have a same or similar average height as control male inbred corn plants,
- wherein said plurality of female inbred corn plants and said plurality of male inbred corn plants are grown in a corn field,
- wherein the corn field comprises at least four rows of female inbred corn plants and at least one row of male inbred corn plants,
- wherein the ratio of female inbred corn plant rows to male inbred corn plant rows is at least 4:1, and
- wherein the corn field comprises a planting density of the plurality of female inbred corn plants and the plurality of male inbred corn plants of (i) at least 39,560 plants/acre and the corn plant rows are less than 24 inches apart;
- or (ii) at least 32,000 plants/acres and the corn plant rows are at least 24 inches apart.
5 more elements
A method of producing hybrid corn seeds with consistent production stability comprising:
- a. crossing a plurality of male inbred corn plants with a plurality of female inbred corn plants to produce hybrid corn seeds, wherein the plurality of female inbred corn plants comprise a mutant allele of a brachytic 2 (br2) locus comprising a mutation or edit in the br2 locus as compared to a wildtype br2 locus;
- wherein the plurality of female inbred corn plants have an average height that is at least 10% lower than the height or average height of the plurality of male inbred corn plants and;
- and
- b. harvesting said hybrid corn seeds from one or more of the female inbred corn plants,
- wherein the yield or seed yield of hybrid corn seeds produced in step (b) is less variable and is at least 5% greater as compared to a yield or seed yield of control hybrid corn seeds that are harvested from control female inbred corn plants that have a same or similar average height as control male inbred corn plants,
- wherein said plurality of female inbred corn plants and plurality of male inbred corn plants are grown in a corn field,
- wherein the field comprises at least one row of female inbred corn plants and at least one row of male inbred corn plants that are spaced at least 12 inches apart,
- wherein the ratio of female inbred corn plant rows to male inbred corn plant rows is at least 4:1, and
- wherein the corn field comprises a planting density of at least (i) 39,560 plants/acre and the corn plant rows are less than 24 inches apart;
- or (ii) at least 32,000 plants/acres and the corn plant rows are at least 24 inches apart.
7 more elements
A method of producing hybrid corn seeds with consistent production stability comprising:
- a. planting a plurality of male inbred corn plants in proximity to a plurality of female inbred corn plants to produce hybrid corn seeds, wherein the female inbred corn plants have an average height that is at least 10% lower than the height or average height of the plurality of the male inbred corn plants, and wherein said female inbred corn plants comprise a mutant allele of a brachytic 2 (br2) locus comprising a mutation or edit in the br2 locus as compared to a wildtype br2 locus;
- and
- b. harvesting said hybrid corn seeds from one or more of the female inbred corn plants, wherein the yield or seed yield of hybrid corn seeds produced in step (b) is less variable and is at least 5% greater as compared to a yield or seed yield of control hybrid corn seeds that are harvested from control female inbred corn plants that have a same or similar average height as control male inbred corn plants,
- wherein said plurality of female inbred corn plants and plurality of male inbred corn plants are grown in a corn field,
- wherein the field comprises at least one row of female inbred corn plants and at least one row of male inbred corn plants that are spaced at least 12 inches apart,
- wherein the ratio of female inbred corn plant rows to male inbred corn plant rows is at least 4:1, and
- wherein the corn field comprises a planting density of at least (i) 39,560 plants/acre and the corn plant rows are less than 24 inches apart;
- or (ii) at least 32,000 plants/acres and the corn plant rows are at least 24 inches apart.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.