Prediction of Hybrid Traits

Simple SummaryContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

This invention introduces a method to predict hybrid traits (such as yield, fertility, and stress resistance) in both plants and animals by analyzing small RNA (sRNA) molecules in the parent organisms. By identifying specific sRNAs that are associated with positive hybrid traits and examining their expression levels in potential parent lines, breeders can forecast the hybrid vigor (heterosis) of the offspring before performing actual cross-breeding or costly field trials.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Breeding of high-yielding crops such as maize, wheat, and rice by predicting the most promising parent combinations.
• Development of livestock with enhanced traits like growth rate, fertility, and disease resistance through optimized animal breeding.
• Use in horticulture or ornamental plant breeding to select for better flowering, color, or resilience.
• Selection of aquaculture species (e.g., fish) with desirable hybrid traits for commercial fish farming.
• Screening of breeding lines at early seedling or juvenile stages to reduce time and resources spent on large-scale field or animal trials.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Increases accuracy and efficiency of predicting hybrid vigor, reducing reliance on time-consuming and expensive field or breeding trials.
• Enables earlier and more informed selection of parent lines, speeding up breeding cycles.
• Can be performed on seedlings or early development stages, reducing space and resource needs.
• Provides a molecular tool that is more predictive than existing mRNA or DNA marker-based methods alone.
• Applicable across a wide range of species, including non-human animals and various economically important crops and livestock.
• Facilitates the discovery of new sRNA markers relevant to specific breeding goals, supporting customized breeding strategies.

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Patent Abstract

A method for the prediction of hybrid traits in plants and animals, wherein sRNA molecules which are associated with a hybrid trait are identified and parent lines which are suitable for the production of hybrids are analyzed for the level of an expression of the identified sRNA molecules. The invention allows the selection of suitable organisms for the production of plant and animal hybrids having an increased hybrid vigor respectively heterosis for one or more hybrid traits, such as yield, fertility, stress resistance, etc.