Advanced Drought-Tolerant Maize Hybrid X18R501 Innovation

Publication ID: 24-11856906_0001_PTD

Published: October 26, 2025

Category:Direct Improvements & Enhancements

Legal Citation

pr1or.art Inc., “Advanced Drought-Tolerant Maize Hybrid X18R501 Innovation,” Published Technical Disclosure No. 24-11856906_0001_PTD, Published October 26, 2025, available at https://archive.pr1or.art/24-11856906_0001_PTD

This technical disclosure describes improvements that would be readily apparent to a Person Having Ordinary Skill In The Art (PHOSITA) when considered in combination with the foundational architecture disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 11,856,906.

Background and Problem Solved

The original maize hybrid X18R501, while exhibiting desirable traits, has limitations in terms of drought tolerance, time to crop maturity, heat stress resistance, agronomic quality, and uniformity of plant characteristics. These limitations can result in reduced yields, increased crop loss, and decreased profitability for farmers. The present invention addresses these limitations by introducing genetic modifications, growth promoters, and plant growth regulators to enhance the hybrid's performance.

Novelty and Inventive Step

The present invention provides a novel combination of genetic modifications, growth promoters, and plant growth regulators that address the limitations of the original maize hybrid X18R501. The inventive step lies in the specific selection and application of these enhancements to achieve improved traits, which are not obvious from the original patent.

Alternative Embodiments and Variations

Alternative embodiments of the invention may include the use of different genetic modifications, growth promoters, or plant growth regulators to achieve similar improvements in maize hybrid X18R501. Variations of the invention may also involve the application of these enhancements to other maize hybrids or crop species.

Potential Commercial Applications and Market

The invention has significant commercial potential in the agricultural industry, particularly in regions prone to drought, heat stress, or other environmental stresses. The improved traits of maize hybrid X18R501 can lead to increased yields, reduced crop loss, and improved profitability for farmers. The target market includes seed companies, agricultural biotechnology companies, and farmers seeking to improve crop performance and sustainability.

CPC Classifications

Section	Class	Group
A	A01	A01H6/4684
A	A01	A01H5/10

Section 103 Obviousness Analysis (PHOSITA)

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Field of Art

Plant Breeding and Genetic Engineering of Maize Hybrids, involving advanced agricultural biotechnology with expertise in genetic modification, crop improvement techniques, and molecular breeding strategies

Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile

A plant geneticist or agricultural biotechnologist with a PhD or equivalent professional experience, possessing advanced knowledge of maize genetics, genetic transformation techniques, plant breeding methodologies, and understanding of trait enhancement strategies

Obviousness Rationale

A PHOSITA would recognize that the disclosed variations represent predictable extensions of the source patent's core teachings, utilizing standard genetic engineering and plant breeding techniques to incrementally improve the maize hybrid's performance characteristics. The modifications involve well-established methods of genetic transformation, backcrossing, and targeted trait enhancement that are routine in agricultural biotechnology. The specific approaches to drought tolerance, heat resistance, and growth regulation represent logical and foreseeable improvements to the original hybrid's genetic framework.

Obvious Combinations & Variations

Source Patent Element

Hybrid maize variety X18R501 created through specific parental line crossing

PTD Variation

Introducing genetic modifications to enhance drought tolerance through backcrossing or genetic transformation

Obviousness Reasoning

Backcrossing and genetic transformation are standard techniques in plant breeding for trait enhancement, representing a predictable solution to improve crop resilience using known molecular techniques

Source Patent Element

Claims involving transgene introduction into parental varieties

PTD Variation

Applying growth promoters and plant growth regulators to modify crop maturity and plant characteristics

Obviousness Reasoning

Manipulating plant growth through chemical and genetic interventions is a well-established approach in agricultural science, representing an obvious extension of existing genetic modification strategies

Source Patent Element

Hybrid development focusing on uniform plant characteristics

PTD Variation

Introducing genetic modifications to improve stalk strength and reduce plant brittleness

Obviousness Reasoning

Structural improvements to plant architecture are predictable engineering solutions within the finite set of known genetic modification approaches for crop improvement

Source Patent Element

Hybrid variety developed with potential for further genetic enhancement

PTD Variation

Modifying alleles to confer increased resistance to heat stress

Obviousness Reasoning

Stress tolerance enhancement through targeted genetic modification represents a routine and foreseeable approach in plant breeding, utilizing well-understood molecular techniques

Source Patent Element

Hybrid variety created through specific parental line crossings

PTD Variation

Applying ethylene inhibitors and gibberellins to improve plant growth uniformity

Obviousness Reasoning

Chemical plant growth regulators are standard tools in agricultural science for modifying plant development, representing an obvious technique for achieving desired crop characteristics

35 U.S.C. § 103 Summary: Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 103, the variations disclosed herein would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art at the time of invention, as they represent predictable extensions of the genetic and breeding techniques disclosed in US Patent 11856906, utilizing standard molecular biology and plant breeding methodologies to incrementally enhance the performance characteristics of the original maize hybrid X18R501.

Original Patent Information

Patent Number	US 11,856,906
Title	Maize hybrid X18R501
Assignee(s)	PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNATIONAL, INC.