The 5th National Workshop on Cassava Biotechnology and Functional Genomics, organized by Institute of Plant Physiology & Ecology, SIBS and Guangxi Cassava Research Institute, was successfully held in Xiyuan Hotel, Nanning, from Nov. 26 to 28, 2011. The workshop was also a satellite meeting of the 9th Triennial Regional Cassava Workshop。More than 60 participants from different research institutes and universities were attended the event.

To address the key scientific and technological questions related to current research on cassava biotechnology, speakers presented their progresses on functional genomics and proteomics, tissue culture and genetic transformation, discovery and functional verification of important genes and improvement of important economic traits, respectively. Working plans were also discussed and structured for following studies, which promote the exchange and collaboration among different research groups. Dr. Joe Tohme, the keynote speaker invited by Prof. Peng Zhang, from CIAT Biotechnology Unit presented the progress of cassava research at CIAT. He also exchanged his opinions on how to efficiently organize global cassava research and cooperation under the background of rapid development of genomics.

The workshop was jointly supported by Chinese Society of Plant Physiology and Molecular Biology, Chinese Cassava Agricultural Research System, and 973 Cassava Program. Prof. Peng Zhang accompanied by Dr. Xiaoguang Duan, Dr. Jun Yang, Jia Xu and Shanshan Wang attended the meeting.