The 13th scientific salon ‘Symposium on Starch Metabolism Regulation’ co-organized by Shanghai Institution of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and Chengdu Institute of Biology, CAS was held successfully in Shanghai Institute for Advanced Studies on March 31, 2017. The symposium was chaired by Academician Xu Zhiyong. More than 20 experts and scholars that mainly work on starch attended and intensively discussed the three key topics related to starch metabolism regulation: 1) the intrinsic regulation relationship between starch synthases and starch physical and chemical properties; 2) patterns of starch accumulation in different organs and how balance their carbon partitioning; and 3) regulatory mechanism between starch biosynthesis and starch degradation.

Starch is not only one of the main forms of photo-assimilates but also the staple and energy source of human. The enrichment of starch in important crops is the basis and guarantee of high yield. The metabolic regulation of starch has a direct impact on the yield of crops. It has also been one of the research hotspots of crop science. Therefore, in-depth understanding of the relationship between starch metabolism regulation and yield is important to improve the starch content, quality and yield of crops through molecular breeding, promoting the sustainable development of crop industrialization.

The discussion involved not only the regulation of genes, enzymes, structural chemistry and other disciplines, but also two different forms of starch accumulation from vegetative and sexual tissues. Regulatory mechanism of starch metabolism in different organs such as leaves, seeds, storage roots and other types of plant organs was also addressed. The symposium provides a platform and opportunity for in-depth exchange among starch research researchers, which can facilitate further collaborations and promote starch studies.