Recently, at the Hainan Provincial Science and Technology Conference, it was announced that the project "Research on the Metabolism and Regulatory Molecular Mechanisms of Cassava Storage Root Starch" won the First Prize of the 2023 Hainan Provincial Natural Science Award. The CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Science served as the second completing unit, with Prof. Zhang Peng as the second contributor and Assoc. Prof. Ma Qiuxiang as the sixth contributor.

This research addresses critical challenges in cassava production, including the low amylose and high amylopectin starch deficiency during storage root development and the rapid degradation of starch post-harvest. By constructing a molecular model for starch synthesis and degradation, the project identified key genes regulating amylose production and elucidated the mechanisms behind starch degradation.

The findings pave the way for improving cassava starch traits and enhancing its efficient utilization, while also providing insights for maintaining starch content after harvest. The team published 37 papers in journals such as Molecular Plant and holds five national invention patents. Their work has identified genes that enhance starch quality and control degradation, leading to new germplasm with improved starch profiles. This research significantly advances precise breeding and utilization of cassava, highlighting China's competitive edge in cassava research. The project has been supported by the National Key R&D Program, the National Natural Science Foundation, and the earmarked fund for China Agriculture Research System of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.