Rice Genomics and Genetics 2025, Vol.16, No.4, 219-236 http://cropscipublisher.com/index.php/rgg 234 multiple mutants is also very troublesome. At the same time, the regulatory policies and public acceptance of gene-edited crops will also affect the speed of their promotion. To comprehensively enhance the quality of rice, we must not only tackle these fundamental issues in scientific research but also continuously innovate and optimize in technology. Looking ahead, there will be several promising research directions and application prospects regarding the regulation of rice starch synthesis and the improvement of grain quality. Firstly, in basic research, with the development of single-cell omics and real-time imaging technology, we are expected to map the spatiotemporal regulation of endosperm starch accumulation. By analyzing the transcriptional dynamics of different cellular levels of endosperm during the grouting period through single-cell RNA sequencing, the differential regulation of starch synthesis in different sites can be understood, guiding further pathways to reduce chalkiness. Observation of the formation of enzyme complexes in living endosperm using high-resolution microscopic imaging will reveal the direct interaction relationship among starch synthases. This will fill the gap in the coordination mechanism of starch synthase. Secondly, in terms of breeding applications, molecular design breeding will enter a new stage of intelligent design and refined improvement. By leveraging big data and computational models, the effects of different quality genes can be integrated to optimize the design of variety traits based on the preferences of specific ecological regions or consumer groups. For instance, by using models to predict the most suitable combination of straight-chain content and gel consistency under the climate of a certain region, and then working backward to infer the required genotype combination, it can guide breeding practice. Secondly, gene editing technology is expected to break through current limitations and achieve simultaneous targeted editing of multiple genes and targeted recombination of the genome. At that time, we will be able to simultaneously modify more than ten quality-related loci within one breeding cycle, just like "building with blocks", to construct the ideal genotype. In the longer term, synthetic biology may bring about revolutionary changes. For instance, if the synthetic starch pathway can be grafted onto plants, enabling crops to produce starch with special structures through metabolism (such as highly branched and hard-to-digest resistant starch), it will open up a brand-new path for quality improvement. Of course, such a prospect still requires long-term efforts. In terms of actual production, the promotion of high-quality rice also faces some challenges, which require the joint efforts of scientific research and industry to address. On the one hand, it is necessary to enhance the planting benefits of high-quality rice varieties. By improving their stress resistance and the upper limit of yield, farmers should be encouraged to grow high-quality varieties to meet market demands. On the other hand, it is necessary to enhance brand building and consumer education to make the public aware of the value of high-quality rice (such as the health benefits of low-GI rice, etc.), and form a positive market-driven mechanism. It can be foreseen that as people's pursuit of the quality and health of staple foods continues to rise, high-quality rice will have a broad market prospect. Through in-depth scientific research and advancements in breeding techniques, we are confident in cultivating more new rice varieties that are both delicious and nutritious, making contributions to ensuring food security and the health of all people. In the near future, functional rice that is "delicious and does not cause weight gain" and local specialty rice that is "fragrant, glutinous and tasty" are all expected to appear on the dining tables of thousands of households, bringing people a better dining experience and nutritional benefits. Acknowledgments We would like to express our gratitude to the reviewers for their valuable feedback, which helped improve the manuscript. Conflict of Interest Disclosure The authors affirm that this research was conducted without any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. References Dawar C., Jain S., and Kumar S., 2013, Insight into the 3D structure of ADP‑ glucose pyrophosphorylase from rice (Oryza sativa L.), Journal of Molecular Modeling, 19: 3351-3367. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00894-013-1851-7
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