From December 7 to 8, the "2024 Strawberry Frontier Science Seminar" sponsored by Shenzhen University of Advanced Technology (SUAT) was held in Shenzhen. The seminar aimed to showcase the latest achievements and research progress in horticultural strawberry studies and promote exchanges and cooperation among experts in strawberry molecular biology and breeding-related fields. Over 80 experts and scholars from China and Singapore in strawberry research and industry were invited, with 27 delivering on-site reports.

This seminar was initiated by Yang Zhenbiao, Dean of the SUAT Institute of Emerging Agricultural Technology, and Distinguished Professor Liu Chongchi from the Faculty of Synthetic Biology.

Yang Zhenbiao is an internationally renowned plant biologist who first discovered and elucidated the mechanism of cell surface auxin signal perception and transduction, clarified the mechanism of auxin regulating rapid growth, and solved the 50-year mystery of the "acid growth hypothesis."

Liu Chongchi is an internationally renowned developmental biology research expert and a leading figure in strawberry molecular genetics and fruit development.

Themed"Exploring New Frontiers in Strawberry Research, Jointly Drawing a New Blueprint for Industrial Development," the conference aimed to create opportunities for the future development of the strawberry industry through in-depth discussions on strawberry research directions.

During the two-day seminar

participating experts

focused onstrawberry breeding, natural resources, and technology

maturation and post-harvest processing, and other topics

conducting in-depth discussions

Zhang Yuntao, Chairman of the Strawberry Branch of the Chinese Society for Horticultural Science and renowned strawberry breeding expert, delivered a report titled "Analysis of the Current Status of the Strawberry Industry and Research Issues," detailing the status and challenges of China's strawberry industry, and proposed gifting the book "English-Chinese and Chinese-English Vocabulary of Fruit Tree Varieties" (China Agriculture Press), which he co-edited, to SUAT.

Yu Hong from Hangzhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Researcher Zhao Mizhen from Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Deputy Director Jiang Guihua from Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Researcher Gao Qinghua from Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and Professor Lei Jiajun from Shenyang Agricultural University also delivered wonderful speeches on topics such as strawberry breeding and resource utilization.

In addition, professors from renowned universities and research institutions such as Zhejiang University, Kunming Institute of Botany of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yunnan Agricultural University, Peking University Institute of Modern Agriculture, and Shanghai Jiao Tong University were invited to conduct in-depth discussions on topics such as molecular mechanisms ofstrawberry fruit development, single-cell spatiotemporal multi-omics technology, and molecular mechanisms of fruit maturation and post-harvest preservation.

In the discussion session, participating experts focused on the theme "The Future of Strawberries," combining their research fields and practical experience, conducting in-depth discussions on frontier biological issues in strawberry research, prospects for strawberry plant factories, and how to create world-leading Chinese strawberry varieties.

During the conference, invited speakers also visited the Shenzhen Synthetic Biology Infrastructure and the main campus of SUAT. Through on-site inspections and exchanges, they gained an understanding ofSUAT's achievements in related research fields, laying a solid foundation for future cooperation and exchanges.

This seminar not only showcased China's latest achievements and frontier dynamics in strawberry research but also provided an exchange platform for domestic and international experts.In the future, SUAT will uphold the concept of open education, strengthen exchanges and cooperation with domestic and international universities, research institutions, and enterprises, jointly promote the vigorous development of strawberry research, and cultivate healthy and high-quality strawberry products.