Achieving high yield and good quality in crops is essential for human food security and health. However, there is usually disharmony between yield and quality. Seed storage protein (SSP) and starch, the predominant components in cereal grains, determine yield and quality, and their coupled synthesis causes a yield–quality trade-off. Therefore, dissection of the underlying regulatory mechanism facilitates simultaneous improvement of yield and quality. Here, we summarize current findings about the synergistic molecular machinery underpinning SSP and starch synthesis in the leading staple cereal crops, including maize, rice and wheat. We further evaluate the functional conservation and differentiation of key regulators and specify feasible research approaches to identify additional regulators and expand insights. We also present major strategies to leverage resultant information for simultaneous improvement of yield and quality by molecular breeding. Finally, future perspectives on major challenges are proposed.

中文翻译：

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协调种子储存蛋白和淀粉积累，以克服谷类作物的产量与质量之间的权衡

实现农作物高产优质对于人类粮食安全和健康至关重要。然而，产量和质量之间通常存在不协调。种子贮藏蛋白 (SSP) 和淀粉是谷物中的主要成分，决定着产量和质量，它们的耦合合成会导致产量与质量之间的权衡。因此，剖析潜在的调控机制有助于产量和质量的同步提高。在这里，我们总结了有关玉米、水稻和小麦等主要谷类作物中支持 SSP 和淀粉合成的协同分子机制的最新发现。我们进一步评估关键监管机构的功能保护和分化，并指定可行的研究方法来识别其他监管机构并扩大见解。我们还提出了利用所得信息通过分子育种同时提高产量和质量的主要策略。最后，提出了对主要挑战的未来展望。