Engineering starch for increased quantity and quality

The characterization and production of starch variants from mutation studie s and transgene technology has been invaluable for our understanding of the synthesis of the starch granule. The knowledge gained has allowed for gene tic manipulation of the starch biosynthetic pathway in plants. This in vivo approach can be used to generate novel starches and diminishes the need fo r post-harvest chemically and enzymatically treated starches. Thus, the mod ification of the starch biosynthetic pathway is a plausible means by which starches with novel properties and applications can be created.