A phosphorylation-regulated NPF transporter determines salt tolerance by mediating chloride uptake in soybean plants.

Chloride (Cl) ions cause major damage to crops in saline soils. Understanding the key factors that influence Cl uptake and translocation will aid the breeding of more salt-tolerant crops. Here, using genome-wide association study and transcriptomic analysis, we identified a NITRATE TRANSPORTER 1 (NRT1)/PEPTIDE TRANSPORTER family (NPF) protein, GmNPF7.

Chromosome-level genome assembly and annotation of Clanis bilineata tsingtauica Mell (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae).

The soybean hawkmoth Clanis bilineata tsingtauica Mell (Lepidoptera, Sphingidae; CBT), as one of the main leaf-chewing pests of soybeans, has gained popularity as an edible insect in China recently due to its high nutritional value. However, high-quality genome of CBT remains unclear, which greatly limits further research. In the present study, we assembled a high-quality chromosome-level genome of CBT using PacBio HiFi reads and Hi-C technologies for the first time.

Soybean seed pest damage detection method based on spatial frequency domain imaging combined with RL-SVM.

Soybean seeds are susceptible to damage from the Riptortus pedestris, which is a significant factor affecting the quality of soybean seeds. Currently, manual screening methods for soybean seeds are limited to visual inspection, making it difficult to identify seeds that are phenotypically defect-free but have been punctured by stink bugs on the sub-surface. To facilitate the convenient and efficient identification of healthy soybean seeds, this paper proposes a soybean seed pest detection method based on spatial frequency domain imaging combined with RL-SVM.

Identification of Gene-Allele System Conferring Alkali-Tolerance at Seedling Stage in Northeast China Soybean Germplasm.

Salinization of cultivated soils may result in either high salt levels or alkaline conditions, both of which stress crops and reduce performance. We sampled genotypes included in the Northeast China soybean germplasm population (NECSGP) to identify possible genes that affect tolerance to alkaline soil conditions. In this study, 361 soybean accessions collected in Northeast China were tested under 220 mM NaHCO:NaCO = 9:1 (pH = 9.

The Identification of a Quantative Trait Loci-Allele System of Antixenosis against the Common Cutworm ( Fabricius) at the Seedling Stage in the Chinese Soybean Landrace Population.

Common cutworm (CCW) is an omnivorous insect causing severe yield losses in soybean crops. The seedling-stage mini-tray identification system with the damaged leaf percentage (DLP) as an indicator was used to evaluate antixenosis against CCW in the Chinese soybean landrace population (CSLRP) under three environments. Using the innovative restricted two-stage multi-locus genome-wide association study procedure (RTM-GWAS), 86 DLP QTLs with 243 alleles (2-11/QTL) were identified, including 66 main-effect loci with 203 alleles and 57 QTL-environment interaction loci with 172 alleles.

The GmSTF1/2-GmBBX4 negative feedback loop acts downstream of blue-light photoreceptors to regulate isoflavonoid biosynthesis in soybean.

Isoflavonoids, secondary metabolites derived from the phenylalanine pathway, are predominantly biosynthesized in legumes, especially soybean (Glycine max). They are not only essential for plant responses to biotic and abiotic stresses but also beneficial to human health. In this study, we report that light signaling controls isoflavonoid biosynthesis in soybean.

A small heat shock protein GmHSP18.5a improves the male fertility restorability of cytoplasmic male sterility-based restorer line under high temperature stress in soybean.

Small heat shock protein (sHSP) is involved in high temperature (HT) stress response. However, the function of sHSPs in regulating male fertility of soybean under HT stress remains largely unknown. Here, we identified a sHSP gene, GmHSP18.

Genome-Wide Identification and Analysis of the Hsp40/J-Protein Family Reveals Its Role in Soybean () Growth and Development.

The J-protein family comprises molecular chaperones involved in plant growth, development, and stress responses. Little is known about this gene family in soybean. Hence, we characterized J-protein genes in soybean, with the most highly expressed and responsive during flower and seed development.

Gene-allele system of shade tolerance in southern China soybean germplasm revealed by genome-wide association study using gene-allele sequence as markers.

Fifty-three shade tolerance genes with 281 alleles in the SCSGP were identified directly using gene-allele sequence as markers in RTM GWAS, from which optimized crosses, evolutionary motivators, and gene-allele networks were explored. Shade tolerance is a key for optimal cultivation of soybean inter/relay-cropped with corn. To explore the shade tolerance gene-allele system in the southern China soybean germplasm, we proposed using gene-allele sequence markers (GASMs) in a restricted two-stage multi-locus model genome-wide association study (GASM-RTM-GWAS).

An Improved Genome-Wide Association Procedure Explores Gene-Allele Constitutions and Evolutionary Drives of Growth Period Traits in the Global Soybean Germplasm Population.

In soybeans ( (L.) Merr.), their growth periods, DSF (days of sowing-to-flowering), and DFM (days of flowering-to-maturity) are determined by their required accumulative day-length (ADL) and active temperature (AAT).

The miR156b-GmSPL2b module mediates male fertility regulation of cytoplasmic male sterility-based restorer line under high-temperature stress in soybean.

High-temperature (HT) stress at flowering stage causes significant damage to soybean, including pollen abortion and fertilization failure, but few genes involved in male fertility regulation under HT stress in soybean have been characterized. Here, we demonstrated that miR156b-GmSPL2b module involved in male fertility regulation of soybean cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS)-based restorer line under HT stress. Overexpression of miR156b decreased male fertility in soybean CMS-based restorer line and its hybrid F with CMS line under HT stress.

Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS).

Most of the breeding targets are quantitative traits. In exploring the quantitative trait locus (QTL) system of a trait, linkage mapping was established using sparse polymerase chain reaction (PCR) markers. With the genome-wide sequencing technology advanced, genome-wide association study (GWAS) was developed for natural (germplasm) populations using dense genomic markers, which facilitates the identification of the complete QTL system with their multiple alleles on genomic locations.

Transcriptome Analysis Reveals the Genes Related to Pollen Abortion in a Cytoplasmic Male-Sterile Soybean ( (L.) Merr.).

Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) lays a foundation for the utilization of heterosis in soybean. The soybean CMS line SXCMS5A is an excellent CMS line exhibiting 100% male sterility. Cytological analysis revealed that in SXCMS5A compared to its maintainer SXCMS5B, its tapetum was vacuolated and abnormally developed.

A soybean sodium/hydrogen exchanger GmNHX6 confers plant alkaline salt tolerance by regulating Na/K homeostasis.

Alkaline soil has a high pH due to carbonate salts and usually causes more detrimental effects on crop growth than saline soil. Sodium hydrogen exchangers (NHXs) are pivotal regulators of cellular Na/K and pH homeostasis, which is essential for salt tolerance; however, their role in alkaline salt tolerance is largely unknown. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the function of a soybean gene, , in plant response to alkaline salt stress.

Identification of QTLs and joint QTL segments of leaflet traits at different canopy layers in an interspecific RIL population of soybean.

A leaflet trait on different canopy layers may have different QTLs; leaflet trait QTLs may cluster to form joint QTL segments; all canopy layer QTLs form a complete QTL system for a leaflet trait. As the main part of the plant canopy structure, leaf/leaflet size and shape affect the plant architecture and yield. To explore the leaflet trait QTL system, a population composed of 199 recombinant inbred lines derived from Changling (annual wild, narrow leaflet) and Yiqianli (landrace, broad leaflet) with their parents was tested for leaflet length (LL), width (LW) and length to width (LLW).

Transgressive Potential Prediction and Optimal Cross Design of Seed Protein Content in the Northeast China Soybean Population Based on Full Exploration of the QTL-Allele System.

Northeast China is a major soybean production region in China. A representative sample of the Northeast China soybean germplasm population (NECSGP) composed of 361 accessions was evaluated for their seed protein content (SPC) in Tieling, Northeast China. This SPC varied greatly, with a mean SPC of 40.

Germplasm Sources, Genetic Richness, and Population Differentiation of Modern Chinese Soybean Cultivars Based on Pedigree Integrated With Genomic-Marker Analysis.

Soybean is a native crop in China for ≈ 5,000 years. The 560 cultivars released in 2006-2015, commercialized with seeds available publicly, were collected (designated modern Chinese soybean cultivars, MCSCs), as a part of 2,371 ones released during ~100 years' breeding history. The MCSCs with their parental pedigrees were gathered, including 279, 155, and 126 cultivars from Northeast and Northwest China (NNC), Huang-Huai-Hai Valleys (HHH), and Southern China (SC), respectively.

Mapping Locus R and predicting candidate gene resistant to Soybean mosaic virus strain SC11 through linkage analysis combined with genome resequencing of the parents in soybean.

Soybean mosaic virus (SMV) strain SC11 was prevalent in middle China. Its resistance was controlled by a Mendelian single dominant gene R in soybean Kefeng-1. This study aimed at mapping R and identifying its candidate gene.

CRISPR-Cas9 based stress tolerance: New hope for abiotic stress tolerance in chickpea (Cicer arietinum).

Plants are subjected to biotic and abiotic stresses regularly, which irreparably harm agricultural production. Eco-friendly and sustainable technology to deal with this challenge is to breed abiotic stress tolerant cultivars. To generate crop plants conferring resistance against stresses, conventional breeding was used in the past, but because of the complex heredity of abiotic stress tolerance traits, such techniques remain insufficient in making greater enhancement.