Domains rearranged methyltransferases (DRMs)-mediated DNA methylation plays key roles in modulating gene expression and maintaining transposable element silencing in soybean.

The domains rearranged methyltransferases (DRMs) play a critical role in the RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM) pathway in plants. However, the effects of inactivating the RdDM pathway on gene expression, transposable element (TE) activity, and phenotype in soybean remain unexplored. Here, we employed clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 gene editing to generate a quintuple mutant line in soybean (Gmdrm2a2b2c3a3b, designated Gmdrm).