Researchers Use Gene Editing to Improve Salt Tolerance in Soybeans

Researchers from Nanjing Agricultural University and Xinjiang Agricultural University in China have identified a key genetic mechanism that helps wild soybean (Glycine soja) plants tolerate high salinity conditions. The study focused on how the transcription factor GsWRKY23 regulates a downstream gene, GsPER3, to strengthen the plant's defense against salt stress.

GsPER3 plays a role in controlling reactive oxygen species produced during stress. In the study, the researchers found that GsWRKY23 directly activates GsPER3 by binding to a specific region of its promoter. Using gene editing, the study revealed that plants with overexpressed GsWRKY23 had higher GsPER3 expression and peroxidase (POD) activity, while plants with suppressed GsPER3 expression showed opposite results.

The findings demonstrate that activating GsPER3 improves salt tolerance. Plants overexpressing GsPER3 showed better plant fresh weight and leaf relative water content, and lower relative electrolytic leakage level and malondialdehyde content in roots and leaves. The study concludes that activating GsPER3 expression could be used to develop more resilient soybean varieties for saline environments.

For more information, read the study from Plant Physiology and Biochemistry.