Researchers Identify Gene Pathway to Improve Soybean Stress Tolerance

Researchers from Northeast Agricultural University in China have identified a key genetic pathway that helps soybeans withstand drought and salt stress. The study found that the SUMO protease gene GmOTSa plays an important role in strengthening the plant's ability to cope with harsh environmental conditions by regulating stress-response mechanisms.

The team developed soybean plants with increased GmOTSa activity and plants with the gene knocked out using CRISPR-Cas9. They found that GmOTSa enhanced the plant's ability to improve drought and salt tolerance by scavenging reactive oxygen species, modulating ABA-mediated stomatal movement, and increasing the expression of stress-responsive genes. Further analysis showed that GmOTSa interacts with the protein GmLOX31 and enhances jasmonic acid biosynthesis.

The findings showed that co-overexpression of GmOTSa and GmLOX31 exhibited stronger tolerance to drought and salt stress. The researchers said the newly identified GmOTSa-GmLOX31 pathway could serve as a valuable target for developing soybean varieties better adapted to challenging environmental conditions.

For more information, read the abstract from the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.