Enhancing Soybean's Phytophthora sojae Resistance Through Gene Editing

Northeast Agricultural University researchers reported in the journal Plants that overexpression of a soybean gene via CRISPR-Cas9 improves resistance to Phytophthora root rot, a major soybean disease that impacts yield and quality.

The research team investigated a specific soybean protein, GmHIR1, to see whether it helps the plant defend itself against the disease. By comparing conventional soybeans to gene-edited versions (some modified to produce extra GmHIR1 and others with the protein completely disabled) they found that this protein acts as a critical line of defense. When infected with the disease-causing mold, plants lacking the protein suffered widespread cell death and severe damage, whereas plants with extra GmHIR1 successfully contained the infection and prevented the mold from spreading.

The study demonstrates that GmHIR1 plays a vital role in enhancing soybean's natural immune system. It can trigger early defense signals, manage chemical stress, and activate protective pathways that block the disease. By identifying exactly how this protein shields the plant, researchers have found a promising genetic tool that could be used to breed tougher, disease-resistant soybean crops in the future.1

Read the open-access research article for more findings.