Fresh-cut lavender rapidly loses its ornamental quality during cold-chain handling and subsequent vase life because of severe water imbalance, accelerated ethylene production, and oxidative damage. This study investigated whether nitric oxide (NO) fumigation could improve postharvest performance and elucidated the physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying its protective effects. Freshly harvested lavender stems were fumigated with different concentrations of NO before cold storage for 1–3 d, followed by transfer to ambient vase conditions. NO treatment markedly improved fresh-weight retention, water balance, flowering rate, and vase life, with 40 μL L−1 providing the greatest overall benefit. The protective effect remained evident after prolonged cold storage, indicating enhanced resilience during the transition from refrigerated storage to ambient conditions. NO suppressed ethylene biosynthesis by reducing 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid accumulation and inhibiting the activities of the two key ethylene-biosynthetic enzymes. Simultaneously, oxidative stress was alleviated through reduced reactive oxygen species accumulation, lower membrane lipid peroxidation, enhanced antioxidant capacity, and maintenance of cellular redox homeostasis via the ascorbate–glutathione cycle. Transcriptome analysis further revealed stage-dependent transcriptional reprogramming, characterized by the early repression of ethylene biosynthesis and signaling pathways and the subsequent activation of genes associated with antioxidant metabolism and peroxisomal function. Integration of physiological, biochemical, and transcriptomic evidence demonstrated that NO delayed postharvest senescence by coordinating water relations, ethylene metabolism, antioxidant defense, and redox homeostasis. These findings provide mechanistic insight into NO-mediated regulation of postharvest senescence and support NO fumigation as a promising strategy for preserving the commercial quality of fresh-cut lavender during cold-chain distribution.

The YTH domain-containing protein family constitutes the primary class of readers for N6-methyladenosine modifications. Previous studies have highlighted their essential roles in plant responses to both biotic and abiotic stressors. However, the functions of YTH genes in soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) remain largely unknown. Here, a genome-wide identification and comprehensive analysis of the GmYTH gene family in soybean is presented. Eighteen GmYTH genes were identified in the soybean genome, unevenly distributed across 11 chromosomes. Phylogenetic analysis grouped these genes into four distinct subfamilies. Notably, analysis of the promoter regions revealed that many GmYTH genes contained hormone- and stress-responsive regulatory elements. Functional analysis showed that GmYTH6 mutations in soybean improved root growth and salt tolerance. This was accompanied by higher antioxidant enzyme activities and lower levels of proline, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and malondialdehyde (MDA) under salt stress. In contrast, reduced activities of the antioxidant enzymes and proline, together with elevated H2O2 and MDA levels, were observed in hairy roots overexpressing GmYTH6, correlating with their suppressed growth and diminished salt tolerance. RNA-seq analysis showed that GmYTH6 acts as an m6A-binding protein that likely influences salt-stress responses through transcriptional or post-transcriptional regulation of key pathways, including ribosome biogenesis and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, including ABP19A, PER22, PER42, CXE15, BGLU12, and BGLU40. These findings provide valuable insights into the biological roles of GmYTH genes in soybean growth and their regulatory functions in salinity stress responses.

To investigate the changes in persimmon peel color induced by CO2 deastringency and preharvest 1-MCP spraying, we conducted a study with three experimental treatments: control, CO2 deastringency (CO2 group), and preharvest 1-MCP spray followed by CO2 deastringency (1-MCP/CO2 group). Relative to the control, the CO2 group exhibited considerably higher fruit respiration rate, ethylene production, peel-color index, and total carotenoid content, accompanied by a marked decrease in chlorophyll content. The 1-MCP/CO2 group maintained higher chlorophyll content, while all other indicators remained lower than those in the CO2 group. Among the carotenoid biosynthesis genes examined, DkGGPPS-1 predominated the control group, while DkGGPPS-2 was present in the CO2 and 1-MCP/CO2 groups. In the CO2 group, peak expression levels of DkPSY-1 and DkPSY-2 were 17.6-22.7 times the reference value; DkPDS, DkZ-ISO, and DkZDS were 5.5-9.3 times; DkLCYB was 1.9 times; and DkBCH was 5.5 times, whereas DkLCYE was markedly reduced. Alternatively, the control and 1-MCP/CO2 groups exhibited relatively stable expression. In the control group, DkNCED-1 was the main gene for making ABA. In the CO2 and 1-MCP/CO2 groups, DkNCED-1 and DkNCED-2 were the main genes, but 1-MCP could inhibit their expression. CO2 deastringency and 1-MCP treatments considerably enhanced and suppressed the expression of DkERF-1, respectively. Overall, CO2 deastringency and preharvest 1-MCP spraying influenced fruit respiration rate, ethylene production, total carotenoid and chlorophyll contents, and the expression of carotenoid biosynthesis genes, NCED, and ERF, thereby facilitating or delaying changes in persimmon peel color.

Soil salinity is a major threat to crop productivity, sustainable agriculture, and global food security, with more than 833 million hectares of land affected worldwide. Salt stress restricts plant growth through osmotic stress, ion toxicity, oxidative damage, membrane disruption, reduced photosynthesis, and yield loss. Plants respond through coordinated regulatory networks that connect early stress perception with ion balance, osmotic adjustment, hormone signaling, transcript regulation, and protein modification. Recent advances have identified several sensory and signaling modules involved in salinity responses, including calcium signaling, receptor like kinases, FERONIA, OSCA, MOCA, annexins, and mechanosensitive channels that detect ionic, osmotic, and mechanical changes. Established pathways such as the SOS pathway and GABA shunt are included as established background mechanisms for sodium homeostasis and metabolic adjustment under saline conditions. Hormonal networks involving abscisic acid, ethylene, jasmonic acid, auxin, gibberellins, and brassinosteroids coordinate root architecture, stomatal control, antioxidant defense, growth restraint, and post-stress recovery. Emerging regulatory layers mediated by microRNAs, phosphorylation, ubiquitination, and SUMOylation further fine tune transcript stability, protein activity, ion transport, redox balance, and stress resilience. A central challenge is the translational gap between model species and crops, since many mechanisms defined in Arabidopsis and rice still lack functional validation in major crop species and halophytes. Integrating conserved and species dependent mechanisms with crop centered validation will help convert molecular knowledge into breeding, genome editing, and management strategies for saline agriculture.

Abiotic stress has a significant impact on soybean growth, development, and yield. Proteins containing the Regulator of Chromosome Condensation 1 (RCC1) domain, known as RCPs, play important roles in plant stress responses. However, systematic analysis of the RCP gene family in soybean remains limited. In this study, a total of 52 GmRCP genes were identified in the soybean genome and classified into nine phylogenetic clades. Members within the same clade exhibited similar domain architectures. Collinearity analysis suggested that segmental duplication served as the major driver for the expansion of this gene family, and most duplicated gene pairs underwent purifying selection. Analysis of gene structure and conserved motifs revealed high conservation within clades but divergence among them, indicating potential functional diversification of GmRCPs. Furthermore, promoter analysis identified abundant cis-acting elements associated with hormone signaling and stress responses. Expression profiling demonstrated that most GmRCP genes were expressed across various soybean tissues, and several members were responsive to salt, drought, and low-phosphorus stresses. Notably, GmRCP31, GmRCP43, and GmRCP46 were induced under multiple stresses, suggesting their potential roles in stress adaptation. These findings provide important insights into the functional diversity and evolutionary history of GmRCP genes and establish a foundation for further investigation of their roles in soybean development and stress resistance.

Melatonin is a multifunctional indole hormone with established roles in anti-aging and tissue regeneration. Although it has been shown to modulate key senescence-associated markers such as p16Ink4a (p16) and OCT4, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain incompletely understood. MC3T3-E1 cells were treated with melatonin to evaluate its effects on p16 and OCT4 expression using Western blot and RT-qPCR. Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and molecular docking were employed to investigate protein-protein interactions and structural binding patterns. VDR knockdown experiments were performed to assess functional causality. In addition, osteogenic differentiation was evaluated in bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) using alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and Alizarin Red S (ARS) staining. Melatonin significantly downregulated p16 and upregulated OCT4 expression without affecting cell viability. ITC analysis revealed that melatonin does not directly bind to p16 or OCT4, but both proteins interact with the vitamin D receptor (VDR) with moderate affinity. Molecular docking further supported stable binding conformations between VDR and p16/OCT4. Functionally, VDR knockdown disrupted the balance of p16 and OCT4 expression and impaired osteogenic differentiation, as evidenced by decreased ALP activity and reduced mineralized nodule formation. These findings identify VDR as a critical mediator of melatonin signalling and reveal a novel VDR-centered regulatory axis linking senescence and stemness pathways. This mechanism provides new insights into the anti-senescence and pro-regenerative effects of melatonin and suggests potential therapeutic strategies for aging-related diseases such as osteoporosis.

Plant HVA22 proteins constitute a distinct class of Abscisic acid (ABA)- and stress-induced proteins that play significant roles in plant adapt to environmental stress. However, the function of HVA22 genes under salt stress in soybean is largely unknown. In this study, 116 HVA22 members were identified in soybean, Arabidopsis, cotton, rice, maize, and potato, 29 of which came from soybean, designated as GmHVA22-1–29. Based on phylogenetic analysis and structural characterization of these genes, the HVA22 gene family was conserved in different plant species and could be divided into five principal groups (class I-V). The expansion of the GmHVA22 gene family was primarily driven by tandem and segmental duplications, with most duplicated pairs originating from a recent whole-genome duplication. Furthermore, qRT-PCR analysis showed that the expression of GmHVA22 genes was significantly altered under salt stress. RNA-seq analysis further revealed that GmHVA22-12 mediates salt tolerance by regulating the oxidation–reduction process. Consistent with the transcriptomic data, the gmhva22-12 mutation increased sensitivity to salt stress, as reflected in decreased activities of the antioxidant enzymatic catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), and superoxide dismutase (SOD), while concurrently increasing the levels of H₂O₂ and malondialdehyde (MDA). In contrast, GmHVA22-12-overexpression improved salt tolerance by enhancing root growth and improving the activities of antioxidant enzymes (CAT, POD, and SOD) as well as MDA level relative to control plants. This study presents a comprehensive investigation of the GmHVA22 gene family in soybean, focusing on its genomic organization, evolutionary dynamics, expression profiles, and functional role in salt stress tolerance. This work not only elucidates the function of a specific stress-tolerant gene but also provides a framework for understanding the evolutionary and functional complexity of the entire HVA22 family in crops.

Postharvest chilling injury (CI) severely limits peach fruit quality. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has shown potential in mitigating CI, while its underlying transcriptional regulation mechanism remains insufficiently characterized. This study revealed that H2S treatment effectively mitigated CI by promoting both the enzymatic activities and transcript levels of key phenylpropanoid biosynthesis enzymes (PAL, C4H, 4CL, and CHI), accompanied by increased accumulation of total phenolics and flavonoids. Conversely, the H2S scavenger hypotaurine reversed these effects in peach fruit. Notably, PpbHLH113, a nuclear-localized newly identified bHLH family member, was upregulated by cold stress and downregulated by H2S. Moreover, functional studies revealed that PpbHLH113 overexpression downregulated the expression of phenylpropanoid pathway genes. Further molecular interaction assays confirmed direct binding of PpbHLH113 to E-box cis-elements in the promoters of Pp4CL and PpCHI. Although deficient in transcriptional activation, PpbHLH113 functioned as a transcriptional repressor in dualluciferase assays, significantly inhibiting the promoter activity of Pp4CL and PpCHI, thereby leading to the suppression of phenylpropanoid biosynthesis. Collectively, H2S treatment protected peach fruit from chilling injury by downregulating PpbHLH113, thereby alleviating its transcriptional repression on key phenylpropanoid pathway genes, maintaining high levels of key enzyme activities and phenolic accumulation, and improving antioxidant capacity and membrane integrity.

Enhancing photosynthesis is an important approach to improve crop yields. Photosynthesis, as a key factor determining crop yield, is an important approach to increasing crop production and addressing global food security issues. Improving its efficiency is crucial in this regard. However, traditional photosynthetic phenotyping has long been a bottleneck in crop breeding due to time-consuming data collection. In this study, we simultaneously measured the spectral reflectance and the net photosynthetic rate (Pn) of soybean leaves to develop a high-precision model for estimating Pn based on hyperspectral data. By applying this model, we evaluated Pn in 219 soybean materials. A multi-environment genome-wide association study (GWAS) based on multi-environmental prediction Pn was carried out using the 3VmrMLM method, and 24 significant quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and four suggestive QTLs were identified. Among them, 24 QTLs overlapped with multiple previously reported QTL related to photosynthesis, chlorophyll content, quality, etc., or with genes related to key agronomic traits such as yield. Additionally, four new QTLs were discovered, and four candidate genes potentially associated with Pn were identified. Further, haplotype analysis identified their optimal haplotypes. This study presents a robust and nondestructive hyperspectral model for estimating the photosynthetic rate in soybeans, which is successfully applied to genetic analysis, yielding stable and biologically meaningful results. The approach offers an effective means to explore the genetic basis of photosynthesis and provides a solid theoretical foundation for large-scale, monitoring of soybean photosynthetic physiology.

The amino acids, soluble sugars, organic acids, and polyphenols of cauliflower contribute to its nutritional and flavor attributes and to health-promoting functions. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of different mulching strategies on the nutritional components, flavor characteristics, and antioxidant capacity of cauliflower. The experimental treatments included two control groups-without mulching (CK1) and plastic film mulching (CK2), as well as three straw mulching methods: combined plastic and straw mulching (T1), partial straw mulching (T2), and full straw mulching (T3). Mulching treatment notably enhanced amino acid, sugar acid, and polyphenol metabolism. Compared to CK2, the straw mulching (T1) treatment significantly increased the contents of essential amino acids (40.19%) and total amino acids (25.84%). T1 treatment exhibited higher total sugar (32.08%) and total organic acids (16.40%) contents. The total flavonoids (33.05%) and total phenols (27.50%) contents were significantly increased in the T1 treatment, whereas higher levels of ABTS, HRSA, FRAP, and DPPH activities were maintained. Principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis indicated that the T1 treatment had the optimal nutritional quality, flavor quality, and antioxidant capacity enhancement effects. The results provide valuable insights for developing functional vegetables and cultivation of high-quality vegetables.

The changes in chlorophyll, solanine, and plant hormones during greening in postharvest potatoes exposed to light were investigated. The results showed that as potatoes under light turned green, the contents of chlorophyll and solanine sharply increased due to the upregulation of genes involved in their biosynthesis. At the end of storage, the chlorophyll and solanine content in potatoes stored under light were approximately 25.44 times and 1.62 times higher, respectively, compared to those stored in the dark. Light exposure inhibited the accumulation of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and gibberellin in potatoes, which was associated with the downregulation of their anabolic genes and the positive regulation of their catabolic genes. In contrast, light treatment increased the levels of ethylene, melatonin, brassinosteroid, abscisic acid and 6-benzylaminopurine compared to dark-stored potatoes. Correlation analysis revealed that solanine content was negatively correlated with IAA (r = -0.93) during greening, while chlorophyll content was positively associated with ethylene production (r = 0.91) but negatively related to IAA (r = -0.89). Our results suggested potential roles of phytohormones in regulating chlorophyll and solanine during greening in light exposed potatoes, which deserves further investigation.

The histidine phosphotransfer proteins (AHP) plays a pivotal role in the cytokinin signal transduction pathway, which is vital for plant growth, development, and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Despite its importance, the AHP genes in soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) have not been characterized until now. In this study, we utilized bioinformatics analysis, transcriptome sequencing, and qRT-PCR to explore the AHP gene family in soybean. We identified 17 AHP gene members unevenly distributed across nine chromosomes, with all AHP proteins classified into four types based on their motifs and gene structures. Phylogenetic analysis and conserved protein motifs revealed strong homology and conservation between soybean and Arabidopsis AHP family members. Collinearity analysis suggested that segmental duplication events were the primary mechanism for the expansion of the soybean AHP family. Tissue-specific expression analysis indicated that most AHP family genes were highly expressed in soybean roots. Transcript profiles and qRT-PCR data demonstrated that many GmAHP genes were significantly up-regulated in response to salt stress, particularly GmAHP10. Overexpression of GmAHP10 in soybean hairy roots significantly promoted root system development and enhanced salt tolerance. Further physiological analyses revealed that overexpression of GmAHP10 significantly reduced H2O2 and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels by increasing the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT), as well as elevating proline concentration compared to controls. These findings provide a foundation for understanding the biological roles of GmAHP genes in soybean growth, development, and response to salt stress.

In this study, color difference analysis, headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection were employed to systematically evaluate the effects of three withering methods-natural withering, sunlight withering (SW), and warm-air withering (WW)-as well as different withering durations (1-4 h), on the active components and appearance quality of mulberry leaf tea. The results demonstrated that, compared with other withering treatments, WW induced more pronounced changes in color, resulted in a higher tea polyphenols content, and more effectively preserved non-volatile compounds. In contrast, SW was associated with a higher total flavonoid content. Based on multivariate statistical analysis, five key aroma-active volatiles were identified as major contributors to the aroma profile. Furthermore, molecular docking was used to explore their interactions with human olfactory receptors. This study systematically revealed the effects of withering methods and durations on the chemical composition and appearance quality of mulberry leaf tea, thereby providing a solid theoretical foundation and technical support for the development of related tea products.

Chilling injury (CI) is a serious problem that restricts postharvest preservation of peach industry. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) 2 S) treatment efficiently mitigated CI of peach, whereas the molecular mechanism of which remains elusive. In this study, results showed that H2S 2 S treatment maintained lower internal browning index, electrolyte leakage and malondialdehyde content in comparison with control, while hypotaurine (HT, H2S 2 S scavenger) existed with the reverse results during cold storage. Meanwhile, H2S 2 S treatment induced higher activities and genes expression levels of sucrose synthase-synthesis (SS-s) and sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS), while suppressing lower these levels of vacuolar invertase (VIN) and neutral invertase (NI) compared to control and HT, which was concomitant with sucrose accumulation and decrease of fructose and glucose. Moreover, transcription factor PpbHLH3 was shown to respond to low temperature and H2S 2 S treatment and located in nucleus. Results of PpbHLH3 overexpression showed that PpSPS and PpSS-s expressions were elevated, while PpVIN and PpNI expressions were weakened in peach fruit. Further investigation revealed that PpbHLH3 could activate and inhibit the expression of PpSPS and PpVIN by binding PpSPS and PpVIN promoter E-box, respectively. Consequently, these findings revealed that H2S 2 S treatment promoted PpbHLH3-mediated sucrose accumulation by improving the gene expression and activities of SS and SPS, and inhibiting the gene expression and activities of VIN and NI, contributing to the enhancement of cold resistance in cold-stored peach fruit.

Winter jujube is popular for consumers due to its nutrition and sweet taste. However, fresh winter jujube easily becomes bitter after harvest with improper storage. In this study, the winter jujube was stored at 25 degrees C exposed to 100 % N2 and normal atmosphere during a 15-d shelf-life period to evaluate its quality and bitter substance. Results indicated that 100 % N2 treatment raised a * value, weight loss, browning index, pyruvate content, acetaldehyde content, ethanol content, pyruvate decarboxylase activity, alcohol dehydrogenase activity, and bitter level, while reducing b * values, L * values, firmness, and titratable acid content. At the end of storage, the total soluble solid content and respiration intensity of the 100 % N2 treatment group were lower than those of the control group. At the same time, 100 % N2 treatment also promoted the closing of the stoma on winter jujube skin. Moreover, 1310 differential metabolites were screened by non-targeted metabolomics, in which 989 up- regulated metabolites, with a total of 60 metabolites showing overlapping up-regulation, were identified when compared across all points. Among them, five key metabolites (coumarin, shikimic acid, beta-glucogallin, N1trans-feruloylagmatine, and 3-hydroxybenzoic acid) showed significant abundance and similar changes in bitter level of winter jujube stored under the ultra-low oxygen environment for 15 d. This study provides insights into the origin of bitterness in winter jujube under improper storage for a long time and may facilitate the development of strategies for jujube storage.

Introduction:1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) play important roles in the ripening and senescence of postharvest fruits and vegetables. However, little knowledge was available for the effect of the combined treatment of 1-MCP and H2S on the quality maintenance of postharvest strawberry fruit. Methods:The synergistic effects of 1.0 μL L-1 1-MCP and 0.8 mmol L-1 sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS, H2S donor) combined treatment on the sugar and energy metabolisms of strawberry fruit during cold storage at 4 ± 0.5°C with a relative humidity of 80-85% for 15 d were studied. Results:The results showed that the combined treatment effectively suppressed the increase of decay rate, decay index, and weight loss rate while maintaining the firmness and visual quality of strawberry fruit compared to the 1-MCP or H2S treatment. Moreover, the combined treatment maintained higher sucrose content and lower contents of glucose and fructose by inhibiting the activities of acid invertase (AI) and neutral invertase (NI), while enhancing the activities of sucrose synthase (SS) and sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS). Meanwhile, strawberry fruit treated with the combination elevated ATP levels and energy charge by upregulating key enzymes in energy metabolism, including succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), cytochrome c oxidase (CCO), H+-adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) and Ca2+-ATPase. Conclusion:These results indicated that 1-MCP and H₂S acted synergistically to regulate sugar catabolism and energy homeostasis, promoting elevated sucrose accumulation and mitochondrial energy production, thereby maintaining the integrity of cell structure and the quality of strawberry fruit.

Polyamines in human milk are essential for the rapid growth and development of neonates and infants. However, the concentrations of polyamines in human milk have not been well characterized and the special methods for detecting polyamines in human milk, formula milk, or other dairy products remain largely unavailable to date. In this study, an accurate and sensitive method based on trifluoroacetic acid anhydride (TFAA) derivatization, double solid-phase extraction (SPE) purification, and gas chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (GC-QqQ MS) was established for the evaluation of polyamines in human milk, formula milk, and other dairy products. High coefficients of determination for internal calibration curves were obtained (R2 > 0.99). Low limits of detection (5.0, 1.0, and 0.5 nmol/dL) and limits of quantification (10.0, 3.0, and 1.0 nmol/dL) for putrescine, spermidine, and spermine, respectively, were also achieved. The precision (expressed as relative standard deviation, RSD < 9.0%) and recovery rates (78.3-108.4%) were satisfactory. Spermidine and spermine in human milk were found significantly higher than those in formula milk and commercial cow's milk. The difference of polyamine content in human milk and infant formula should be paid attention to, particularly when infant formula is used as a complete replacement for human milk.

The Sec14 domain is an ancient lipid-binding domain that evolved from yeast Sec14p and performs complex lipid-mediated regulatory functions in subcellular organelles and intracellular traffic. The Sec14 family is characterized by a highly conserved Sec14 domain, and is ubiquitously expressed in all eukaryotic cells and has diverse functions. However, the number and characteristics of Sec14 homologous genes in soybean, as well as their potential roles, remain understudied. In this study, we identified 77 Sec14 genes in the soybean genome that were unevenly distributed across 19 chromosomes. Based on the classification method used for Arabidopsis Sec14 members, GmSec14s can be categorized into three classes: GmPITP1 to GmPITP37, GmSFH1 to GmSFH25, and GmPATL1 to GmPATL15. Structural analysis of the GmSec14 genes revealed that the SFH subfamily contained more introns than the other subfamilies. A total of 10 conserved protein motifs were detected within GmSec14 proteins, with each subfamily possessing unique motifs. Two tandem duplications and 73 segmental duplications were identified among the GmSec14 genes. Additionally, a large number of cis-acting elements, particularly those related to plant hormones, were abundant in the promoter regions of the GmSec14 genes. Tissue expression analysis of the GmSec14 genes indicated that they exhibited distinct tissue-specific expression patterns. In response to salt stress, multiple genes were found to be either upregulated or downregulated. In contrast, the majority of genes were downregulated under drought stress conditions. Notably, 12 GmSec14 genes exhibited significant alterations in expression following salt or drought stress, suggesting a potential role for these genes in stress response mechanisms. Furthermore, the protein interaction network and miRNA regulation associated with GmSec14s were predicted to elucidate the potential functions of GmSec14 members. This study provides a systematic and comprehensive examination of the Sec14 gene family in soybean, which will facilitate further functional research into their roles in response to salt and drought tolerance.