Soybean is the major global source of edible oils and vegetable proteins. Seed size and weight are crucial traits determining the soybean yield. Understanding the molecular regulatory mechanism underlying the seed weight and size is helpful for improving soybean genetic breeding. The molecular regulatory pathways controlling the seed weight and size were investigated in this study. The 100-seed weight, seed length, seed width, and seed weight per plant of a chromosome segment substitution line (CSSL) R217 increased compared with those of its recurrent parent ‘Suinong14’ (SN14). Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses of R217 and SN14 were performed at the seed developmental stages S15 and S20. In total, 2643 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 208 differentially accumulated proteins (DAPs) were detected at S15, and 1943 DEGs and 1248 DAPs were detected at S20. Furthermore, integrated transcriptomic and proteomic analyses revealed that mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling and cell wall biosynthesis and modification were potential pathways associated with seed weight and size control. Finally, 59 candidate genes that might control seed weight and size were identified. Among them, 25 genes were located on the substituted segments of R217. Two critical pathways controlling seed weight were uncovered in our work. These findings provided new insights into the seed weight-related regulatory network in soybean.

Seed protein content is a critical trait in soybean breeding, as it provides a primary source of high-quality protein for both human consumption and animal feed. This study aimed to enhance molecular marker-assisted selection for high-protein soybean varieties by developing Kompetitive Allele-Specific Polymerase Chain Reaction (KASP) markers targeted at loci associated with seed protein content. Nineteen markers with high genotyping efficacy were identified through screening. Utilizing SN76 (a high-protein line) as the male parent and SN49 and DS1 (both low-protein lines) as female parents, 484 F6 generation individuals from these hybrid combinations were selected to validate the predictive accuracy of the 19 KASP markers. Notably, KASP-Pro-1, KASP-Pro-2, and KASP-Pro-3 effectively distinguished genotypes associated with high and low protein content, with prediction accuracies of 68.4%, 75.0%, and 83.3%, respectively. These results underscore the reliability and practical utility of the selected molecular markers, which are located within the genes Glyma.03G219900, Glyma.14G119000, and Glyma.17G074400, respectively. Haplotype analysis and gene pyramiding indicate that these three genes may influence seed protein content. Consequently, these KASP markers can be effectively integrated into genetic and genomic research on soybean seed protein content as well as into marker-assisted breeding.

Key message GmTSA and GmALS were screened out for salt stress in soybean and explore the poteintial amino acid secondary metabolism pathways. Soybean (Glycine max L.) is an oil and protein crop of global importance, and salinity has significant effects on soybean growth. Here, a population of soybean chromosome segment substitution lines was screened to identify highly salt -tolerant lines. In total, 24 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) on seven chromosomes were associated with salt tolerance, and CSSL_R71 was selected for further analysis. Although numerous genes were differentially expressed in CSSL_R71 in response to salt statically no differently, transcript levels of classical salt -response genes, including those of the salt overly sensitive pathway. Rather, salt tolerance in CSSL_R71 was associated with changes in amino acid and lipid metabolism. In particular, changes in p-coumaric acid, shikimic acid, and pyrrole-2-carboxylic acid levels accompanied salt tolerance in CSSL_R71. Eleven differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to amino acid and secondary metabolism were identified as candidate genes on the substituted chromosome fragment. Six of these showed differences in coding sequence between the parental genotypes. Crucially, overexpression of GmTSA (Glyma.03G158400, tryptophan synthase) significantly enhanced salt tolerance in soybean hairy roots, whereas overexpression of GmALS (Glyma.13G241000, acetolactate synthase) decreased salt tolerance. Two KASP markers were developed for GmALS and used to genotype salt -tolerant and salt -sensitive lines in the CSSL population. Non -synonymous mutations were directly associated with salt tolerance. Taken together, these data provide evidence that changes in amino acid and secondary metabolism have the potential to confer salt tolerance in soybean.

The resultant DNA from loss-of-function mutation can be recruited in biological evolution and development. Here, we present such a rare and potential case of "to gain by loss" as a neomorphic mutation during soybean domestication for increasing seed weight. Using a population derived from a chromosome segment substitution line of Glycine max (SN14) and Glycine soja (ZYD06), a quantitative trait locus (QTL) of 100-seed weight (qHSW) was mapped on chromosome 11, corresponding to a truncated β-1, 3-glucosidase (βGlu) gene. The novel gene hsw results from a 14-bp deletion, causing a frameshift mutation and a premature stop codon in the βGlu. In contrast to HSW, the hsw completely lost βGlu activity and function but acquired a novel function to promote cell expansion, thus increasing seed weight. Overexpressing hsw instead of HSW produced large soybean seeds, and surprisingly, truncating hsw via gene editing further increased the seed size. We further found that the core 21-aa peptide of hsw and its variants acted as a promoter of seed size. Transcriptomic variation in these transgenic soybean lines substantiated the integration hsw into cell and seed size control. Moreover, the hsw allele underwent selection and expansion during soybean domestication and improvement. Our work cloned a likely domesticated QTL controlling soybean seed weight, revealed a novel genetic variation and mechanism in soybean domestication, and provided new insight into crop domestication and breeding, and plant evolution.

Pod dehiscence facilitates seed dispersal in wild legumes but results in yield loss in cultivated legumes. The evolutionary genetics of the legume pod dehiscence trait remain largely elusive.We characterized the pod dehiscence of chromosome segment substitution lines of Glycine max crossed with Glycine soja and found that the gene underlying the predominant quantitative trait locus (QTL) of soybean pod-shattering trait was Pod dehiscence 1 (Pdh1). A few rare loss-of-function (LoF) Pdh1 alleles were identified in G. soja, while only an allele featuring a premature stop codon was selected for pod indehiscence in cultivated soybean and spread to low-precipitation regions with increased frequency. Moreover, correlated interactions among Pdh1's haplotype, gene expression, and environmental changes for the developmental plasticity of the pod dehiscence trait were revealed in G. max.We found that orthologous Pdh1 genes specifically originated in warm-season legumes and their LoF alleles were then parallel-selected during the domestication of legume crops.Our results provide insights into the convergent evolution of pod dehiscence in warm-season legumes, facilitate an understanding of the intricate interactions between genetic robustness and environmental adaptation for developmental plasticity, and guide the breeding of new legume varieties with pod indehiscence.

Soybean (Glycine max) was domesticated from its wild relative Glycine soja. One-hundred-seed weight is one of the most important domesticated traits determining soybean yield; however, its underlying genetic basis remains elusive. We characterized a soybean seed size 1 (sss1) mutant featuring large seeds compared to its wild-type background. Positional cloning revealed that the candidate gene GmSSS1 encoded a SPINDLY homolog and was co-located in a well-identified quantitative trait locus (QTL)-rich region on chromosome 19. Knocking out GmSSS1 resulted in small seeds, while overexpressing GmSSS1/Gmsss1 induced large seeds. Modulating GmSSS1/Gmsss1 in transgenic plants can positively influence cell expansion and cell division. Relative to GmSSS1, one mutation leading to an E to Q substitution at the 182nd residue in Gmsss1 conferred an enhancing effect on seed weight. GmSSS1 underwent diversification in wild-type and cultivated soybean, and the alleles encoding the Gmsss1-type substitution of 182nd -Q, which originated along the central and downstream parts of the Yellow River, were selected and expanded during soybean domestication and improvement. We cloned the causative gene for the sss1 mutant, which is linked with a seed weight QTL, identified an elite allele of this gene for increasing seed weight, and provided new insights into soybean domestication and breeding.

To study the QTL mapping of seed weight per plant,which is beneficial to increase the yield of soybean.In this study,the BC3 F3 population is a chromosome segment substitution lines which constituted by 161 lines,with the wild soybean ZYD00006 as donor parent and the cultivar Suinong 14 as recurrent parent,selfing and backcross continuously for several years.The genetic background of this population relatively consistent,which reducing the interference greatly and improving the accuracy of QTL mapping.The QTL mapping was combined by ANOVA Method and T-test for independent samples.A total of 9 QTLs underlying seed weight per plant were detected which distributed on 7 linkage groups.Three QTLs were detected by both methods,including QSW-J-1,QSW-J-2,QSW-G-1.2 QTL were in accord with known results.Another 7 ones were the new discovery QTL,which should be specific loci in our materias.The fragment length of QSW-J-1 was 7.0 cM,and the additive effects of it is-2.7 g,which could be used as the first choice loci for further study.

利用野生大豆ZYD00006和栽培大豆绥农14所构建的回交导入系群体BC3F3代为研究材料,选择亲本间存在差异的121个SSR标记对114个株行材料进行基因型分析;利用T测验对含野生大豆纯合双导入位点(即B-B位点组合)植株表型值与绥农14表型值进行检测,以P≤0.05作为阈值,共获得104对B-B位点对表型影响显著,再经T测验,28对互作位点存在上位性效应,其中正向上位性效应位点10对,负向上位性效应位点18对,本研究结果揭示了上位性效应对大豆蛋白质含量性状的重要影响,同时这些位点信息将为大豆高蛋白分子辅助育种研究提供重要的理论基础.

A soybean backcross population was constructed using Suinong 14(recurrent parent)and wild soy-bean ZYD00006(donor parent). 23 QTLs(4 with positive effects,19 with negative effects)for oil content on 11 linkage groups were detected by One - way ANOVA at 0. 01 level. Compared with recurrent parent Suinong 14,13 BC3 F3 lines had higher oil contents and 20 BC3 F3 lines had lower oil contents. These 33 lines were selected to con-struct a selective population. Based on this selective population and random population(control),25 QTLs for oil content on 15 linkage groups were found by Chi - square on genetic hitchhiking,among them 11 QTLs had positive effects,and 14 QTLs had negative effects. Total 34 QTLs were found by these 2 methods. Among them,14 were detected in both methods,and 11 were newly found.