Structure characterization and potential role of soybean phospholipases A multigene family in response to multiple abiotic stress uncovered by CRISPR/Cas9 technology

•A total of 112 PLA genes and their specific properties to abiotic stress response identified in soybean genome.•Tandem and segmental duplication events accounted for 33 and 55.6 % expansion of PLAs in soybean genome, respectively.•Two paralog genes (GmpPLA-IIε & GmpPLA-IIζ) modulate soybean response to flooding, drought, phosphorus and iron-deficient conditions.