3 - Enhancing soybean response to biotic and abiotic stresses

Abstract

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) is among the most important leguminous plants and is a major source of food, protein, and oil, feeding a large number of people in the world. It is able to develop a symbiotic association with its specific nitrogen (N) fixing bacterium, Bradyrhizobium japonicum, and acquires most of its essential N for growth and yield production. However, both the plant and the bacterium are subjected to different kinds of biotic and abiotic stresses such as salinity, pathogens, drought, heavy metals, suboptimal root zone heat, and compaction. Soybean and B. japonicum are not naturally tolerant to stress; however, it is possible to enhance their tolerance under stress using biotechnological and molecular methods and techniques. Accordingly, to develop tolerant plant and bacterial species, their responses must be examined under stress, the related molecular and signaling pathway be evaluated, and suitable methods and techniques to enhance soybean and rhizobium response under stress determined. Some of the most important details related to the responses of soybean and B. japonicum under stress and the methods and techniques that may be used to enhance such responses are presented and analyzed.