Mature Soybean Research Articles

Seedborne Fungal Detection Differs with Seed Assay Method, and Fungal Diversity and Abundance Are Impacted by Fungicide Treatment, Harvest Timing, and Storage Environment

Previous studies have shown that foliar fungicides increase the abundance of Diaporthe spp. in mature soybean seeds, thereby reducing seed quality and potentially increasing seedling, stem, and pod disease in subsequent plantings. To mitigate this, we examined a fungicide containing mefentrifluconazole, fluxapyroxad, and pyraclostrobin applied during the R3 growth stage. We compared the seedborne fungal community from soybeans harvested at full maturity and 2 to 3 weeks later to assess fungal colonization. Six trials were conducted in Iowa and South Dakota in 2021 and 2022. Asymptomatic, recently harvested seed was assayed using either an agar-plate or a seed-blotter test, and the results were compared. The agar-plate method involved disinfesting seeds in sodium hypochlorite and ethanol and then transferring them to acidified water agar plates. Fungal isolates were identified using morphology and DNA sequences. This method detected 562 fungal isolates from 25 species and 14 genera. Dry conditions reduced seed infection, but a 2-week delay in harvest increased the likelihood of Alternaria and Cercospora infection in nontreated controls. The seed-blotter test involved disinfesting seeds, placing them on blotter paper, and incubating them. This assay detected higher numbers of fungal infected seed, with Aspergillus as the dominant genus. Storage conditions significantly impacted fungal presence, with more Aspergillus in seeds stored in a shed than in the cooler. Both assay methods showed that the fungicide treatment reduced the number of seeds infected with Alternaria, Cercospora, and Aspergillus. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license .

Climate-adaptative management strategies for soybean production under ENSO scenarios in Southern Brazil: An in-silico analysis of crop failure risk

CONTEXTSoybeans (Glycine max L.) are a crucial crop for global food security, and the state of Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Brazil, plays a significant role. However, climate instability, particularly water stress (WS), is a major concern in this region, causing large interannual yield variability. OBJECTIVEThis study aims to address this issue using an in-silico approach to: i) characterize WS and spatial patterns and their frequency within ENSO events; and ii) explore climate-adaptative management strategies such as planting dates and maturity groups to mitigate the risk of crop failure and maximize seed yield and profits. METHODSCrop growth simulations were performed testing three soybean maturity groups (MG, 5.0, 5.8, and 6.4) and eight planting dates (from October 5th to January 20th) over 30 years at 187 locations in RS, Brazil, using APSIM Next Generation. Failure risk was calculated as the percentage of simulations that yielded less than the economic break-even soybean yield in a given scenario. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONSThe simulated yields were clustered into four regions: Northeast, North, Central, and Southwest. Four WS seasonal patterns were then defined (no stress, early stress, late stress, and whole season stress). On average, WS reduced yields up to 2 Mg ha-1 (∼50 % relative to the maximum). WS varied among regions, with the SW experiencing more frequent and severe stress (up to 50 % of whole season stress during La Nina). ENSO events influenced WS frequency, with El Niño events associated with reduced stress and La Niña events to increased stress. The MG 5.0 resulted in a higher probability of failure risk in all regions. Early planting dates resulted in the highest yield variability (up to 5 Mg ha-1). Climate-adaptative management strategies, such as optimizing planting dates and maturity groups, resulted in a 15 % reduction in crop failure. SIGNIFICANCEOur findings provide valuable insights for developing targeted approaches to enhance soybean yield stability, thereby increasing the resilience of agriculture in the face of future climate uncertainties.

High-Precision Automated Soybean Phenotypic Feature Extraction Based on Deep Learning and Computer Vision.

The automated collection of plant phenotypic information has become a trend in breeding and smart agriculture. Four YOLOv8-based models were used to segment mature soybean plants placed in a simple background in a laboratory environment, identify pods, distinguish the number of soybeans in each pod, and obtain soybean phenotypes. The YOLOv8-Repvit model yielded the most optimal recognition results, with an R2 coefficient value of 0.96 for both pods and beans, and the RMSE values were 2.89 and 6.90, respectively. Moreover, a novel algorithm was devised to efficiently differentiate between the main stem and branches of soybean plants, called the midpoint coordinate algorithm (MCA). This was accomplished by linking the white pixels representing the stems in each column of the binary image to draw curves that represent the plant structure. The proposed method reduces computational time and spatial complexity in comparison to the A* algorithm, thereby providing an efficient and accurate approach for measuring the phenotypic characteristics of soybean plants. This research lays a technical foundation for obtaining the phenotypic data of densely overlapped and partitioned mature soybean plants under field conditions at harvest.

No Common Candidate Genes for Resistance to Fusarium graminearum, F. proliferatum, F. sporotrichioides, and F. subglutinans in Soybean Accessions from Maturity Groups 0 and I: Findings from Genome-wide Association Mapping.

Seedling diseases and root rot, caused by species of Fusarium, can limit soybean (Glycine max L.) production in the United States. Currently, there are few commercially available cultivars resistant to Fusarium. This study was conducted to assess the resistance of soybean maturity group (MG) accessions from 0 and I to Fusarium proliferatum, F. sporotrichioides, and F. subglutinans, as well as to identify common quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for resistance to these pathogens, in addition to F. graminearum, using a genome-wide association study (GWAS). A total of 155, 91, and 48 accessions from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) soybean germplasm collection from MG 0 and I were screened with a single isolate each of F. proliferatum, F. sporotrichioides, and F. subglutinans, respectively, using the inoculum layer inoculation method in the greenhouse. The disease severity was assessed 21 days postinoculation and analyzed using nonparametric statistics to determine the relative treatment effects (RTEs). Eleven and seven accessions showed significantly lower RTEs when inoculated with F. proliferatum and F. subglutinans, respectively, compared with the susceptible cultivar 'Williams 82'. One accession was significantly less susceptible to both F. proliferatum and F. subglutinans. The GWAS conducted with 41,985 single-nucleotide markers identified one QTL associated with resistance to both F. proliferatum and F. sporotrichioides, as well as another QTL for resistance to both F. subglutinans and F. graminearum. However, no common QTLs were identified for the four pathogens. The USDA accessions and QTLs identified in this study can be utilized to selectively breed resistance to multiple species of Fusarium.[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY 4.0 International license.

Monitoring and zoning soybean maturity using UAV remote sensing

Timely and accurate determination of the maturity status during the soybean harvest period is crucial for devising strategic harvesting plans, significantly enhancing the intelligent management of soybean production and minimizing losses. To explore the maturation dynamics of soybeans and pinpoint the precise maturity stage for optimal harvesting, we collected Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) remote sensing data, along with physical and chemical parameters, during the Beginning maturity(R7)-Full maturity(R8) stages from 2021 to 2022. We analyzed the variations in these parameters throughout the maturation period. Employing UAV multispectral technology and correlation analysis algorithms, we established a relationship between the spectral and physicochemical parameters during the maturation period, which led to the formulation of a soybean maturity evaluation index. Furthermore, we incorporated the concept of precision management zoning. In line with actual field production requirements, this index, combined with real-time moisture content, established a standard for grading soybean maturity. Additionally, our study examined the impact of spatial scale on maturity assessments by conducting a theoretical analysis of regionalized variables and analyzing the spatial correlations and variability of soybean maturity across different field plots. We determined the optimal theoretical model for various sampling distances, thereby establishing feasible zoning ranges. Comparative analysis of zoning algorithms, including Hierarchical Clustering (HC), K-Means, and its optimized versions K-Means++ and Mini Batch K-Means, was conducted using the partition performance index as the criterion. This analysis identified the most suitable algorithm for assessing soybean field maturity, which was subsequently verified through field tests. Results indicated that soybean leaf chlorophyll content and photosynthesis decreased sharply initially, then stabilized at a low rate. Water content in both soybean plants and seeds decreased rapidly before slowing, with plant dehydration rates exceeding those of the seeds. Green Normalized Difference Vegetation Index(GNDVI) showed a positive correlation with various physiological indicators, and soybean maturity was classified into three levels using the unit gridding management method, considering actual moisture content. Spatial correlation analysis of maturity variations in small and large test fields revealed Moran indices ranging from 0.78 to 0.95 and 0.70–0.90, respectively. Optimal detection ranges were determined to be 2.00–30.00 m for small fields and 2.00–67.00 m for large fields. The zoning categories for small and large fields were three and four, respectively. Comparative studies showed that the Mini Batch K-Means algorithm, an optimization of K-Means, achieved Calinski-Harabasz Index(CH) scores and silhouette coefficients of 10521.97, 109508.27, and 0.57, 0.54, respectively, indicating comparable zoning effectiveness to K-Means and K-Means++ and superiority over the HC algorithm. The zoning speeds were 12.50 s and 191.68 s, respectively, underscoring its efficiency in maturity zoning. Furthermore, zoning results corresponded well with actual soybean maturity. Terrain had little impact on soybean maturity, which was more susceptible to slope aspect. This study provides a theoretical foundation and practical guidelines for applying UAV remote sensing technology in determining soybean maturity and optimal harvesting periods, thereby reducing potential harvest losses.

Effects of Immature Soybeans on Lipid Metabolism in Rats Fed Normal and High-Fat High-Fructose NAFLD Diets.

Edamame and chamame (brown edamame) are immature soybeans that contain abundant protein, vitamins, and dietary fiber. Edamame has a different nutrient composition compared with mature soybeans, as evidenced by its higher content of vitamins and folic acid. Recent studies have shown that proteins in mature soybeans, such as β-conglycinin, and dietary fiber influence the metabolism of lipids such as triglyceride and cholesterol. However, the effect of edamame on lipid metabolism has not been reported. In the present study, we investigated whether oral consumption of edamame or chamame affects lipid metabolism. We focused on the analysis of hepatic lipids, serum cholesterol, and fecal lipids in rats after feeding them a normal or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) diet containing edamame or chamame for 6 wk. We found that the consumption of dietary edamame and chamame significantly lowered hepatic triglyceride and serum cholesterol levels compared with those in the control groups fed with normal and NAFLD diets. Intake of edamame and chamame improved the NAFLD-like fatty liver. Finally, intake of edamame and chamame resulted in a significantly higher amount of fecal lipids and bile acid than in the control, suggesting the stimulation of lipid excretion. Together, dietary edamame and chamame decrease hepatic and serum cholesterol by promoting lipid excretion, not by the regulation of hepatic gene expression, leading to the improvement of lipid metabolism in both normal and NAFLD model rats.

Morpho-phenological responses of early and late soybean maturity groups to diverse day lengths and temperature regimes

On a global scale, soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) is cultivated across a wide range of environmental conditions, characterized by variable temperatures and day lengths. It is important to gather information about different maturity group’s phenology and growth patterns to enhance agricultural practices and develop various soybean crop models. We conducted two experiments focusing on soybean maturity groups, commonly used cultivars for early and late maturity groups (one cultivar for each maturity group), one with varying day/night temperatures (22/14, 26/18, 30/22, 34/26, and 40/32°C) under a constant day length of 12.5/11.5 hours. Second, we investigated day lengths of 12.0, 12.5, 13.0, 13.5, 14.0, and 14.5 hours under constant temperature (26°C). We examined various morpho-phenological traits, including plant height, branch number per plant, vegetative development rate, and days to the first flower. Long-day lengths were found to increase the number of branches per plant, whereas shorter-day lengths led to earlier flowering in the cultivars utilized for the experiment. The duration until the first flower was prolonged under lower temperatures and longer day lengths. As a result, understanding the impacts of temperatures and day lengths and their interactions during the leaf, branch, and flowering stages will significantly contribute to improving seed production in future environmental conditions. Furthermore, the insights gained from this study will play an important role in enhancing soybean breeding programs and improving soybean crop models.

The MADS-box transcription factor GmFULc promotes GmZTL4 gene transcription to modulate maturity in soybean.

Flowering time and maturity are crucial agronomic traits that affect the regional adaptability of soybean plants. The development of soybean cultivars with early maturity adapted to longer days and colder climates of high latitudes is very important for ensuring normal ripening before frost begins. FUL belongs to the MADS-box transcription factor family and has several duplicated members in soybeans. In this study, we observed that overexpression of GmFULc in the Dongnong 50 cultivar promoted soybean maturity, while GmFULc knockout mutants exhibited late maturity. Chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) revealed that GmFULc could bind to the CArG, bHLH and homeobox motifs. Further investigation revealed that GmFULc could directly bind to the CArG motif in the promoters of the GmZTL3 and GmZTL4 genes. Overexpression of GmZTL4 promoted soybean maturity, whereas the ztl4 mutants exhibited delayed maturity. Moreover, we found that the cis element box 4 motif of the GmZTL4 promoter, a motif of light response elements, played an important role in controlling the growth period. Deletion of this motif shortened the growth period by increasing the expression levels of GmZTL4. Functional investigations revealed that short-day treatment promoted the binding of GmFULc to the promoter of GmZTL4 and inhibited the expression of E1 and E1Lb, ultimately resulting in the promotion of flowering and early maturation. Taken together, these findings suggest a novel photoperiod regulatory pathway in which GmFULc directly activates GmZTL4 to promote earlier maturity in soybean.

Effects of haze and weather in 2023 on crop maturation and yield in Ohio

Plain Language SummaryWildfire smoke in 2023 led to hazy conditions throughout the United States in late June and early July. Farmers often asked what effect the haze had on the weather as well as crop growth and development. This report used weather data from Ohio to measure the impacts of smoke and haze on light availability, and to determine how temperatures may have been affected. Light during the season was reduced by up to 9% during the months of May–August, but reductions in temperature were more likely caused by northerly wind patterns rather than the haze. Cooler seasonal temperatures also contributed to delayed maturation and grain drydown in corn. Despite the haze and cooler temperatures, the 2023 state average yield of corn, soybean, and wheat were highest in 10 years. If haze conditions had occurred later in the season, the effect on corn and soybean maturation and yield may have differed.

Changes in the leaf area-seed yield relationship in soybean driven by genetic, management and environments: Implications for High-Throughput Phenotyping

Abstract High-throughput crop phenotyping (HTP) in soybean [Glycine max L. (Merr.)] has been used to estimate seed yield with varying degrees of accuracy. Research in this area typically makes use of different machine learning approaches to predict seed yield based on crop images with a strong focus on analytics. On the other hand, a significant part of the soybean breeding community still utilizes linear approaches to relate canopy traits and seed yield relying on parsimony. Our research attempted to address the limitations related to interpretability, scope and system comprehension inherent in previous modelling approaches. We utilized a combination of empirical and simulated data to augment the experimental footprint as well as to explore the combined effects of genetics (G), environments (E) and management (M). We use flexible functions without assuming a pre-determined response between canopy traits and seed yield. Factors such as soybean maturity date, duration of vegetative and reproductive periods, harvest index (HI), potential leaf size, planting date and plant population affected the shape of the canopy-seed yield relationship as well as the canopy optimum values at which selection of high yielding genotypes should be conducted. This work demonstrates that there are avenues for improved application of HTP in soybean breeding programs if similar modelling approaches are considered.

Single-cell transcriptome atlases of soybean root and mature nodule reveal new regulatory programs that control the nodulation process

The soybean root system is complex. In addition to being composed of various cell types, the soybean root system includes the primary root, the lateral roots, and the nodule, an organ in which mutualistic symbiosis with N-fixing rhizobia occurs. A mature soybean root nodule is characterized by a central infection zone where atmospheric nitrogen is fixed and assimilated by the symbiont, resulting from the close cooperation between the plant cell and the bacteria. To date, the transcriptome of individual cells isolated from developing soybean nodules has been established, but the transcriptomic signatures of cells from the mature soybean nodule have not yet been characterized. Using single-nucleus RNA-seq and Molecular Cartography technologies, we precisely characterized the transcriptomic signature of soybean root and mature nodule cell types and revealed the co-existence of different sub-populations of B. diazoefficiens–infected cells in the mature soybean nodule, including those actively involved in nitrogen fixation and those engaged in senescence. Mining of the single-cell-resolution nodule transcriptome atlas and the associated gene co-expression network confirmed the role of known nodulation-related genes and identified new genes that control the nodulation process. For instance, we functionally characterized the role of GmFWL3, a plasma membrane microdomain-associated protein that controls rhizobial infection. Our study reveals the unique cellular complexity of the mature soybean nodule and helps redefine the concept of cell types when considering the infection zone of the soybean nodule.

Особенности высокорослого среднеспелого сорта сои Ягуар с признаком ускоренного прироста надземной биомассы

The tall, middle maturing soybean cultivar Jaguar with a trait of accelerated formation of aboveground biomass was obtained as a result of individual selection in F4 from the hybrid combination Vilana × D-7/10 by tall growth (> 150 cm) of the stem, large seeds, middle maturity and lodging resistance. Based on the results of variety testing in 2020–2023, the soybean cultivar Jaguar exceeded the standard cultivar Vilana by 0.26 t/ha of yield. With an average vegetative period of 123 days at the latitude of Krasnodar (45°), the height of plants of this cultivar is 138 cm, varying over the years from 120 to 154 cm. In optimal moisture conditions, the weight of 1000 seeds is 160–190 g. The phenomenon of accelerated formation of aboveground biomass of plants of the cultivar Jaguar y in optimal cultivation conditions is confirmed by a 44% more intense daily increase in plant height and a 55% more intense daily increase in aboveground biomass compared to these indicators for the standard cultivar Vilana. The new tall, middle maturing soybean variety Jaguar, with a trait of accelerated formation of aboveground biomass, is characterized by increased responsiveness to additional moisture by increasing the plant height to ultra-high, increasing the number of nodes, beans and seeds, seed size and weight, and yield. It has increased resistance of tall plants to tilting and lodging due to excessive moisture due to the increased mechanical strength of the stem. Due to its tall growth and high positive response to additional moisture supply, it is suitable for cultivation in the southern foothill and central zones of the Krasnodar region, with irrigation throughout the North Caucasus and Lower Volga regions of the Russian Federation, as well as in the republics of Central Asia and Transcaucasia.

GmNF-YC4 delays soybean flowering and maturation by directly repressing GmFT2a and GmFT5a expression.

Flowering time and growth period are key agronomic traits which directly affect soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) adaptation to diverse latitudes and farming systems. The FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) homologs GmFT2a and GmFT5a integrate multiple flowering regulation pathways and significantly advance flowering and maturity in soybean. Pinpointing the genes responsible for regulating GmFT2a and GmFT5a will improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms governing growth period in soybean. In this study, we identified the Nuclear Factor Y-C (NFY-C) protein GmNF-YC4 as a novel flowering suppressor in soybean under long-day (LD) conditions. GmNF-YC4 delays flowering and maturation by directly repressing the expression of GmFT2a and GmFT5a. In addition, we found that a strong selective sweep event occurred in the chromosomal region harboring the GmNF-YC4 gene during soybean domestication. The GmNF-YC4Hap3 allele was mainly found in wild soybean (Glycine soja Siebold & Zucc.) and has been eliminated from G. max landraces and improved cultivars, which predominantly contain the GmNF-YC4Hap1 allele. Furthermore, the Gmnf-yc4 mutants displayed notably accelerated flowering and maturation under LD conditions. These alleles may prove to be valuable genetic resources for enhancing soybean adaptability to higher latitudes.

Advantages of early-maturity soybean varieties as a farmer adaptation effort to climate change in Grobogan Regency

The climate change impact is cropping patterns change, including unpredictable droughts and floods. These conditions require soybean farmers to adapt, one of them is adopting early maturing soybean varieties. This research aims to identify the advantages of early-maturity soybean varieties, financial feasibility, and technical Efficiency. This study collected data from 40 soybean farmers in the Grobogan Regency. Soybean farming data used in planting season III (May-August) 2021. Biosoy varieties are early maturing, compared to the Anjasmoro varieties as existing soybeans. The financial feasibility of early-maturing soybeans is analyzed by the Marginal Benefit Cost Ratio (MBCR), while technical Efficiency is by stochastic frontier. The research showed that a) advantages of Biosoy early-maturing soybeans include higher production, larger seeds, and reduced risk of crop failure due to drought; b) Biosoy varieties are feasible to develop with an MBCR level of 3.19, and c) an average technical efficiency is 0.92. Biosoy varieties demonstrated better advantages than Anjasmoro varieties. The government, as a policy maker, is expected to be able to encourage farmers to adopt Biosoy varieties and optimize production inputs to make them more efficient so that farmers can adapt to climate change adaption.

Occurrence of Diseases and Seed Yield of Early Maturing Soybean Cultivars Grown under the Conditions of Central Europe

The aim of the study was to assess the health status and seed yield of selected soybean cultivars grown in the climate conditions of Central Europe. The health of 22 soybean cultivars was assessed during the study period (2017–2022). Cultivars from two earliness classes (1 and 2) were included in order to capture the entire spectrum of variation in the degree of infection with seven fungal diseases throughout the growing season, i.e., from sowing to harvest. Based on analysis of meteorological conditions in the critical phase of soybean development (from flowering to pod formation), two distinct periods were distinguished according to temperature and rainfall: normal (2017–2019) and anomalous (2020–2022). Ward’s cluster analysis distinguished two clusters that differed in terms of the weather conditions and severity and number of diseases observed for analyzed soybean cultivars during six years of the study. The first cluster included the period 2017–2019, which was characterized as normal in terms of temperature and rainfall. The second cluster included the period 2020–2022, which was characterized as anomalous in terms of temperature and rainfall. In the normal years (2017–2019), only Fusarium of the leaves was not observed during the soybean growing period. Seven diseases were observed in the anomalous years (2020–2022), and the degree of infection of the plants was greater. The Aligator cultivar in class 2, with a longer growing period, showed the highest yield stability. In the anomalous years, yield stability was highest for the class 2 cultivar Viola and lowest for the Acardia cultivar of the same class. In the whole study period, the Abelina cultivar (class 1) had a low coefficient of variation for yield, which means that this soybean cultivar is one of the most stable in terms of yield.

Impact of Foliar Fungicide Application on the Culturable Fungal Endophyte Community of Soybean Seed in the Midwest United States.

The purpose of our study was to determine whether the application of quinone outside inhibitor (QoI) and pyrazole-carboxamide fungicides as a tank mix would impact the endophyte community of soybean seed. Field trials during 2018 in Iowa, South Dakota, and Wisconsin, U.S.A., investigated the impact of a single combination fungicide spray at early pod set in soybeans. The composition of culturable endophytic fungi in mature soybean seed was assessed on three cultivars per state, with maturity groups (MGs) ranging from 1.1 to 4.7. An unusually wet 2018 season delayed harvest, which led to a high level of fungal growth in grain. The survey included 1,080 asymptomatic seeds that were disinfested and individually placed on 5-cm-diameter Petri plates of acidified water agar. The survey yielded 721 fungal isolates belonging to 24 putative species in seven genera; taxa were grouped into genera based on a combination of morphological and molecular evidence. The dominant genera encountered in the survey were Alternaria, Diaporthe, and Fusarium. The study showed that the fungicide treatment reduced the incidence of Fusarium in Wisconsin seed, increased the incidence of Diaporthe in seed from all states, and had no impact on the incidence of Alternaria. This is one of the first attempts to characterize the diversity of seed endophytes in soybean and the first to characterize the impacts of fungicide spraying on these endophyte communities across three states. Our study provides evidence that the impact of a fungicide spray on soybean seed endophyte communities may be influenced by site, weather, and cultivar maturity group.

Genome-wide association study reveals GmFulb as candidate gene for maturity time and reproductive length in soybeans (Glycine max).

The ability of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] to adapt to different latitudes is attributed to genetic variation in major E genes and quantitative trait loci (QTLs) determining flowering time (R1), maturity (R8), and reproductive length (RL). Fully revealing the genetic basis of R1, R8, and RL in soybeans is necessary to enhance genetic gains in soybean yield improvement. Here, we performed a genome-wide association analysis (GWA) with 31,689 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to detect novel loci for R1, R8, and RL using a soybean panel of 329 accessions with the same genotype for three major E genes (e1-as/E2/E3). The studied accessions were grown in nine environments and observed for R1, R8 and RL in all environments. This study identified two stable peaks on Chr 4, simultaneously controlling R8 and RL. In addition, we identified a third peak on Chr 10 controlling R1. Association peaks overlap with previously reported QTLs for R1, R8, and RL. Considering the alternative alleles, significant SNPs caused RL to be two days shorter, R1 two days later and R8 two days earlier, respectively. We identified association peaks acting independently over R1 and R8, suggesting that trait-specific minor effect loci are also involved in controlling R1 and R8. From the 111 genes highly associated with the three peaks detected in this study, we selected six candidate genes as the most likely cause of R1, R8, and RL variation. High correspondence was observed between a modifying variant SNP at position 04:39294836 in GmFulb and an association peak on Chr 4. Further studies using map-based cloning and fine mapping are necessary to elucidate the role of the candidates we identified for soybean maturity and adaptation to different latitudes and to be effectively used in the marker-assisted breeding of cultivars with optimal yield-related traits.

GmABCG5, an ATP-binding cassette G transporter gene, is involved in the iron deficiency response in soybean.

Iron deficiency is a major nutritional problem causing iron deficiency chlorosis (IDC) and yield reduction in soybean, one of the most important crops. The ATP-binding cassette G subfamily plays a crucial role in substance transportation in plants. In this study, we cloned the GmABCG5 gene from soybean and verified its role in Fe homeostasis. Analysis showed that GmABCG5 belongs to the ABCG subfamily and is subcellularly localized at the cell membrane. From high to low, GmABCG5 expression was found in the stem, root, and leaf of young soybean seedlings, and the order of expression was flower, pod, seed stem, root, and leaf in mature soybean plants. The GUS assay and qRT-PCR results showed that the GmABCG5 expression was significantly induced by iron deficiency in the leaf. We obtained the GmABCG5 overexpressed and inhibitory expressed soybean hairyroot complexes. Overexpression of GmABCG5 promoted, and inhibition of GmABCG5 retarded the growth of soybean hairy roots, independent of nutrient iron conditions, confirming the growth-promotion function of GmABCG5. Iron deficiency has a negative effect on the growth of soybean complexes, which was more obvious in the GmABCG5 inhibition complexes. The chlorophyll content was increased in the GmABCG5 overexpression complexes and decreased in the GmABCG5 inhibition complexes. Iron deficiency treatment widened the gap in the chlorophyll contents. FCR activity was induced by iron deficiency and showed an extraordinary increase in the GmABCG5 overexpression complexes, accompanied by the greatest Fe accumulation. Antioxidant capacity was enhanced when GmABCG5 was overexpressed and reduced when GmABCG5 was inhibited under iron deficiency. These results showed that the response mechanism to iron deficiency is more actively mobilized in GmABCG5 overexpression seedlings. Our results indicated that GmABCG5 could improve the plant's tolerance to iron deficiency, suggesting that GmABCG5 might have the function of Fe mobilization, redistribution, and/or secretion of Fe substances in plants. The findings provide new insights into the ABCG subfamily genes in the regulation of iron homeostasis in plants.

Features of the formation of the height of soybean varieties of different maturity groups

The article presents the results of the analysis of the formation of the height of soybean plants, their weight, attachment of the lower beans on the plant in different groups of soybean maturity. The research was conducted in 2022–2024 at NATASHA AGRO LLC of the Chernihiv region. Soy varieties, early ripening - Diadema Podillia, Tenor, Satalia; mid-early ripening – Churayvna, Sakuza, Mentor; medium-ripe - Pallador, Prescott, Azimuth. The Churayvna soybean variety served as a control. The soil of the experimental site is a meadow-chernozem dusty-loamy soil. The area of the sowing area is 78 m2, the accounting area is 25 m2, repetition three times. The predecessor is corn. The method of sowing is35 cm wide rows. Soybean sowing rate is 550,000/ha of similar seeds. It has been established that the formation of the height of soybean plants is influenced by varietal characteristics. Soybean plants reach their maximum height in the bean filling phase, while the tallest were the mid-ripening varieties Pallador –92,2 cm, Prescott –89,0 cm, and the mid-early - Sakuza –90,4 cm. The lowest height of soybean plants was recorded in early-ripening Tenor soybean varieties –77,1 cmand Diadema Podillya –73,6 cm. In the varieties Pallador, Prescot, Azimuth of the medium-ripening group, the height of the attachment of the lower bean was from 15 to16 cm. For these varieties, this is a positive indicator, which will reduce losses when harvesting with a combine harvester . Varieties Tenor, Satalia had a low bean attachment of 11–11,8 cm, both in favorable and unfavorable years of research. The height of plants of different varieties of soybeans in the phase of the 2nd trifoliate white leaf is almost the same. Differences in indicators are observed in the phase of the beginning of budding, the largest increase is during the flowering period - the filling of beans. Sakuza varieties stood out –86,6 cm, Pallador –96,1 cm, Prescott –81,4 cm.

Устойчивый к полеганию, крупносемянный сорт сои Рысь

Resistant to lodging, large-seeded mid-early maturing soybean cultivar Rys’ was obtained as a result of individual selection in F4 from the hybrid combination Slavia × Shama SRP on differentiating back-grounds based on the characteristics of semi-determinant stem growth, large seeds, reduced response to day length, cold and frost resistance. Based on the results of variety testing 2019–2022, the soybean cultivar Rys’ exceeded the standard cultivar Vilana by 0.54 t/ha by yield. The height of plants at the latitude of Krasnodar (45°) is 90–109 cm. In optimal moisture conditions, the weight of 1000 seeds of this cultivar is 165–207 g. The new high-yielding soybean cultivar Rys’ is highly resistant to low air and soil temperatures, and also reacts poorly to nonoptimal day lengths. This allows it to be cultivated in soybean-producing farms in the North Caucasus and Lower Volga regions of the Russian Federation, as well as in the republics of Central Asia and Transcaucasia at latitudes from 40 to 50°.