Host transcriptional and microbiome metatranscriptomic changes in soybean plants carrying the insect-pathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana as an endophyte.

Streptomyces spp. alleviates drought stress and reduces yield losses by enhancing root development, net photosynthesis, and water-use efficiency in soybean plants.

Strategies for controlling fungal diseases in soybean plants

Over the past two decades, despite significant fluctuations in China's soybean planting area, high-resolution assessments quantifying the spatially heterogeneous and nonlinear impacts of compounding economic, climatic, and policy drivers remain scarce. To fill this gap, this study uses satellite remote sensing data (2000–2022) to map 1 km gridded soybean areas across China’s three main producing regions: the Northeast China Plain (NEP), Huang-Huai and Middle-Lower Yangtze Plains (HH-MLYP), and Sichuan Basin (SCB). Integrating yield and cost‒price data, we calculated the comparative economic benefit (CEB) between soybean and maize. A random forest model with SHapley additive explanations (SHAP) quantified the contributions of CEB, climatic, and topographical variables. Results revealed that CEB, growing season precipitation, and growing degree days were the most influential drivers, explaining 14.88%, 14.47%, and 13.70% of area variation, respectively. These impacts exhibit strong spatial heterogeneity: economic factors dominate in the NEP, whereas climate is more critical in the HH-MLYP and SCB. Subsidy policies effectively expanded planting in the NEP, despite diminishing marginal effects. These findings provide a scientific basis for optimizing planting strategies and designing targeted subsidies.

The widespread agricultural use of atrazine threatens soil health, and residual phytotoxicity in corn-soybean rotation systems necessitates sustainable remediation strategies. By leveraging the atrazine-degrading fungus Trichoderma lentiforme HN154, we achieved an 80.3% removal of atrazine (500 mg/kg) in non-sterilized soils from a corn planting system within 14 days, 22.1% higher degradation than in sterilized soil, while concurrently alleviating phytotoxic symptoms in soybean plants. Metagenomic analysis revealed that colonization by T. lentiforme HN154 drove restructuring of microbial networks, enriching the keystone family Burkholderiaceae, which was strongly associated with atrazine catabolism and four key catabolic enzymes (EC 3.5.4.43 (atzB), EC 3.5.1.131 (atzE), EC 3.5.1.54 (atzF), EC 3.5.4.42 (atzC)). Among 23 rhizosphere isolates, the Burkholderia strains Bur-4, Bur-5, and Bur-14 showed the highest atrazine degradation rates (26.3% - 29.4%) within 72 h. A Trichoderma-Burkholderia synthetic consortium further enhanced remediation by boosting plant antioxidant defenses (SOD, POD, CAT) and reducing oxidative damage (MDA). Mechanistically, intermediates (hydroxyatrazine and biuret) generated during T. lentiforme HN154-mediated degradation stimulated Burkholderia chemotaxis, swarming and swimming motility, while cross-feeding on these metabolites synergistically accelerated bioaugmentation (the Trichoderma-Burkholderia synthetic consortium achieved rapid atrazine degradation of 86.3% within 168 h). This study reveals tripartite interactions among exogenous microbial degraders, pollutant metabolites, and indigenous microbiota, offering a strategic foundation for microbiome-guided, precision bioaugmentation to restore soil ecological health and crop resilience.

Soybean gall midge (Resseliella maxima Gagné) was confirmed in 2019 as a new species in the Midwestern United States. It is known to occur in seven states (Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota) and can cause up to 100% yield loss in soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) for the first 30 m from the field edge. Field and greenhouse observations indicate R. maxima infests soybean stems through fissures at the base of the plant during early vegetative growth stages. Given the importance of plant stage for infestation and the limited knowledge on chemical control, a field study was conducted across four locations in eastern Nebraska to evaluate the combined effects of planting date and an at-plant insecticide on R. maxima infestations, plant injury, and grain yield. To test these effects, the study was conducted as a randomized complete block split-plot design with 3 planting dates (late-April, mid- and late-May) assigned to main plots and 2 insecticide treatments (phorate applied at planting and untreated control) assigned to sub-plots. To assess treatments, the proportion of infested plants, larval abundance, plant injury, and yield were recorded. Results showed a significant difference in the proportion of infested plants, larval abundance, plant injury, and yield among treatments. However, treatment differences varied among locations. This study enhances the understanding of R. maxima management by demonstrating how integrating planting date and at-planting insecticide use can reduce plant injury from this emerging pest.

Online solid-phase extraction coupled to liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for fungicide translocation studies in soybean plants.

Rhizoctonia root rot (RRR) reduces soybean yields, and is influenced by soil conditions, but there is a lack of knowledge on effects of soil moisture and soil type on disease severity, in subtropical environments. Increased RRR during periods of water deficit in southern Brazil reinforces requirement to understand interactions between soils and moisture affect severity of the disease and crop yields. Two greenhouse experiments were conducted to evaluate combined effects of soil moisture (50, 65, 80, or 95% water holding capacity; WHC) and soil type (Acrisol, Cambisols, Leptosol, or Nitisol) on soybean RRR severity and yield components. Increasing soil moisture from 50 to 95% WHC linearly reduced RRR severity and linearly increased numbers of soybean pods, grains, and grain weights, inside and outside RRR patches. In Experiment 1, at 65% WHC, RRR severity was less in Leptosol than on Acrisol, but there were no differences between these two soils and the other soil types. In Experiment 2, soil type did not affect RRR severity evaluated at all the tested soil moistures. High soil moisture (≥ 80% WHC) mitigated RRR, and extended the soybean growth cycle. Low soil moisture (50–65% WHC) intensified RRR severity, increased plant death, and reduced soybean grain yields.

Soybean crops require adequate nutritional management throughout their development to maximize physiological performance and grain yield. Although foliar fertilization is widely used as a complementary strategy, information regarding nutrient application according to soybean phenological stages remains limited under tropical field conditions. Therefore, this study evaluated the effects of progressive foliar nutrient management applied at different soybean growth stages on physiological performance, nutritional status, and grain yield. Field experiments were conducted over two years in Rio Verde, Goiás, Brazil. Treatments consisted of increasing foliar nutritional management programs: T1 (control), T2 (Mn-EDTA), T3 (T2 + N, P, Mg, S, B, Ni, Co, Mo, Zn, K, amino acids, and Cu-EDTA), T4 (T3 + K, Mg, S, Mn, Zn, B, and Cu), and T5 (T4 + Mg, Zn, and Se). Plant biometry, chlorophyll content, photosynthetic parameters, leaf nutritional status, nutrient export by grains, and grain yield were evaluated. Progressive foliar nutrient application promoted significant physiological and productive gains in soybean plants, with T5 showing the best overall performance. Compared with the control treatment, grain yield (5,509 kg ha−1) increased by 55.3%, photosynthetic rate by 12.5%, and chlorophyll content by approximately 7%. In addition, improvements in plant structure and nutrient accumulation were observed. The results demonstrate that progressive foliar fertilization based on soybean phenological stages is an effective strategy to enhance soybean physiological efficiency and grain yield, representing a practical alternative for increasing productivity and profitability under Brazilian tropical field conditions.

Soybean (Glycine max) is an important legume crop worldwide. An emerging leaf spot was observed in soybean plants with obvious black necrotic spot symptoms during the disease survey in Changping District, Beijing, China. To confirm the causal agent, the pathogen was isolated from the diseased leaves. Three isolates were obtained and showed a morphology extremely similar to Paramyrothecium vignicola. The isolates were identified by morphological and molecular characteristics. Phylogenetic analyses were performed using multiple gene regions (ITS, cmdA, rpb2, and tub2). The result indicated that the three isolates showed a high similarity (100%) with the known P. vignicola strains. Pathogenicity and host range tests of the isolates were performed on soybean and other legume crops. Three isolates were strongly pathogenic to soybean, hyacinth bean, common bean, faba bean, pea, mung bean, and lentil; moderate pathogenicity on adzuki bean; mild pathogenicity on cowpea and peanut. To screen resistant germplasms for disease control, the screening experiment of inoculum concentration of P. vignicola were performed. The result showed the most suitable concentration of P. vignicola isolate is 1 × 105 spores/mL for evaluation of germplasms resistance. Paramyrothecium species have been frequently identified to cause leaf spot and blight disease on a wide range of vegetables, ornamental plants, and economic crops. To our knowledge, this is the first report of P. vignicola inducing leaf spot on soybean worldwide. This study indicates P. vignicola might pose a potential risk to legume crops in the future.

Soybean is a vital crop in Egypt, recognized for their high oil and protein content. Although damping-off and root-rot diseases pose significant threats to soybean production and quality, El-Giza-R.s6 (NCBI accession number PX694340) exhibited the highest aggressiveness among the Rhizoctonia solani isolates in vivo. Salicylic acid (SA) and glycyrrhizic acid ammonium salt (GAS), in both nanoparticles (NPs) and bulk form, significantly inhibited the linear growth of R. solani in PDA medium at 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 3.0 ml/L concentrations, particularly by increasing SA and GAS concentrations to 3 ml/L in nanoparticles than in their bulk forms. GAS and SA, both in bulk form and as NPS at concentrations of 1.0, 1.5 and 3 ml/L, along with the fungicide Topsin-M 70®, significantly reduced R. solani damping-off and root-rot diseases, while also increasing plant survival in greenhouse and field trials. Among all treatments, Topsin-M 70® was the most effective, followed by SA-NPs and GAS-NPs at a concentration of 3 ml/L. Furthermore, soybean root cross-sections examined under a light microscope showed that these treatments prevented the plants from harmful anatomical changes caused by the pathogenic fungus in the epidermis, cortex, and vascular cylinder structure due to artificial infestation in vivo. Additionally, these treatments notably enhanced the enzyme activity of β-1,3-glucanase, polyphenol oxidase, and catalase in soybean leaves compared to both infested and uninfested controls. During the 2024 and 2025 growing seasons in El-Menuofia Governorate, SA-NPs, Topsin-M 70®, and GAS-NPs were the most effective treatments, significantly improving soybean yield and its components.

Soybean (Glycine max) root nodules, formed through symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing rhizobia, are essential for biological nitrogen fixation. While quantifying key nodulation traits, nodule number and weight, is critical for assessing symbiotic efficiency and yield potential, current methods are destructive and labor-intensive, unsuitable for longitudinal monitoring and high-throughput phenotyping. Here, we established hyperspectral leaf reflectance as a non-destructive, high-resolution tool capable of monitoring root nodule development. Using Partial Least Squares Regression models, we connected spectral data with nodule metrics from 528 unique soybean plants across 18 genotypes, inoculated with different rhizobium strains, and under different abiotic stresses. These models achieved high accuracy for predicting nodule number (R2 = 0.75, nRMSE = 6.02%) and moderate accuracy for nodule weight (R2 = 0.53, nRMSE = 12.38%). Crucially, spectral analyses revealed distinct hyperspectral signatures sensitive to nodule traits. While different rhizobium strains induced comparable changes in both nodule traits, and therefore produced highly overlapped spectral domains, diagnostically distinct spectral patterns were generated under drought versus salt stress, with the former suppressing nodulation more significantly than the latter. Furthermore, we demonstrated the effectiveness of our models for real-time in-situ monitoring of nodule development for individual plants. Spectral-nodule trait covariation analyses further revealed leaf signatures correlated with nodule traits primarily through systemic physiological coupling governed by carbon-nitrogen exchange dynamics and plant water status. This study showcased hyperspectral sensing as a transformative methodology, enabling the unprecedented non-destructive quantification of nodulation dynamics, revealing novel physiological insights into plant-microbe-environment interactions, facilitating breeding and management strategies for sustainable soybean production.

Soil salinity may constitute a serious limitation to soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) production. In the present study, a halotolerant bacterial strain KF23 was isolated and characterized, and its ability to support soybean growth under salinity stress conditions was evaluated. KF23 exhibited moderate salt tolerance (6% NaCl) and tolerated a wide range of pH (6-10) and temperature (6-42°C). Subsequently, 16S rRNA analysis showed that strain KF23 belongs to the genus Serratia and is closely related to Serratia plymuthica. Serratia sp. KF23 produced indole-3-acetic acid, siderophores and NH3, exhibited nitrogen fixation and ZnSO4 solubilization, as well as proteolytic and β-1,3-glucanase activity. KF23 formed biofilm and exopolysaccharides at 0-6% NaCl. In a three-year pot experiment, soybean plants were grown under 0, 150, and 300 mM NaCl with or without KF23 inoculation. KF23 inoculation improved soybean growth at 150 and 300 mM NaCl, increasing root length (+ 32-39.6%), shoot fresh weight (+ 9.8-45.1%), shoot dry weight (+ 19.1-23.3%), and fresh pod weight (+ 23.3-36.9%) relative to the control. Chlorophyll a and b content was higher in inoculated plants, whereas the levels of malondialdehyde, hydrogen peroxide, and proline were lower, indicating a reduction of osmotic and oxidative stress. Catalase activity increased significantly (+ 157.6% at 0 mM and + 20% at 150 mM NaCl). In the soil, a higher total nitrogen concentration was recorded at 300 mM NaCl (+ 11.4%), and dehydrogenase activity remained stable. KF23 also increased protein content and digestibility of soybean above-ground biomass under salinity conditions. The results indicate that Serratia sp. KF23 is a promising plant growth-promoting bacterium improving plant performance and soil quality under salt stress conditions.

Flooding is one of the most devastating abiotic stresses in agriculture, and enhancing flood tolerance is critical for sustainable crop production. Soybean (Glycine max) is highly susceptible to flooding stress. However, the molecular mechanism underlying soybean response to flooding stress remains largely unknown, and the genes available for improving soybean flood tolerance are relatively limited. In this study, we characterized the function of the predicted cytochrome P450 gene, GmSUR2a, in regulating submergence tolerance in both soybean and Arabidopsis. The Arabidopsis SUR2 gene played a positive role in regulating submergence tolerance. The GmSUR2a, which localizes to a previously identified quantitative trait locus (QTL) for waterlogging tolerance on soybean chromosome 03, shared conserved functions with AtSUR2 in regulating submergence tolerance. Transgenic soybean plants overexpressing GmSUR2a displayed enhanced submergence tolerance accompanied by reduced auxin levels. Further experiments revealed that auxin negatively regulates submergence tolerance: Exogenous auxin application decreased survival rates, and auxin signaling mutants exhibited improved tolerance. We also identified that GmAGL15 transcription factor directly repressed GmSUR2a expression. Importantly, field trials confirmed that GmSUR2a overexpression not only improved submergence tolerance but also increased the yield of transgenic soybean plants. Our findings provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms of submergence tolerance and establish GmSUR2a as a promising target for breeding flood-resistant soybean varieties.

Seven commercially available seed-applied nematicides were evaluated in a greenhouse pot experiment and in two field experiments using Meloidogyne incognita-susceptible and partially resistant maturity group IV soybean cultivars. Nematicide treatments were abamectin, fluopyram, pydiflumetofen, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (PTA4838), B. amyloliquefaciens + cis-jasmone, B. flavus (I-1582), and Burkholderia rinojensis (A396). Soybean plants were inoculated with approximately 3,000 M. incognita eggs/pot in the greenhouse experiment. Field experiments were conducted in sites with naturally high infestation levels, averaging 450 nematodes/100 cm3 soil after harvest. In the greenhouse, lower root galling and nematode reproduction were observed with seed-applied fluopyram compared to other nematicides and the non-treated control on a susceptible soybean cultivar. Whereas none of the seed-applied nematicides consistently suppressed root galling or protected grain yield in either the susceptible or partially resistant soybean cultivars in the field experiments. Nematicides provided an average of 0.3% yield protection for susceptible cultivars and had no measurable effect on partially resistant cultivars. In contrast, partially resistant cultivars produced, on average, 50% greater grain yield than the susceptible cultivar. These results demonstrate that seed-applied nematicides provide minimal yield protection under high M. incognita population densities, whereas host plant resistance remains the most effective and reliable management strategy in soybean production.

Zinc (Zn) deficiency is a common nutritional limitation in agricultural systems and is directly associated with redox imbalance, impacting crop growth. Silicon (Si) has been highlighted for its potential to improve plant tolerance to abiotic stresses; however, there is limited evidence regarding its effectiveness in mitigating Zn deficiency, particularly in species with contrasting Si accumulation capacities under different application methods. This study investigated the effects of foliar and root Si application on Si and Zn accumulation, oxidative metabolism, antioxidant responses, and dry matter production in rice (Oryza sativa L.), a known Si accumulator, and soybean (Glycine max L.), a non-accumulating species, grown under Zn-sufficient and Zn-deficient conditions. Silicon supplementation significantly increased Si concentration and accumulation in both crops, irrespective of species or application method, and improved Zn accumulation and Zn use efficiency under Zn deficiency. Zinc deprivation induced oxidative stress, characterized by elevated H₂O₂ and MDA levels and alterations in antioxidant enzyme activities. Both foliar and root Si supply reduced oxidative damage markers in rice and soybean, although regulatory responses differed between species. In Zn-deficient rice plants, both root and foliar Si application enhanced ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and catalase (CAT) activity. In soybean Zn-deficient plants, foliar Si selectively increased APX activity, while CAT activity was less responsive. These physiological adjustments translated into increased biomass accumulation in both crops compared with untreated Zn-deficient plants, demonstrating the functional relevance of Si-induced biochemical modulation. Notably, responses were not restricted to stress scenarios, as Si also improved antioxidant coordination and nutrient efficiency under adequate Zn supply, suggesting a priming effect. Si supplementation supported oxidative homeostasis, improved nutrient dynamics, and enhanced plant performance under Zn deficiency, with effectiveness modulated by species physiology and Si delivery route. These results demonstrate for the first time that foliar or root Si represents a promising agronomic strategy to mitigate Zn deficiency in Si-accumulating and non-Si-accumulating crops.

The frequent detection of oxytetracycline in agricultural soils may alter the environmental behavior and risks of coexisting pesticides. This study investigated the influence of oxytetracycline on the degradation and phytotoxicity of pendimethalin in a soil-soybean system. Results demonstrated that oxytetracycline at 50 mg/kg prolonged the half-life of pendimethalin in soil from 33.0 days to 40.8 days. Coexposure inhibited the activities of urease, dehydrogenase, and catalase in the soil. While pendimethalin alone showed no adverse effects on soybean growth, coexposure with oxytetracycline induced pronounced growth inhibition and enhanced oxidative stress. Ecological risk assessment confirmed significantly elevated risks to earthworms. Further analysis revealed suppressed CYP450 and GST activities in both soil and soybean plants, with more pronounced reductions observed in the plants. These findings indicate that the coexistence of antibiotic-herbicide can enhance herbicide persistence and increase environmental contamination risks.

The increasing frequency of high-temperature episodes associated with climate change poses challenges to crop productivity. Stress priming could help to mitigate these effects, with the capacity to enhance plant resilience through metabolic adjustments and memory mechanisms. We evaluated the efficacy of the Stress Memory Encoder biofertilizer (SME, TIMAC Agro) as a seed treatment to induce heat stress (HS) memory in soybean plants [Glycine max (L.) Merrill]. In Experiment 1, plants with SME (0, 2, and 4 mL kg−1) were exposed to HS (35 °C for 48 h) at V3 and V6 vegetative stages. The 4 mL kg−1 dose at V6 under HS consistently improved photosynthetic traits and reductions in reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation. Non-enzymatic antioxidants were detected to this dose at V3. Multivariate analysis revealed patterns consistent with dose-dependent physiological adjustments and potential memory acquisition. In Experiment 2, plants treated with SME were exposed to HS (34 °C for 48 h) consecutively (V3 + V6). The SME-primed plants had a higher expression of transcript factors and genes related to HS. Overall, the findings indicate that SME may act as a priming agent capable of inducing somatic memory and enhancing adaptive responses to HS in soybean.

Although soybean is vital to the global economy, this crop faces productivity losses due to photoinhibition of photosystem II (PSII), which is worsened by heat and drought. Carbon dots (Cdots) offer a strategy to mitigate this stress by acting as light-harvesting and UV-protective agents. This study evaluated the foliar application of Cdots on soybean (Glycine max L. Merr. cv. BRS 1054 IPRO) exposed to high light intensity. In a greenhouse experiment with a completely randomized design, plants received deionized water (Control), synthesized Cdots at three concentrations (0.02, 0.05, and 0.20 mg mL−1), or a commercial Cdot product. Plants were grown under 50% shade and, at 24 days after sowing, transferred to a high-light greenhouse (20% attenuation). Measurements included PSII fluorescence (maximum quantum yield, potential activity, basal fluorescence, and dynamic photoinhibition) and leaf gas exchange (stomatal conductance, net photosynthesis, transpiration, intercellular CO2 concentration, intrinsic water use efficiency, and carboxylation efficiency), as well as chlorophyll index and growth traits. Cdots at 0.05 mg mL−1 and the commercial product maintained higher morning PSII maximum activity (+16% vs. Control), indicating enhanced photoprotection. Conversely, 0.20 mg mL−1 Cdots reduced PSII maximum activity by 62% at noon. At day 14, the 0.05 mg mL−1 treatment improved stress acclimation, reducing stomatal conductance and transpiration, while sustaining photosynthesis. Growth was significantly enhanced at this concentration, increasing chlorophyll content by 14%, shoot length by 26%, and total dry mass by up to 41% compared to controls. In conclusion, Cdots at 0.05 mg mL−1 alleviated chronic photoinhibition without increasing dynamic photoinhibition, thus acting as a promising nanobiostimulant that promotes soybean early growth under high-light stress.

Phytoplasmas and viruses are important pathogens of soybean (Glycine max) and other legumes, posing a severe threat to global legume yields. In this study, three soybean plants exhibiting severe bush dwarfing, stem necrosis, leaf deformation and wrinkling were collected from Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. High-throughput sequencing (HTS) coupled with reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) were employed for virome analysis, while nested-PCR and conventional PCR with 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) universal and tuf gene-specific primers were used for the specific detection of phytoplasmas. All three samples were confirmed to be co-infected with Cowpea mild mottle virus (CPMMV) and Candidatus Phytoplasma. The complete genome sequence of CPMMV was determined, which showed the highest nucleotide identity with the CPMMV isolate GX NiuDaLi, and the putative new isolate was named CPMMV GX-NN. Biological inoculation assays showed that CPMMV GX-NN could infect Glycine max, Vigna sinensis and Nicotiana benthamiana, inducing typical viral symptoms. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA sequences and virtual restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) via iPhyClassifier were further conducted and the phytoplasma was classified into the 16SrII Group. This is the first report of co-infection by CPMMV and a phytoplasma in soybean plants in Guangxi, China, providing critical insights for diagnosing and managing soybean diseases caused by these pathogens.