Integrative multi-omics reveals differential salt tolerance traits and candidate genes in domestic and foreign soybeans.

Genome-wide association study identifies two salt-tolerance genes, RRL7 and RPH2, in soybean germplasms from China, the US, and Uruguay.

• Why it matters: Understanding the genetic basis of salt tolerance in soybean is essential for crop improvement, as salt stress causes water shortage, nutrient imbalance, and metabolic dysfunction that reduce yield.
• What they did: Researchers evaluated plant height, root length, and fresh weight under salt stress in soybean varieties from three regions and performed GWAS, transcriptomic, and metabolomic analyses to identify candidate genes.
• The result: Two salt-tolerance-associated genes, RRL7 and RPH2, were identified, with RRL7 linked to increased sinapaldehyde and 1-O-sinapoyl-β-D-glucose accumulation, advancing knowledge for breeding salt-tolerant soybean varieties.