Molecular mechanism of drought resistance in soybean roots revealed using physiological and multi-omics analyses

Soybeans are one of the most cultivated crops worldwide and drought can seriously affect their growth and development. Many studies have elucidated the mechanisms through which soybean leaves respond to drought; however, little is known about these mechanisms in roots. We used two soybean varieties with different drought tolerances to study the morphological, physiological, and molecular response mechanisms of the root system to drought stress in seedlings. We found that drought stress led to a significant decrease in the root traits and an increase in antioxidant enzyme activity in the two varieties. Drought-resistant varieties accumulate large amounts of flavonoids and phenolic acids at the metabolic level, which causes variations in drought resistance. Additionally, differences in gene expression and drought-resistance pathways between the two varieties were clarified using transcriptome analysis. Through a multi-omics joint analysis, phenylpropanoid and isoflavonoid biosynthesis were identified as the core drought resistance pathways in soybean roots. Candidate genes and marker metabolites affecting drought resistance were identified. The phenylpropanoid pathway confers drought tolerance to roots by maintaining a high level of POD activity and mediates the biosynthesis of various secondary drought-resistant metabolites to resist drought stress. This study provides useful data for investigating plant root drought responses and offers theoretical support for plant breeding for drought resistance.