Molecular Regulatory Network of Soybean Responses to Abiotic Stress

Global climate change exacerbates the impact of environmental stressors such as drought, salinity and extreme temperatures on crop growth and grain yield, endangering the sustainability of the food supply. Soybean (Glycine Max [L.] Merr.) is an important legume crop and plays a crucial role in the global food supply chain and food security, and contributes the substantial protein content relative to other crops. However, soybean yield stability is critically dependent on the plant's adaptive responses to abiotic stress factors, particularly drought, salinity and temperature extremes, which primarily impact its growth and productivity. Recently, various molecular techniques, including genetic engineering, transcriptomics, transcription factor analysis, CRISPR/Cas9, and conventional methods, have been employed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of soybean responses to environmental stresses for the breeding of tolerant cultivars of soybean. This review summarises recent advances in dissecting the genetic factors and networks that contribute to soybean abiotic stress tolerance through diverse strategies. We also discuss future challenges and opportunities for the development of climate-resilient soybean varieties. Consequently, the updated review will serve as a comprehensive guideline for researchers investigating the genetic mechanism of abiotic stress in soybean.