Soybean (Glycine max) is an important oilseed, protein and biodiesel crop. It faces significant threats from bacterial, fungal and viral pathogens, which cause economic losses and jeopardises global food security. In this article, we explore the relationship between soybeans and these pathogens, focusing on the molecular responses that are crucial for soybeans defence mechanisms. Molecular responses involve small RNAs and specific genes, including resistance (R) genes that are pivotal in triggering immune responses. Functional genomics, which makes use of cutting-edge technologies, such as CRISPR Cas9 gene editing, allows us to identify genes that provide insights into the defence mechanisms of soybeans with the focus on using genomics to understand the mechanisms involved in host pathogen interactions and ultimately improve the resilience of soybeans. Genes like GmKR3 and GmVQ58 have demonstrated resistance against soybean mosaic virus and common cutworm, respectively. Genetic studies have identified quantitative trait loci (QTLs) including those linked with soybean cyst nematode, root-knot nematode and Phytophthora root and stem rot resistance. Additionally, resistance against Asian soybean rust and soybean cyst nematode involves specific genes and their variations in terms of different copy numbers. To address the challenges posed by evolving pathogens and meet the demands of a growing population, accelerated soybean breeding efforts leveraging functional genomics are imperative. Targeted breeding strategies based on a deeper understanding of soybean gene function and regulation will enhance disease resistance, ensuring sustainable agriculture and global food security. Collaborative research and continued technological advancements are crucial for securing a resilient and productive agricultural future.

Dense planting and intercropping are the main ways to improve soybean production. However, both confront inter- and intra-crop shading stress. This leads to stem elongation, resulting in lodging and yield losses. Most previous studies have focused on the later growth stages for shade tolerance. However, it has been found that the seedling stage is crucial, and understanding the genetic basis of shade tolerance at this stage is pivotal for yield improvement. In this study, 310 soybean accessions were used to evaluate shade tolerance under greenhouse conditions. Plant height (PH), main stem length (MSL), and hypocotyl length (HL) were examined at seedling stage, and their treatment/control ratios (PH_r, MSL_r, HL_r) were used for genetic dissection of shade tolerance. Their overall phenotypic variation and heritability (H²) ranged 22.97–36.85% and 31.66–83.81%, respectively. RTM-GWAS identified 12, 10, and 6 QTLs associated with PH_r, MSL_r, and HL_r, respectively. Among these, Block_17_11907536_11926235 was associated with both PH_r and MSL_r, and Block_1_55630414_55715065 associated with the HL_r trait showed the highest contribution (R² = 10.38%). Additionally, seven promising candidate genes, primarily linked to ethylene-responsive transcription factors, were proposed, supported by their established roles in plant development and stress responses, as evidenced in prior studies. The germplasm, QTLs, and candidate genes identified in this study improve our understanding of shade tolerance and have the potential to accelerate the breeding of shade-resilient soybeans.

Global warming increases night temperatures more strongly than day temperatures. Recent evidence indicates that the effect of night temperature on plant physiology is independent of daytime conditions, suggesting distinct stress tolerance mechanisms. Legume crops, vital to sustainable agriculture, are particularly vulnerable to abiotic stresses, resulting in yield instability. Developing cultivars with round‐the‐clock stress tolerance requires an understanding of the mechanisms for nighttime abiotic stress tolerance. Unfortunately, data on nighttime abiotic stress response remain limited, particularly for legumes. This review examines the current understanding of nighttime versus daytime abiotic stress response in major crop legumes. Our analysis reveals that high night temperatures primarily affect both pod set and grain weight, while high day temperatures predominantly impact pod set, and low night temperatures mainly reduce grain weight. We explore possible underlying mechanisms, including the balance between photosynthesis and respiration rate, nocturnal stomatal conductance, thylakoid membrane structure and composition, as well as the influence of the circadian clock. Notably, we identify a positive trade‐off between warm nights and improved water use efficiency, suggesting promising avenues for breeding climate‐resilient legume varieties for the future.

Soybean belongs to the Leguminosae family having great nutritional value. It is considered to be a multipurpose crop used as food, feed, and fuel. Soybean as BNF (Biological Nitrogen Fixation) plant increases soil fertility through root nodule bacteria. Conventional breeding was used for improvement in crops in the past. But now scientists are working on soybean improvement through Genetic engineering (GE) to satisfy the global food demand. Genetic engineering methods i.e. gene silencing and transgenesis have reduced many risks and helped to increase soybean resilience. Recently, new plant breeding technologies (NBPTs) like transcription activator-like effector nucleases, zinc finger nucleases, and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR Cas9) appeared that are the basis for genetic improvement in soybean. These NBPTs proved beneficial in the improvement of soybean through precision genome engineering and gene functional characterization. These NBPTs have also covered the ethical and public acceptance problems about GE and transgenesis in soybean. In this review, we have provided a comprehensive note about stress resistance, nutritional enhancement of transgenic soybean, GE, and NBPTs, and their prospects.