SUMMARY: Salinity represents a major abiotic stressor that significantly impairs soybean growth and yield. Although jasmonic acid (JA) has been firmly established as a key regulator of plant defense against salt stress, the precise functions of lipoxygenase ( LOX ) genes responsible for initiating JA biosynthesis remain poorly defined. Here, a comprehensive genome‐wide analysis of the soybean LOX gene family was performed, and a detailed functional characterization of GmLOX6 was carried out. Subcellular localization confirmed that GmLOX6 is targeted to chloroplasts, while enzymatic assays demonstrated that it acts as a 13‐LOX enzyme with a strong preference for α‐linolenic acid as substrate. To clarify its role under salt stress, we generated both overexpression and CRISPR/Cas9‐mediated knockout lines of soybean. Phenotypic and molecular evaluations revealed that GmLOX6 facilitates JA production under salt stress, thereby contributing to enhanced JA accumulation. This elevation in JA levels was associated with improved salt tolerance through multiple physiological adaptations, including the activation of antioxidant enzymes for the detoxification of reactive oxygen species (ROS), enhanced Na ⁺ extrusion to preserve ionic balance, and reinforced membrane stability. Moreover, GmRWP‐RK11 was identified as a transcriptional repressor of GmLOX6 . Functional disruption of GmRWP‐RK11 via CRISPR/Cas9 conferred greater salt tolerance, further supporting its negative regulatory role. Collectively, these findings uncover a novel regulatory axis in which GmLOX6 ‐mediated JA biosynthesis enhances soybean resistance to salinity through modulation of ROS homeostasis and Na ⁺ transport. These insights provide an expanded understanding of the transcriptional and biochemical mechanisms underpinning JA‐driven stress adaptation in soybean.

Soil salinization is a substantial environmental stressor that limits plant growth and development. Soil salinization has, therefore, emerged as a substantial barrier to crop production, particularly affecting soybean production in arable regions. Cultivating soybean varieties with high salt tolerance is an efficient approach for improving soybean production on arable land with soil salinization. The growth and development of soybean plants exposed to salt stress involve numerous physical and molecular regulation networks. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying soybean salt tolerance is a prerequisite for improving the salt tolerance of current soybean varieties or for breeding new soybean varieties with higher salt tolerance. This review provides a general overview of recent knowledge that may help to understand the molecular mechanisms of soybean responses to salt stress and discusses the potential challenges in salt‐tolerant soybean breeding, as well as possible strategies. We emphasize the importance of different genetic resources, especially wild soybeans, for mining new advantageous alleles. Additionally, pyramiding superior alleles and genome editing technologies are excellent tools for accelerating the cultivation of salt‐tolerant soybeans.

Seed protein content is a critical trait in soybean breeding, as it provides a primary source of high-quality protein for both human consumption and animal feed. This study aimed to enhance molecular marker-assisted selection for high-protein soybean varieties by developing Kompetitive Allele-Specific Polymerase Chain Reaction (KASP) markers targeted at loci associated with seed protein content. Nineteen markers with high genotyping efficacy were identified through screening. Utilizing SN76 (a high-protein line) as the male parent and SN49 and DS1 (both low-protein lines) as female parents, 484 F₆ generation individuals from these hybrid combinations were selected to validate the predictive accuracy of the 19 KASP markers. Notably, KASP-Pro-1, KASP-Pro-2, and KASP-Pro-3 effectively distinguished genotypes associated with high and low protein content, with prediction accuracies of 68.4%, 75.0%, and 83.3%, respectively. These results underscore the reliability and practical utility of the selected molecular markers, which are located within the genes Glyma.03G219900, Glyma.14G119000, and Glyma.17G074400, respectively. Haplotype analysis and gene pyramiding indicate that these three genes may influence seed protein content. Consequently, these KASP markers can be effectively integrated into genetic and genomic research on soybean seed protein content as well as into marker-assisted breeding.

Chromium is a major heavy metal pollutant that affects the health of both plants and animals. In this study, sunflower seedlings were treated with K₂Cr₇O₄ containing 50, 100, and 250 mg of pure chromium per kilogram of soil. It was found that the chromium was absorbed by the roots and transported within plant tissues to the stems and leaves. Chromium affected sunflower photosynthesis, seen in increased the Fv/Fm values as the chromium concentration rose. Metagenomic sequencing of rhizosphere microbial communities after treatment with 100 mg/kg pure chromium indicated that the rhizosphere microorganisms were resistant to chromium exposure; chromium was found to promote dopamine secretion and chromium complexation by the microorganisms. In addition, chromium was found to reduce microbial production of N₂O reductase and increase the emission of the greenhouse gas N₂O. In addressing the problem of chromium pollution in sunflower farmland, Bacillus sp. strain C8 was isolated and shown to effectively reduce soil chromium contents and chromium absorption by sunflower, thereby reducing the adverse effects of the metal. Furthermore, a gene associated with chromium resistance, LOC118480906, was identified by transcriptome sequencing of sunflower plants. In conclusion, the findings denonstrate: (1) the effect of chromium exposure on sunflower growth and development of sunflower; (2) the ecological effects of chromium exposure on sunflower farmland; (3) the regulation of soil microbes and the identification of resistance associated genes are effective ways to reduce chromium pollution.