Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) is one of the most important grain legume crops whose production has been growing every year and by 2024 reached ca. 7 million tons. The objective of this review was to summarize the latest achievements in soybean breeding, including the use of high-throughput sequencing methods and genomic technologies. Soybean is one of the most studied plants. The studies of recent years showed the advantage of approaches based on the use of molecular genetic markers in breeding. The first version of the soybean genome sequence, the G. max genome “Williams 82”, was presented in 2010, and this event significantly accelerated the study and development of genetic research on the crop. The data obtained made it possible to develop resources aimed at both studying the functional organization of soybean genes and breeding new improved cultivars. The review summarizes the results of large-scale soybean sequencing projects, including pan-genome works. Methods used for high-resolution genetic mapping, such as the SNP array analysis and the GBS (genotyping-by-sequencing) technique, are described. Information is provided on soybean genes associated with valuable agronomic and breeding-oriented traits whose identification made it possible to single them out as targets for editing.

A review is presented on recent advancements in the identification of blackberry hybrids, including successful examples of using molecular markers and DNA barcoding for the classification of complex hybrid forms. Special attention is given to the comparative analysis of the effectiveness of such methods depending on the research objectives and resource availability. The review highlights the future need for standardizing methods and expanding genetic marker databases to improve the accuracy in the classification of blackberry hybrids .

Background . Soybean ( Glycine  L.) Merr.) is one of the most important crops worldwide. Optimizing the growing season is a key focus in soybean breeding. Modern methods, including the use of DNA markers, make it possible to accelerate selection of desired genotypes. One of the marker identification tools is a genome-wide association study (GWAS). The research objective was to pinpoint the loci associated with the duration of the germination-to-flowering period. Materials and methods. The GWAS utilized the data from a three-year field study (2023–2025) conducted at Adler Experiment Station of VIR (43.450° N, 39.933° E), and the GBS data for a set of 169 soybean accessions from the VIR collection (origin: China, Russia, USA, Moldova, Canada, etc.). The Tassel 5.0 software was employed, implementing a mixed linear model (MLM). Results. Forty-eight significant SNPs distributed across 14 chromosomes were identified. These included the known QTLs involved in flowering regulation and the potentially novel chromosome loci Gm1 (115 cM), Gm6 (117 cM), Gm7 (34-36 cM), and Gm8 (116 cM), previously undescribed in the literature. Conclusion. The study of soybean cultivars of various geographic origin in the coastal zone of the Black Sea resulted in identifying new markers associated with flowering schedules.

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) is one of the most widely cultivated grain legumes worldwide. A genetic analysis of soybean samples around the world is essential for effective breeding programs and the development of genomic and marker-assisted selection. This study investigated the genetic diversity of soybean accessions from the VIR collection, one of the world’s largest seed banks. The sample consisted of 163 soybean (G. max) varieties. The study was conducted using Genotyping-by-Sequencing (GBS) technology. The aim of the study was to evaluate temporal changes in genetic diversity, population structure, and linkage disequilibrium in cultivated soybean. The material was divided according to two criteria: (1) three chronological groups of varieties, Group I (before 1959), Group II (1960–1989), and Group III (after 1990), and (2) regional characteristics. Linkage disequilibrium (LD) decay analysis revealed differences among chronological groups, with the longest LD decay distance observed in early accessions developed before 1959 and shorter LD decay distances in later groups. Nei’s gene diversity showed only slight differences among chronological groups, with a moderate decreasing trend in more recent accessions. Key loci were defined as SNPs showing the largest allele frequency differences between chronological groups and located within or near annotated genes. The results highlight the importance of comprehensive genomic analysis for the conservation and efficient utilization of genetic resources, as well as for the development of soybean breeding strategies in the future.

Accurate species identification in blackberries (Rubus spp.) is difficult because of morphological similarity and frequent hybridization. We studied 56 wild accessions from the Sirius Federal Territory (Russia), representing coastal and foothill ecosystems of the Black Sea region. Multilocus DNA barcoding with the plastid rbcL gene and nuclear ITS1 and ITS2 regions revealed signals of hybridization and hidden diversity. The rbcL marker showed low variation, grouping most accessions into two clusters with several singletons, which limited its use for distinguishing species. In contrast, ITS1 and ITS2 showed higher variation, forming six clusters and eight singletons, and allowed for clear separation of taxa such as Rubus caesius L., R. irritans Focke, and R. amabilis Focke. Accession 3 carried a raspberry (closely to R. corchorifolius L.fil) plastid haplotype, pointing to a hybrid origin. We also found groups of nearby plants with identical mutations, which likely reflect clonal spread with fixed somatic changes or the persistence of recent hybrid lineages. At the same time, accessions collected up to 140 km apart did not form separate clusters, showing weak geographic structuring along the coast. The results demonstrate that multilocus barcoding can reveal not only species boundaries but also evolutionary processes among Rubus such as hybridization, clonal propagation, and early stages of speciation.