Pathogenesis-related proteins, often used as molecular markers of disease resistance in plants, can enable plants to obtain systemic resistance. In this study, a gene encoding a pathogenesis-related protein was identified via RNA-seq sequencing analysis performed at different stages of soybean seedling development. Because the gene sequence showed the highest similarity with PR1L sequence in soybean, the gene was named GmPR1-9-like (GmPR1L). GmPR1L was either overexpressed or silenced in soybean seedlings through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation to examine the resistance of soybean to infection caused by Cercospora sojina Hara. The results revealed that GmPR1L-overexpressing soybean plants had a smaller lesion area and improved resistance to C. sojina infection, whereas GmPR1L-silenced plants had low resistance to C. sojina infection. Fluorescent real-time PCR indicated that overexpression of GmPR1L induced the expression of genes such as WRKY, PR9, and PR14, which are more likely to be co-expressed during C. sojina infection. Furthermore, the activities of SOD, POD, CAT, and PAL were significantly increased in GmPR1L-overexpressing soybean plants after seven days of infection. The resistance of the GmPR1L-overexpressing lines OEA1 and OEA2 to C. sojina infection was significantly increased from a neutral level in wild-type plants to a moderate level. These findings predominantly reveal the positive role of GmPR1L in inducing resistance to C. sojina infection in soybean, which may facilitate the production of improved disease-resistant soybean cultivars in the future.

Soybean (Glycine max) is a globally important crop valued for its high seed oil and protein content. However, lodging remains a major abiotic constraint that causes substantial yield losses. Lodging resistance is primarily determined by stem strength and toughness, which are governed by stem anatomical organization, vascular tissue development, and the composition and architecture of secondary cell walls (SCWs). This review synthesizes current knowledge on anatomical, structural, and genetic factors that are implicated in stem mechanical performance in dicotyledonous plants, with particular emphasis on vascular cambium activity, xylem and phloem differentiation, and the biosynthesis of major SCW components, including cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. These processes collectively determine stem rigidity, flexibility, and resistance to mechanical stress. By integrating insights from model species, especially Arabidopsis thaliana, and non-soybean dicots, this review highlights conserved regulatory pathways controlling stem development and SCW formation that are directly relevant to soybean improvement. The synthesis provides a translational framework for understanding how conserved anatomical and genetic mechanisms can be leveraged to enhance soybean stem strength, toughness, and lodging resistance. Overall, this review provides a conceptual foundation for future functional studies and breeding strategies to improve soybean yield stability and adaptability across diverse agronomic conditions.