, a Lectin Receptor-like Protein Kinase, Contributes to Salt Stress Tolerance by Regulating Salt-Responsive Genes in Soybean.

Soybean [ (L.) Merr.] is an important oil crop that provides valuable resources for human consumption, animal feed, and biofuel. Through the transcriptome analysis in our previous study, (.) was identified as a salt-responsive candidate gene in soybean. In this study, qRT-PCR analysis showed that the gene expression level was significantly induced by salt stress and highly expressed in soybean roots. The - construct was generated and introduced into the soybean genome by . Compared with the wild type (WT), overexpressing (-ox) soybean lines had significantly enhanced fresh weight, proline (Pro) content, and catalase (CAT) activity, and reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) and HO content under salt stress. These results show that gene enhanced ROS scavenging ability in response to salt stress in soybean. Meanwhile, we demonstrated that gene also conferred soybean salt tolerance when it was overexpressed alone in soybean hairy root. Furthermore, the combination of RNA-seq and qRT-PCR analysis was used to determine that improves the salt tolerance of soybean by upregulating , , and and downregulating ., , and . Our research reveals a new mechanism of salt resistance in soybean, which exposes a novel avenue for the cultivation of salt-resistant varieties.