Genome-Wide Analysis of GmMYB S20 Transcription Factors Reveals Their Critical Role in Soybean Nodulation.

Soybean relies on symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) to support sustainable agriculture. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of the GmMYB transcription factor subfamily 20, with a focus on and . Phylogenetic and structural analyses revealed that these genes are evolutionarily conserved among legumes and possess distinct domain architectures. Expression profiling and GUS staining showed that and are constitutively expressed in nodules. Functional analyses revealed that loss of function significantly reduced nodule density, while overexpression promoted nodulation. Transcriptomic analysis (RNA-seq) further demonstrated that regulate key pathways, including hormone signaling, immune responses, and cell wall metabolism, thereby coordinating symbiotic interactions. Collectively, our findings identify and as critical molecular regulators of nodulation in soybean, providing promising targets for improving symbiotic nitrogen fixation efficiency in legume crops.