Genome-wide identification of the SAM-dependent methyltransferase members and functional analysis of GmSAMMt30 in soybean (Glycine max) under salt-alkali stress.

Saline-alkali soil poses a severe threat to the cultivation and yield of soybean, which is an important oilseed and staple crop. As a key metabolic intermediate, S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) and its associated methyltransferases (SAMMTs) play crucial but poorly understood roles in plant stress responses. This study investigated the expression of SAM-depend methyltransferase (SAMMt) family in soybean. A total of 69 identified GmSAMMt members were divided into 13 subfamilies with similar gene structures by phylogenetic analysis. The GmSAMMt members contained cis-acting elements involved in abiotic stress responses, hormone regulation, and plant growth and development. A tissue-specific expression analysis identified 43 GmSAMMt members with high levels of expression. Haplotype analysis and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) screening identified GmSAMMt30 as the most promising candidate gene responsive to saline-alkali stress. In yeast heterologous expression assays, compared to the control strain INVScI(pYES2), GmSAMMt30 significantly enhanced the growth of recombinant yeast under saline-alkali stress, whereas GmSAMMt30 exhibited markedly inhibited growth relative to GmSAMMt30. In transgenic soybean hairy roots, the GmSAMMt30 genotype showed significantly better phenotypic performance under salt-alkali stress than K599(pSOY1) with lower leaf wilting and content of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In contrast, the GmSAMMt30 genotype showed increased sensitivity to salt-alkali stress, with more severe leaf wilting and a higher ROS content compared to K599(pSOY1). Therefore, the study lays the foundation for in-depth research on the soybean salt-alkali tolerance traits and its application in molecular marker-assisted breeding for this legume crop.