Legume Genomics and Genetics 2024, Vol.15, No.4, 176-186 http://cropscipublisher.com/index.php/lgg 180 the identification of specific transcription factors, such as GmWRKY54 and GmNFYB17, which regulate drought-responsive genes, has provided valuable targets for genetic engineering and breeding programs (Wei et al., 2019; Sun et al., 2022). Figure 2 Traits representing or contributing to drought and flooding tolerance in soybean (Adopted from Valliyodan et al., 2016) Image caption: (A) Traits that contribute to drought tolerance in soybean. Red arrows indicate root metaxylem elements. (B) Flooding injury, showing flooding tolerance in soybean. G. max includes cultivated and exotic lines. G. soja is a wild relative of G. max, G. soja showed better waterlogging tolerance than G. max in University of Missouri field evaluations over multiple years (Adopted from Valliyodan et al., 2016) 4.3 Success stories and field trials Several case studies have demonstrated the successful enhancement of drought tolerance in soybeans through genomic approaches. For example, the overexpression of the GmWRKY54 gene in transgenic soybean plants has been shown to improve drought tolerance by enhancing stomatal closure and activating stress-related genes in the ABA and Ca2+ signaling pathways (Wei et al., 2019). Similarly, the overexpression of the GmNFYB17 gene resulted in transgenic plants with better drought resistance, higher root-to-top ratios, and improved yield under limited water conditions (Sun et al., 2022). Field trials of genetically modified soybean lines expressing DREB and AREB transcription factors have also shown promising results, with improved water use efficiency and drought-responsive gene expression (Fuganti-Pagliarini et al., 2017). The success of these genomic strategies in enhancing drought tolerance in soybeans has significant implications for future breeding programs. The integration of genomic technologies with traditional breeding approaches can accelerate the development of drought-tolerant soybean cultivars. The identification of key drought-responsive genes and QTLs provides valuable markers for MAS, while the use of transcription factors and other regulatory genes offers new avenues for genetic engineering (Valliyodan et al., 2016; Dubey et al., 2019). Continued research and field trials are essential to validate these findings and ensure the stability and effectiveness of drought-tolerant traits under diverse environmental conditions (Fuganti-Pagliarini et al., 2017; Zhang et al., 2019). By leveraging these genomic approaches, researchers and breeders can develop soybean cultivars that are better equipped to withstand drought stress, thereby improving crop productivity and food security in the face of changing climatic conditions. 5 Integrative Genomic Approaches in Pulse Crop Improvement 5.1 Combining genomics with phenotyping High-throughput phenotyping platforms are essential for the integration of genomics and phenotyping in pulse crop improvement. These platforms enable the rapid and precise measurement of phenotypic traits across large populations, facilitating the identification of genetic markers associated with desirable traits. Advances in automated phenotyping assays have significantly enhanced the ability to link genetic diversity with agronomic phenotypes, thereby accelerating the breeding process (Bevan et al., 2017).
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