Identification of QTLs and Key Genes Enhancing Lodging Resistance in Soybean Through Chemical and Physical Trait Analysis

Abstract

Lodging of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merril.) significantly reduces seed yield and quality, particularly in high-yielding environments. This phenomenon occurs when stems weaken under the weight of the plants, complicating harvesting. This study investigated the relationship between soybean stem chemical composition, physical traits, and lodging resistance to improve yield and resilience. We found that as plant density increased, stem hardness decreased, and the elasticity increased, heightening the risk of lodging. Conversely, high temperature (28 °C) boosted lignin, cellulose and pectin content in the stem cell walls, enhancing the lodging resistance. Additionally, after excluding differences in phylogenetic relationships through cluster analysis, we mapped environment-stable genes linked to lodging resistance and identified new QTLs on Chr3 and Chr16. Candidate genes associated with these QTLs were confirmed using qRT–PCR and hormone treatments across diverse soybean varieties. It was found that the expression of stem tip genes was closely related to stem node diameter. These findings provide a theoretical foundation for breeding high-yielding soybean varieties with improved lodging resistance, and advance efforts to develop resilient soybean cultivars.