Uncovers a novel regulatory mechanism of seed weight and quality in soybean

Soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) is a globally important oilseed and economic crop, serving as a vital source of high-quality protein for both human consumption and animal feed. Seed size and oil-protein content are key agronomic traits influencing soybean productivity. Identifying critical genes regulating soybean seed traits and elucidating their molecular mechanisms are of great significance for developing high-yield, high-quality soybean varieties through molecular design breeding.

Recently, Nature Communications published a research paper titled "Natural allelic variation in SW14 determines seed weight and quality in soybean" by the team led by Hou Xingliang from the South China Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Through genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and QTL mapping, the team a Nuclear Factor-YA (NF-YA) gene on chromosome 14 that positively regulates seed weight and protein content while negatively regulating oil content without affecting other agronomic traits, designated as Seed Weight 14 (SW14). Further research revealed that SW14 interacts with GmLEC1a/b, the homolog of the core seed development regulator Leafy Cotyledon1 (LEC1) in soybean, to disrupt the formation of a non-canonical NF-Y complex comprising GmLEC1, GmNF-YC2, and GmbZIP67, thereby inhibiting the GmLEC1-mediated transcriptional activation involved in seed development process. Additional analysis showed that the superior allele SW14^H3 underwent artificial selection during soybean domestication and demonstrates potential for enhancing soybean yield.

This paper was co-first authored by Associate Professor ZHANG Chunyu, recently graduated Master’s student LI Weijun, and postdoctoral researcher TAN Cuirong. Professor HOU Xingliang and Associate Professor ZHANG Chunyu served as co-corresponding authors. The research was supported by the National Key R&D Program of China, the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province. Paper link: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-63582-0

Fig 1. Identification and cloning of SW14 locus in soybean.(image by ZHANG et al)