Genome-wide Identification of JAZ Family and Functional Analysis of GmJAZ6 in Response to Phosphorus Deficiency in Soybean

Abstract Jasmonate ZIM-domain (JAZ) proteins are key transcriptional regulators in the jasmonate signaling pathway. Extensive studies have demonstrated that JAZs play crucial roles in plant growth, development, and responses to various environmental stresses. However, the functions of GmJAZs in soybean (Glycine max) remain poorly understood. In this study, comprehensive bioinformatics analyses were conducted to identify and characterize members of the GmJAZ gene family across the soybean genome. A total of 23 GmJAZ genes were identified, distributed across 13 chromosomes. Phylogenetic analysis grouped these genes into six distinct subfamilies. Expression profiling by qRT-PCR revealed that GmJAZs displayed differential responses to nitrogen and phosphorus deficiencies in soybean roots, among which GmJAZ6 was markedly induced under both N and P deficiency conditions, and thus selected for functional analysis. Subcellular localization indicated that GmJAZ6 is localized in the nucleus. Overexpression of GmJAZ6 significantly increased the biomass and phosphorus content of soybean transgenic hairy roots. Collectively, these findings provide valuable insights into the functional characterization of the JAZ gene family in soybean and identify GmJAZ6 as a potential candidate for improving phosphorus-use efficiency in soybean breeding.