Knockout of the soybean phosphatase gene GmLOPP confers pathogen resistance without compromising nodulation

Enhancing plant immunity often improves resistance to pathogens, yet its consequences for beneficial symbionts remain underexplored. Here, we assessed the effects of disrupting GmLOPP, a soybean type 2 C protein phosphatase, on both immune activation and rhizobial symbiosis. Loss-of-function Gmlopp mutants displayed enhanced resistance against both bacterial blight and pustule disease. Upon treatment with lipopolysaccharides (LPS), major components of the bacterial outer membrane, these mutants showed elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and upregulated expression of GmOXI1 and GmWRKY33 . Importantly, Gmlopp plants exhibited no detectable trade-offs in growth or nodulation compared with the wild type. Collectively, our findings establish that GmLOPP knockout confers disease resistance without compromising rhizobial symbiosis, highlighting its potential as a gene-editing target for soybean breeding.