Joint GWAS and WGCNA Identify Genes Regulating the Isoflavone Content in Soybean Seeds.

Isoflavone is a secondary metabolite of the soybean phenylpropyl biosynthesis pathway with physiological activity and is beneficial to human health. In this study, the isoflavone content of 205 soybean germplasm resources from 3 locations in 2020 showed wide phenotypic variation. A joint genome-wide association study (GWAS) and weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) identified 33 single-nucleotide polymorphisms and 11 key genes associated with soybean isoflavone content. Gene ontology enrichment analysis, gene coexpression, and haplotype analysis revealed natural variations in the Glyma.12G109800 (GmOMT7) gene and promoter region, with Hap1 being the elite haplotype. Transient overexpression and knockout of GmOMT7 increased and decreased the isoflavone content, respectively, in hairy roots. The combination of GWAS and WGCNA effectively revealed the genetic basis of soybean isoflavone and identified potential genes affecting isoflavone synthesis and accumulation in soybean, providing a valuable basis for the functional study of soybean isoflavone.

Effects of full-fat high-oleic soybean meal in layer diets on performance, egg quality and chemical composition.

The utilization of full-fat high-oleic soybean meal in layer diets could lead to value-added poultry products. To test this idea, 336 hens were randomly assigned to 4 isonitrogenous (18.5% CP) and isocaloric (2,927 kcal/kg) formulated diets and fed the following diets for eight weeks: conventional control solvent-extracted defatted soybean meal (CON); extruded-expelled defatted soybean meal (EENO); full fat normal-oleic soybean meal (FFNO); or full fat high-oleic soybean meal (FFHO). Body weights (BW) were collected at week 0 and week 8. Eggs were collected daily, and the totals counted each week. Feed consumption was measured weekly, and egg quality was measured bi-weekly. Eggs were collected at wk 0 and wk 8 for fatty acid analysis. There were no significant treatment differences in any of the production parameters measured, BW, feed consumption, feed conversion ratio or egg production (P > 0.05). Eggshell strength was significantly greater in eggs produced from the EENO group as compared to the control (P < 0.01), while egg yolk color was significantly darker in eggs of the control and EENO treatment groups relative to the FFNO and FFHO treatments (P < 0.0001). Eggs produced by hens fed the FFHO diet had a 52% increase in monounsaturated n-9 oleic acid content (P < 0.0001) and reduced palmitic (P < 0.01) and stearic (P < 0.0001) saturated fatty acid levels as compared to the conventional controls. These results validate the utilization of FFHO as a value-added poultry feed ingredient to enrich the eggs and/or poultry meat produced.

What Determines the Adoption of Conservation Agriculture? Evidence from Quebec.

Conservation agriculture (CA) is promoted by various organisations and scholars as alternative to conventional agriculture to meet growing food demand with minimal damage on environment; but its factors of adoption have not been well identified. The study uses the recent composite index of adoption of CA developed by Takam Fongang et al. (2023) to analyse the factors of adoption of conservation agriculture among maize and soybean farmers in Quebec. Using data from 93 maize and soybean producers and a Fractional logit model, the study shows that adoption of CA increases with farmer's favourable perceptions of yield and easiness of implementing CA, off-farm employment and higher education. The study therefore indicates that higher education, technical assistance and popularisation of performance of CA can play a significant role in boosting adoption of CA in Quebec.

Constructing soybean protein isolate /bacterial cellulose co-assemblies by pH shifting treatment: Molecular conformation and physicochemical properties.

The study elucidates that the pH shifting treatment unfolds the conformation of soybean protein isolate (SPI), enabling it to intertwine with bacterial cellulose (BC) and form SPI/BC co-assemblies. Results from intrinsic fluorescence spectroscopy and surface hydrophobicity indicate that the SPI with pH shifting treatment shows a notable blue shift in maximum emission wavelength and increased surface hydrophobicity. It demonstrates that pH shifting treatment facilitates the unfolding of SPI's molecular conformation, promoting its entanglement with high aspect ratio BC. Particle size distribution and microstructural analysis further demonstrate that the pH shifting treatment facilitates the formation of SPI/BC co-assemblies. Evaluation of processing properties reveals that the SPI/BC co-assemblies exhibited exceptional gel and emulsification properties, with gel strength and emulsifying activity respectively six and two times higher than natural SPI. This enhancement is attributed to the thickening properties of BC with a high aspect ratio and the superior hydrophobicity of SPI in its molten globule state.

Co-encapsulation of vitamin E and quercetin by soybean lipophilic proteins based on pH-shifting and ultrasonication: Focus on interaction mechanisms, structural and physicochemical properties.

This study explored the mechanism of interaction of pH-shifting combined ultrasonication and its effect on soybean lipophilic proteins (SLP) and the potential of modified SLP as the carrier for vitamin E (VE) and quercetin (QU). The spectroscopy results revealed that both VE and QU changed the SLP conformation and exposed hydrophobic groups. The loading rates of VE and QU by SLP with alkaline pH-shifting combined with ultrasonication (300 w,20 min) were 86.91% and 75.99%, respectively. According to the antioxidant analysis, with an increase in the ultrasonication power, the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging capacity of the samples increased, where the DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging capacity of sample SQV-6 were 70.90% and 63.43%, respectively. The physicochemical properties, microstructure, and stability of the SLP-VE-QU complex improved significantly. Overall, the present findings broadened the application of simple structural carriers for co-encapsulating functional factors.

Genome-Wide Association and RNA-Seq Analyses Reveal a Potential Candidate Gene Related to Oil Content in Soybean Seeds.

Soybean is a crucial crop globally, serving as a significant source of unsaturated fatty acids and protein in the human diet. However, further enhancements are required for the related genes that regulate soybean oil synthesis. In this study, 155 soybean germplasms were cultivated under three different environmental conditions, followed by phenotypic identification and genome-wide association analysis using simplified sequencing data. Genome-wide association analysis was performed using SLAF-seq data. A total of 36 QTLs were significantly associated with oil content (-log10(p) > 3). Out of the 36 QTLs associated with oil content, 27 exhibited genetic overlap with previously reported QTLs related to oil traits. Further transcriptome sequencing was performed on extreme high-low oil soybean varieties. Combined with transcriptome expression data, 22 candidate genes were identified (|log2FC| ≥ 3). Further haplotype analysis of the potential candidate genes showed that three potential candidate genes had excellent haplotypes, including Glyma.03G186200, Glyma.09G099500, and Glyma.18G248900. The identified loci harboring beneficial alleles and candidate genes likely contribute significantly to the molecular network's underlying marker-assisted selection (MAS) and oil content.

Potential prebiotic effects of soy by-products as novel dietary fibre: Structure, function, in vitro simulation of digestion and fermentation properties.

This study aimed to prepare soybean dregs dietary fibre (DF) using physically assisted chemical (KHMSO) modification and study its structure, function and vitro simulation experiments. The soluble dietary fibre (SDF) content in KHMSO increased and insoluble dietary fibre (IDF) content decreased. The modified DF surface becomes irregular and rough, and the results of XPS fitting indicated that the DF structure had different peak-splitting groups. The KHMSO-treated group had the lowest digestion rate in gastric fluid and the highest digestibility in intestine fluid. The OD600 of fecal cultures was increased to 0.915, and the increased abundance of microbiota was associated with the metabolism of SCFAs, such as Lachnospiraceae, as well as the higher n-butyric acid in the KHMSO-treated group compared to the other groups and lower than the inulin, suggesting KHMSO might enhance the production of functional foods aimed at promoting intestinal health.

Regulating the pore structure and heteroatom doping of soybean straw carbon based on a bifunctional template method for the high-performance carbon supercapacitor.

The previous research addressed the waste problem of agriculture and forestry residues by exploring the efficient utilization of liquefied soybean straw in supercapacitor. The structures of the liquefied soybean straw were controlled by coupling microwave hydrothermal treatment with carbonization under the influence of a C3N4 bifunctional template. What's more, C3N4 could effectively regulate the pore structures and provide an effective N active site of carbon materials C3N4. The obtained N-SLR Carbon-700 possess a specific surface area of up to 1593.7 m2 g-1, and the pore size is mainly concentrated in the range of 1.8-2.5 nm, providing efficient ions transmission channels and storage space. Its specific capacitance is up to 261.5F g-1 (current density of 0.5A g-1), and the capacity retention is 74.04% when the current density is expanded by 20 times. In the two-electrode system, the energy density of N-SLR Carbon-700 could reach to 31.3 W h kg-1 at a power density of 360 W kg-1, as well as the energy surface density is maintained at 69% when the power density is increased by a factor of 20. This work enhances effectively the charging and discharging stability and capacitance value of carbon-based supercapacitor.

RT-RPA Assay Combined with a Lateral Flow Strip to Detect Soybean Mosaic Virus.

Soybean (Glycine max L.) is one of the most widely planted and used legumes in the world, being used for food, animal feed products, and industrial production. The soybean mosaic virus (SMV) is the most prevalent virus infecting soybean plants. This study developed a diagnostic method for the rapid and sensitive detection of SMV using a reverse transcription-recombinase polymerase amplification (RT-RPA) technique combined with a lateral flow strip (LFS). The RT-RPA and RT-RPA-LFS conditions to detect the SMV were optimized using the selected primer set that amplified part of the VPg protein gene. The optimized reaction temperature for the RT-RPA primer and RT-RPA-LFS primer used in this study was 38℃ for both, and the minimum reaction time was 10 min and 5 min, respectively. The RT-RPA-LFS was as sensitive as RT-PCR to detect SMV with 10 pg/µl of total RNA. The reliability of the developed RT-RPA-LFS assay was evaluated using leaves collected from soybean fields. The RT-RPA-LFS diagnostic method developed in this study will be useful as a diagnostic method that can quickly and precisely detect SMV in the epidemiological investigation of SMV, in the selection process of SMV-resistant varieties, on local farms with limited resources.

Soybean PHR1-regulated low phosphorus-responsive GmRALF22 promotes phosphate uptake by stimulating the expression of GmPTs.

Phosphorus (P) is an essential macronutrient for plant growth and development. Rapid alkalisation factors (RALFs) play crucial roles in plant responses to nutrient stress. However, the functions of Glycine max RALFs (GmRALFs) under low P (LP) stress remain elusive. In this study, we first identified 27 GmRALFs in soybean and then revealed that, under LP conditions, GmRALF10, GmRALF11, and GmRALF22 were induced in both roots and leaves, whereas GmRALF5, GmRALF6, and GmRALF25 were upregulated in leaves. Furthermore, GmRALF22 was found to be the target gene of the transcription factor GmPHR1, which binds to the P1BS cis-element in the promoter of GmRALF22 via electrophoretic mobility shift assay and dual-luciferase experiments. Colonisation with Bacillus subtilis which delivers GmRALF22, increases the expression of the high-affinity phosphate (Pi) transporter genes GmPT2, GmPT11, GmPT13, and GmPT14, thus increasing the total amount of dry matter and soluble Pi in soybeans. RNA sequencing revealed that GmRALF22 alleviates LP stress by regulating the expression of jasmonic acid- (JA-), salicylic acid- (SA-), and immune-related genes. Finally, we verified that GmRALF22 was dependent on FERONIA (FER) to promote Arabidopsis primary root growth under LP conditions. In summary, the GmPHR1-GmRALF22 module positively regulates soybean tolerance to LP.

Fermentative metabolic features of doenjang-meju as revealed by genome-centered metatranscriptomics.

Fermentative features of doenjang-meju, a traditional Korean soybean brick, were investigated over 45 days via genome-centered metatranscriptomics. The pH value rapidly decreased within 10 days and successively increased after 20 days, along with an initial bacterial growth, including lactic acid bacteria, and subsequent fungal growth, suggesting their association. Polysaccharides and lipids underwent degradation, and amino acids, free sugars, and organic acids increased during the early stage. Metagenome analysis identified Aspergillus, Bacillus, Enterococcus, Staphylococcus, and Leuconostoc as major microbes, which were isolated and genome-sequenced. Metatranscriptomic analysis revealed the major roles of Bacillus and Enterococcus during the early period, shifting to Aspergillus dominance after 10 days. Metabolic pathway reconstruction and transcriptional analysis reveal that Aspergillus primarily decomposed polysaccharides to free sugars; Aspergillus and Bacillus metabolized lipids, free sugars, and organic acids generated by Enterococcus; and Aspergillus and Bacillus were instrumental in amino acid metabolism: their contributions varied by compounds and pathways.

DNA methylation analysis reveals local changes in resistant and susceptible soybean lines in response to Phytophthora sansomeana.

Phytophthora sansomeana is an emerging oomycete pathogen causing root rot in many agricultural species including soybean. However, as of now, only one potential resistance gene has been identified in soybean, and our understanding of how genetic and epigenetic regulation in soybean contributes to responses against this pathogen remains largely unknown. In this study, we performed whole genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) on two soybean lines, Colfax (resistant) and Williams 82 (susceptible) in response to P. sansomeana at two time points: 4 and 16 hours post inoculation to compare their methylation changes. Our findings revealed that there were no significant changes in genome-wide CG, CHG (H = A, T, or C), and CHH methylation. However, we observed local methylation changes, specially an increase in CHH methylation around genes and transposable elements (TEs) after inoculation, which occurred earlier in the susceptible line and later in the resistant line. After inoculation, we identified differentially methylated regions (DMRs) in both Colfax and Williams 82, with a predominant presence in TEs. Notably, our data also indicated that more TEs exhibited changes in their methylomes in the susceptible line compared to the resistant line. Furthermore, we discovered 837 DMRs within or flanking 772 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in Colfax and 166 DMRs within or flanking 138 DEGs in Williams 82. These DEGs had diverse functions, with Colfax primarily showing involvement in metabolic process, defense response, plant and pathogen interaction, anion and nucleotide binding, and catalytic activity, while Williams 82 exhibited a significant association with photosynthesis. These findings suggest distinct molecular responses to P. sansomeana infection in the resistant and susceptible soybean lines.

Soil application of graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets alleviate cadmium toxicity by altering subcellular distribution, chemical forms of cadmium and improving nitrogen availability in soybean (Glycine max L.).

Cadmium (Cd)-contamination impairs biological nitrogen fixation in legumes (BNF), threatening global food security. Innovative strategies to enhance BNF and improve plant resistance to Cd are therefore crucial. This study investigates the effects of graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets (g-C3N4 NSs) on soybean (Glycine max L.) in Cd contaminated soil, focusing on Cd distribution, chemical forms and nitrogen (N) fixation. Soybean plants were treated with 100 mg kg-1 g-C3N4 NSs, with or without 10 mg kg-1 Cd for 4 weeks. Soil addition of g-C3N4 NSs alleviated Cd toxicity and promote soybean growth via scavenging Cd-mediated oxidative stress and improving photosynthesis. Compared to Cd treatment, g-C3N4 NSs increased shoot and root dry weights under Cd toxicity by 49.5% and 63.4%, respectively. g-C3N4 NSs lowered Cd content by 35.7%-54.1%, redistributed Cd subcellularly by increasing its proportion in the cell wall and decreasing it in soluble fractions and organelles, and converted Cd from high-toxicity to low-toxicity forms. Additionally, g-C3N4 NSs improved the soil N cycle, stimulated nodulation, and increased the N-fixing capacity of nodules, thus increasing N content in shoots and roots by 12.4% and 43.2%, respectively. Mechanistic analysis revealed that g-C3N4 NSs mitigated Cd-induced loss of endogenous nitric oxide in nodules, restoring nodule development. This study highlights the potential of g-C3N4 NSs for remediating Cd-contaminated soil, reducing Cd accumulation, and enhancing plant growth and N fixation, offering new insights into the use of carbon nanomaterials for soil improvement and legume productivity under metal(loid)s stress.

Enhanced crop yields as a potential mitigator of soil organic carbon losses under elevated temperature in erosional and depositional landscape.

The dynamics of agricultural soil organic carbon storage have been considerably influenced by the evolution of crop species, offering promising opportunities for restoring soil organic carbon under elevated temperatures through yield improvements. However, the intricate interplay between climate change and surface erosion processes poses challenges in understanding agricultural soil carbon dynamics in hilly landscapes. This study aimed to address these challenges by assessing the effects of climate change on soil organic carbon dynamics under the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways 245 and 585. We utilized projections from 12 distinct global climate models, covering the period from 2015 to 2100. Additionally, we investigated the potential for improving soybean yields by 100 %, 200 %, and 300 % linearly by 2100 to offset the anticipated soil organic carbon losses. Using a coupled landscape and biogeochemical model, our analysis focused on a soybean field in Nenjiang County, China. Our findings revealed a distinct soil organic carbon profile in deposition areas, characterized by relatively low levels of soil organic carbon in surface layers, attributed to carbon influx from adjacent erosion areas with typically low carbon content. We modeled decreases in soil CO2 fluxes with escalating climate change, corresponding to expected decreases in soil organic carbon levels, despite concurrent rises in soil microbial activity linked to increasing temperatures. Erosion areas emerged as particularly vulnerable zones under elevated temperatures due to their higher proportion of soil CO2 fluxes relative to soil organic carbon levels compared to deposition areas. As a soil organic carbon restoration strategy, improvements in soybean yields showed promise in mitigating soil organic carbon losses through enhanced litter inputs and the cooling effects induced by shading the soil. This study underscored the potential for achieving the dual benefits of food security and soil organic carbon restoration in the coming decades through a unified approach to enhancing soybean yields.

Natural glyceollin soybean extracts elicited with Aspergillus sojae reduce estrogen-dependent breast cancer growth in orally fed mice.

Previous studies have demonstrated antiestrogenic and antiproliferative effects of these molecules in breast cancer cells. Notably, we have reported that pure synthetic glyceollins I and II act through various pathways, including ERα, FOXM1, AhR, and HIF pathways to inhibit cell proliferation and migration. In this study, the potential antitumor activity of glyceollins enriched in crude soybean extracts, obtained by solid fermentation with Aspergillus sojae, was investigated in vivo on MCF-7 breast cancer cells implanted in the chorioallantoic membrane of the chick egg and on ovariectomized nude mice. The first trial showed a substantial reduction in the migration of MCF-7 cells treated with the natural extracts. However, the natural extracts significantly reduced the estrogen-dependent growth of transplanted tumors in orally fed nude mice. Our results showed that natural soybean extracts slightly but significantly reduced estrogen-dependent growth of the transplanted tumors in orally fed nude mice. These results were confirmed by immunohistochemistry of Ki-67 and histone H3S10 phosphorylation (H3S10P), revealing lower expression of these proliferation markers in the transplanted tumors from mice fed with the fermented extracts. Additionally, compared to the control animals, we observed a lower expression of angiogenesis markers such as CD31 and CD34. Surprisingly, transcriptomic analysis of RNA from transplanted MCF-7 cells revealed no differential gene expression. These results may suggest that orally consumed natural glyceollins exert biological effects throughout the body, acting indirectly to reduce tumor angiogenesis and consequently tumor volume. Overall, our results indicate that glyceollins, elicited components of the soy origin, hold potential therapeutic applications for the prevention and treatment of breast cancer.

Presence of Modified Peptides with High Bioavailability and Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitory Activity in Japanese Fermented Soybean Paste (Miso).

Not only free amino acids and normal short-chain peptides but also modified amino acids, such as N-acetyl- and N-formyl amino acids, monoamines, polyamines, and modified peptides, such as isomerized aspartyl peptides, pyroglutamyl peptides, and diketopiperazines, were identified in Japanese fermented soy paste (miso) prepared using different fungal starters, rice, barley, and soybean-koji. One hour after oral administration of water extract of soybean-koji miso to rats, the modified peptides increased significantly in the lumen upon the ingestion, while the normal peptides did not. In the blood from the portal vein and abdominal vena cava, 17 and 15 diketopiperazines, 16 and 12 isomerized aspartyl peptides, and 2 and 1 pyroglutamyl peptides significantly increased to approximately 10-400 nM, respectively. The modified peptides, which increased in rat blood, showed angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity in a dose-dependent manner, indicating multiple ACE inhibitory peptides with high bioavailability in miso. Among them, l-ß-Asp-Pro showed the highest ACE inhibitory activity (IC50 4.8 µM).

Identification of QTLs and candidate genes for water-soluble protein content in soybean seeds.

Soybean represents a vital source of premium plant-based proteins for human nutrition. Importantly, the level of water-soluble protein (WSP) is crucial for determining the overall quality and nutritional value of such crops. Enhancing WSP levels in soybean plants is a high-priority goal in crop improvement. This study aimed to elucidate the genetic basis of WSP content in soybean seeds by identifying quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and set the foundation for subsequent gene cloning and functional analysis. Using 180 F10 recombinant inbred lines generated by crossing the high-protein soybean cultivar JiDou 12 with the wild variety Ye 9, our researcher team mapped the QTLs influencing protein levels, integrating Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis and gene expression profiling to identify candidate genes. During the 2020 and 2022 growing seasons, a standard bell-shaped distribution of protein content trait data was observed in these soybean lines. Eight QTLs affecting protein content were found across eight chromosomes, with LOD scores ranging from 2.59 to 7.30, explaining 4.15-11.74% of the phenotypic variance. Notably, two QTLs were newly discovered, one with a elite allele at qWSPC-15 from Ye 9. The major QTL, qWSPC-19, on chromosome 19 was stable across conditions and contained genes involved in nitrogen metabolism, amino acid biosynthesis, and signaling. Two genes from this QTL, Glyma.19G185700 and Glyma.19G186000, exhibited distinct expression patterns at maturity, highlighting the influence of these genes on protein content. This research revealed eight QTLs for WSP content in soybean seeds and proposed a gene for the key QTL qWSPC-19, laying groundwork for gene isolation and enhanced soybean breeding through the use of molecular markers. These insights are instrumental for developing protein-rich soybean cultivars.

A fast and genotype-independent in planta Agrobacterium-mediated transformation method for soybean.

Efficient genotype-independent transformation and genome editing is highly desirable for plant biotechnology research and product development efforts. We have developed a novel approach to enable fast, high-throughput and genotype-flexible Agrobacterium-mediated transformation using the important soybean crop as a test system. This new method is called GiFT (Genotype-independent Fast Transformation) and involves only a few simple steps. The method uses germinated seeds as explants and DNA delivery is achieved through Agrobacterium infection of wounded explants as in conventional in vitro-based method. Following infection, the wounded explants are incubated in liquid medium with sublethal level of selection and then directly transplanted to soil. The transplanted seedlings are then selected with herbicide spray for three weeks. The time required from initiation to fully established healthy T0 transgenic events is about 35 days. The GiFT method requires minimal in vitro manipulation or use of tissue culture media. Since the regeneration is in planta, the GiFT method is thus highly genotype flexible, which we have demonstrated via successful transformation of elite germplasms from diverse genetic backgrounds. We also show that the soybean GiFT method can be applied to both conventional binary vectors and CRISPR-Cas12a vectors for genome editing applications. T1 progeny analyses demonstrated that the events had a high inheritance rate and could be used for genome engineering applications. By minimizing the need for tissue culture, the described novel approach significantly improves operational efficiency while greatly reducing personnel and supply cost. It is the first industry-scale transformation method utilizing in planta selection in a major field crop.

Predicting habitat suitability for the soybean pod borer Leguminivora glycinivorella (Matsumura) using optimized MaxEnt models with multiple variables.

The soybean pod borer Leguminivora glycinivorella (Matsumura) is one of the most important soybean pests and often causes serious damage to Glycine max (L.) Merr., a leading source of dietary protein and oil in animal feed. However, the potential distribution patterns of this economically important pest and its driving factors require further investigation. Here, we used the optimized MaxEnt model to predict the potential distribution of this pest with multiple variables associated with climate, land use, and host plant, at its recorded range and a globe scale. Based on 4 variable combinations, the results show that the current suitable habitats of L. glycinivorella are primarily distributed in most of China, the Korean Peninsula, and Japan. Whereas no suitable area is present in other continents. In future projections, the suitable region shows a slight northward expansion compared with the result predicted with current climatic conditions, and the suitable areas of almost all future projections were stable in size. Among the 9 bioclimatic factors, BIO03 (isothermality) consistently highly contributes to the predictions, indicating that temperature may be a key factor influencing the habitat distribution of L. glycinivorella. Comparative analyses of projections further show that non-climatic factors are informative in the modeling as routinely used bioclimate variables. The spatio-temporal distribution patterns of suitable habitats and the regulatory factors predicted in this study could provide important guidance for L. glycinivorella management.

Constructing in-situ and real-time monitoring methods during soy sauce production by miniature fiber NIR spectrometers.

The digestion rate of steamed soybean (DRSS), protease activity of koji (PAK) and formaldehyde nitrogen content of moromi (FNCM) are key indicators to monitor soy sauce production. Currently, monitoring these indicators relies on workers' experience, which can sometimes lead to low material utilization rates and even fermentation failures. Near-infrared spectra were collected during soybean steaming, as well as koji and moromi fermentation, using miniature fiber spectrometers. These spectra were optimized using four pretreatment methods, and regression models were constructed using PLS, iPLS, and Si-PLS. The evaluation of models in prediction sets was based on the correlation coefficient (Rp) and root mean square error (RMSEP). Results indicated that Rp = 0.9327, RMSEP = 4.37% for DRSS, Rp = 0.9364, RMSEP = 228 U/g for PAK, and Rp = 0.9237, RMSEP =0.148 g/100 mL for FNCM were obtained. The above results coupling with validation experiments demonstrated that the developed in-situ and real-time spectroscopy system could ensure high-quality soy sauce production.