GmMEKK2 enhanced mosaic virus resistance in soybean (Glycine max L.)

Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase (MAPKKK) assume a pivotal position within the MAPK cascade signaling pathway that converts external stimuli into intracellular responses, and plays a central role in adaptation and resistance to biotic and abiotic stress. Only a limited number of researches have reported that MAPKKK conducted on regulating the resistance to soybeans mosaic viruses (SMV). Here, we identified a MAPKKK 2-like gene named as GmMEKK2 from SMV resistance cultivar. Overexpression of GmMEKK2 in soybean not only reduced SMV content but also decreased the disease index of virus. Importantly, overexpression of GmMEKK2 mitigated the yield loss after SMV inoculation and improved the yield-related traits of soybean. These demonstrated that GmMEKK2 had a favorable role in SMV resistance. This study explored the functions of GmMEKK2 in soybean and provided an assertive solution for effectively improving SMV resistance. The top trifoliate leaves of wildtype and the GmMEKK2 overexpression line at 7 dpi and 14 dpi SMV were sampled, and the leaves before inoculation were used as controls.