Volume 23, Number 2
Volume 23, Number 2 (2025)
2025 · Published 17 September 2026 · 10 articles
In this issue
Review Articles
- 01
Nutrient Deficiency in Soybean: Causes, Symptoms and Management Strategies for Sustainable Productivity
Saloni Solanki, Sunita Kataria and Meeta Jain
Soybean (Glycine max L.) is a globally important legume crop valued for its high protein and oil content. As a nutrient-demanding plant, soybean requires a balanced supply of macro and micronutrients for optimum growth, nodulation and productivity. Nutrient deficiencies adversely affect key physiological and biochemical processes, including photosynthesis, nitrogen fixation, enzyme activities and metabolite synthesis, leading to significant yield reductions. Nitrogen and phosphorus deficiencies impair chlorophyll synthesis, energy metabolism and protein content, while potassium deficiency reduces stress tolerance and seed quality. Micronutrient deficiencies such as iron, zinc, manganese, boron and molybdenum alter chloroplast development, enzyme functions and reproductive success, resulting in poor nodulation, low seed set, and reduced oil and protein accumulation. Beyond individual impacts, combined deficiencies often exacerbate stress responses and further limit productivity. Recent advances highlight the role of innovative strategies such as nutrient priming, foliar supplementation, nano fertilizers and the use of nutrient-efficient soybean genotypes in overcoming these limitations. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the physiological, biochemical and agronomic effects of nutrient deficiencies in soybean, with emphasis on their impact on yield and seed quality and outlines potential management and research directions for sustainable production under nutrient-limited conditions.
- 02
Genome Editing and Precision Breeding Strategies for Sustainable Soybean Improvement
Viraj Gangadhar Kamble, Milind Ratnaparkhe, Giriraj Kumawat, V. Nataraj, Priyanka Sathe, G. K. Satpute, Vangala Rajesh, B. U. Dupare, Sanjay Gupta and Kunwar Harendra Singh
The drawbacks of input-heavy agricultural growth - such as stagnant yields, environmental degradation and climate vulnerability - have made it necessary to reorient global agricultural strategy toward productivity gains that are also environmentally sustainable. This shift, widely termed the Second Green Revolution, emphasizes sustainable intensification: higher and more stable yields with a smaller environmental footprint, more efficient resource use, and greater resilience to biotic and abiotic stress. Genome editing, particularly CRISPR-Cas-based precision breeding, is examined here as the primary technological driver of this transition in the Indian context, because it enables targeted, often transgene-free trait improvement under a comparatively streamlined regulatory pathway (SDN-1/SDN-2). The three-decade global experience with genetically modified (GM) crops is discussed only as comparative background - both as an evidence base on the agronomic, economic and environmental performance of transgenic technologies, and as a policy lesson on the regulatory and public-acceptance challenges that genome editing must navigate differently. This paper positions India's recent genome-editing milestones (genome-edited rice, the approval of DMH-11 mustard, and progress in soybean genome editing) alongside a critical, evidence-based comparison of conventional breeding, transgenic (GM) crops and genome editing, with soybean developed as the central case study given its strategic importance to India's edible-oil security. It argues that genome editing, integrated with sound agronomic practice and transparent, policy-aligned governance, offers a scientifically grounded and practically feasible route to sustainable agricultural transformation in India.
Research Papers
- 03
Interactive Effect of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria on Nodulation, Growth and Yield of Soybean Under Field Conditions
Mahaveer Sharma, Hemant Singh Maheshwari, Richa Agnihotri, Abhishek Bharti, Dipanti Chourasiya, Aketi Ramesh and K. Annapurna
Soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill), a major source of edible oil and protein, is a globally important legume; microbial inoculation offers a sustainable approach to enhance its productivity while reducing reliance on chemical fertilizers. A two-year field experiment was conducted during the kharif seasons for evaluation of the interactive effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) on nodulation, nutrient uptake, growth, and yield of soybean (cv. JS 95-60). The experiment was carried out in a randomized block design using a mixed AMF inoculum (Glomus intraradices, G. geosporum, and G. mosseae), two PGPR strains-Paenibacillus polymyxa (HKA-15, IARI) and Burkholderia arboris (NSRI) and their combinations. Nodulation, leghaemoglobin content, and mycorrhizal colonization were assessed at 50% flowering, while nutrient uptake and grain yield were recorded at harvest. Across both years, microbial inoculation significantly improved nodulation, mycorrhizal colonization, nitrogen uptake, and grain yield as compared to uninoculated control. Co-inoculation of AMF with P. polymyxa consistently recorded the highest nodule number, nodule biomass, leghaemoglobin content, and shoot nitrogen uptake, demonstrating a strong synergistic interaction. AMF alone recorded the highest root colonization and significantly increased grain nitrogen content and total nitrogen uptake during the first year. In the second year, AMF + P. polymyxa also achieved the highest phosphorus uptake and grain yield, while B. arboris alone improved grain nitrogen and phosphorus content. During the first year, although AMF + P. polymyxa exhibited increased nodulation and nutrient acquisition, grain yield was statistically non-significant with AMF + B. arboris. Numerically, AMF + B. arboris recorded the highest yield (1058.51 kg ha⁻¹; 54.06% above the control), followed by AMF + P. polymyxa (1004.42 kg ha⁻¹; 46.19% above the control). These findings demonstrated the compatibility between microbial partners and is more critical than inoculant diversity for maximizing soybean productivity and highlight the potential of AMF_PGPR co-inoculation as a sustainable biofertilizer strategy for enhancing nutrient use efficiency, yield, and soil health.
- 04
Integrative Genetic Diversity and Disease Resistance Analysis for Identification of superior Genotypes in soybean
Kumari Alka, Nutan Verma, Savita Ekka, Shivam Mishra and Kundan Kumar
A field experiment was conducted during kharif 2024 at Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi, to evaluate 30 soybean genotypes for genetic divergence, yield, quality traits, and resistance to Rhizoctonia aerial blight and bacterial blight under natural field conditions. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with three replications, and data were analysed using Mahalanobis D2 statistics, Tocher's clustering, and percent disease index (PDI). The genotypes were grouped into four clusters, showing substantial genetic variability, with Cluster I found early maturing and Cluster IV high yielding. The maximum inter-cluster distance between Clusters II and III indicated good scope for hybridization. Branches per plant contributed most to divergence, followed by days to maturity and plant height. BAUS(M)-15 showed complete resistance to both diseases, while BAUS(M)-11 recorded the highest yield with good oil and protein content. The study identified BAUS(M)-15, BAUS(M)-11, BAUS-102, MACS-1140, and BAUS-103 as promising parents for soybean improvement.
- 05
Screening of Soybean Genotypes/Varieties for Resistant Against Major Insect-Pests and Classification into Resistance Groups Based on Yield Potential and Loss
B. K. Patidar, C. B. Meena, D. S. Meena, Kishor Pujar and Susheela Kalwaniya
In search of host plant resistance against defoliators and girdle beetle, thirteen genotypes/varieties of soybean from normal maturity group were screened at Agricultural Research Station, Kota under AICRP on Soybean during kharif 2022. These genotypes/varieties were classified into resistance groups based on their natural yield potential and yield loss due to defoliators and girdle beetle using 'maximin-minimax' method. Accordingly, genotypes NRC 189, NRC 192 and check RVSM 2011-35 as resistant high yielding whereas genotype RSC 11-42 and check AMS 100-39 were tolerant against prevailing insect pest complex. The remaining genotypes/varieties were found susceptible low yielding.
- 06
Sustaining Soybean Acreage in India with Break-Even and Iso-Return Analysis of Crop Dynamics in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra
Vishal S. Thorat, B. U. Dupare and Yogesh Garde
Soybean is a major kharif oilseed crop in India, with Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra together accounting for about 85% of the country's soybean area. However, soybean acreage has declined in these states in recent years, alongside the expansion of competing crops, particularly maize. This study assessed the economic competitiveness of soybean vis-à-vis maize and paddy in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra using secondary data for 2023–24. Break-even price analysis and an iso-return framework were used to estimate the soybean price required to generate returns equivalent to those of competing crops under Cost A2, Cost A2+FL, and Cost C2. The results revealed a considerable competitive disadvantage for soybean relative to maize in both states. At a maize price of ₹2,090/qtl, the break-even soybean price under Cost A2 was ₹5,710/qtl in Madhya Pradesh and ₹7,065/qtl in Maharashtra, compared with the soybean MSP of ₹4,600/qtl. Against paddy priced at ₹2,183/qtl, the corresponding break-even soybean price in Madhya Pradesh was ₹6,719/qtl. In contrast, soybean was relatively competitive with paddy in Maharashtra under the specified price, cost and yield conditions. The analysis also showed that the soybean-to-competing-crop price ratio required for equal returns is not constant but varies with relative prices, yields and production costs. The findings support a cross-commodity approach to soybean price policy, supplemented by region-specific interventions to improve productivity and reduce production costs.
- 07
Efficacy of Seed Treatment and Foliar Application of New-Generation Fungicides for the Management of Anthracnose Caused by Colletotrichum Truncatum in Soybean
Priyanshi Raghuwanshi, Pawan Kumar Amrate and M. K. Shrivastava
Anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum truncatum (Schw.) Andrus and Moore is one of the most destructive diseases of soybean in India, resulting in considerable yield losses. The present investigation was conducted during Kharif 2023 at JNKVV, Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh), to evaluate the field efficacy of four fungicides (eight treatments) applied as seed treatment (ST), foliar spray (FS), and their combinations for the management of soybean anthracnose. All fungicidal treatments significantly reduced disease severity, disease incidence, pod infection and Area Under Disease Progress Curve (AUDPC), while improving plant health and grain yield over the untreated control. Among the treatments, T8 [ST Penflufen 13.28% w/w + Trifloxystrobin 13.28% w/w @ 1.25 ml kg⁻¹ seed + FS Tebuconazole 10% + Sulphur 65% WG @ 2 g l⁻¹ water] recorded the lowest anthracnose severity (5.37%) compared with the untreated control (23.33%). This treatment was followed by T7 [ST Penflufen 13.28% w/w + Trifloxystrobin 13.28% w/w @ 1.25 ml kg⁻¹ seed + FS Carbendazim 12% + Mancozeb 63% @ 2 g l⁻¹ water] (5.93%) and T6 [ST Carboxin 37.5% + Thiram 37.5% DS @ 2.5 g kg⁻¹ seed + FS Tebuconazole 10% + Sulphur 65% WG @ 2 g l⁻¹ water] (6.76%), which were statistically at par with T8. The highest plant stand was recorded with seed treatment of Penflufen 13.28% w/w + Trifloxystrobin 13.28% w/w (79.52%) compared with the untreated control (67.62%). Maximum grain yield was obtained in T8 (1310.53 kg ha⁻¹) followed by T7 (1278.87 kg ha⁻¹). Seed treatment combined with foliar application of fungicides also significantly improved plant growth parameters and seed weight over the untreated control. The study demonstrated that the integration of seed treatment with Penflufen + Trifloxystrobin and foliar application of Tebuconazole + Sulphur or Carbendazim + Mancozeb provides effective management of soybean anthracnose under field conditions.
- 08
Revelation of Genetic Diversity in Advanced Breeding Lines of Soybean using Principal Component Analysis
Satish Kumar Nagar, M. K. Shrivastava, Pawan Kumar Amrate, Kumar Jai Anand, Pratik Kumar and Amit Kumar
The present investigation was carried out to examine the genetic variability and important yield-affecting characteristics of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) using Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The experiment was conducted at JNKVV, Jabalpur, during the Kharif season of 2022, with 30 advanced breeding lines and five national checks in a randomized block design with three replications. PCA helped us to simplify the data and identify the most essential traits contributing to yield. The analysis revealed that three principal components (PCs) with eigenvalues greater than 1.00 explained 86.3% of the total variability among the studied traits. PC1, which accounted for 67.7% of the variation, was linked to seed yield per plant, primary branches per plant, days to maturity, days to 50% flowering, number of seeds per plant, number of pods per plant, harvest index, and biological yield per plant. PC2 and PC3, contributing 10.0% and 8.6% of the variation, respectively, were associated with the number of clusters per plant, pods per plant, 100-seed weight, and days to 50% flowering. High PC scores in these components indicated genotypes with significant variability, notably JS 25-37, JS 25-31, JS 25-39 for PC1, JS 25-22, JS 25-47 for PC2, and JS 25-45, JS 25-33 for PC3. These findings underscore the importance of these genotypes and traits for targeted breeding programs to enhance soybean yield.
- 09
A Sequential Screening Scheme for Selection of Vegetable-Type (Edamame) Soybean: Characterization of Bold-Seeded AVRDC Accessions for Pod, Seed, And Sensory Traits at R6 Stage
Neha Pandey, Sanjay Gupta, Vangala Rajesh, T. Onkarappa and V. S. Bhatia
Bold-seeded vegetable-type soybean accessions from AVRDC, Taiwan were characterized at R6 stage (kharif 2018-19; field evaluation at UAS, Bengaluru and laboratory analyses at ICAR-IISR, Indore) for pod, seed, biochemical and sensory traits to derive a practical selection scheme for Indian edamame breeding. Wide variability was recorded (100-pod weight 100-516 g; 100-seed fresh weight 18.1-141 g; TSS 4.0-7.8 °Brix). Principal component analysis (52 accessions) showed pod-and-seed boldness as the dominant axis (44.2% of variation), independent of sweetness. 100-pod weight predicted 100-seed weight (R² = 0.53), and the non-destructive criterion of 100-pod weight ≥ 300 g with pod length ≥ 5 cm classified bold-seeded lines with 83 per cent accuracy. A four-stage sequential scheme (visual → pod boldness → TSS ≥ 6 °Brix → sensory panel) narrowed 116 accessions to five candidates (EC 916036, EC 916033, EC 915907, EC 916037, EC 916039) recommended for replicated evaluation and hybridization.
- 10
Screening of Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) Genotypes for Resistance to Rhizoctonia Aerial Blight Caused by Rhizoctonia solani under Nagaland Conditions
Lhiwe-Ü Chiero, Narola Pongener, Moirangthem Indira Devi, Waluniba — and Pezangulie Chakruno
Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) is an important crop worldwide, but its productivity is constrained by Rhizoctonia aerial blight caused by Rhizoctonia solani. The present study evaluated 54 soybean genotypes, including three check varieties, for resistance to Rhizoctonia aerial blight under natural field conditions. None of the genotypes showed an immune response; however, genotypes exhibited resistant, moderately resistant, and moderately susceptible reactions. The mean per cent disease index (PDI) ranged from 1.66% to 28.96%, with the lowest PDI recorded in AMS 24-7 (1.66%) and the highest in SL 1442 (28.96%). Similarly, the area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) was lowest in AMS 24-7 (20.81) and highest in SL 1442 (237.43). Disease severity showed a negative and highly significant correlation with minimum temperature and maximum relative humidity. These findings identify promising genotypes for resistance breeding.