Functional redundancy and differentiation of two homologous cell wall invertases, GmCWI11 and GmCWI12, in soybean: modulating seed yield and quality via sugar metabolism

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Cell wall invertases (CWIs) are pivotal enzymes in plant sugar metabolism, regulating growth, development and responses to environmental stresses. Although significant progress in our understanding of CWIs has been made in some plants, their specific roles in soybean remained largely unexplored. METHODS: In this study two highly homologous CWI genes, GmCWI11 and GmCWI12, were overexpressed in Glycine max (soybean) and their functional redundancy and differentiation were investigated. KEY RESULTS: We demonstrated that overexpression of either gene significantly improved soybean growth performance, including increased plant height, pod number and seed weight at maturity. Additionally, seed quality traits such as soluble sugars, starch, protein and fatty acid compositions were markedly enhanced. Transcriptomic analysis uncovered distinct regulatory mechanisms. GmCWI11 predominantly modulated stress-related gene expression, while GmCWI12 primarily influenced genes involved in transmembrane transport. Further, predictions of protein-protein interactions suggested differential regulation by invertase inhibitors. CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide novel insights into the specific roles of CWIs in soybean and identify potential genetic targets for enhancing crop yield and quality through targeted breeding efforts.