Recent Achievement in Gene Cloning and Functional Genomics in Soybean

Soybean is a model plant for photoperiodismas well as for symbiotic nitrogen fixation. However, a rather low efficiency in soybean transformation hampers functional analysisof genes isolated from soybean. In comparison, rapid development and progress in flowering time and photoperiodicresponse have been achieved in Arabidopsis and rice. As the soybean genomic information has been released since 2008, gene cloning and functional genomicstudies have been revived as indicated by successfully characterizing genes involved in maturity and nematode resistance. Here, we review some major achievements in the cloning of some important genes and some specific features at genetic or genomic levels revealed by the analysis of functional genomicsof soybean.