Soybean Cultivation in Low-Latitude Regions: Adaptive Strategies for Sustainable Production

Abstract

Cultivated soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], prized for its high protein and oil contents, was domesticated approximately 5000 years ago in the temperate regions of China. Today, soybean cultivation has expanded globally, including into suboptimal environments, particularly in low-latitude regions such as Brazil, India and parts of Africa. This expansion aims to supply high-quality protein feed for local livestock industries while addressing challenges of poverty and malnutrition. However, the greatest challenge for soybean adaptation in these regions lies in balancing environmental stresses—such as short-day lengths, extreme temperatures, diseases and poor soil conditions—with the need to meet the world's growing demand for soybeans. Breeders have made significant strides in developing varieties adapted to short-day conditions, unfavourable temperatures, severe diseases and harsh soil environments. Researchers are now delving deeper into the adaptation strategies of soybean in low-latitude regions to uncover underlying mechanisms and guide next-generation breeding efforts. Herein, we summarise the molecular mechanisms underlying soybean's response to low-latitude environmental stresses. A comprehensive understanding of these mechanisms will provide critical insights for breeding widely adapted soybean varieties and further accelerate the global expansion of soybean cultivation in low-latitude regions.