A recent study published in Scientific Reports evaluated soybean germplasms for their resistance to stay-green syndrome (SGS), a condition that affects soybean plants causing green stems, leaves, and flat pods at maturity. The study conducted a comprehensive assessment of 1553 soybean germplasms over a three-year period to identify SGS-resistant varieties. One landrace, ZaoShuHeiDou, emerged as particularly resilient to SGS, displaying significantly reduced risk compared to other varieties. The study found that landraces generally exhibited lower SGS incidence than improved cultivars, with ZaoShuHeiDou showing the most promising resistance.

The research also investigated the correlation between SGS severity and various soybean traits, revealing that SGS levels were influenced by factors such as growth habit, lodging, maturity group, and eco-region. In field trials, the application of insecticides was found to effectively reduce SGS severity, while organic fertilizers and soil sterilization had no significant impact. DNA samples from SGS-affected plants were analyzed, identifying the presence of the soybean stay-green associated virus (SoSGV) as a causative agent of SGS.

Furthermore, the study isolated a SoSGV LCU-1 strain and conducted a phylogenetic analysis that placed it in a distinct group among other SoSGV isolates. The research highlighted the importance of genetic diversity in soybean germplasm for developing SGS-resistant cultivars and emphasized the need for further exploration of resistance mechanisms to combat this debilitating syndrome. These findings provide valuable insights for soybean breeders and researchers working to mitigate the impact of SGS on soybean production, particularly in regions like the Huang–Huai area of China where SGS poses a significant threat to crop yields.