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Abstract Soybean, one of the most important oil seed crops known for its high-quality oil and protein content, is widely grown and consumed worldwide. However, the crop is severely affected by various biotic and abiotic factors, of which diseases are by far the most important, resulting in significant yield losses each year. The major diseases affecting soybean production include soybean rust, soybean mosaic virus, anthracnose, charcoal rot, Sclerotinia stem rot (white mold), seedling diseases, sudden death syndrome, frogeye leaf spot, and Stem canker. Development of soybean varieties resistant to these diseases using modern biotechnology techniques is a viable option to increase genetic potential and boost soybean production. This paper, hence, aims to explore the application of functional genomics in improving resistance to various diseases in soybean. Therefore, this paper provides a comprehensive overview of the progress made in improving soybean resistance to major diseases by using the various approaches of modern biotechnological tools such as molecular markers, QTL/gene mapping, omics technology, freely available online databases, genome editing, genetic modification, and marker-assisted breeding. This review also highlights future directions that may be important for genomics-based research programs to improve disease resistance in soybean while increasing production.

This study aimed at investigating the effects of sodium azide (NaN3) on quantitative and qualitative capsule traits in M2 generation of 14 Ethiopian sesame genotypes collected from Humera Agricultural Research Center (HuARC), Tigrai. Both the treatment and control seeds were sown in well-prepared beds in greenhouse to develop M2 plants. Data on quantitative and qualitative traits were collected and analyzed using GenStat 16 software. Results showed significant differences among the M2 seeds treated with 0.75% NaN3. The highest mean number of capsules per plant was recorded in ACC44 and Baha Necho genotypes, while the lowest was recorded in Gumero, Setit 2, Hirhir, ADI, Bounji and Aberghele. The highest mean number of seeds per capsule was recorded in Humera 1, Baha Necho, Zeri Tesfay, and Gondar 1 genotypes and the lowest was recorded in Setit 1, Setit 2 and ADI. The highest mean capsule length was observed in Zeri Tesfay while the lowest was recorded in Aberghele. The qualitative data reported that Hirhir, Setit 1 and Setit 2 were changed from completely shattering to partially shattering, Gumero and Bounji were changed from completely shattering to non-shattering, and Zeri Tesfay was changed from partially shattering to non-shattering. The 14 genotypes were clustered into four distinct groups including cluster I containing six genotypes, cluster II and III containing two genotypes each and cluster IV containing four genotypes. The mutants developed from Zeri Tesafy, ACC44 and Baha Necho genotypes are considered as potential candidate mutants for further utilization in sesame improvement.

The present study explored the effect of sodium azide (NaN3) on quantitative and qualitative leaf traits of M2 lines on 14 Ethiopian sesame genotypes collected from Humera Agricultural Research Center, Tigrai, Ethiopia. Qualitative data on leaf color, leaf hairiness, leaf arrangement, leaf shape, basal leaf profile, basal leaf margin, and leaf angle to main stem as well as quantitative data on length of basal leaf, length of top leaf, width of basal leaf, width of top leaf, length of marginal leaf, and width of marginal leaf were recorded and analyzed using analysis of variance, clustering analysis, Mahalanobis distance, and principal component analysis. Generally, treatment of seeds with NaN3 has brought many distinct and statistically significant phenotypic changes on both quantitative and qualitative leaf traits of the M2 lines. The changes in the NaN3 treated and locally adapted genotypes of Gumero and Zeri Tesfay are promising; producing the highest mean length of basal leaf (p ≤ 0.01). NaN3 treated seeds of Baha Necho, Gumero, and Hirhir developed the highest mean width of basal leaf. Locally adapted genotypes have responded positively to NaN3 treatment, generating better leaf traits as compared to the research improved ones. This study was the first of its kind in exploring the effects of NaN3 seed treatment on leaf traits of sesame genotypes. The findings of this study will, therefore, serve as a steppingstone to look into the effects of the changes in sesame yield and initiate future genetic and molecular studies on the responsive genotypes.