Building Better Soybeans with B. japonicum

Glycine max, otherwise known as soybean, is the second largest crop in the United States in growing area and sales. It is second only to maize, which is deemed more hardy in drought affected environments than soybean. In order to have higher soybean yields in drought conditions, researchers have suggested manipulating transpiration rates, lateral root length, and nitrogen fixation. Of these, manipulation of soybean nitrogen fixation through its bacterial symbionts show much promise. Because the natural soybean symbionts are not equipped with the proper “tools” for high drought scenarios, synthetic biologists look towards halotolerant bacteria for solutions to low water concentrations. For future research, I propose equipping soybean symbionts with the means to produce ectoine through use of synthetic biology. Ectoine is a compatible solute that aids halotolerant and halophillic bacteria combat stresses in osmolarity. By producing ectoine, I predict soybean symbionts (B. japonicum) will become more drought tolerant