Abstract:

To systematically review the research status and development trends of vegetable soybean, this study retrieved and screened over 100 relevant articles using keywords such as ‘caiyong dadou’, ‘maodou/edamame’, and ‘vegetable soybean’ from Chinese and international databases, including CNKI and Web of Science. The research progress of vegetable soybean has been comprehensively summarized across five core areas: germplasm resources and breeding, omics research, cultivation techniques, nutritional functions, and storage and processing. In terms of variety breeding, a classification system based on growth periods has been established, molecular markers such as SNP and SSR have been developed and preliminarily applied in molecular-assisted breeding, and gene editing technology has enabled targeted modification of specific functional genes. In the field of omics research, the first reference genome of vegetable soybean has been assembled, and GWAS, transcriptomic, and metabolomic analyses have identified a number of key genes and metabolites related to yield, quality, and stress resistance. In cultivation techniques, integrated management strategies involving variety adaptation, environmental regulation, density optimization, and coordinated water-fertilizer management have been formed, while mechanized harvesting remains an industrial bottleneck. Regarding nutritional functions, its food-grade value, such as high protein and folate content, as well as the potential efficacy of medical-grade bioactive components like γ-aminobutyric acid and D-pinitol, have been clarified. In the field of storage and processing, technologies such as low-temperature refrigeration and quick-freezing preservation have achieved industrial application, though the development of high value-added products still requires breakthroughs. The study also identified key challenges in the current field, including the scarcity of excellent and distinctive germplasm, low efficiency in the breeding transformation of omics data, insufficient added value of deep-processed products, and cost-benefit imbalances in preservation technologies. Finally, it is proposed that future efforts should strengthen the deep integration of basic research and industrial demands, leveraging modern biotechnology and information technology to promote the intelligent, green, and high-value upgrading of the vegetable soybean industry, thereby providing theoretical support and technological pathways for ensuring food security, supporting sustainable agricultural development, and enhancing human health.

Key words: vegetable soybean, germplasm resources, omics studies, efficient cultivation, storage, deep processing