Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) is a typical short-day and temperate crop that is sensitive to photoperiod and temperature. Responses of soybean to photothermal conditions determine plant growth and development, which affect its architecture, yield formation, and capacity for geographic adaptation. Flowering time, maturity, and other traits associated with photothermal adaptability are controlled by multiple major-effect and minor-effect genes and genotype-by-environment interactions. Genetic studies have identified at least 11 loci (E1-E4, E6-E11, and J) that participate in photoperiodic regulation of flowering time and maturity in soybean. Molecular cloning and characterization of major-effect flowering genes have clarified the photoperiod-dependent flowering pathway, in which the photoreceptor gene phytochrome A, circadian evening complex (EC) components, central flowering repressor E1, and FLOWERING LOCUS T family genes play key roles in regulation of flowering time, maturity, and adaptability to photothermal conditions. Here, we provide an overview of recent progress in genetic and molecular analysis of traits associated with photothermal adaptability, summarizing advances in molecular breeding practices and tools for improving these traits. Furthermore, we discuss methods for breeding soybean varieties with better adaptability to specific ecological regions, with emphasis on a novel strategy, the Potalaization model, which allows breeding of widely adapted soybean varieties through the use of multiple molecular tools in existing elite widely adapted varieties.

大豆（Glycine max (L.) Merr.）是典型的短日照、温带作物，对光周期和温度敏感。大豆对光热条件的响应决定植物的生长和发育，从而影响其结构、产量形成和地理适应能力。开花时间、成熟度和其他与光热适应性相关的性状由多个主效应和次效应基因以及基因型与环境的相互作用控制。遗传学研究已确定至少 11 个基因座（E1 - E4、E6 - E11和J）参与大豆开花时间和成熟度的光周期调节。主要效应开花基因的分子克隆和表征阐明了光周期依赖性开花途径，其中光感受器基因光敏色素A、昼夜节律复合体 (EC) 成分、中枢开花抑制子E1和FLOWERING LOCUS T家族基因在开花过程中发挥着关键作用。调节开花时间、成熟度和对光热条件的适应性。在这里，我们概述了与光热适应性相关的性状遗传和分子分析的最新进展，总结了分子育种实践和改善这些性状的工具的进展。此外，我们讨论了培育对特定生态区域具有更好适应性的大豆品种的方法，重点是一种新策略，即 Potalaization 模型，该策略允许通过在现有的优良广泛适应品种中使用多种分子工具来培育广泛适应的大豆品种。