GmWRKY46, a WRKY transcription factor, negatively regulates phosphorus tolerance primarily through modifying root morphology in soybean

•GmWRKY46 gene belonging to group III of WRKY TF family and was significantly induced by P deprivation and mainly expressed in roots.•Overexpression of GmWRKY46 in soybean exhibited more sensitive phenotype to low P stress compared with the control, whereas RNA of GmWRKY46 significantly enhanced the tolerance to P deficiency by increasing the P absorption efficiency of hairy roots.