Soybean plants in dry regions can suffer from too much leaf growth, leading to excessive water loss. To tackle this issue, researchers studied soybean canopy structure and found that reducing leaf size can help optimize plant growth without sacrificing yield. By analyzing leaf surface and shape, they discovered that plants with smaller leaves but good branching can maintain an ideal leaf area index, resulting in better drought tolerance and higher yields. This alternative breeding strategy shows promise for improving soybean performance in dry climates.