Provided herein are the protein and nucleic acid sequences of GmRD22. Further provided herein are methods for conferring abiotic stress tolerance to a plant cell or plant by introducing and expressing an isolated polynucleotide encoding a GmRD22 protein in the cells of the plant. Transgenic plants transformed with an isolated polynucleotide encoding a GmRD22 protein, as well as seeds and progeny derived from these plants, are also provided.