The specification and commitment of lateral root founder cells (LRFCs) from postembryonic pericycle cells are critical steps in LR development, yet their earliest molecular determinants remain unclear. Using single-cell transcriptomics, we resolved transcriptional transitions guiding LRFC fate in Arabidopsis thaliana and identified five distinct phases of transcriptional progression during LRFC specification. Through differentially expressed gene analysis and phenotypic observation, we showed that application of exogenous GA (20 and 50 μM) promoted the nuclear migration and division in LRFCs independently of DELLA signaling, and revealed that Gibberellic acid-stimulated Arabidopsis 1 (GASA1) functions as a key mediator of gibberellin (GA) to accelerate the LRFC progression. Further histochemical staining and cytological observations demonstrated that GASA1 mediated the GA-triggered reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation to reinforce the LRFC commitment. The GA-GASA1-ROS module is evolutionarily conserved, with GA-ROS-driven LRFC commitment being fundamental across angiosperms. Notably, GASA1 emerged with root evolution in early land plants and diversified alongside lateral and shoot-borne root systems, revealing a conserved GA-ROS axis in plant organogenesis.
Xin-Qiao Du, Rahul Shaw, Jun Zhang et al.· Plant Communications· 0 citations
Recent advances in single-cell and spatial omics technologies are transforming plant research by enabling cell-resolved analyses of gene expression, proteomics, chromatin organization, and metabolism at the level of individual cells and at spatial resolution. These approaches have revealed extensive cellular heterogeneity, rare and transient cell states, and previously unrecognized developmental and physiological programs. However, they also introduce conceptual, technical, and computational challenges related to data quality and integration, and biological interpretation. In this review, we summarize the emerging opportunities and key bottlenecks in plant single-cell and spatial biology. We discuss how embedding single-cell data within evolutionary developmental frameworks can accelerate the discovery of functionally relevant genes, and how spatial transcriptomics may enable comparative study designs, the study of cell-to-cell communication, and multi-organism spatial analyses. We also explore how integrating multiple datatypes and gene regulatory network inference can move the field from descriptive atlases toward mechanistic insights. Finally, we highlight the importance of visualization strategies across spatial, temporal, environmental, and evolutionary scales. Overall, we argue that careful experimental design, robust data integration, and a clear understanding of cell identity are essential to obtain the full potential of plant single-cell and spatial omics in basic research and crop improvement.
L. de Veylder, Maite Saura-Sánchez, B. De Rybel et al.· The Plant Cell· 0 citations
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