Single-cell transcriptomes reveal spatiotemporal heat stress response in maize roots

Area of Science:

• Plant Biology
• Genomics
• Crop Science

Background:

• Plant roots adapt architecture to heat stress (HS), affecting crop yield.
• Understanding cell-specific HS responses is crucial for enhancing crop resilience.

Purpose of the Study:

• To generate a single-cell transcriptional landscape of maize roots under HS.
• To identify cell types and molecular pathways involved in root HS response.
• To discover potential indicators and targets for improving heat tolerance in crops.

Main Methods:

• Single-cell RNA sequencing of maize roots under HS.
• Bioinformatic analysis to identify cell clusters and differentially expressed genes.
• Experimental validation using maize inbred lines and gene mutation analysis.

Main Results:

• 15 cell clusters representing 9 major cell types were identified.
• Maize root cortex showed the highest HS responsiveness with significant gene expression changes.
• Cortex size correlated with heat tolerance, validated experimentally.
• Conserved HS-responsive root cell types and markers were found across plant species.

Conclusions:

• The study provides a cell type-specific atlas of maize root transcriptional response to HS.
• Maize root cortex is a key cell type for HS adaptation and heat tolerance.
• Identified candidate genes and cortex size serve as potential targets for breeding heat-resilient crops.