Plant bZIPs in Root Environmental Adaptation: From Single-Cell Expression Atlas to Functional Insights

Plant roots interact dynamically with complex environments, and their capacity to adapt is crucial for growth, development, survival, and productivity. Basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factors have emerged as key regulators in managing the root's response to various environmental signals. The shift from bulk tissue analysis to single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) has enabled the creation of a highly detailed expression atlas for root bZIPs, significantly enhancing our understanding of their functions. This review first summarizes the classification and structural features of bZIPs in Arabidopsis, and compares representative members with their orthologs in cereal crops. Next, we integrate the expression patterns of various bZIP members in root cells and clarify their roles through single-cell expression profiling. Furthermore, we delineate characterized bZIP regulatory modules that respond to signals spanning light, hormones, nutrients, and stresses, thereby orchestrating transcriptional reprogramming to facilitate plant adaptation. By combining single-cell omics with functional genetics, we reveal how bZIPs control critical processes, including responses to light signals, hormonal interactions, nutrient uptake and balance, and reactions to abiotic stresses. Ultimately, this integrated perspective highlights the potential for targeting bZIP transcription factors in the development of climate-resilient crops with optimized root systems, thereby enabling them to adapt to changing environmental conditions.