3D map of rice development charts gene activity across plant's entire life cycle
Rice is one of the world's most familiar staple foods, but how does a single cell develop into a rice plant with specialized tissues and organs? A new study offers a detailed look at this process through a three-dimensional (3D) spatiotemporal atlas covering 10 organs and 61 developmental stages across the rice life cycle, from seed to seed.
A detailed three-dimensional atlas of rice development has been created, providing insights into gene activity throughout the plant's entire life cycle. The study, led by professor Yang Weicai from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, utilized high-resolution spatial transcriptomics, single-nucleus RNA sequencing, and a reference genome to map 10 organs and 61 developmental stages.
This research identified 119 cell types and 133 subtypes across various organs and stages. The key regulator OsARF1 was found to regulate multiple biological processes through tissue-specific networks, while gene expression demonstrated spatial asymmetry, particularly in the endosperm. The seed coat, endosperm, and embryo engaged in coordinated communication through signaling peptides and receptors, with these interactions changing at different stages of seed development.
This comprehensive atlas offers a valuable resource for further experimental investigation into plant development.
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