Ready for your all-in-one single cell sequencing solution?

Plant Sciences

Plants are masters of compartmentalization. From the intricate layers of the root apical meristem to the specialized cells within a leaf’s stomatal complex, function is dictated by cellular identity. Single cell sequencing is a transformative tool for uncovering the fundamental mechanics of plant growth, resilience, and evolution. This leads the way towards understanding cellular diversity of plants which is essential for addressing global challenges in food security, climate resilience, and sustainable agriculture.

Plant tissues present unique structural challenges such as the rigid cell wall and large vacuoles containing debris. These are overcome through innovative workflows for single cell and single nucleus transcriptomics. Nowadays, the resolution needed to map cell type-specific development and environmental responses can be achieved at scale.

Applications

Single nucleus RNAseq is usually recommended over protoplast extraction

The primary challenge in plant single-cell transcriptomics is the rigid cell wall. Traditionally, researchers extracted protoplasts for RNA isolation. However, single-nucleus sequencing (snRNA-seq) has rapidly become the preferred method for several reasons:

  • Protoplast extraction takes time, during which transcriptomic shifts might occur
  • snRNA-seq reduces bias in cell type representation and detects cell types lost in protoplast data due to harsh extraction conditions.
  • Cell wall removal is particularly difficult for some tissues such as woody stems, mature leaves with thick cuticles or seeds
  • Some protoplasts are too big for handling on our microfluidic SCOPEchip.

However, if you still wish to perform protoplast extraction because the cytoplasmic RNA is important or you need maximum transcript detection, please contact us and our Tech Support Team will discuss your project’s details and feasibility.

Research areas

Why work with Singleron

Kit or Service

Whether you prefer to perform your experiments in-house using our kits or choose to have Singleron’s expert staff manage the intricate hands-on work in our specialized laboratories, we have you covered.

End-to-End Support

We support you at every step of your journey. From initial tissue selection to final data interpretation, our team provides the technical and biological consultation needed to ensure your project’s success.

Expert Consultation

Plant tissues vary significantly between species and developmental stages. Our specialists consult with you to determine the best approach—tailoring the protocol to your specific model organism, from Arabidopsis and moss to complex woody species like poplar.

Further Reading

App Note

Single cell sequencing of plants: a growing story

Open
Single Cell Decoding of Cellular Lineages and the Evolution of Plant Exceptional Traits

Webinar on-demand

Single-Cell Decoding of Cellular Lineages and the Evolution of Plant Exceptional Traits

Open

Ready to Start Your Single Cell Seq Project?

Ready to Start Your Single Cell Seq Project?

Are you planning a project with plant tissue?
We’re rooting for you!