A spatiotemporal lifecycle atlas decodes spatial coordination in rice.

A comprehensive 3D spatiotemporal atlas of rice reveals 119 cell types and 133 subtypes across 10 organs and 61 stages, illuminating developmental gene programs.

• Why it matters: Understanding how gene expression is coordinated in space and time is crucial for deciphering plant development and improving crop traits, yet this knowledge remains limited.
• What they did: The study integrated high-resolution spatial transcriptomics, single-nucleus RNA sequencing, and a reference genome to profile over 850,000 nuclei and 347,000 spatial bins, constructing a developmental trajectory graph and identifying key regulators like OsARF1.
• The result: This atlas uncovers spatial gene expression patterns, including dorsoventral asymmetry and tissue-specific programs, providing a valuable framework for advancing rice biology and crop enhancement strategies.