Abstract Rice is a largely irreplaceable food, nurturing about one-third of the population worldwide. To ensure food and nutrition security, the development of a myriad of rice ideotypes with desirable attributes is crucial, but cellular and molecular complexities, cellular heterogeneities, and tissue specificity often hinder the research potential of breeding and applied interventions. To overcome such obstacles, recently emerged single-cell genomics and transcriptomics open an advanced window for rice researchers by examining a set of molecular footprints at the cellular level, precise stage of growth and development, and certain stress responses, quickly changing our view on the understanding of biological systems by increasing the spatiotemporal resolution of the individual cell. These cutting-edge approaches offer unprecedented opportunities for high-resolution insights into the cellular architecture of rice, enabling precise cell type identification in indica and japonica cultivars, dynamic transcriptional reprogramming under multiple stresses and developmental conditions, monoallelic gene expression, meristem differentiation, and exploration of root microbiome interactions and pest management strategies, among other transformative applications. In this mini review, we present a comprehensive overview of recent advances in single-cell genomics and transcriptomics in rice, with a focus on their functional relevance to three critical areas, namely, developmental processes and responses to abiotic and biotic stresses. Such discussions spark fresh insights and drive progress in closing key gaps in rice single-cell biology. The resultant dissected high-resolution omics resources integration with revolutionary genome editing paves the way for next-generation rice ideotypes tailored for resilience, productivity, and sustainability.
Chandra et al. (Tue,) studied this question.