Single-Cell Omics in Legumes: Research Trends and Applications

Legumes are important food crops and play a central role in sustainable agriculture through their ability to form symbiosis with rhizobia, soil bacteria that fix atmospheric nitrogen. Recent advances in single-cell and spatial transcriptomics, along with single-cell epigenomics, have enabled high-resolution analysis of gene expression dynamics and the prediction of cell-type-specific regulatory networks. In this review, we highlight recent progress in the use of single-cell omics in legumes, with a particular focus on how genes functioning in distinct cell types contribute to plant development, responses to pathogens, stress-induced plasticity, and the establishment of root nodule symbioses. Case studies in Medicago truncatula, Lotus japonicus, Glycine max, and Arachis hypogaea illustrate the shift from bulk to single-cell multi-omics. We conclude by outlining current limitations and future directions for building integrated legume cell atlases that will support translational research and crop improvement.