Advances in single-cell metabolomics to unravel cellular heterogeneity in plant biology

Single-cell metabolomics is a powerful tool that can reveal cellular heterogeneity and can elucidate the mechanisms of biological phenomena in detail. It is a promising approach in studying plants, especially when cellular heterogeneity has an impact on different biological processes. In addition, metabolomics, which can be regarded as a detailed phenotypic analysis, is expected to answer previously unrequited questions which will lead to expansion of crop production, increased understanding of resistance to diseases, and in other applications as well. In this review, we will introduce the flow of sample acquisition and single-cell techniques to facilitate the adoption of single-cell metabolomics. Furthermore, the applications of single-cell metabolomics will be summarized and reviewed.

Automated summary

Single-cell metabolomics is a powerful tool for understanding cellular heterogeneity and unraveling the mechanisms of biological phenomena. It holds great promise in plant research, especially when cellular heterogeneity affects different biological processes. Metabolomics, as a detailed phenotypic analysis, is expected to provide answers to previously unaddressed questions, leading to improved crop production, better understanding of disease resistance, and other applications.