Understanding plant pathogen interactions using spatial and single-cell technologies

Plants are in contact with diverse pathogens and microorganisms. Intense investigation over the last 30 years has resulted in the identification of multiple immune receptors in model and crop species as well as signaling overlap in surface-localized and intracellular immune receptors. However, scientists still have a limited understanding of how plants respond to diverse pathogens with spatial and cellular resolution. Recent advancements in single-cell, single-nucleus and spatial technologies can now be applied to plant-pathogen interactions. Here, we outline the current state of these technologies and highlight outstanding biological questions that can be addressed in the future. This review highlights the importance of comprehending plant-pathogen interactions at the single-cell and spatial levels, while also providing an overview of relevant cutting-edge technologies.

Automated summary

The limited understanding of plant-pathogen interactions can now be expanded with recent advancements in single-cell, single-nucleus, and spatial technologies, providing new tools and methods for studying the interactions at the single-cell and spatial levels.