The rapid and enthusiastic adoption of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) has demonstrated that this technology is far more than just another way to perform transcriptome analysis. It is not an exaggeration to say that the advent of scRNA-seq is revolutionizing the details of whole-transcriptome snapshots from a tissue to a cell. With this disruptive technology, it is now possible to mine heterogeneity between tissue types and within cells like never before. This enables more rapid identification of rare and novel cell types, simultaneous characterization of multiple different cell types and states, more accurate and integrated understanding of their roles in life processes, and more. However, we are only at the beginning of unlocking the full potential of scRNA-seq applications. This is particularly true for plant sciences, where single-cell transcriptome profiling is in its early stage and has many exciting challenges to overcome. In this review, we compare and evaluate recent pioneering studies using the Arabidopsis root model, which has established new paradigms for scRNA-seq studies in plants. We also explore several new and promising single-cell analysis tools that are available to those wishing to study plant development and physiology at unprecedented resolution and scale. In addition, we propose some future directions on the use of scRNA-seq technology to tackle some of the critical challenges in plant research and breeding.

单细胞RNA测序（scRNA-seq）的迅速而热情的采用表明，该技术不仅是执行转录组分析的另一种方式。毫不夸张地说，scRNA-seq的出现正在彻底改变从组织到细胞的整个转录组快照的细节。利用这种破坏性技术，现在可以挖掘组织类型之间以及细胞内前所未有的异质性。这样可以更快速地识别稀有和新颖的细胞类型，同时表征多种不同的细胞类型和状态，对其生命过程中的作用有更准确和更全面的了解。但是，我们才刚刚开始挖掘scRNA-seq应用的全部潜力。对于植物科学来说尤其如此，单细胞转录组分析处于早期阶段，需要克服许多激动人心的挑战。在这篇评论中，我们使用拟南芥根模型，为植物中的scRNA-seq研究建立了新的范例。我们还探索了几种新的有前途的单细胞分析工具，可供那些希望以空前的分辨率和规模研究植物发育和生理的人使用。此外，我们为使用scRNA-seq技术提出了一些未来的方向，以应对植物研究和育种中的一些关键挑战。