The maturation and aging trajectory of Marchantia polymorpha at single-cell resolution

• Published in: Developmental cell Vol. 58; no. 15; pp. 1429 - 1444.e6
• Main Authors: Wang, Long, Wan, Mu-Chun, Liao, Ren-Yu, Xu, Jie, Xu, Zhou-Geng, Xue, Hao-Chen, Mai, Yan-Xia, Wang, Jia-Wei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 07.08.2023
• Subjects: aging; bryophytes; cell census; gemma; gemma cup; Marchantia - genetics; Marchantia - metabolism; Marchantia polymorpha; notch; oil body cells; scRNA-seq; thallus; cell census; scRNA-seq; gemma; Marchantia polymorpha; notch; aging; gemma cup; bryophytes; thallus; oil body cells
• ISSN: 1534-5807; 1878-1551
• DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2023.05.014

Bryophytes represent a sister to the rest of land plants. Despite their evolutionary importance and relatively simple body plan, a comprehensive understanding of the cell types and transcriptional states that underpin the temporal development of bryophytes has not been achieved. Using time-resolved single-cell RNA sequencing, we define the cellular taxonomy of Marchantia polymorpha across asexual reproduction phases. We identify two maturation and aging trajectories of the main plant body of M. polymorpha at single-cell resolution: the gradual maturation of tissues and organs along the tip-to-base axis of the midvein and the progressive decline of meristem activities in the tip along the chronological axis. Specifically, we observe that the latter aging axis is temporally correlated with the formation of clonal propagules, suggesting an ancient strategy to optimize allocation of resources to producing offspring. Our work thus provides insights into the cellular heterogeneity that underpins the temporal development and aging of bryophytes. [Display omitted] •We generate a reference cell census for bryophytes•The collection of cell-type-specific genes accelerates gene discovery•We define the maturation and aging trajectory of M. polymorpha at single-cell resolution•The vigor of parent plants is determined by the number of offspring Wang et al. profile transcriptomes of dormant gemmae and developing thalli of different stages at single-cell resolution, defining two maturation and aging axes of the main plant body of M. polymorpha. The inference of continuous developmental trajectories for each cell type provides insight into the maturation program of M. polymorpha.