Molecular biology needs a map: spatial in situ approaches in plant science

Plants are multicellular organisms composed of diverse cell types, each with its own distinct mRNA, protein and metabolite profile. In addition, each cell type exhibits developmental gradients that require fine-tuned balancing with neighbouring cells in terms of cell geometry and chromatin status. These factors highlight the need for precise knowledge of gene expression and chromatin dynamics during stress responses at the single-cell level in planta, linked to cell position and fate. In this viewpoint, we discuss the importance of spatial cell biology in situ methods in modern plant research and briefly compare it with the methods currently available for studying single-cell resolution.