Published papers

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.

Background: There are multiple species within the Hevea genus, each exhibiting distinct characteristics, but many remain underexplored due to their lower latex productivity. While Hevea brasiliensis is the primary source of natural rubber, other Hevea species represent valuable gene pools that could be leveraged in breeding programs to enhance latex yield, biosynthesis efficiency, and the physicochemical properties of latex. With increasing interest in enhancing natural rubber traits, these lesser-known species are being revisited for their underexplored genetic diversity. Results: In this study, we performed a pangene analysis of 6 Hevea species and varieties, integrating proteomic and lipidomic data to investigate genetic and metabolic variation related to rubber biosynthesis and latex composition. The pangene analysis revealed conserved and expanded ATP-related functions, underscoring ATP’s role in latex production. The proteomic data identified key enzymes involved in rubber biosynthesis and differentially abundant proteins related to latex regeneration, suggesting that regeneration capacity may influence yield efficiency. Lipidomic profiling uncovered species-specific lipid compositions associated with membrane dynamics and rubber particle stability, which may contribute to latex properties. Conclusions: These findings provide valuable insights into Hevea’s genomic and metabolic diversity, supporting future breeding programs aimed at improving natural rubber production and its performance in various applications.

Photoreceptors are conserved in green algae to land plants and regulate various developmental stages. In the ocean, blue light penetrates deeper than red light, and blue-light sensing is key to adapting to marine environments. Here, a search for blue-light photoreceptors in the marine metagenome uncover a chimeric gene composed of a phytochrome and a cryptochrome (Dualchrome1, DUC1) in a prasinophyte, Pycnococcus provasolii. DUC1 detects light within the orange/far-red and blue spectra, and acts as a dual photoreceptor. Analyses of its genome reveal the possible mechanisms of light adaptation. Genes for the light-harvesting complex (LHC) are duplicated and transcriptionally regulated under monochromatic orange/blue light, suggesting P. provasolii has acquired environmental adaptability to a wide range of light spectra and intensities.

In recent years, the stable supply of natural rubber has been threatened by a new leaf fall disease (LFD) caused by filamentous fungi. We screened pesticides to control the growth of Neopestalotiopsis sp. and Colletotrichum sp., which are considered to be the causal agents of LFD in rubber trees. We identified two effective pesticides, Quinondo 80% WP and Topsin M WP. When these two candidate pesticides were used in combination at 10ppm each, there was enhanced inhibition of growth of both fungal species. Furthermore, the use of Quinondo 80% WP was shown to suppress the development of necrotic lesions caused by Neopestalotiopsis in rubber seedlings. These results suggest that Quinondo 80% WP is effective in controlling the spread of damage caused by LFD infection in rubber trees, and further verification of the concentration and method of application is needed to further demonstrate its effectiveness.