ScRNA-seq data of <i>Hygrophila difformis</i>

Global climate changes cause severe floods that hinder plant development and breeding. The phenomenon in which a single plant can significantly alter its leaf shape structure and physiology based on surrounding environments is known as heterophylly, a trait commonly observed in amphibious plants. Heterophylly is a special survival strategy that enables adaptation to both submerged and terrestrial conditions, aiding in response to environmental changes. Molecular mechanisms of heterophylly are not well understood due to a lack of models. <i>Hygrophila difformis</i>, also known as Water wisteria, shows typical heterophylly in terrestrial and submerged environments, and is an emerging model plant to explore heterophylly. In this study, we conducted single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis of isolated protoplasts from both terrestrial and submerged shoots of <i>H. difformis</i> to obtain data on the gene expression patterns of tissue-specific cells. These scRNA-seq data enabled the identification of gene expression patterns by cell types, providing a foundation to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of heterophylly and plant environmental adaptations at a single-cell level.