Drought Recovery in Plants Triggers a Cell-State Specific Immune Activation
Cite
Illouz-Eliaz, N., Yu, J., Swift, J., Lande, K., Jow, B., Tuang, Z.K., Lee, T., Yaaran, A., Castanon, R.G., Nery, J.R. and Nobori, T., 2025. Drought recovery in plants triggers a cell-state-specific immune activation. Nat Commun 16, 8095 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-63467-2
Abstract
All organisms experience stress as an inevitable part of life, from single-celled microorganisms to complex multicellular beings. The ability to recover from stress is a fundamental trait that determines the overall resilience of an organism, yet stress recovery is understudied. To investigate how plants recover from drought, we examine a fine-scale time series of RNA sequencing starting 15 min after rehydration following moderate drought. We reveal that drought recovery is a rapid process involving the activation of thousands of recovery-specific genes. To capture these rapid recovery responses in different Arabidopsis thaliana (A. thaliana) leaf cell types, we perform a single-nucleus transcriptome analysis at the onset of drought recovery, identifying a cell type-specific transcriptional state developing independently across cell types. To further validate the cell-type specific transcriptional changes observed during drought recovery, we employ spatial transcriptomics using multiplexed error-robust fluorescence in situ hybridization (MERFISH), revealing anatomical localization of recovery-induced gene expression programs across Arabidopsis leaf tissues. Furthermore, we reveal a recovery-induced activation of the immune system that occurs autonomously, and which enhances pathogen resistance in vivo in A. thaliana, wild tomato (Solanum pennellii) and domesticated tomato (Solanum lycopersicum cv. M82). Since rehydration promotes microbial proliferation and thereby increases the risk of infection, the activation of drought recovery-induced immunity may be crucial for plant survival in natural environments. These findings indicate that drought recovery coincides with a preventive defense response, unraveling the complex regulatory mechanisms that facilitate stress recovery in different plant cell types.
Datasets
1. Integrated single-nucleus RNA-seq dataset of drought and recovery
ExploreSample ID
Treatment
Subject ID
Cell subtype
Cell type (Seurat clusters)
Cell type
Cell type (condition)
Cell subtype (condition)
GEO accession
Sample name
Tissue
Age
Genotype
Clusters (integrated_snn_res.8)
Seurat clusters
Assay
Treatment (short)
Disease
Drought 30% SWC39,934 cells Drought + rehydration 15 mins20,417 cells Phloem companion2,489 cells Stress responsive2,215 cells Phloem Parenchyma2,049 cells Sieve element_responsive2,021 cells Metabolic stress state1,347 cells Sugar metabolic state369 cells 0: Mesophyll_120,842 cells 1: Mesophyll_216,347 cells 2: Mesophyll_313,880 cells 3: Mesophyll_412,145 cells 4: Mesophyll_511,803 cells 5: Epidermal_111,606 cells 6: Immune active8,152 cells 7: Mesophyll_66,460 cells 9: Mesophyll_73,977 cells 10: Defense state3,877 cells 11: Vascular_13,540 cells 12: Vascular_23,445 cells 13: Epidermal_22,658 cells 14: Phloem companion2,489 cells 15: Stress responsive2,215 cells 16: Phloem Parenchyma2,049 cells 17: Sieve element_responsive2,021 cells 18: Dividing_12,014 cells 20: Dividing_21,668 cells 21: Epidermal_31,597 cells 22: Metabolic stress state1,347 cells 26: Sugar metabolic state369 cells Phloem companion2,489 cells Stress responsive2,215 cells Phloem Parenchyma2,049 cells Sieve element_responsive2,021 cells Metabolic stress state1,347 cells Sugar metabolic state369 cells W15_Mesophyll31,671 cells R15_Immune active4,306 cells W15_Immune active2,474 cells D0_Defense state2,034 cells D0_Metabolic stress state1,120 cells D0_Stress responsive1,049 cells D0_Phloem companion1,002 cells D0_Immune active943 cells W15_Phloem Parenchyma887 cells R15_Defense state803 cells D0_Sieve element_responsive705 cells W15_Defense state672 cells R15_Sieve element_responsive624 cells W15_Phloem companion575 cells D0_Phloem Parenchyma551 cells W0_Phloem companion498 cells W15_Stress responsive487 cells W15_Sieve element_responsive457 cells W0_Immune active429 cells R15_Phloem companion414 cells W0_Phloem Parenchyma408 cells W0_Stress responsive384 cells W0_Defense state368 cells R15_Stress responsive295 cells W0_Sieve element_responsive235 cells R15_Phloem Parenchyma203 cells R15_Metabolic stress state141 cells D0_Sugar metabolic state118 cells W0_Sugar metabolic state106 cells W15_Sugar metabolic state101 cells W15_Metabolic stress state44 cells R15_Sugar metabolic state44 cells W0_Metabolic stress state42 cells W15_Mesophyll_112,565 cells W15_Mesophyll_25,645 cells W0_Mesophyll_15,530 cells W0_Mesophyll_34,722 cells D0_Mesophyll_24,652 cells W0_Mesophyll_24,530 cells R15_Immune active4,306 cells W15_Mesophyll_34,177 cells W15_Epidermal_14,025 cells D0_Mesophyll_53,950 cells D0_Mesophyll_43,852 cells W15_Mesophyll_53,772 cells W0_Mesophyll_43,730 cells D0_Mesophyll_33,339 cells D0_Epidermal_13,314 cells W15_Mesophyll_43,052 cells D0_Mesophyll_62,757 cells W0_Mesophyll_52,513 cells W15_Immune active2,474 cells W0_Epidermal_12,410 cells D0_Defense state2,034 cells R15_Epidermal_11,857 cells D0_Mesophyll_11,857 cells W15_Mesophyll_61,797 cells R15_Mesophyll_31,642 cells R15_Mesophyll_51,568 cells R15_Mesophyll_21,520 cells R15_Mesophyll_41,511 cells W0_Mesophyll_71,482 cells D0_Mesophyll_71,296 cells W15_Vascular_21,201 cells W15_Vascular_11,146 cells D0_Metabolic stress state1,120 cells D0_Stress responsive1,049 cells D0_Phloem companion1,002 cells D0_Immune active943 cells W15_Phloem Parenchyma887 cells R15_Defense state803 cells D0_Sieve element_responsive705 cells W15_Defense state672 cells R15_Sieve element_responsive624 cells W15_Phloem companion575 cells D0_Phloem Parenchyma551 cells W0_Phloem companion498 cells W15_Stress responsive487 cells W15_Sieve element_responsive457 cells W0_Immune active429 cells R15_Phloem companion414 cells W0_Phloem Parenchyma408 cells W0_Stress responsive384 cells W0_Defense state368 cells R15_Stress responsive295 cells W0_Sieve element_responsive235 cells R15_Phloem Parenchyma203 cells R15_Metabolic stress state141 cells D0_Sugar metabolic state118 cells W0_Sugar metabolic state106 cells W15_Sugar metabolic state101 cells W15_Metabolic stress state44 cells R15_Sugar metabolic state44 cells W0_Metabolic stress state42 cells well-watered_verm_time15_rep2, snRNAseq26,746 cells well-watered_verm_time15_rep1, snRNAseq22,697 cells drought_verm_time0_rep2, snRNAseq20,440 cells drought_verm_time0_rep1, snRNAseq19,494 cells well-watered_verm_time0_rep2, snRNAseq18,824 cells well-watered_verm_time0_rep1, snRNAseq15,876 cells recovery_verm_time15_rep1, snRNAseq10,681 cells recovery_verm_time15_rep2, snRNAseq9,736 cells Whole rosette144,494 cells 10X Genomics 3’, Gene Expression HT-v3.1, single-nucleus144,494 cells 2. Single-nucleus RNA-seq of plants during dehydration
ExploreDay
Cell type
Group
Sample name
Tissue
Age
Genotype
Treatment
Assay
Disease
Sample ID
Phloem companion669 cells timecourse_drought_day5, snRNAseq6,184 cells timecourse_drought_day1, snRNAseq4,812 cells timecourse_drought_day2, snRNAseq2,866 cells timecourse_drought_day3, snRNAseq2,687 cells timecourse_drought_day4, snRNAseq1,790 cells timecourse_drought_day0, snRNAseq1,202 cells Whole rosette19,541 cells Drought Day 5 (37% SWC)6,184 cells Drought Day 1 (86% SWC)4,812 cells Drought Day 2 (73% SWC)2,866 cells Drought Day 3 (62% SWC)2,687 cells Drought Day 4 (49% SWC)1,790 cells Drought Day 0 (100% SWC)1,202 cells 10X Genomics 3’, Gene Expression HT-v3.1, single-nucleus19,541 cells timecourse_drought_day56,184 cells timecourse_drought_day14,812 cells timecourse_drought_day22,866 cells timecourse_drought_day32,687 cells timecourse_drought_day41,790 cells timecourse_drought_day01,202 cells 3. Bulk RNA-seq time course of drought recovering plants - Run 1
ExploreLeiden clustering
Sample ID
Sample name
GEO accession
Tissue
Cell line
Genotype
Treatment
Treatment group
Timepoint
Assay
Age
Disease
Treatment + Timepoint
Treatment group - Timepoint
Bulk1_Well-watered time 90 mins, rep31 cells Bulk1_Well-watered time 90 mins, rep21 cells Bulk1_Well-watered time 90 mins, rep11 cells Bulk1_Well-watered time 60 mins, rep31 cells Bulk1_Well-watered time 60 mins, rep21 cells Bulk1_Well-watered time 60 mins, rep11 cells Bulk1_Well-watered time 6 hours, rep31 cells Bulk1_Well-watered time 6 hours, rep21 cells Bulk1_Well-watered time 6 hours, rep11 cells Bulk1_Well-watered time 4 hours, rep31 cells Bulk1_Well-watered time 4 hours, rep21 cells Bulk1_Well-watered time 4 hours, rep11 cells Bulk1_Well-watered time 30 mins, rep31 cells Bulk1_Well-watered time 30 mins, rep21 cells Bulk1_Well-watered time 30 mins, rep11 cells Bulk1_Well-watered time 15 mins, rep31 cells Bulk1_Well-watered time 15 mins, rep21 cells Bulk1_Well-watered time 15 mins, rep11 cells Bulk1_Well-watered time 120 mins, rep31 cells Bulk1_Well-watered time 120 mins, rep21 cells Bulk1_Well-watered time 120 mins, rep11 cells Bulk1_Well-watered time 0, rep31 cells Bulk1_Well-watered time 0, rep21 cells Bulk1_Well-watered time 0, rep11 cells Bulk1_Drought 30% SWC time 0, rep31 cells Bulk1_Drought 30% SWC time 0, rep21 cells Bulk1_Drought 30% SWC time 0, rep11 cells Bulk1_Drought 30% SWC + Recovery 90 mins, rep31 cells Bulk1_Drought 30% SWC + Recovery 90 mins, rep21 cells Bulk1_Drought 30% SWC + Recovery 90 mins, rep11 cells Bulk1_Drought 30% SWC + Recovery 60 mins, rep31 cells Bulk1_Drought 30% SWC + Recovery 60 mins, rep21 cells Bulk1_Drought 30% SWC + Recovery 60 mins, rep11 cells Bulk1_Drought 30% SWC + Recovery 6 hours, rep31 cells Bulk1_Drought 30% SWC + Recovery 6 hours, rep21 cells Bulk1_Drought 30% SWC + Recovery 6 hours, rep11 cells Bulk1_Drought 30% SWC + Recovery 48 hours, rep31 cells Bulk1_Drought 30% SWC + Recovery 48 hours, rep21 cells Bulk1_Drought 30% SWC + Recovery 48 hours, rep11 cells Bulk1_Drought 30% SWC + Recovery 4 hours, rep31 cells Bulk1_Drought 30% SWC + Recovery 4 hours, rep21 cells Bulk1_Drought 30% SWC + Recovery 4 hours, rep11 cells Bulk1_Drought 30% SWC + Recovery 30 mins, rep31 cells Bulk1_Drought 30% SWC + Recovery 30 mins, rep21 cells Bulk1_Drought 30% SWC + Recovery 30 mins, rep11 cells Bulk1_Drought 30% SWC + Recovery 15 mins, rep31 cells Bulk1_Drought 30% SWC + Recovery 15 mins, rep21 cells Bulk1_Drought 30% SWC + Recovery 15 mins , rep11 cells Bulk1_Drought 30% SWC + Recovery 120 mins, rep31 cells Bulk1_Drought 30% SWC + Recovery 120 mins, rep21 cells Bulk1_Drought 30% SWC + Recovery 120 mins, rep11 cells Bulk1Well-watered time 48 hours, rep31 cells Bulk1Well-watered time 48 hours, rep21 cells Bulk1Well-watered time 48 hours, rep11 cells Well-watered time 90 mins3 cells Well-watered time 60 mins3 cells Well-watered time 6 hours3 cells Well-watered time 48 hours3 cells Well-watered time 4 hours3 cells Well-watered time 30 mins3 cells Well-watered time 15 mins3 cells Well-watered time 120 mins3 cells Well-watered time 03 cells Drought 30% SWC + Recovery 90 mins3 cells Drought 30% SWC + Recovery 60 mins3 cells Drought 30% SWC + Recovery 6 hours3 cells Drought 30% SWC + Recovery 48 hours3 cells Drought 30% SWC + Recovery 4 hours3 cells Drought 30% SWC + Recovery 30 mins3 cells Drought 30% SWC + Recovery 15 mins3 cells Drought 30% SWC + Recovery 120 mins3 cells Drought 30% SWC (time 0)3 cells Drought 30% SWC + Recovery27 cells Illumina TruSeq, RNeasy Plant Mini Kits54 cells Well-watered time 90 mins - T4 - 90 mins3 cells Well-watered time 60 mins - T3 - 60 mins3 cells Well-watered time 6 hours - T7 - 6 hours3 cells Well-watered time 48 hours - T8 - 48 hours3 cells Well-watered time 4 hours - T6 - 4 hours3 cells Well-watered time 30 mins - T2 - 30 mins3 cells Well-watered time 15 mins - T1 - 15 mins3 cells Well-watered time 120 mins - T5 - 20 mins3 cells Well-watered time 0 - T0 - time 03 cells Drought 30% SWC + Recovery 90 mins - T4 - 90 mins3 cells Drought 30% SWC + Recovery 60 mins - T3 - 60 mins3 cells Drought 30% SWC + Recovery 6 hours - T7 - 6 hours3 cells Drought 30% SWC + Recovery 48 hours - T8 - 48 hours3 cells Drought 30% SWC + Recovery 4 hours - T6 - 4 hours3 cells Drought 30% SWC + Recovery 30 mins - T2 - 30 mins3 cells Drought 30% SWC + Recovery 15 mins - T1 - 15 mins3 cells Drought 30% SWC + Recovery 120 mins - T5 - 20 mins3 cells Drought 30% SWC (time 0) - T0 - time 03 cells Well-watered - T8 - 48 hours3 cells Well-watered - T7 - 6 hours3 cells Well-watered - T6 - 4 hours3 cells Well-watered - T5 - 20 mins3 cells Well-watered - T4 - 90 mins3 cells Well-watered - T3 - 60 mins3 cells Well-watered - T2 - 30 mins3 cells Well-watered - T1 - 15 mins3 cells Well-watered - T0 - time 03 cells Drought 30% SWC + Recovery - T8 - 48 hours3 cells Drought 30% SWC + Recovery - T7 - 6 hours3 cells Drought 30% SWC + Recovery - T6 - 4 hours3 cells Drought 30% SWC + Recovery - T5 - 20 mins3 cells Drought 30% SWC + Recovery - T4 - 90 mins3 cells Drought 30% SWC + Recovery - T3 - 60 mins3 cells Drought 30% SWC + Recovery - T2 - 30 mins3 cells Drought 30% SWC + Recovery - T1 - 15 mins3 cells Drought 30% SWC + Recovery - T0 - time 03 cells Well-watered - T8 - 48 hours3 cells Well-watered - T7 - 6 hours3 cells Well-watered - T6 - 4 hours3 cells Well-watered - T5 - 20 mins3 cells Well-watered - T4 - 90 mins3 cells Well-watered - T3 - 60 mins3 cells Well-watered - T2 - 30 mins3 cells Well-watered - T1 - 15 mins3 cells Well-watered - T0 - time 03 cells Drought 30% SWC + Recovery - T8 - 48 hours3 cells Drought 30% SWC + Recovery - T7 - 6 hours3 cells Drought 30% SWC + Recovery - T6 - 4 hours3 cells Drought 30% SWC + Recovery - T5 - 20 mins3 cells Drought 30% SWC + Recovery - T4 - 90 mins3 cells Drought 30% SWC + Recovery - T3 - 60 mins3 cells Drought 30% SWC + Recovery - T2 - 30 mins3 cells Drought 30% SWC + Recovery - T1 - 15 mins3 cells Drought 30% SWC + Recovery - T0 - time 03 cells 4. Bulk RNA-seq time course of drought recovering plants - Run 2
ExploreLeiden clustering
Sample ID
Sample name
GEO accession
Tissue
Cell line
Genotype
Treatment
Age
Assay
Disease
Bulk2_recovery_ time 120, rep31 cells Bulk2_recovery_ time 120, rep21 cells Bulk2_recovery_ time 120, rep11 cells Bulk2_Well-watered time 60 mins, rep31 cells Bulk2_Well-watered time 60 mins, rep21 cells Bulk2_Well-watered time 60 mins, rep11 cells Bulk2_Well-watered time 120 mins, rep31 cells Bulk2_Well-watered time 120 mins, rep21 cells Bulk2_Well-watered time 120 mins, rep11 cells Bulk2_Well-watered time 0, rep31 cells Bulk2_Well-watered time 0, rep21 cells Bulk2_Well-watered time 0, rep11 cells Bulk2_Stress_50%, rep31 cells Bulk2_Stress_50%, rep21 cells Bulk2_Stress_50%, rep11 cells Bulk2_Recovery_time 60, rep31 cells Bulk2_Recovery_time 60, rep21 cells Bulk2_Recovery_time 60, rep11 cells Bulk2_Recovery_time 30, rep31 cells Bulk2_Recovery_time 30, rep21 cells Bulk2_Recovery_time 30, rep11 cells Bulk2_Recovery_time 15, rep31 cells Bulk2_Recovery_time 15, rep21 cells Bulk2_Recovery_time 15, rep11 cells recovery_ time 1203 cells Well-watered time 60 mins3 cells Well-watered time 120 mins3 cells Well-watered time 03 cells Illumina TruSeq, RNeasy Plant Mini Kits24 cells 5. Bulk RNA-seq time course of drought recovering plants - Run 3
ExploreLeiden clustering
Sample ID
Sample name
GEO accession
Tissue
Cell line
Genotype
Treatment
Disease
Age
Assay
Bulk3_well-watered time 90, rep31 cells Bulk3_well-watered time 90, rep21 cells Bulk3_well-watered time 90, rep11 cells Bulk3_well-watered time 60, rep31 cells Bulk3_well-watered time 60, rep21 cells Bulk3_well-watered time 60, rep11 cells Bulk3_well-watered time 30, rep31 cells Bulk3_well-watered time 30, rep21 cells Bulk3_well-watered time 30, rep11 cells Bulk3_well-watered time 15, rep31 cells Bulk3_well-watered time 15, rep21 cells Bulk3_well-watered time 15, rep11 cells Bulk3_well-watered time 120, rep31 cells Bulk3_well-watered time 120, rep21 cells Bulk3_well-watered time 120, rep11 cells Bulk3_well-watered time 0, rep31 cells Bulk3_well-watered time 0, rep21 cells Bulk3_well-watered time 0, rep11 cells Bulk3_Stress_25%, rep31 cells Bulk3_Stress_25%, rep21 cells Bulk3_Stress_25%, rep11 cells Bulk3_Recovery_25% time 90, rep31 cells Bulk3_Recovery_25% time 90, rep21 cells Bulk3_Recovery_25% time 90, rep11 cells Bulk3_Recovery_25% time 60, rep31 cells Bulk3_Recovery_25% time 60, rep21 cells Bulk3_Recovery_25% time 60, rep11 cells Bulk3_Recovery_25% time 30, rep31 cells Bulk3_Recovery_25% time 30, rep21 cells Bulk3_Recovery_25% time 30, rep11 cells Bulk3_Recovery_25% time 15, rep31 cells Bulk3_Recovery_25% time 15, rep21 cells Bulk3_Recovery_25% time 15, rep11 cells Bulk3_Recovery_25% time 120, rep31 cells Bulk3_Recovery_25% time 120, rep21 cells Bulk3_Recovery_25% time 120, rep11 cells well-watered time 903 cells well-watered time 603 cells well-watered time 303 cells well-watered time 153 cells well-watered time 1203 cells well-watered time 03 cells Recovery_25% time 903 cells Recovery_25% time 603 cells Recovery_25% time 303 cells Recovery_25% time 153 cells Recovery_25% time 1203 cells Illumina TruSeq, RNeasy Plant Mini Kits36 cells 6. Bulk RNA-seq profilling of Col and camta1 mutants samples
ExploreLeiden clustering
Sample ID
Sample name
GEO accession
Tissue
Genotype
Treatment
Disease
Age
Assay
210915_Ath_40do_camta1_W_41 cells 210915_Ath_40do_camta1_W_31 cells 210915_Ath_40do_camta1_W_21 cells 210915_Ath_40do_camta1_W_11 cells 210915_Ath_40do_camta1_W15_31 cells 210915_Ath_40do_camta1_W15_21 cells 210915_Ath_40do_camta1_W15_11 cells 210915_Ath_40do_camta1_R15_31 cells 210915_Ath_40do_camta1_R15_21 cells 210915_Ath_40do_camta1_R15_11 cells 210915_Ath_40do_camta1_D_41 cells 210915_Ath_40do_camta1_D_31 cells 210915_Ath_40do_camta1_D_21 cells 210915_Ath_40do_camta1_D_11 cells 210915_Ath_40do_Col_W_41 cells 210915_Ath_40do_Col_W_31 cells 210915_Ath_40do_Col_W_21 cells 210915_Ath_40do_Col_W_11 cells 210915_Ath_40do_Col_W15_31 cells 210915_Ath_40do_Col_W15_21 cells 210915_Ath_40do_Col_W15_11 cells 210915_Ath_40do_Col_R15_31 cells 210915_Ath_40do_Col_R15_21 cells 210915_Ath_40do_Col_R15_11 cells 210915_Ath_40do_Col_D_41 cells 210915_Ath_40do_Col_D_31 cells 210915_Ath_40do_Col_D_21 cells 210915_Ath_40do_Col_D_11 cells camta1 well-watered replicate 41 cells camta1 well-watered replicate 31 cells camta1 well-watered replicate 21 cells camta1 well-watered replicate 11 cells camta1 well-watered 15 minutes replicate 31 cells camta1 well-watered 15 minutes replicate 21 cells camta1 well-watered 15 minutes replicate 11 cells camta1 stress recovery 15 minutes replicate 31 cells camta1 stress recovery 15 minutes replicate 21 cells camta1 stress recovery 15 minutes replicate 11 cells camta1 moderate stress replicate 41 cells camta1 moderate stress replicate 31 cells camta1 moderate stress replicate 21 cells camta1 moderate stress replicate 11 cells Col well-watered replicate 41 cells Col well-watered replicate 31 cells Col well-watered replicate 21 cells Col well-watered replicate 11 cells Col well-watered 15 minutes replicate 31 cells Col well-watered 15 minutes replicate 21 cells Col well-watered 15 minutes replicate 11 cells Col stress recovery 15 minutes replicate 31 cells Col stress recovery 15 minutes replicate 21 cells Col stress recovery 15 minutes replicate 11 cells Col moderate stress replicate 41 cells Col moderate stress replicate 31 cells Col moderate stress replicate 21 cells Col moderate stress replicate 11 cells camta1 (SALK_008187.38.30.x)14 cells Well-watered (Control plates, with 100% water content)8 cells Moderate osmotic stress (low-water plates, with 50% water content based on method describes in Gonzalez et al., 2023)8 cells Well-watered (Control plates, with 100% water content, collected 15 minutes after transfer to new control plates with additional water)6 cells Recovery from moderate osmotic stress (collected 15 minutes after trasfer to control plates)6 cells 7. Spatial transcriptomics of Arabidopsis leaf tissue under four water conditions
ExploreCell type
Sample ID
Treatment
GEO accession
Tissue
Disease
Assay
Leiden clustering
Leiden clustering (resolution=1)
Cell subtype
drought treated, rehydrated for 15 minutes1,729 cells drought treated, time 0 (30% SWC)1,543 cells well-watered, time 0 (1 hour after light turns on)764 cells well-watered, 15 minutes658 cells Alias names
GSE220278, GSE220277, GSE220276, GSE289042, GSE303744