The study demonstrates that RNA extracted from herbarium specimens can be used to generate high‑quality transcriptomes, comparable to those from fresh or silica‑dried samples. By assembling and comparing transcriptomes across specimen types, the authors validated a plant immune receptor synthesized from a 1956 collection, proving archival RNA’s utility for functional genomics. These findings challenge the prevailing view that herbarium RNA is unsuitable for transcriptomic analyses.

The study performed ionomic profiling and genome-wide association studies on a diverse panel of pearl millet infield across two seasons to uncover genetic factors controlling nutrient acquisition. Soil analyses revealed stable depth-dependent patterns for phosphorus and zinc, while leaf ion concentrations showed high heritability and associations with root and agronomic traits. Integrating GWAS with gene expression data identified candidate ion transport/homeostasis genes for breeding nutrient-efficient, climate-resilient millet.