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 demonstrates that the GIGANTEA (GI) protein is a core component of the wheat circadian clock, required for robust oscillations in chlorophyll fluorescence and clock gene expression. Loss of functional GI leads to delayed heading under both long and short photoperiods, indicating a photoperiod‑1‑dependent pathway distinct from Arabidopsis. These findings provide insight into photoperiodic regulation of flowering in wheat, informing breeding strategies for high‑yield cultivars.