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.

This review compiles experimental studies on wheat to assess how elevated CO₂, higher temperatures, and water deficit interact and affect productivity and water use. By calculating plasticity indices, the authors find that despite CO₂‑induced gains, overall yield generally declines under combined stress, while water consumption often decreases. They highlight the need for more data to improve and validate crop models under future climate scenarios.

The study introduces Transposase-Accessible Chromosome Conformation Capture (TAC-C), which combines ATAC‑seq and Hi‑C to map fine‑scale chromatin interactions in rice, sorghum, maize, and wheat, revealing genome‑size‑correlated loop structures and distinct C3 vs. C4 patterns. Integration with population genetics shows that loops link distal regulatory elements to phenotypic variation, and SPL transcription factors (TaSPL7/15) modulate photosynthesis‑related genes via these interactions, enhancing photosynthetic efficiency and starch content in wheat mutants.