Herbarium Genetics

Herbarium collections around the globe hold nearly 400 million plant specimens, dating back hundreds of years, and have proven to be an invaluable resource in understanding plant biodiversity. One under-explored aspect of herbarium collections is the genetic material that they can supply. As DNA extraction and sequencing technologies continue to advance, the genetic data stored in these collections is becoming increasingly accessible. 

Sequencing herbarium specimens may hold the potential to transforming our understanding of the the genetic diversity of past and present plant populations. But how can we maximize the potential of these collections and where should we begin?

In our viewpoint, now out in New Phytologist, we discuss the ability for herbarium collections to supply genetic data and the potential applications of these data. Specifically, we focus on how we can use genetic data from herbarium specimens to understand how plants are coping with and responding to global change on the genetic level. Some promising areas of work include monitoring temporal changes in genetic diversity, determining the genetic basis for responses to climate change, validating genomic predictions, and exploring the genetic warning signs of local extinction.

Understanding how plants are responding on a genetic level to climate change, land use change, and other anthropogenic stressors is crucial in determining the health and adaptive potential of these populations.