Research Topic: Herbarium specimens

Hidden treasures of herbaria – even small collections contain a wealth of diversity: the powdery mildews of the North Carolina State Larry F. Grand Mycological Herbarium

This study examined a collection of powdery mildew fungi preserved in a university herbarium and used DNA analysis to identify which specimens had been misidentified over the years. The researchers found that about 83% of the specimens had incorrect identifications and discovered four completely new species that look very similar to known species but are genetically distinct. The findings show that old museum collections are valuable resources for discovering hidden biodiversity and that we should preserve these collections rather than discard them.

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Ancient Microbiomes as Mirrored by DNA Extracted From Century-Old Herbarium Plants and Associated Soil

Scientists extracted and analyzed ancient DNA from plant roots and soil samples stored in herbarium collections for over 120 years. The DNA showed typical signs of age and preserved microbial communities that originally lived in the soil around these plants. By comparing these ancient microbial communities to modern ones, researchers found that herbarium storage preserved the original characteristics of soil microbiomes, making these museum specimens valuable for studying how farming practices have changed soil ecosystems over time.

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