Genomic Analysis of Botanical Collections: opportunities and challenges

ABSTRACT Botanical collections, comprising living or preserved speci- mens, are invaluable repositories of plant biodiversity. Genomic analysis of these collections can help answer critical ques- tions about species evolution and extinction and contribute to conservation of plant resources. However, these assets are often underutilized due to limited resources, technical difficulties or lack of awareness. In this lesson, we provide an overview of the factors influencing genomic studies of botanical collections, we introduce the challenges and solutions of plant genomics for botanical collections and stimulate reflection on innovations in establishing botanical collections for future research.