Preserving the art of multivariate thinking: PCA and the wisdom of experience

Plain Language Summary This article highlights the importance of experienced scientists sharing their knowledge acquired over decades, summarized in one focused article that could guide future generations. It reflects on a career of using principal component analysis (PCA), which helps researchers make sense of complex data in plant and agricultural studies. Through real examples, the article shows how PCA can be misunderstood or misused and offers practical tips to avoid common mistakes, as it can uncover valuable patterns in data. This should encourage scientists to focus on biological meaning when analyzing results.