Plant Total DNA Extraction

Abstract

Several methods for the extraction of plant DNA have been reported. The protocol described here is a modification of the method developed by Dellaporta et al. (1). This method is generally applicable and has been successfully used on a broad range of tissues, fresh or dried, including calli from many species. The DNA produced is of a moderately high molecular weight and can be used as a satisfactory substrate for some restriction endonucleases as well as for genomic blot analysis. However, the DNA obtained following the Dellaporta method is not of sufficient quality to apply PCR techniques, such as RAPDs (see Chapter 8), where variable DNA quality may lead to difficulties in reproducing results. In addition, DNA of poor quality cannot be restricted with certain enzymes.