DNA Extraction From Different Plant Species 137 MOLECULAR BIOTECHNOLOGY Volume 31, 2005 PROTOCOLS 137 Molecular Biotechnology  2005 Humana Press Inc. All rights of any nature whatsoever reserved. 1073–6085/2005/31:2/137–140/$30.00 *Author to whom all correspondence and reprint requests should be addressed. 1 Laboratorio GeMBio, Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán, Calle 43, #130, Col. Chuburná de Hidalgo, Mérida 97200, Yucatán, México. E-mail: daisypb@cicy.mx. 2 Unidad Sureste, Centro de Investigación y Asistencia en Tecnología y Diseño del Estado de Jalisco, A. Normalistas 800 S.H. Colinas de la Normal 44270, Guadalajara, Jalisco, México. Abstract A Fast, Simple, and Reliable High-Yielding Method for DNA Extraction From Different Plant Species Raul Tapia-Tussell, 1 Andres Quijano-Ramayo, 1 Rafael Rojas-Herrera, 2 Alfonso Larque-Saavedra, 1 and Daisy Perez-Brito 1, * Genetic studies and pathogen detection in plants using molecular methods require the isolation of DNA from a large number of samples in a short time span. A rapid and versatile protocol for extracting high- quality DNA from different plant species is described. This method yields from 1 to 2 mg of DNA per gram of tissue. The absorbance ratios (A 260 /A 280 ) obtained ranged from 1.6 to 2.0. A minimal presence of con- taminating metabolites (as polymerase chain reaction [PCR] inhibitors) in samples and a considerable sav- ings in reagents are characteristics of this protocol, as well as the low cost of the analysis per sample. The quality of the DNA was suitable for PCR amplification. Index Entries: Agavaceae; Cariacaceae; Cucurbitaceae; DNA isolation; Graminaeae; Palmae; PCR; Rutaceae; Solanaceae; SSR. 1. Introduction The isolation of genomic DNA from different plant species, suitable for polymerase chain re- action (PCR)-based molecular analysis, is diffi- cult because of the high content of interfering compounds in plant extracts, such as polysaccha- rides, polyphenols, tannins (1). Although some protocols have been reported for genomic DNA isolation in many crops, most of them use large quantities of fresh or lyophilized tissue (2,3), or they do not allow the processing of large amounts of samples in a short time span (4–6), or they are species specific (7,8). Furthermore, the presence of PCR inhibitors in samples has been reported frequently (9,10). In a molecular biology laboratory that intends to provide external services, sample output is cru- cial and it depends, in part, on methods used for DNA purification. Hence, the objective of this re- search was to develop a fast, reliable, and low-cost protocol for DNA extraction suitable for PCR am- plification from different plant species. 2. Materials 2.1. Plant Material Foliar tissue from Nicotiana spp, Citrus auran- tium, Cucumis sativus (var. Pikkle), Carica papaya (var. Maradol), Lycopersicum esculentum (var. Union), Capsicum chinense Jacq, Zea mays (var. Naltel), Cocus nucifera, and Agave fourcroydes were taken from the Regional Botanical Garden at the Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatan, Mérida, Mexico, and tuber tissue from Solanum tuberosum was obtained from potatoes purchased from a local market. All samples were stored at –80°C, lyofilized, and ground for analysis.