Optimization of a Rapid DNA Extraction Protocol in Rice Focusing on Age of Plant and EDTA Concentration

Abstract

An increase in the world population causes the need to improve the crop and food productivity. It is generally suggested that an extensive attention should be paid to plant breeding efforts to address the issues of food security. Marker Assisted Selection (MAS) is referred to as the use of DNA markers for the selection of desirable traits in segregating/breeding populations. DNA based breeding selection is much more reliable than traditional breeding methods. Breeding populations used to select the desirable traits called segregating. Yet segregating populations need huge financial as well as leisure requirement. However DNA extraction in segregating populations has been always being a limiting factor either because of quantity or quality. The present study was conducted to improve the DNA quality and quantity of rice by investigating the effects of the age of the seedlings and EDTA buffer concentration in order to apply more reliable downstream processes and subsiquantly to gain better results. As a result, Four weeks old seedlings gave the best quantity of DNA (118.9ng/μl). The concentrations of EDTA in the first step buffer (2mM) and second step buffer (0.1mM) were the best for DNA extraction.