Rapid and efficient protocol for genomic DNA extraction from leaf tissues of coconut (Cocos nucifera L.)

Good quality of the nucleic acid is the primary requisite for genomic research of crop plants. The presence of lipids, polysaccharides, polyphenols and protein molecules hinders downstream processes where genomic DNA has to be used as a template. Coconut leaf being highly fibrous and rich in all the secondary metabolites, isolation of good quality DNA remains a great challenge. Attempts to isolate the coconut DNA following the reported protocols are found not to yield DNA in the expected quality and quantity. A simple and fast approach for isolating the high-quality DNA from polysaccharides and polyphenolic-rich tissues of coconut is being detailed. As measured by its clear color, viscosity, and A260/280 ratio, the isolated DNA was devoid of polysaccharides, polyphenols, RNA, and other significant impurities. In addition to the detailing of the modifications made in the CTAB method, this paper discusses the major step-by-step improvements among the widely-followed DNA isolation protocols.