A Simple and Cost-Effective Protocol for DNA Isolation from Herbarium Specimens

We developed a new CTAB-based seven-step DNA extraction protocol to isolate DNA from herbarium specimens. DNA was extracted from five species belonging to five genera from four families of angiosperms. The spectrophotometric measurement of double-stranded DNA demonstrated DNA of sufficient quality and quantity for PCR analysis. DNA was tested with universal primers and amplification success was 95%. The protocol is applicable to different taxonomic groups of herbarium specimens, fresh and silica-dried samples, and requires only common laboratory consumables and equipment. It is possible to extract 30 samples in less than two hours and more than 120 samples in a working day. The cost of consumables per sample is less than in many traditional protocols and commercially available kits.