DNeasy Plant Maxi Kit

The DNeasy Plant Maxi Kit allows rapid and efficient isolation of high-quality DNA from a wide variety of plant species and tissue types including the most demanding sources (see table "Selection of plant species processed with DNeasy Kits"). Samples may be fresh, frozen, or dried. The optimized DNeasy Plant procedure incorporates the QIAshredder Maxi spin column, a unique filtration and homogenization column that efficiently removes cell debris and improves sample handling following lysis.

The typical yield is 30–260 µg, with a sample size of up to 1 g wet weight, and an elution volume of 500 µl to 2 ml. The DNA yields vary between different species and tissues depending on genome size, ploidy, cell number, and age of tissue sample. Lower and higher range values correspond to arabidopsis and wheat, respectively. Absorbance scans of DNeasy purified DNA show a symmetrical peak at 260 nm (see figures "DNA purity from oak leaves and pine needles"), confirming that the DNA is free of impurities, including enzyme inhibitors. Purified DNA can be used in a wide range of applications (see figures "PCR performance", "PCR analysis", and "RAPD analysis").

DNeasy Plant Kits use advanced silica-membrane technology and simple spin procedures to isolate highly pure total cellular DNA from plant tissues and cells or fungi. DNeasy technology replaces cumbersome DNA isolation procedures such as cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), phenol, or chloroform extraction. Using the DNeasy procedure, alcohol precipitation is not necessary — purified DNA is ready for immediate use. DNeasy sample preparation technology is fully licensed.

Samples are first mechanically disrupted and then chemically lysed (see flowchart "DNeasy Plant and DNeasy 96 Plant procedures"). RNA is removed by RNAse digestion during lysis. Cell debries, precipitated proteins, and polysaccharides are removed and the sample is homogenized by centrifugation through a QIAshredder Maxi spin column. Buffering conditions are adjusted and the lysate is loaded onto the DNeasy Plant Maxi spin column. During a brief spin, DNA selectively binds to the silica membrane while contaminants pass through. Remaining contaminants and enzyme inhibitors are removed in one or two efficient wash steps. Pure DNA is then eluted in water or low-salt buffer, ready for use.

The DNeasy Plant Maxi Kit provides purification of DNA from plant tissue, including:

• Plant cells
• Plant tissues
• Fungi