There is a need for the use of efficient DNA extraction methods that will yield good quality and quantity of DNA for molecular studies. Several commercial kits are available that are used in place of conventional extraction methods due to cost, speed, and safety. Therefore, the Zymo Research mini plant/seed DNA extraction kit was used to determine the yield and purity of DNA extracts of 86 accessions of Treculia africana varieties. Nanodrop Thermo Scientific™ NanoDrop™ One Microvolume UV-Vis Spectrophotometer was used to determine the quality and quantity of the extracted DNA. The extracted DNA was amplified by a polymerase chain reaction using Internal Transcribed Spacer 1 and 2 (ITS 1 and ITS 2). The amplicon was run on 1% agarose gel electrophoresis. The concentration (ng/µl) at the A260/280 and A260/230 ratios of the samples were recorded. The concentration and purity values varied among the accessions. The purity at A260/280 ratio ranged from 1.5 to 2.18, obtained from accessions B22 and B43 respectively while A260/230 ratio ranged from 0.93 to 39.56, obtained from accessions C46 – Ab6 respectively. The values derived at the A260/280 ratio and A260/230 ratio were majorly within the acceptable range of 1.8 – 2.0 suggesting that the ZR kit could eliminate contaminants. Thus, further downstream applications such as PCR and sequencing could conveniently be carried out. The suitability and efficiency of using Zymo research mini prep as a DNA extraction kit were revealed on the agarose gel images. Zymo Research DNA extraction kit is appropriate for the extraction of DNA from seeds of Treculia species.
Isuosuo Chinyere Chioma, Akaneme Florence Ifeoma, Urom Uchenna Nnanna
