Extraction of High Quality DNA from Mucilaginous Plants with a New Improved Method, Suitable for Detection of Geminiviruses and Downstream Applications

High quality genomic DNA extraction from higher plants is interfered by the presence of secondary metabolites, which reduces the yield and quality of the DNA and the downstream processes such as DNA amplification, restriction digestion and cloning. We describe an alternative protocol for genomic DNA extraction from fresh and dry mucilaginous plant leaves that is amenable to PCR-based genetic analysis. It is relatively simple quick, rapid, less time consuming and cost effective method for DNA isolation from leaves of mucilaginous plant using modified cetyl trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) method for extraction of DNA from leaf materials. DNA isolated using this method showed consistency in yield and compatibility with PCR for detection of geminiviruses from different mucilaginous plant species. The method was compared for efficacy with other reported methods and it was found to be superior over the existing methods described for isolation of DNA from mucilaginous hosts. Thus the method described could be used on a wider scale for reliable and consistent detection of geminiviruses from mucilaginous hosts for characterization and variability study.