P. K. SATHEESHKUMAR, V. MURUGIAH AND ADITYA K. GUPTA
Abstract
Casuarina equisetifolia belongs to the family of Casuarinaceae. It possesses many unique characters like tolerance to saline salt, temperature, drought etc. To evaluate the gene pool of these plants, there should be an efficient RNA extraction protocol, which can give good quality RNA. In our trials we have experienced that many of the published protocols for RNA extraction in woody plants failed to yield good quality RNA. Therefore we have developed a protocol to isolate RNA from the secondary branches/ needles and callus of this tree species. The protocol described here is simple, fast, effective and cheap using very common lab chemicals. The RNA extracted was of very good quality with an average A2601280 value of 1.8. The amount of RNA obtained was also found to be as high as 25-3Oug/100mg of tissue. Reverse transcription was done using this RNA sample and the cDNA obtained was found to be useful in RAPD-PCR experiments.