Stabilization of RNA in Botanical Samples

Extraction of total RNA from palm (Chamaedorea geonomiformis) inflorescence using vivoPHIX reagent in conjunction with a Qiagen RNeasy-plant kit; comparison with results obtained using directly frozen material.

Agarose gel electrophoresis (9) revealed that the RNAs obtained from RNAssist-treated tissues (lanes labelled “R”) were of equal quality to those obtained from tissues frozen directly in liquid nitrogen (lanes labelled “F”).

Thanks to Dr. James Tregear, IRD Montpellier, France.