| | |
Summary: Phytologia (December 2011) 93(3) 351
DNA FROM HERBARIUM SPECIMENS: II. CORRELATION
OF DNA DEGRADATION WITH HUMIDITY
Robert P. Adams
Biology Department, Baylor University, Box 97388, Waco, TX
76798, USA, email Robert_Adams@baylor.edu
ABSTRACT
Comparisons were made of DNA extracted from leaves of
Juniperus virginiana stored in 100, 75, 70, 54 and 23% humidity at
21ºC for up to 12 months. Fungal growth was observed in the 100, 75
and 70% humidity tests that resulted in the degradation of the juniper
DNA. The DNA in leaves stored at 54.4 and 23.1% RH show no
evidence of degradation after 12 months storage. It appears that storage
of herbarium specimens at sub-ambient temperatures and at RH less
than 55% should be effective in preserving DNA in situ. Phytologia
92(3): 351-359 (December 1, 2010).
KEY WORDS: DNA, herbarium specimens, humidity, degradation,
Juniperus.
Recently, Adams and Sharma (2010) reported on DNA
extracted from Juniperus herbarium specimens ranging from 1 to 80
|
