The New Sbeadex Bulk Seed Extraction Kit: High Quality and Quantity DNA from ≥250 mg Seed Material

Many labs are required to extract DNA from large scale plant samples (>100 mg starting weight), such as seed batches, to meet quality management requirements. The high starting weights of such samples limit the grade of automation possible due to problems with handling high volumes of buffers, lack of efficient mixing and incubation of the samples in the wash buffers, as well as other technical reasons such as the high risk of clumping of the beads. Manual extractions are often expensive due to labour costs. Additionally, the non-standardszation of the extraction method is a potential source of errors such as cross contamination or mixing of samples.

To solve this issue, LGC has developed a bulk seed DNA extraction kit suitable for seed sample starting weights of 250 mg and above. Following grinding of the seed samples (e.g. using an IKA tube mill), a lysis step is included to break up cell walls. The following enrichment step precipitates the DNA but also functions to set up the binding conditions for the subsequent sbeadex extraction. This three step process (i.e. Lysis, then enrichment, then sbeadex extraction) can be implemented using the Thermo KingFisher robot to facilitate a standardised and automated DNA extraction workflow. The case study presented here, starting with 250 mg canola seed material, illustrates that the kit and protocol are capable of providing high quality and quantity DNA, applicable for all downstream technologies.