title: DNA extraction techniques for DNA barcoding of minute gall-inhabiting wasps.
abstract: DNA extraction from minute hymenopterans and their larvae is difficult and challenging because of their small size indicating a low amount of starting material. Hence, 11 DNA extraction methods were compared to determine their efficacy in isolating DNA. Success of each method was scored on a 2% agarose gel after PCR of the cox 1 mitochondrial locus. A silica-membrane-based approach was the most successful, followed by a method using a combination of incubation buffers and a method using magnetic beads. The method using buffers was the most cost- and time effective. Using this method, larvae from Eucalyptus seed capsule galls could be assigned a role (parasitoid, gall former or inquiline) in the gall-inhabiting complex.
authors.affiliation: Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa.
authors.forename: Gudrun
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dittrich-Schröder
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Wingfield
authors.forename: Hildegard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Slippers
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D058893:DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic; D005052:Eucalyptus / Q000469:parasitology*; D005821:Genetic Techniques; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D007814:Larva / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D010941:Plant Tumors / Q000469:parasitology*; D014863:Wasps / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D019476:Insect Proteins; D004247:DNA