title: Evaluation and comparison of FTA card and CTAB DNA extraction methods for non-agricultural taxa.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  An efficient, effective DNA extraction method is necessary for comprehensive analysis of plant genomes. This study analyzed the quality of DNA obtained using paper FTA cards prepared directly in the field when compared to the more traditional cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)-based extraction methods from silica-dried samples.
  
  
  METHODS
  DNA was extracted using FTA cards according to the manufacturer's protocol. In parallel, CTAB-based extractions were done using the automated AutoGen DNA isolation system. DNA quality for both methods was determined for 15 non-agricultural species collected in situ, by gel separation, spectrophotometry, fluorometry, and successful amplification and sequencing of nuclear and chloroplast gene markers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The FTA card extraction method yielded less concentrated, but also less fragmented samples than the CTAB-based technique. The card-extracted samples provided DNA that could be successfully amplified and sequenced. The FTA cards are also useful because the collected samples do not require refrigeration, extensive laboratory expertise, or as many hazardous chemicals as extractions using the CTAB-based technique.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The relative success of the FTA card method in our study suggested that this method could be a valuable tool for studies in plant population genetics and conservation biology that may involve screening of hundreds of individual plants. The FTA cards, like the silica gel samples, do not contain plant material capable of propagation, and therefore do not require permits from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) for transportation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Crop Sciences: Plant Biotechnology and Molecular Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1102 S. Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801 USA.
authors.forename: Chloe S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Siegel
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Mathematics, University of Maryland, 2181 Glenn L. Martin Hall, Building 088, College Park, Maryland 20742 USA.
authors.forename: Florence O
authors.initials: FO
authors.lastname: Stevenson
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany, Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History, NMNH-MRC, 166 Smithsonian Institution, P.O. Box 37012, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012 USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Zimmer
keywords: CTAB-based technique; DNA extraction, amplification, and sequencing; FTA cards; fluorometry; gel electrophoresis; spectrophotometry