Teak (Tectona grandis L.f.) is considered to be a particularly durable building timber with a worldwide status. Its widespread use has entailed the overexploitation of natural forests and a large reduction in natural diversity. We have standardized and validated the DNA extraction through modified protocol which is applicable for fresh and mature dried leaf samples. This modified protocol made authentic DNA isolation and increased the yield as well as purity of DNA which is a step towards an illegal trade of timber species. The isolated DNA proved quick response to PCR amplification through ISSR primers which indicates its potential to be used as a forensic tool.
Teak (Tectona grandis L. f.) which belongs to the family Verbenaceae is predominantly tropical and subtropical in distribution. It grows in regions having annual rainfall of 600mm to 3000mm and grows up to 1300m altitude. It is considered the noblest among all woods not simply because of its golden hue and wonderful texture, but even more because of its durability, strength, attractiveness, workability, and superior seasoning capacity (Tewari, 1999).
It is indigenous to India, Myanmar, Thailand and Laos. As teak is a species with a wide geographic distribution in South East Asia, the natural populations develop heritable adaptations to local environmental factors in order to survive in different ecological conditions.
Extensive variation of stem form, axis persistence, branching, epicormics, buds and buttresses of bole has been found in the populations from India, Myanmar, and Thailand (Bagchi 1995). This paper aims to define with the extraction of DNA with cost effective and less time consuming protocol.
Materials and methods
Sampling: Leaves of Tectona grandis were collected from following regions of Southern Karnataka.
Storage: Leaf samples were put into polythene bags and immediately placed into silica gel. After arrival to the laboratory the leaf samples that had been placed in the silica gel were kept for drying to remove the moisture content of the samples and the dried samples were transferred at to -20°C cryogenic freezer to maintain their freshness.
DNA extraction: Two methods were used viz. the CTAB method and the modified CTAB method respectively, were carried out in the study.
(Source: This is an abstract taken from the 'My forest' Journal; March - June 2017. The authors are Tanzeem Fatima, Ashutosh Srivastava, Vageeshbabu S. Hanur, Priyanka Pandey, Soma Mondal, M.Srinivasa Rao and Mohan Karnat. You can read the entire article at aranya.gov.in)
