Journals / Anatolian Journal of Botany / 2026 / Cilt: 10 Sayı: 2

Optimization of DNA extraction from fresh and dried Pinus brutia needles using different homogenization methods: An approach for forensic botanical applications

Taze ve kurutulmuş Pinus brutia iğne yapraklarından DNA ekstraksiyonunun farklı homojenizasyon yöntemleriyle optimizasyonu: Adli botanik uygulamaları için bir yaklaşım

Tuğba Ünsal Sapan(ÜSKÜDAR ÜNİVERSİTESİ, BAĞIMLILIK VE ADLİ BİLİMLER ENSTİTÜSÜ, ADLİ BİLİMLER ANABİLİM DALI (DİSİPLİNLERARASI))0000-0003-4744-2298
Nur Gizem Tanrıverdi(ÜSKÜDAR ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0009-0003-9690-0336
Pages
237–242
Publication Date
2026-10-12
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

These findings indicate that both sample condition and homogenization method influence DNA concentration obtained from P. brutia needles and highlight the importance of sample-specific optimization of DNA extraction procedures for molecular plant research and forensic botanical applications.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:Obtaining sufficient DNA from plant tissues is essential for molecular taxonomy, population genetics, conservation biology, and forensic botany.
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Key Findings & Data:Needle samples were collected from 24 individual trees in Çanakkale, Türkiye.
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Conclusion & Impact:These findings indicate that both sample condition and homogenization method influence DNA concentration obtained from P. brutia needles and highlight the importance of sample-specific optimization of DNA extraction procedures for molecular plant research and forensic botanical applications.
🔬Design:Modeling & Simulation
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Bitki moleküler biyolojisi · adli botanik · DNA ekstraksiyonu

Abstract

Obtaining sufficient DNA from plant tissues is essential for molecular taxonomy, population genetics, conservation biology, and forensic botany. However, DNA extraction from conifer species remains challenging because their tissues contain high concentrations of polysaccharides, polyphenols, terpenoids, and resin compounds that may interfere with DNA isolation and downstream molecular analyses. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of sample condition and homogenization method on DNA concentration obtained from fresh and dried needles of Pinus brutia, one of the most widespread conifer species in Türkiye. Needle samples were collected from 24 individual trees in Çanakkale, Türkiye. Samples from 12 trees were processed fresh, whereas samples from the remaining 12 trees were air-dried for 20 days. Within each sample condition, samples were processed using two homogenization methods: mortar grinding followed by TissueLyser homogenization and blender homogenization. Genomic DNA was extracted using the i-genomic Plant DNA Extraction Mini Kit and quantified using a Qubit™ 4 Fluorometer with the dsDNA High Sensitivity Assay. Data were analyzed using two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Fresh samples showed higher DNA concentrations than dried samples, and mortar grinding followed by TissueLyser homogenization resulted in higher DNA concentrations than blender homogenization. Two-way ANOVA demonstrated significant main effects of sample condition and homogenization method on DNA concentration, as well as a significant interaction between the two factors. These findings indicate that both sample condition and homogenization method influence DNA concentration obtained from P. brutia needles and highlight the importance of sample-specific optimization of DNA extraction procedures for molecular plant research and forensic botanical applications.

Özet

Bitki dokularından yeterli miktarda DNA elde edilmesi; moleküler taksonomi, popülasyon genetiği, koruma biyolojisi ve adli botanik uygulamaları açısından önem taşımaktadır. Ancak iğne yapraklı türlerden DNA izolasyonu, dokuların yüksek miktarda polisakkarit, polifenol, terpenoid ve reçine bileşikleri içermesi nedeniyle güçleşmekte; bu bileşikler DNA izolasyonunu ve sonraki moleküler analizleri olumsuz etkileyebilmektedir. Bu çalışmada, Türkiye’de yaygın olarak bulunan Pinus brutia iğne yapraklarında örnek durumu ve homojenizasyon yönteminin elde edilen DNA konsantrasyonu üzerindeki etkilerinin değerlendirilmesi amaçlanmıştır. Bu kapsamda Çanakkale ilinde bulunan 24 farklı P. brutia ağacından iğne yaprak örnekleri toplanmıştır. On iki ağaçtan alınan örnekler taze olarak işlenirken, diğer 12 ağaçtan alınan örnekler laboratuvar koşullarında 20 gün süreyle kurutulmuştur. Her bir örnek durumu içerisinde örnekler, havanda öğütme sonrasında TissueLyser ile homojenizasyon ve blender ile homojenizasyon olmak üzere iki farklı yöntemle işlenmiştir. Genomik DNA, i-genomic Plant DNA Extraction Mini Kit kullanılarak izole edilmiş ve DNA konsantrasyonu Qubit™ 4 Florometre ile dsDNA High Sensitivity Assay kiti kullanılarak belirlenmiştir. Elde edilen veriler iki yönlü varyans analizi (ANOVA) ile değerlendirilmiştir. Taze örneklerde kurutulmuş örneklere göre daha yüksek DNA konsantrasyonları elde edilirken, havanda öğütme sonrasında TissueLyser ile homojenizasyon uygulanan örneklerde blender ile homojenize edilen örneklere göre daha yüksek DNA konsantrasyonları belirlenmiştir. İki yönlü ANOVA, örnek durumu ve homojenizasyon yönteminin DNA konsantrasyonu üzerinde anlamlı ana etkilerinin yanı sıra iki faktör arasında anlamlı bir etkileşim bulunduğunu göstermiştir. Bu bulgular hem örnek durumunun hem de homojenizasyon yönteminin P. brutia iğne yapraklarından elde edilen DNA konsantrasyonunu etkilediğini göstermekte ve moleküler bitki araştırmaları ile adli botanik uygulamalarında DNA ekstraksiyon prosedürlerinin örnek özelliklerine göre optimize edilmesinin önemini ortaya koymaktadır.

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Cite This Article

Sapan, T. Ü., Tanrıverdi, N. G. (2026). Optimization of DNA extraction from fresh and dried Pinus brutia needles using different homogenization methods: An approach for forensic botanical applications. Anatolian Journal of Botany, Cilt: 10 Sayı: 2, 237–242. https://doi.org/10.30616/ajb.2006304

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