This is a final research report from Hort Innovation’s historical archives. Please note that as these reports may date back as far as the 1990s, the content and recommendations within them may be superseded by more recent research.

What was it all about?

There were two parts to this project; one was to establish a quick and efficient method of extracting DNA from processed kernel; the other was to demonstrate that the extracted DNA could be genotyped using a robust fingerprinting method.

Using a commercial DNA extraction protocol (DNeasy Extraction Protocol, QIAGEN Pty Ltd) the researcher generated high quality DNA from raw and air-roasted kernel that could be readily and easily genotyped at microsatellite loci. Oil-roasted kernel samples generated significantly lower quantities of DNA, but it was still possible to genotype these samples at microsatellite loci.

Use of co-dominant microsatellite loci provided a range of advantages over previously employed dominant markers (Jarne & Lagoda 1996; Parker et al. 1998) and, when genotypes of processed kernel were compared to reference genotypes drawn from different growing regions, it allowed for the identification of kernel source/origin.