Extracting high-quality DNA from plant material involves two distinct problems that conventional kits often handle poorly.

The first is the cell wall. Plant cells are surrounded by rigid cellulose and hemicellulose structures that standard proteinase-based lysis cannot efficiently penetrate on its own. This is why many plant DNA protocols require liquid nitrogen grinding, bead beating, or extended mechanical homogenisation before chemistry is even introduced.

The second is co-purification. Plants are rich in polyphenols and polysaccharides. These compounds are released during lysis, bind to DNA, and carry through into the extract. They are effective inhibitors of Taq DNA polymerase, and silica column purification does not always remove them reliably.

phytoGEM addresses both issues using the same multi-temperature enzyme strategy as the rest of the Exymes range.

phytoGEM works on leaf, stem, root, seed, and fungi, and is compatible with dried punch cards for field-collected material.