Desiccation as a suitable alternative to cold-storage of phyllosphere samples for DNA-based microbial community analyses
Abstract
The study of microbial communities of the plant phyllosphere in remote locations using DNA-based approaches is limited by the challenges associated with their preservation in the field and during transportation. Freezing is a common DNA preservation strategy, but it may be unsuitable for leaf samples, or inaccessible in some locations. Other methods such as desiccation, ethanol or commercial preservatives are potential alternative DNA preservation methods for ambient temperature storage. In this study, we assessed the efficacy of desiccation (with silica gel packs), and of three preservation solutions (95% ethanol, RNAlater, LifeGuard) for the preservation of epiphytic phyllosphere communities of Populus tremuloides and Picea glauca at ambient indoor temperature (21 °C) for up to three weeks. We assessed effects on DNA concentration and quality and used metabarcoding to detect changes in bacterial and …
abstract: “The study of microbial communities of the plant phyllosphere in remote locations using DNA-based approaches is limited by the challenges associated with their preservation in the field and during transportation. Freezing is a common DNA preservation strategy, but it may be unsuitable for leaf samples, or inaccessible in some locations. Other methods such as desiccation, ethanol or commercial preservatives are potential alternative DNA preservation methods for ambient temperature storage. In this study, we assessed the efficacy of desiccation (with silica gel packs), and of three preservation solutions (95% ethanol, RNAlater, LifeGuard) for the preservation of epiphytic phyllosphere communities of Populus tremuloides and Picea glauca at ambient indoor temperature (21 °C) for up to three weeks. We assessed effects on DNA concentration and quality and used metabarcoding to detect changes in bacterial and …” authors:
- E_Smenderovac
- Karelle Rheault
- Marie-Ange Moisan
- C_Emilson
- Élodie Brazeau
- Marie-Josée Morency
- Patrick Gagné
- Vincent Maire
- E_Emilson
- L_Venier
- Christine Martineau featured: false projects: [] publication: ‘Scientific Reports’ publication_short: '' publication_types:
- “2” date: ‘2025-02-04T00:00:00Z’ publishDate: ‘2025-03-07’ title: ‘Desiccation as a suitable alternative to cold-storage of phyllosphere samples for DNA-based microbial community analyses’ url_pdf: “https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-82367-x" url_source: “https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-82367-x"
Emily Smenderovac
Watershed Ecologist
Trained in microbial ecology and bioinformatic analysis of community datasets.
Caroline Emilson
Forest Ecologist and Bioinformatician
Ecologist specializing in environmental genomics and microbial ecology.
Erik J.S. Emilson
Research Scientist, Watershed Ecology Team Lead, Associate Editor CJFR
I am interested in how forests support freshwater ecosystem services. My research combines microbial and molecular approaches to undertand how forest productivity and disturbances affect ecosystem functions in headwater streams and lakes.
Lisa Venier
Research Scientist
I research biota (large and small) as indicators of sustaniable forest management