Abstract
Obtaining high-quality DNA from plant-based samples is challenging due to the presence of inhibitors, such as phenolics which are naturally abundant in plant tissues. Phenolics can hinder DNA extraction processes causing degradation, enzymatic inhibition, and oxidation, leading to low yield and purity DNA for analysis of microbial communities. Modifying the extraction method by performing a pre-treatment step to reduce the concentration of phenolics will be crucial before the extraction process of plant-based samples. Here we describe the addition of polyvinylpolypyrrolidone (PVPP) to bind phenolics, which is then discarded from the extraction process. DNA extraction process is completed by following commercially available extraction kits for efficient release of high-quality DNA for downstream processes. This methodology can be flexibly used in grape juice, wine and sap samples, as well as for general plant-derived materials for DNA isolation.