The effects of fresh and rapid desiccated tissue on estimates of Ophiopogoneae genome size

Fresh plant material is usually used for genome size estimation by flow cytometry (FCM). Lack of fresh material is cited as one of the main reasons for the dearth of studies on plants from remote locations. Genome sizes in fresh versus desiccated tissue of 16 Ophiopogoneae species and five model plant species were estimated. Our results indicated that desiccated tissue was suitable for genome size estimation; this method enables broader geographic sampling of plants when fresh tissue collection is not feasible. To be useful, after dessication the Ophiopogoneae sample should be green without brown or yellow markings; it should be stored in deep freezer at −80 °C, and the storage time should be no more than 6 months.