Extraction and electrophoretic analysis of large dsRNAs from desiccated plant tissues infected with plant viruses and biotrophic fungi

Extraction and electrophoretic analysis of large dsRNAs from plant and fungal tissues has been used successfully to detect RNA viruses infecting plants, fungi, and oomycetes. We modified a previously reported dsRNA extraction protocol and used it to detect a wide variety of plant and putative fungal viruses from infected plant tissues. The modified protocol was used successfully to extract large dsRNAs from 50 to 70 mg of desiccated plant tissues infected with acute and persistent RNA viruses and from plant tissues infected with biotrophic fungi causing rusts and powdery mildew diseases. The protocol proved to be efficient, fast, economic and versatile and requires relatively small amounts of desiccated tissue.