ISSN 2375-1134
African Journal of Agriculture | Vol. 13, No. 8, August 2026 | pp. 202–206
DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJA/000759
Article Type: Full Length Research Paper
Title: An Optimized Protocol for High-Yield Total RNA Extraction from Soursop (Annona muricata L.) Fruit Tissues
Names of Authors: Isabella Montenegro Brasil¹*, Maria de Lourdes Oliveira Otoch², José Hélio Costa³, Geraldo Arraes Maia¹, Maria da Guia Silva Lima⁴, Birgit Arnholdt-Schmitt⁵, Dirce Fernandes de Melo⁴
Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Fruit and Vegetable Laboratory/Food Technology Department, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil; ²Biology Department/University of Ceará State, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil; ³Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil; ⁴Bioenergetics Laboratory/Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil; ⁵Biocenter Klein Flottbek, Institute of Botany (AMP II), University of Hamburg, Germany
Abstract: Soursop fruit tissue is known by its acidic pH and high levels of polysaccharides, polyphenolics and secondary metabolites. These conditions are recognized to interfere unfavorably with conventional methodologies for RNA isolation. We describe here a rapid and simple method for the isolation of total RNA from soursop fruit. RNA was extracted in less than 4 h through a combination of SDS/potassium acetate precipitation and selective binding on a silica-gel-based membrane (Qiagen) through microspin speed technology. In comparison to other methods applied for RNA extraction from soursop fruit, our protocol improved substantially RNA quality as well as RNA yield. The isolated RNA served as a robust template for RT-PCR analysis. Comparable RNA quality and yield per dry weight were obtained from unripe and ripe fruits. This makes the method appropriate to being used in studies on differential gene expression in post-harvest behavior.
Key words: Annona muricata L., RNA isolation, tropical fruit.
Manuscript Timeline: Received: July 05, 2026; Revised: August 10, 2026; Accepted: August 22, 2026; Published: August 31, 2026
Citation: Brasil, I. M., Otoch, M. L. O., Costa, J. H., Maia, G. A., Lima, M. G. S., Arnholdt-Schmitt, B., & de Melo, D. F. (2026). An Optimized Protocol for High-Yield Total RNA Extraction from Soursop (Annona muricata L.) Fruit Tissues. African Journal of Agriculture, 13(8), 202–206. DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJA/000759