Rapid preparation of PCR-amplifiable fungal DNA by benzyl bromide extraction

For isolation of fungal DNA for PCR amplification, we compared three DNA isolation methods: enzymatic cleavage and the use of benzyl chloride or benzyl bromide. Since benzyl bromide is more reactive, its use enabled us to readily isolate the total nucleic acids as a DNA template source from various fungi, including dematiaceous hyphomycetes, for RAPD analysis.