Rapid preparation of DNA from filamentous fungi

We describe a general, simple and inexpensive method for the isolation of DNA from filamentous fungi. Starting from freeze-dried mycelium 01–015% by weight can be isolated as high molecular weight DNA suitable for restriction and ligation in 2 h. The preparation can be done in Eppendorf tubes and allows the processing of many samples in parallel. We have used the method with the basidiomycetes Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Coprinus cinereus and the ascomycete Aspergillus nidulans and others have used it with Trichoderma reesei, Aspergillus niger and for the isolation of DNA from tomato plants.