PCR reagents Tested range Optimum  range Results of tested ranges
DNA concentration (μl) 2,3,5,10,20,30,50,75 and 100 3 No amplified bands with lower concentration and presence of thinned band at higher concentration effected the repeatability
MgCl2 (mM)
dNTPs (mM)
1, 2, 3, 4, and 5
0.1, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4
3 &
0.3
Excess/lower concentration increases the non specificity and yield of the product. Increased concentration reduces the free Mg2+, interfering with the enzyme.
Primer concentration (μM) 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5 and 5.0 2.5 Lower and higher concentrations lead to absence of amplification and primer dimer formation, respectively.
Taq polymerase (Units) 0.1, 0.5 and 1.0 1 Lower concentration did not show proper amplification. High concentration showed decreased specificity.
Initial Denaturation time interval (min) at 94°C 2, 3, 4 and 5 3.0 Higher/lower time intervals (from optimum) leads to reduction in amplification, loss of Taq polymerase activity and lack of reproducibility
Annealing °C 45, 50, 55, 60, 65 and 70 55 Higher/lower annealing temperatures (from optimum) results in difference in specificity
Reaction volume (μl) 14, 16, 18 and 20 16 Influences the cost of the PCR ingredients and not effective bands obtained
Number of cycles 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 and 50 30 The optimum cycles only shows effectiveness for amplification
Table 2: Optimization of the RAPD-PCR reaction for J. curcas and G. hirsutum from mine waste dumps.