• Collect the spindle leaf lamina from field grown coconut cultivars
• Store the leaves at 4°C till use.

• DNA extraction buffer composition of the SDS 1% and CTAB 1%
• Adjust pH of the buffer to either pH 8.0 or pH 9.
• Add 0.5% w/ v polyvinylpyrollidone (PVP; insoluble) and 0.2% v/v b - mercaptoethanol just before use.

• Cut 5g leaf lamina into small pieces in a mortar containing liquid nitrogen. Allow the lamina to freeze.
• Grind the tissue to a fine powder adding liquid nitrogen as and when needed, not allowing the tissue to thaw.
• Add PVP (0.5%) to the powder and mix it well.
• Transfer the powdered tissue to 50ml polypropylene tube containing 25 ml extraction buffer.
• Add 0.2% 0 - mercaptoethanol to the mixture and add CTAB 1%. Mix thoroughly.
• Incubate the mixture at 65°C for 1 hour with intermittent mixing.
• Add 15 ml phenolchloroform isoamyl alcohol (25:24:1) and mix gently by swirling the tubes for 10 min.
• Centrifuge the tubes at 25,000 g for 20 min.
• Measure and transfer the supernatant to an autoclaved 50ml tubes.
• Add equal volume of chloroform isoamyl alcohol (24:1) and again mix gently for 15 min.
• Centrifuge at 25,000g for 10 min and transfer the aqueous phase to a new centrifuge tube.
• Add 2/3 volume of ice-cold isopropanol and gently mix the tube by inverting it. Incubate at 4°C for 30- 45 min.
• Pool the precipitated DNA with the help of microtip or glass Pasteur pipettes and transfer to a microfuge tube.
• Wash the DNA twice with 76% alcohol containing 10 mM ammonium acetate for 30 min.
• Dry the pellet under vacuum.
• Dissolve the pellet in 1 ml TE buffer (pH 8.0).

• Quantify the coconut DNA by measuring absorbance at A₂₆₀, in UV spectrophotometer and take A₂₆₀/A₂₈₀ ratio, to evaluate the purity of DNA.
• Analyse the DNA yield data by computer software MSTATC and estimate DNA molecular weight by agarose electrophoresis on 0.8% agarose and visualise using ethidium bromide staining.

This protocol could also be applied for other palms like arecanut and oil palm.