During this Ph.D. research, a new method for pollen DNA extraction was developed that does not destroy the pollen grain, getting around both crushing and acetolysis approaches.
After evaluating the non-destructive nature of the new protocol by microscopy, single pollen grains from a variety of common species were examined using universally accepted genetic markers (rbcL, matK, and ITS2) for DNA analysis. The sequencing of the different species was also performed and discussed to evaluate the potential for single species identification from databases. Finally, the developed approach for non-destructive DNA extraction was evaluated on a complex object, a car cabin air filter, showing how microscopic plant evidence (pollen and debris) analysis can easily provide information in an investigation. (Published abstract provided)