Conserving biodiversity starts with understanding the genetic foundations of the plants we aim to protect. Yet a basic step—measuring genome size—has long been limited by logistics: flow cytometry traditionally requires fresh leaf material. For rare species in remote places, that isn’t always possible.

In our recent study, we developed and validated a protocol to measure plant genome size using frozen samples. With careful handling, frozen leaf tissue yields nuclei that are just as reliable for genome sizing as fresh material—sometimes with even higher nuclei counts and low CV%—and can be processed alongside the internal standard for accurate estimates.

Why this matters

🌱 Biodiversity conservation
Endangered plants are often found in fragile or hard-to-reach habitats. Being able to freeze a small sample in situ and analyze it later reduces pressure on vulnerable populations and makes ethically responsible sampling more feasible.

🌳 Ecological restoration
Genome size correlates with traits like growth rate, seed biology, stress tolerance, and ecological strategies. Ready access to genome size data helps practitioners select and manage species for restoring degraded landscapes with better evidence.

🧬 Plant science & genomics
Frozen material can do double duty: the same sample used for genome sizing can also yield high-quality DNA for long-read sequencing. That streamlines fieldwork and lab workflows—especially when tissue is scarce.

🌍 Evolutionary biology
Variation in genome size is intertwined with adaptation and diversification. Making frozen samples viable expands the geographic and taxonomic breadth of studies, filling gaps in our understanding of plant evolution.

The takeaway

By removing the “fresh tissue only” bottleneck, this protocol extends the reach of biodiversity genomics—from remote rainforests to alpine zones and beyond—while reducing impact on threatened species. Frozen leaves can help us better conserve living diversity.

📖 Full paper: A Flow Cytometry Protocol for Measurement of Plant Genome Size Using Frozen Material (2025). DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/applbiosci4020028