CTAB was established sometime ago as the best detergent to use during the extraction/isolation of highly polymerized DNA from plant material. This detergent simultaneously solubilizes the plant cell wall and lipid membranes of internal organelles and denatures proteins (enzymes). Thus, the DNA is not hydrolyzed during the isolation process and as long as vortexing or vigorous shaking are avoided highly polymerized (i.e., very high intact) genomic DNA is obtained.