Total RNA Extraction from Starchy Rice Endosperm

RNA extraction is a critical step in gene expression analysis. While numerous RNA extraction kits are commercially available, most kits cannot be utilized for RNA extraction from rice endosperm that contains abundant starch. Here, I describe a three-step RNA extraction from rice starchy endosperm. The process involves phenol/chloroform extraction, ethanol precipitation, and lithium chloride precipitation. This method yields an abundant and high-quality total RNA even from a single starchy endosperm.