Table 1.
Influence of the conservation strategy of the soil sample on the quality of the extracted biological material.
| Preservation strategy | DNA | RNA | Proteins | Metabolites |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Immediate sample processing | +++ | +++ | +++ | +++ |
| Drying (room temperature) | +/− | − | − | − |
| Cold storage (4°C) | +/− | − | − | − |
| Freezing (−20°C) | ++ | +/− | +/− | + |
| Low freezing (−40°C to −80°C) | +++ | +++ | +++ | +++ |
| Chemical preservation (use of stabilizing solution) | +/− | ++ | ++ | unknown |
+++, Image close to that of the sample; ++, Good protection of the sample; +, Average protection of the sample; +/−, Moderate impact of the storage method on the image; −, Strong impact of the storage method on the results.