Abstract: Total RNA of Pleurotus ferulae Lenzi was extracted by single-step method, STE method and guanidinium isothiocyanate method, whose isolation effects were compared. The results showed that it was difficult to extract total RNA from Pleurotus ferulae Lenzi by single\|step method. Total RNA could be extracted by guanidinium isothiocyanate method, but RNA extracted was immingled by some protein and was not enough for molecular biology experiment. Single\|step method and guanidiniu isothiocyanate method were not suitable for RNA extraction from Pleurotus ferulae Lenzi because of its high amylase content. Total RNA extracted by STE method had high quality, which is the best method of total RNA isolation from Pleurotus ferulae Lenzi. The quality of total RNA was analyzed with agarose gel electrophoresis and nucleic acid and ultraviolet spectrophotometer. Three bright bands were observed in agarose gel electrophoresis as 28S, 18S and 5S. The band of 28S was twice wider than that of 18S, and the value of OD260/OD280 was 18 to 20.These results demonstrated that the quality and purity of RNA obtained by the method of STE could meet the demands of molecular biology experiment．

Key words: Pleurotus ferulae Lenzi, RNA extraction, STE method