Which format should I choose?
Choose by what the experiment needs from the tissue. Living cells, RNA or the bluing reaction need Fresh. Long storage, sectioning and general extraction suit Fresh-Dried. Replicate analytical samples that must behave identically suit the single-batch powder. When unsure, Fresh-Dried is the most versatile starting point.
| Application | Fresh | Fresh-Dried | Powder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full morphological description | Best | Partial | No |
| Tissue isolation, culture | Yes | No | No |
| RNA, transcriptomics | Yes (freeze on arrival) | No | No |
| DNA, barcoding | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Possibly heat-sensitive compounds | Best (freeze at −80 °C) | With caution | With caution |
| General solvent extraction | Possible | Good | Best |
| Replicates, method validation | Poor | Fair | Best |
| Elemental analysis | Possible | Good | Best |
| Teaching or reference collection | Short-lived | Best | Limited |
Which format is cheapest per gram of dry matter?
The powder, then Fresh-Dried. Fresh is the most expensive per gram of dry matter. At current list prices Fresh costs $69.99 per kilogram of wet material, roughly $560 to $700 per kilogram of dry matter once the water is gone. Fresh-Dried is $210.99 and powder $109.00 per dry kilogram.
If you plan to mill the material anyway, the powder costs less and arrives already homogenised. Buy Fresh only when the work needs fresh tissue.
How long does each format keep?
Fresh keeps about three days refrigerated, or years frozen at −80 °C in small blocks. Fresh-Dried keeps 12 months or more sealed with desiccant. Powder keeps about 12 months sealed, but takes up moisture faster than slices once opened, so split it into single-use aliquots on day one.
Does drying change the chemistry?
Yes, to some degree. Drying at 45 °C removes water and volatile compounds, and pigments oxidise in bruised tissue before drying is complete. Stable constituents such as elements, chitin and most sugars are little affected. For constituents of unknown stability, fresh tissue frozen quickly is the reference against which dried material should be compared.
Can I combine formats in one study?
Often that is the best design. A common pattern is powder for the main analytical series, plus a small Fresh order in season to check whether drying changes the measured profile. Ask for both from the same origin, and record batch numbers, so the comparison is between formats rather than between harvests.
All three formats have a 0.5 kg minimum and share the same volume tiers. Each order covers one format, so a combined study means one order per format. Start an order and the form shows the price for any weight and destination before you pay.