Molecular markers have a useful role in oil palm improvement as conventional breeding is limited by the large size of the palm and its long generation interval. The starting point for such applications is DNA extraction using young, immature leaves as required by common protocols. Since such leaves are sometimes not available or are difficult to obtain, a modified method of DNA extraction from older, more mature oil palm leaves kept for a period of time, has been developed. Key changes were initial extraction at ice-cool temperatures and modification of the standard buffers. The DNA obtained by this method was fully digestible for AFLP assay.