I am currently working on total RNA extraction from Fragaria × ananassa (strawberry) using the CTAB method. As part of the protocol, I need to prepare a Lithium Chloride (LiCl) solution, typically used for RNA precipitation. However, I'm unsure about the best concentration and preparation steps, especially considering the high polysaccharide and phenolic content in strawberry tissues.

• What is the recommended molarity (e.g., 8 M or 2.5 M) for LiCl in RNA extraction from plants with high secondary metabolites?
• How should I prepare the LiCl solution ?
• Should the LiCl solution be autoclaved or DEPC-treated?
• Are there any strawberry-specific modifications to the standard CTAB + LiCl RNA isolation protocol?