长爪栘[木衣]叶绿体基因组特征系统发育及密码子偏好性分析

长爪栘[木衣](Docynia longiunguis Q. Luo&J. L. Liu)是我国特有的栘[木衣]属植物,具有较高的食药用价值。对其叶绿体基因组进行分析,有助于阐明栘[木衣]属内的系统发育关系,为长爪栘[木衣]资源的开发利用及进一步研究奠定基础。结合其近缘种云南栘[木衣]叶绿体基因组数据,在进行全序列比对后,对其系统发育、密码子偏好性等进行分析。长爪栘[木衣]叶绿体基因组序列总长为158914bp(GenBank登录号为MW367027),总GC含量为36.7%,其中大的单拷贝区(large single-copy, LSC)长度为87 020 bp,小的单拷贝区(small single-copy, SSC)长度为19 156 bp,反向重复区(inverted repeats, IRs)长度为26 369 bp。共注释了102个功能性基因,包括72个蛋白编码基因、26个编码tRNA基因和4个编码rRNA基因。构建系统发育树的最佳模型为TVM+F+R2。系统发育分析结果表明,长爪栘[木衣]与栘[木衣](Docynia indica (Wall.) Dcne.)聚为一支,栘[木衣]属物种与苹果属(Malus)聚为一支。对长爪栘[木衣]及近缘种叶绿体基因组序列进行比对分析,trnY (GUA)-psbD、ndhC-trnV (UAC)、accD-psaI、psbZ-trnFM (CAU)和ndhF-trnL等区域的变异较大,核酸多样性分析则表明有11处Pi值>0.01的高变区域,且都位于LSC区及SSC区。除长爪栘[木衣]外,其他序列中均有trnH基因位于IRs/LSC区交界处且都没有越过边界。密码子偏好分析显示,长爪栘[木衣]叶绿体基因中异亮氨酸的密码子编码数量最多,达到了1 205个。长爪栘[木衣]与山荆子(Malusbaccata(L.)Borkh.)、三叶海棠(Malussieboldii(Regel)Rehd.)、湖北海棠(Malus hupehensis (Pamp.) Rehd.)及木瓜(Chaenomeles sinensis (Thouin) Koehne)的亲缘关系最近;其叶绿体基因密码子更偏好于使用A/T结尾;长爪栘[木衣]叶绿体基因组与其他蔷薇科植物叶绿体基因组在4个边界区域基因分布显示出较大差异,与同属的云南栘[木衣]及栘[木衣]叶绿体基因组差异相对较小。长爪栘[木衣]叶绿体基因组的组装注释、系统发育分析及序列比对分析,为该物种的资源鉴定、开发和利用提供了理论依据。     

K序列探讨虎杖属与西伯利亚蓼的系统学位置

以蓼科Polygonaceae酸模亚科Rumicoideae酸模族Rumiceae大黄属Rheum L.作外类群, 对蓼亚科Polygonideae蓼族Polygoneae 4属19种1变种的trnL-F序列以及16种1变种的matK序列进行了测定(部分序列取自GenBank)和聚类分析, 探讨了虎杖属Reynoutria Houtt.和西伯利亚蓼Polygonum sibiricum Laxm.的系统学位置, 结果表明: (1)虎杖属在两个严格一致树中都聚到了何首乌属Fallopia Adans.的内部, trnL-F序列的支持率为99%, matK序列的支持率为100%, 说明虎杖属应归入何首乌属中, 所以虎杖属的R. japonica Houtt.与R. sachalinense (F. Schmidt ex Maxim.) Nakai应分别命名为Fallopia japonica (Houtt.) Ronse Decraene和F. sachalinense (F. Schmidt ex Maxim.) Ronse Decraene; (2)两个严格一致树都表明, 西伯利亚蓼远离蓼属Polygonum L., 聚到了何首乌属的附近, 两个序列支持率都为99%, 应将该种从蓼属中移出来, 提升为属级, 即西伯利亚蓼属Knorringia Tzvel., 西伯利亚蓼应命名为Knorringia sibirica (Laxm.) Tzvel.。另外, 本文对何首乌属与西伯利亚蓼属作了界定。     

基于叶绿体trnL-F序列以及matK序列探讨虎杖属与西伯利亚蓼的系统学位置

以蓼科Polygonaceae酸模亚科Rumicoideae酸模族Rumiceae大黄属Rheum L.作外类群,对蓼亚科Polygonideae蓼族Polygoneae 4属19种1变种的trnL-F序列以及16种1变种的matK序列进行了测定(部分序列取自GenBank)和聚类分析,探讨了虎杖属Reynoutria Houtt.和两伯利亚蓼Polygonum sibiricum Laxm.的系统学位置,结果表明:(1)虎杖属在两个严格一致树中都聚到了何首乌属Fallopia Adans.的内部,trnL-F序列的支持率为99%,marK序列的支持率为100%,说明虎杖属应归入何首乌属中,所以虎杖属的R.japonica Hour.与R.sachalinense(F Schmidt ex Maxim.)Nakai应分别命名为Fallopia japonica(Houtt.)Ronse Decraene和F sachalinense(F Schmidt ex Maxim.)Ronse Decraene;(2)两个严格一致树都表明,西伯利亚蓼远离蓼属Polygonum L.,聚到了何首乌属的附近,两个序列支持率都为99%,应将该种从蓼属中移出来,提升为属级,即西伯利亚蓼属Knorringia Tzvel.,西伯利亚蓼应命名为Knorringiasibirica(Laxm.)Tzvel..另外,本文对何首乌属与西伯利亚蓼属作了界定.     

红花变豆菜叶绿体基因组结构及同属种间关系研究

红花变豆菜（Sanicula rubriflora F. Schmidt）是有药用价值的植物,全株干燥后与其他药用同属植物易混淆,种间关系存在争议,通过高通量测序技术对红花变豆菜叶绿体基因组测序,利用生物信息学方法对测序数据进行拼接、注释,首次报道红花变豆菜叶绿体基因组结构及特点,利用叶绿体基因组数据,提供种间分类新证据,并且分析相关类群的进化关系。S. rubriflora叶绿体基因组序列的长度为155 721 bp,其中包括一个85 981 bp的大单拷贝区（large single copy,LSC）和一个17 060 bp的小单拷贝区（small single-copy region,SSC）,它们被两个26 340 bp的反向重复区（inverted repeat sequence,IRs）隔开。红花变豆菜叶绿体基因组GC含量为38.20%,包含129个基因,其中84个蛋白质编码基因,37个tRNA基因和8个rRNA基因。红花变豆菜叶绿体基因组结构具有高度保守性,其中编码基因共有51 907个密码子,最多编码5 095个亮氨酸,最少编码689个色氨酸,简单重复序列分析共发现32个位点,大多数是单碱基重复的A/T类型。叶绿体基因组聚类结果支持天胡荽亚科（Hydrocotyloideae）是伞形科（Umbelliferae）内比较原始的类群;变豆菜亚科（Saniculoideae）和芹亚科（Apioideae）为姊妹类群,是伞形科较进化的类群;变豆菜属植物是一个相对自然的类群;红花变豆菜与黄花变豆菜（S. flavovirens）为近缘姊妹种,但是两者形态和地理分布差异较大。该研究结果为变豆菜属属下种间鉴定及其种间演化奠定基础。     

药用植物华重楼(黑药花科)叶绿体全基因组研究

为探究华重楼(Paris polyphylla var. chinensis)的叶绿体基因组特征,利用叶绿体系统发育基因组学方法,对华重楼与其它百合目植物的叶绿体全基因组进行了比较。结果表明,华重楼的叶绿体全基因组长158307 bp,由4个区组成,包括2个反向重复区(IRA和IRB,27473 bp)、1个小单拷贝区(SSC,18175 bp)和1个大单拷贝区(LSC,85187 bp)。其叶绿体基因组有115个基因,包括81个编码蛋白质基因、30个转运RNA基因和4 个核糖体RNA基因。11种百合目植物的叶绿体全基因组的基因组成和基因顺序相似。华重楼的cemA基因是假基因,其起始密码子后有多聚核苷酸poly(A)及CA双核苷酸重复序列,编码序列中出现多个终止密码子, 且与北重楼(Paris verticillata)的cemA编码序列中的终止密码子位置不同。因此,华重楼叶绿体基因组比较保守;cemA结构及假基因化现象可能具有重要的进化与系统发育信息,其编码序列中的终止密码子可以区分华重楼和北重楼。     

青藏高原特有种-藏扇穗茅叶绿体基因组测序及序列分析

藏扇穗茅（Littledalea tibetica）是禾本科（Poaceae）雀麦族（Bromeae）中一个具有重要生态价值的多年生高山特有种,主要分布于青藏高原及其毗邻地区。本文采用基于第二代高通量测序平台的Illumina MiSeq技术,对青藏高原特有种—藏扇穗茅进行了叶绿体基因组测序,首次建立了雀麦族物种的标准测序流程;同时,以其近缘物种—黑麦草（Lolium perenne）的叶绿体基因组序列作为参考,组装获得它的叶绿体基因组序列。结果表明,藏扇穗茅叶绿体基因组序列全长136 852 bp,GC含量为38.5%,呈典型的四段式结构,其中大（LSC）、小（SSC）单拷贝区大小分别为80 970和12 876 bp,反向互补重复区（IR）大小为21 503 bp,共注释得到141个基因,包含95个蛋白编码基因、38个tRNA基因和8个rRNA基因,主要分布于大单拷贝区和小单拷贝区。同时,基于藏扇穗茅和其它30种禾本科植物叶绿体基因全序列构建的系统发育树显示,藏扇穗茅与早熟禾亚科中小麦族植物亲缘关系较近。     

直刺变豆菜叶绿体全基因组及其特征

直刺变豆菜(Sanicula orthacantha)是中国广泛分布的多年生草本植物, 也是一味著名的民族药。本文通过二代高通量测序平台Illumina HiSeq PE150对直刺变豆菜叶绿体全基因组进行测序, 并通过生物信息学方法对其结构特征进行分析。结果表明: 直刺变豆菜叶绿体全基因组大小为157,163 bp, 包括大单拷贝区(large single copy, LSC)、小单拷贝区(small single copy, SSC)和2个反向重复序列(inverted repeat sequence, IRa和IRb), 长度分别为87,547 bp、17,122 bp和26,247 bp, 具有典型被子植物叶绿体基因组环状四分体结构; 共注释得到129个基因, 包括8个核糖体RNA (rRNA)基因、37个转运RNA (tRNA)基因和84个蛋白质编码基因。直刺变豆菜在叶绿体基因组结构、基因种类、排列顺序上与其他伞形科植物基本一致。直刺变豆菜叶绿体全基因组测序的成功为变豆菜属植物完整叶绿体基因组组装及其特征分析提供了新的方法。     

阳春砂叶绿体全基因组解析及系统发育研究

以姜科(Zingiberaceae)豆蔻属(Amomum Roxb.)阳春砂(Amomum villosum)为试材,利用Illumina Hiseq 4000测序平台对阳春砂叶绿体基因组进行测序,通过生物信息学分析方法进行序列组装、注释和特征分析,以揭示阳春砂与其他姜科植物的进化关系及其在系统发育中的地位,为豆蔻属植物的物种鉴定提供理论依据。结果表明:(1)阳春砂叶绿体基因组全长164 069 bp,GC含量为36.1%,包括1对29 959 bp的反向重复区(IR)、一个大单拷贝区(LSC;88 798 bp)和一个小单拷贝区(SSC;15 353 bp);共注释得到133个基因,包括8个rRNA基因、38个tRNA基因和87个蛋白编码基因。(2)在阳春砂基因组中共检测到157个SSR位点,大部分SSR均由A和T组成;豆蔻属物种在基因组大小、IR边界区高度保守,核酸变异主要发生在LSC和SSC区。(3)最大似然法(Maximum Likelihood, ML)聚类分析显示,阳春砂与同属的爪哇白豆蔻(Amomum compactum)和白豆蔻(Amomum kravanh)亲缘关系最近,并且与山姜属(Alpinia Roxb.)也有较近的亲缘关系。     

薯蓣和叉蕊薯蓣叶绿体基因组及特异性DNA条形码鉴定序列筛选研究

前期研究表明,目前常用的DNA条形码序列对薯蓣属物种的鉴定效率低.本研究利用高通量测序技术测定了薯蓣(Dioscorea opposita)和叉蕊薯蓣(D.collettii)叶绿体基因组,完成了其物理图谱绘制,基因组结构特征解析,特异性DNA条形码序列的筛选.薯蓣和叉蕊薯蓣叶绿体基因组总长度分别为152963和153870 bp,均包含两个反向重复区(IRs)、一个大单拷贝区(LSC)和一个小单拷贝区(SSC)4部分.薯蓣和叉蕊薯蓣均含有125个基因,其中包含87个蛋白编码基因、30个t RNA和8个r RNA.薯蓣和叉蕊薯蓣的GC含量分别为37.04%和37.17%,经多序列比对发现薯蓣属叶绿体基因组中非编码区变异高于保守的蛋白编码区域,LSC区、SSC区变异大于IR区,筛选出了10个潜在的适合作为鉴定薯蓣属植物的特异性DNA条形码序列,其中包括5个蛋白编码基因和5个基因间隔区.系统进化树显示,叶绿体全基因组序列也可作为薯蓣属物种鉴定的超级条形码.本研究为薯蓣属系统进化以及物种鉴定等领域的研究提供依据.     

新型水果空心泡叶绿体基因组特征及其系统发育分析北大核心CSCD

为探究空心泡(Rubus rosaefolius)叶绿体基因组特征,本研究以空心泡为试验材料,采用Illumina NovaSeq平台进行高通量测序,获得空心泡完整的叶绿体基因组序列,并进行空心泡叶绿体基因序列特征和系统发育分析。结果表明:空心泡的完整叶绿体基因组总长度为155650 bp,具有典型的四分体结构,包括2个反向重复序列(各25748 bp)、1个大拷贝区(85443 bp)、1个小拷贝区(18711 bp)。空心泡叶绿体全基因组共鉴定出131个基因,包括86个蛋白质编码基因、37个tRNA基因和8个rRNA基因,全基因组的GC含量为36.9%。空心泡叶绿体基因组包含47个散在重复序列、72个简单重复序列(simple sequence repeating,SSR)位点,密码子偏好性为亮氨酸密码子,偏好使用A/U结尾的密码子。系统发育分析表明,空心泡与小叶悬钩子(Rubus taiwanicola)亲缘关系最近,其次是能高悬钩子(Rubus rubroangustifolius)和腺萼悬钩子(Rubus glandulosopunctatus)。空心泡的叶绿体基因组特征及其系统发育分析,为空心泡的遗传多样性研究和叶绿体开发利用提供理论依据。     

Extensive Rearrangements in the Chloroplast Genome of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trachelium caeruleum</Emphasis> Are Associated with Repeats and tRNA Genes

Chloroplast genome organization, gene order, and content are highly conserved among land plants. We sequenced the chloroplast genome of Trachelium caeruleum L. (Campanulaceae), a member of an angiosperm family known for highly rearranged genomes. The total genome size is 162,321 bp, with an inverted repeat (IR) of 27,273 bp, large single-copy (LSC) region of 100,114 bp, and small single-copy (SSC) region of 7,661 bp. The genome encodes 112 different genes, with 17 duplicated in the IR, a tRNA gene (trnI-cau) duplicated once in the LSC region, and a protein-coding gene (psbJ) with two duplicate copies, for a total of 132 putatively intact genes. ndhK may be a pseudogene with internal stop codons, and clpP, ycf1, and ycf2 are so highly diverged that they also may be pseudogenes. ycf15, rpl23, infA, and accD are truncated and likely nonfunctional. The most conspicuous feature of the Trachelium genome is the presence of 18 internally unrearranged blocks of genes inverted or relocated within the genome relative to the ancestral gene order of angiosperm chloroplast genomes. Recombination between repeats or tRNA genes has been suggested as a mechanism of chloroplast genome rearrangements. The Trachelium chloroplast genome shares with Pelargonium and Jasminum both a higher number of repeats and larger repeated sequences in comparison to eight other angiosperm chloroplast genomes, and these are concentrated near rearrangement endpoints. Genes for tRNAs occur at many but not all inversion endpoints, so some combination of repeats and tRNA genes may have mediated these rearrangements.     

The chloroplast genome from a lycophyte (microphyllophyte), <Emphasis Type="Italic">Selaginella uncinata</Emphasis>, has a unique inversion,transpositions and many gene losses

We determined the complete nucleotide sequence of the chloroplast genome of Selaginella uncinata, a lycophyte belonging to the basal lineage of the vascular plants. The circular double-stranded DNA is 144,170 bp, with an inverted repeat of 25,578 bp separated by a large single copy region (LSC) of 77,706 bp and a small single copy region (SSC) of 40,886 bp. We assigned 81 protein-coding genes including four pseudogenes, four rRNA genes and only 12 tRNA genes. Four genes, rps15, rps16, rpl32 and ycf10, found in most chloroplast genomes in land plants were not present in S. uncinata. While gene order and arrangement of the chloroplast genome of another lycophyte, Hupertzia lucidula, are almost the same as those of bryophytes, those of S. uncinata differ considerably from the typical structure of bryophytes with respect to the presence of a unique 20 kb inversion within the LSC, transposition of two segments from the LSC to the SSC and many gene losses. Thus, the organization of the S. uncinata chloroplast genome provides a new insight into the evolution of lycophytes, which were separated from euphyllophytes approximately 400 million years ago. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

The complete chloroplast genome and characteristics analysis of Callistemon rigidus R.Br.

Callistemon rigidus R.Br. one of the traditional Chinese medicinal plants, is acrid-flavored and mild-natured, with the prominent effects reducing swelling, resolving phlegm, and dispelling rheumatism. Clinically, it has been commonly used to treat cold, cough and asthma, pain and swelling from impact injuries, eczema, rheumatic arthralgia. The chloroplast genome study on Callistemon rigidus R.Br. is a few seen. This study demonstrates the data collected from the assembly and annotation of the chloroplast (cp) genome of Callistemon rigidus R.Br., followed by furthers comparative analysis with the cp genomes of closely related species. C. rigidus R.Br. showed a cp genome in the size of 158, 961 bp long with 36.78% GC content, among which a pair of inverted repeats (IRs) of 26, 671 bp separated a large single-copy (LSC) region of 87, 162 bp and a small single-copy (SSC) region of 18, 457 bp. Altogether 131 genes were hosted, including 37 transfer RNAs, 8 ribosomal RNAs, and 86 protein-coding genes. 284 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were also marked out. A comparative analysis of the genome structure and the sequence data of closely related species unveiled the conserved gene order in the IR and LSC/SSC regions, a quite constructive finding for future phylogenetic research. Overall, this study providing C. rigidus R.Br. genomic resources could positively contribute to the evolutionary study and the phylogenetic reconstruction of Myrtaceae.

     

多花海棠叶绿体基因组分析

多花海棠（Malus floribunda Siebold.）是世界范围内广泛栽培的苹果属物种,具有较高的观赏价值和育种意义。对其进行叶绿体基因组比较分析,有利于完善苹果属系统进化以及种质利用的研究内容。基于全基因组测序数据,组装获得一个完整的具有四分体结构的多花海棠叶绿体基因组。该基因组包括大单拷贝区（88 142 bp）、反向重复区B （26 353 bp）、小单拷贝区（19 189 bp）与反向重复区A （26 353 bp）,共计160 037 bp。多花海棠叶绿体全基因组共注释到111个基因,包括78个蛋白编码基因、29个tRNA基因和4个rRNA基因。此外,在其基因组中识别到大量的重复序列,与三叶海棠和变叶海棠略有差异。通过计算相对同义密码子使用度,发现其高频密码子共30种,并且密码子具有偏向A/T结尾的使用模式。种间序列比对、边界分析的结果表明,大单拷贝区序列变异较大,8种苹果属植物SC区与IR区扩张收缩情况整体上较为相似。基于叶绿体基因组序列的系统进化分析,将多花海棠、湖北海棠和变叶海棠聚为一类。多花海棠叶绿体基因组的研究可为今后遗传标记开发与种质资源利用等提供数据支持。     

Complete sequence and organization of the cucumber (Cucumis sativus L. cv. Baekmibaekdadagi) chloroplast genome

The nucleotide sequence of the cucumber (Cucumis sativus L. cv. Baekmibaekdadagi) chloroplast genome was completed (DQ119058). The circular double-stranded DNA, consisting of 155,527 bp, contained a pair of inverted repeat regions (IRa and IRb) of 25,187 bp each, which were separated by small and large single copy regions of 86,879 and 18,274 bp, respectively. The presence and relative positions of 113 genes (76 peptide-encoding genes, 30 tRNA genes, four rRNA genes, and three conserved open reading frames) were identified. The major portion (55.76%) of the C. sativus chloroplast genome consisted of gene-coding regions (49.13% protein coding and 6.63% RNA regions; 27.81% LSC, 9.46% SSC and 18.49% IR regions), while intergenic spacers (including 20 introns) made up 44.24%. The overall G-C content of C. sativus chloroplast genome was 36.95%. Sixteen genes contained one intron, while two genes had two introns. The expansion/contraction manner of IR at IRb/LSC and IR/SSC border in Cucumis was similar to that of Lotus and Arabidopsis, and the manner at IRa/LSC was similar to Lotus and Nicotiana. In total, 56 simple sequence repeats (more than 10 bases) were identified in the C. sativus chloroplast genome.     

The chloroplast genome of mulberry: complete nucleotide sequence, gene organization and comparative analysis

The complete nucleotide sequence of mulberry (Morus indica cv. K2) chloroplast genome (158,484 bp) has been determined using a combination of long PCR and shotgun-based approaches. This is the third angiosperm tree species whose plastome sequence has been completely deciphered. The circular double-stranded molecule comprises of two identical inverted repeats (25,678 bp each) separating a large and a small single-copy region of 87,386 bp and 19,742 bp, respectively. A total of 83 protein-coding genes including five genes duplicated in the inverted repeat regions, eight ribosomal RNA genes and 37 tRNA genes (30 gene species) representing 20 amino acids, were assigned on the basis of homology to predicted genes from other chloroplast genomes. The mulberry plastome lacks the genes infA, sprA, and rpl21 and contains two pseudogenes ycf15 and ycf68. Comparative analysis, based on sequence similarity, both at the gene and genome level, indicates Morus to be closer to Cucumis and Lotus, phylogenetically. However, at genome level, inclusion of non-coding regions brings it closer to Eucalyptus, followed by Cucumis. This may reflect differential selection pressure operating on the genic and intergenic regions of the chloroplast genome.Electronic supplementary material Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at and is accessible for authorized users.Communicated by Y. Tsumura     

The Chloroplast Genome Sequence of Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera L. cv. ‘Aseel’)

Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is an economically important and widely cultivated palm of the family Arecaceae. We sequenced the complete date palm chloroplast genome (cpDNA) from Pakistani cv. ??Aseel??, using a combination of Sanger-based and next-generation sequencing technologies. Being very similar to a sequence from a Saudi Arabian date palm cultivar ??Khalas?? published recently, the size of the genome was 158,458?bp with a pair of inverted repeat (IR) regions of 27,276?bp that were separated by a large single-copy (LSC) region of 86,195?bp and a small single-copy (SSC) region of 17,711?bp. Genome annotation demonstrated a total of 138 genes, of which 89 were protein coding, 39 were tRNA, and eight were rRNA genes. Comparison of cpDNA sequences of cultivars ??Aseel?? and ??Khalas?? showed following intervarietal variations in the LSC region; (a) two SNPs in intergenic spacers and one SNP in the rpoc1 gene, (b) polymorphism in two mono-nucleotide simple sequence repeats (SSR), and (c) a 4-bp indel in the accD-psaI intergenic spacer. The SSC region has a polymorphic site in the mono-nucleotide SSR located at position 120,710. We also compared cv. ??Aseel?? cpDNA sequence with partial P. dactylifera cpDNA sequence entries deposited in Genbank and identified a number of potentially useful polymorphisms in this species. Analysis of date palm cpDNA sequences revealed a close relationship with Typha latifolia. Occurrence of small numbers of forward and inverted repeats in date palm cpDNA indicated conserved genome arrangement.     

Complete Chloroplast Genome of Sedum sarmentosum and Chloroplast Genome Evolution in Saxifragales

Comparative chloroplast genome analyses are mostly carried out at lower taxonomic levels, such as the family and genus levels. At higher taxonomic levels, chloroplast genomes are generally used to reconstruct phylogenies. However, little attention has been paid to chloroplast genome evolution within orders. Here, we present the chloroplast genome of Sedum sarmentosum and take advantage of several available (or elucidated) chloroplast genomes to examine the evolution of chloroplast genomes in Saxifragales. The chloroplast genome of S. sarmentosum is 150,448 bp long and includes 82,212 bp of a large single-copy (LSC) region, 16.670 bp of a small single-copy (SSC) region, and a pair of 25,783 bp sequences of inverted repeats (IRs).The genome contains 131 unique genes, 18 of which are duplicated within the IRs. Based on a comparative analysis of chloroplast genomes from four representative Saxifragales families, we observed two gene losses and two pseudogenes in Paeonia obovata, and the loss of an intron was detected in the rps16 gene of Penthorum chinense. Comparisons among the 72 common protein-coding genes confirmed that the chloroplast genomes of S. sarmentosum and Paeonia obovata exhibit accelerated sequence evolution. Furthermore, a strong correlation was observed between the rates of genome evolution and genome size. The detected genome size variations are predominantly caused by the length of intergenic spacers, rather than losses of genes and introns, gene pseudogenization or IR expansion or contraction. The genome sizes of these species are negatively correlated with nucleotide substitution rates. Species with shorter duration of the life cycle tend to exhibit shorter chloroplast genomes than those with longer life cycles.