Complete chloroplast genome sequence of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Capsicum</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">baccatum</Emphasis> var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">baccatum</Emphasis>

Molecular markers derived from the complete chloroplast genome can provide effective tools for species identification and phylogenetic resolution. Complete chloroplast (cp) genome sequences of Capsicum species have been reported. We herein report the complete chloroplast genome sequence of Capsicum baccatum var. baccatum, a wild Capsicum species. The total length of the chloroplast genome is 157,145 bp with 37.7 % overall GC content. One pair of inverted repeats, 25,910 bp in length, was separated by a small single-copy region (17,974 bp) and large single-copy region (87,351 bp). This region contains 86 protein-coding genes, 30 tRNA genes, 4 rRNA genes, and 11 genes contain one or two introns. Pair-wise alignments of chloroplast genome were performed for genome-wide comparison. Analysis revealed a total of 134 simple sequence repeat (SSR) motifs and 282 insertions or deletions variants in the C. baccatum var. baccatum cp genome. The types and abundances of repeat units in Capsicum species were relatively conserved, and these loci could be used in future studies to investigate and conserve the genetic diversity of the Capsicum species.     

Complete chloroplast genome of cultivated flowering cherry, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Prunus</Emphasis> ×<Emphasis Type="Italic">yedoensis</Emphasis> ‘Somei-yoshino’ in comparison with wild <Emphasis Type="Italic">Prunus yedoensis</Emphasis> Matsum. (Rosaceae)

Prunus ×yedoensis Matsum. ‘Somei-yoshino’ is the most common and widespread cultivar of the ornamental flowering cherries. We hereby report its complete chloroplast (cp) genome sequences generated by whole-genome next-generation sequencing approach. The cp genome size was 157,792 bp in length consisting of four regions; large single-copy region (85,914 bp), small single-copy region (19,120 bp), and a pair of inverted repeat regions (26,379 bp). The genome contained a total of 131 genes, including 86 coding genes, 8 rRNA genes, and 37 tRNA genes. A total of 92 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were detected within the cp genome. Its molecular features were compared with the complete cp genome of wild P. yedoensis, which occurs rarely in natural habitats of Mt. Halla in Jeju Island, Korea, displaying nearly indistinguishable morphology as P. ×yedoensis ‘Somei-yoshino’. Although both cp genomes were structured highly alike, the sequence variations between them were revealed in several single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Using additional individuals of wild and cultivated flowering cherries, PCR amplification confirmed that those SNPs were phylogenetically informative, providing distinction between wild and cultivated flowering cherries. In future study, the SNPs and SSRs reported in this study could be used to identify wild individuals from morphologically identical cultivars of flowering cherries and also to conserve the genetic diversity of wild flowering cherries in Jeju Island.     

The complete chloroplast genome sequence of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dodonaea viscosa</Emphasis>: comparative and phylogenetic analyses

The plant chloroplast (cp) genome is a highly conserved structure which is beneficial for evolution and systematic research. Currently, numerous complete cp genome sequences have been reported due to high throughput sequencing technology. However, there is no complete chloroplast genome of genus Dodonaea that has been reported before. To better understand the molecular basis of Dodonaea viscosa chloroplast, we used Illumina sequencing technology to sequence its complete genome. The whole length of the cp genome is 159,375 base pairs (bp), with a pair of inverted repeats (IRs) of 27,099 bp separated by a large single copy (LSC) 87,204 bp, and small single copy (SSC) 17,972 bp. The annotation analysis revealed a total of 115 unique genes of which 81 were protein coding, 30 tRNA, and four ribosomal RNA genes. Comparative genome analysis with other closely related Sapindaceae members showed conserved gene order in the inverted and single copy regions. Phylogenetic analysis clustered D. viscosa with other species of Sapindaceae with strong bootstrap support. Finally, a total of 249 SSRs were detected. Moreover, a comparison of the synonymous (Ks) and nonsynonymous (Ka) substitution rates in D. viscosa showed very low values. The availability of cp genome reported here provides a valuable genetic resource for comprehensive further studies in genetic variation, taxonomy and phylogenetic evolution of Sapindaceae family. In addition, SSR markers detected will be used in further phylogeographic and population structure studies of the species in this genus.     

Characterization of the chloroplast genome sequence of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.)

Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) is an economically important crop, which is grown for oil production. To better understand the molecular basis of oil palm chloroplasts, we characterized the complete chloroplast (cp) genome sequence obtained from 454 pyrosequencing. The oil palm cp genome is 156,973 bp in length consisting of a large single-copy region of?85,192 bp flanked on each side by inverted repeats of 27,071 bp with a small single-copy region of 17,639 bp joining the?repeats. The genome contains 112 unique genes: 79 protein-coding genes, 4 ribosomal RNA genes and 29 tRNA genes. By aligning the cp?genome sequence with oil palm cDNA sequences, we observed 18 non-silent and 10 silent RNA editing events among 19 cp protein-coding genes. Creation of an initiation codon by RNA editing in rpl2 has been reported in several monocots and was also found in the oil palm cp genome. Fifty common chloroplast protein-coding genes from 33 plant taxa were used to construct ML and MP?phylogenetic trees. Their topologies are similar and strongly support for the position of E. guineensis as the sister of closely related species Phoenix dactylifera in Arecaceae (palm families) of monocot subtrees.     

De novo transcriptome analysis of Taxus chinensis var. mairei to identify significant pathways associated with the fruit color of this species

The goal of this study was to find significant pathways associated with fruit color in Taxus chinensis var. mairei. Two Taxus chinensis var. mairei with fruits of different colors were sequenced using high-throughput sequencing. Then, unigene assembly, unigene annotation, and classification of Clusters of Orthologous Groups of proteins (COGs) were performed. Gene ontology (GO) classification and pathway enrichment analysis for unigenes were also conducted. Protein coding sequences (CDS) were predicted. Subsequently, differentially expressed unigenes, functional enrichment pathways of differentially expressed unigenes, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were analyzed. The data of Taxus chinensis var. mairei were assembled into 45,112 unigenes with an average size of 1232 bp and an N50 of 1882 bp. The significantly enriched biological processes (BP) were metabolic processes, and cellular processes, followed by single-organism processes, and reproductive processes. Significantly enriched Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways were metabolic pathways, pathways related to the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, and RNA transport pathways. Transition had a higher number of SNP sites than transversion. Trinucleotide had the highest SSR motif numbers. Metabolic pathways and the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites may play significant roles in determining fruit color in Taxus chinensis var. mairei. In addition, the present dataset would provide a basis for future functional genomic research on Taxus chinensis var. mairei.     

Insights from the Complete Chloroplast Genome into the Evolution of Sesamum indicum L

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is one of the oldest oilseed crops. In order to investigate the evolutionary characters according to the Sesame Genome Project, apart from sequencing its nuclear genome, we sequenced the complete chloroplast genome of S. indicum cv. Yuzhi 11 (white seeded) using Illumina and 454 sequencing. Comparisons of chloroplast genomes between S. indicum and the 18 other higher plants were then analyzed. The chloroplast genome of cv. Yuzhi 11 contains 153,338 bp and a total of 114 unique genes ({"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"KC569603","term_id":"496538580","term_text":"KC569603"}}KC569603). The number of chloroplast genes in sesame is the same as that in Nicotiana tabacum, Vitis vinifera and Platanus occidentalis. The variation in the length of the large single-copy (LSC) regions and inverted repeats (IR) in sesame compared to 18 other higher plant species was the main contributor to size variation in the cp genome in these species. The 77 functional chloroplast genes, except for ycf1 and ycf2, were highly conserved. The deletion of the cp ycf1 gene sequence in cp genomes may be due either to its transfer to the nuclear genome, as has occurred in sesame, or direct deletion, as has occurred in Panax ginseng and Cucumis sativus. The sesame ycf2 gene is only 5,721 bp in length and has lost about 1,179 bp. Nucleotides 1–585 of ycf2 when queried in BLAST had hits in the sesame draft genome. Five repeats (R10, R12, R13, R14 and R17) were unique to the sesame chloroplast genome. We also found that IR contraction/expansion in the cp genome alters its rate of evolution. Chloroplast genes and repeats display the signature of convergent evolution in sesame and other species. These findings provide a foundation for further investigation of cp genome evolution in Sesamum and other higher plants.     

Complete chloroplast genome sequences of Dipterygium glaucum and Cleome chrysantha and other Cleomaceae Species,comparative analysis and phylogenetic relationships

This current study presents, for the first time, the complete chloroplast genome of two Cleomaceae species: Dipterygium glaucum and Cleome chrysantha in order to evaluate the evolutionary relationship. The cp genome is 158,576 bp in length with 35.74% GC content in D. glaucum and 158,111 bp with 35.96% GC in C. chrysantha. Inverted repeats IR 26,209 bp, 26,251 bp each, LSC of 87,738 bp, 87,184 bp and SSC of 18,420 bp, 18,425 bp respectively. There are 136 genes in the genome, which includes 80 protein coding genes, 31 tRNA genes and four rRNA genes were observed in both chloroplast genomes. 117 genes are unique while the remaining 19 genes are duplicated in IR regions. The analysis of repeats shows that the cp genome includes all types of repeats with more frequent occurrences of palindromic; Also, this analysis indicates that the total number of simple sequence repeats (SSR) were 323 in D. glaucum, and 313 in C. chrysantha, of which the majority of the SSRs in these plastid genomes were mononucleotide repeats A/T which are located in the intergenic spacer. Moreover, the comparative analysis of the four cp sequences revealed four hotspot genes (atpF, rpoC2, rps19, and ycf1), these variable regions could be used as molecular makers for the species authentication as well as resources for inferring phylogenetic relationships of the species. All the relationships in the phylogenetic tree are with high support, this indicate that the complete chloroplast genome is a useful data for inferring phylogenetic relationship within the Cleomaceae and other families. The simple sequence repeats identified will be useful for identification, genetic diversity, and other evolutionary studies of the species. This study reported the first cp genome of the genus Dipterygium and Cleome. The finding of this study will be beneficial for biological disciplines such as evolutionary and genetic diversity studies of the species within the core Cleomaceae.