AUTHOR=Yang Yanci , Jia Yun , Zhao Yanling , Wang Yonglong , Zhou Tao 

TITLE=Comparative chloroplast genomics provides insights into the genealogical relationships of endangered Tetraena mongolica and the chloroplast genome evolution of related Zygophyllaceae species

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Genetics

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/genetics/articles/10.3389/fgene.2022.1026919

DOI=10.3389/fgene.2022.1026919

ISSN=1664-8021

ABSTRACT=<p>A comprehensive understanding of genetic background for rare species will provide an important theoretical basis for the future species management, monitoring and conservation. <italic>Tetraena mongolica</italic> is restrictedly distributed in the western Ordos plateau of China and has been listed as a national protected plant. We generated 13 chloroplast (cp) genomes of <italic>T. mongolica</italic> (size range of 106,062–106,230 bp) and conducted a series of comparative analyses of six <italic>Zygophyllaceae</italic> cp genomes. <italic>T. mongolica</italic> cp genome exhibited a quadripartite structure with drastically reduced inverted repeats (IRs, 4,315 bp) and undergone the loss of a suit of <italic>ndh</italic> genes and a copy of rRNAs. Furthermore, all the <italic>T. mongolica</italic> populations were divided into two genetic groups based on complete cp phylogenomics. In addition, notably variable genome size, gene order and structural changes had been observed among the six <italic>Zygophyllaceae</italic> cp genomes. Overall, our findings provide insights into the cp genome evolution mode and intraspecific relationships of <italic>T. mongolica</italic>, and provide a molecular basis for scientific conservation of this endangered plant.</p>