Complete chloroplast genomes of four Physalis species (Solanaceae): lights into genome structure, comparative analysis, and phylogenetic relationships

Abstract

Background Physalis L. is a genus of herbaceous plants of the family Solanaceae, which has important medicinal, edible, and ornamental values. The morphological characteristics of Physalis species are similar, and it is difficult to rapidly and accurately distinguish them based only on morphological characteristics. At present, the species classification and phylogeny of Physalis are still controversial. In this study, the complete chloroplast (cp) genomes of four Physalis species (Physalis angulata, P. alkekengi var. franchetii, P. minima and P. pubescens) were sequenced, and the first comprehensive cp genome analysis of Physalis was performed, which included the previously published cp genome sequence of Physalis peruviana. Results The Physalis cp genomes exhibited typical quadripartite and circular structures, and were relatively conserved in their structure and gene synteny. However, the Physalis cp genomes showed obvious variations at four regional boundaries, especially those of the inverted repeat and the large single-copy regions. The cp genomes’ lengths ranged from 156,578 bp to 157,007 bp. A total of 114 different genes, 80 protein-coding genes, 30 tRNA genes, and 4 rRNA genes, were observed in four new sequenced Physalis cp genomes. Differences in repeat sequences and simple sequence repeats were detected among the Physalis cp genomes. Phylogenetic relationships among 36 species of 11 genera of Solanaceae based on their cp genomes placed Physalis in the middle and upper part of the phylogenetic tree, with a monophyletic evolution having a 100% bootstrap value. Conclusion Our results enrich the data on the cp genomes of the genus Physalis. The availability of these cp genomes will provide abundant information for further species identification, increase the taxonomic and phylogenetic resolution of Physalis, and assist in the investigation and utilization of Physalis plants.

Plastomes of eight Ligusticum species: characterization, genome evolution, and phylogenetic relationships

“…It had four more genes (ycf2, rpl23, rpl2, and trnI-CAU) than seven other Ligusticum species in IRa, which was likely ascribed to the gene duplication resulting from the extensions of IRs. The varied gene number in the congeneric species has been found in other angiosperm plastomes [31,32]. For L. delavayi, the IRa/LSC border was rpl2/trnH genes and the LSC/IRb border was rps19/rpl2 genes, which were different from seven other Ligusticum species (trnL/trnH and ycf2).…”

Optimization of the genotyping‐by‐sequencing SNP calling for diversity analysis in cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana L.) and related taxa

“…In concordance with the present study, Hu et al [57] reported a closer phylogenetic relationship between P. floridana and P. peruviana than between P. peruviana with P. philadelphica using chloroplast markers. Similarly, a recent study that used complete chloroplast genomes conducted by Fen et al [58] identified a close similarity between P. angulata and P. peruviana genomes. Both results were found in the NJ and PCA analyses reported in this study (Figs 2 and 3).…”

“…Similarly, a recent study that used complete chloroplast genomes conducted by Fen et al . [ 58 ] identified a close similarity between P . angulata and P .…”

Chloroplast phylogenomics and the dynamic evolution of Santalum (Santalaceae)

“…2). The number of SSR in the Santalum chloroplast genome was low compared to photoautotrophic plant lineages [31][32][33][34].…”