The first complete chloroplast genome of <i>Polygonatum hirtellum</i>: Genome features and phylogenetic relationships

Abstract

<i>Polygonatum hirtellum</i> is a perennial herb within the family Asparagaceae. In the present study, the chloroplast (cp) genome of <i>P. hirtellum</i> is reported for the first time, and its phylogenetic relationships are also investigated. The findings revealed that the cp genome was 155,697 bp and exhibited a typical quadripartite structure, consisting of a large single copy (84,468 bp), a small single copy (18,491 bp), and a pair of invert repeat sequences (26,369 bp). The GC content of the cp genomes amounted to 37.7%; 130 genes were identified, consisting of 84 protein-coding genes, 38 transfer RNA genes, and eight ribosomal RNA genes. A phylogenetic analysis based on the cp genome and coding sequence showed that <i>P. hirtellum</i> was a member of section <i>Verticillata</i> and could be distinguished from other species of the genus <i>Polygonatum</i> used in the analysis.