Abstract
We sequenced and analyzed the complete chloroplast genome of Aster tataricus (family Asteraceae), a Chinese herb used medicinally to relieve coughs and reduce sputum. The A. tataricus chloroplast genome was 152,992 bp in size, and harbored a pair of inverted repeat regions (IRa and IRb, each 24,850 bp) divided into a large single-copy (LSC, 84,698 bp) and a small single-copy (SSC, 18,250 bp) region. Our annotation revealed that the A. tataricus chloroplast genome contained 115 genes, including 81 protein-coding genes, 4 ribosomal RNA genes, and 30 transfer RNA genes. In addition, 70 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were detected in the A. tataricus chloroplast genome, including mononucleotides (36), dinucleotides (1), trinucleotides (23), tetranucleotides (1), pentanucleotides (8), and hexanucleotides (1). Comparative chloroplast genome analysis of three Aster species indicated that a higher similarity was preserved in the IR regions than in the LSC and SSC regions, and that the differences in the degree of preservation were slighter between A. tataricus and A. altaicus than between A. tataricus and A. spathulifolius. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that A. tataricus was more closely related to A. altaicus than to A. spathulifolius. Our findings offer valuable information for future research on Aster species identification and selective breeding.
Highlights
Aster tataricus is a tall perennial herb of the genus Aster
The DNA G + C content of the inverse repeats (IRs) regions in A. tataricus was greater than that of other regions (LSC, small single-copy (SSC)); this phenomenon is very common in other plants too [16,17]
The relatively high DNA G + C content of the IR regions is generally attributable to the rRNA genes and tRNA
Summary
Aster tataricus is a tall perennial herb of the genus Aster (family Asteraceae). It has been used as a therapeutic traditional medicine for eliminating phlegm and relieving cough for thousands of years [1,2], and cultivated as a high-value medicinal plant. Have shown that A. tataricus exhibits diverse pharmacological effects, including antibacterial, antiviral, antitumor, and diuretic activities; it is recorded as a basic clinical herb in the Chinese. Genomic research on A. tataricus—both nuclear genome sequencing and plastid genome sequencing—has been relatively scarce. This lack of genetic information has hindered the basic research into, and applications of, this valuable plant, such as molecular authentication, breeding, cultivation, and bioactive compound biosynthesis
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