Abstract
Dracaena draco, which belongs to the genus Dracaena, is an endemic succulent of the Canary Islands. Although it is one of the most popular and widely grown ornamental plants in the world, little is known about its genomic variability. Next generation sequencing, especially in combination with advanced bioinformatics analysis, is a new standard in taxonomic and phylogenetic research. Therefore, in this study, the complete D. draco chloroplast genome (cp) was sequenced and analyzed in order to provide new genomic information and to elucidate phylogenetic relationships, particularly within the genus Dracaena. The D. draco chloroplast genome is 155,422 bp, total guanine-cytosine (GC) content is 37.6%, and it has a typical quadripartite plastid genome structure with four separate regions, including one large single copy region of 83,942 bp length and one small single copy region of 18,472 bp length, separated by two inverted repeat regions, each 26,504 bp in length. One hundred and thirty-two genes were identified, 86 of which are protein-coding genes, 38 are transfer RNAs, and eight are ribosomal RNAs. Seventy-seven simple sequence repeats were also detected. Comparative analysis of the sequence data of various members of Asparagales revealed mutational hotspots potentially useful for their genetic identification. Phylogenetic inference based on 16 complete chloroplast genomes of Asparagales strongly suggested that Dracaena species form one monophyletic group, and that close relationships exist between D. draco, D. cochinchinensis and D. cambodiana. This study provides new and valuable data for further taxonomic, evolutionary and phylogenetic studies within the Dracaena genus.
Highlights
The genus Dracaena Vand. ex L. (Asparagaceae, Nolinoideae) consists of about 190 species [1,2,3].The Dracenoid clade contains species belonging to genera, which are incorporated into the Dracaena genus, but for a long time were treated as separate genera, such as Sansevieria Petagna with succulent leaves and mesophytic Pleomele Salisbury [3,4]
We reported and analyzed the complete chloroplast genome of D. draco
The structure of the chloroplast genome, its organization, length as well as the order and number of genes are similar to those recently published for six Asian Dracaena species
Summary
The genus Dracaena Vand. ex L. (Asparagaceae, Nolinoideae) consists of about 190 species [1,2,3].The Dracenoid clade contains species belonging to genera, which are incorporated into the Dracaena genus, but for a long time were treated as separate genera, such as Sansevieria Petagna with succulent leaves and mesophytic Pleomele Salisbury [3,4]. The morphology of the inflorescences of these two genera is very similar, but they are different from flowers of the species of dracaenas called the dragon trees [5]. This group contains 11 species, which are distinguished by succulent leaves and production of a red resin known as dragon blood [6]. Due to its spectacular umbrella-like habit and excretion of a red resin, known as a dragon blood, it is called the Canary Islands dragon tree. Except the typical subspecies D. draco subsp. draco from the Canary Islands, two more were described: D. draco subsp. ajgal Benabid & Cuzin from Morocco [8] and D. draco subsp. caboverdeana Marrero Rodr. & R
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