Complete chloroplast genome sequence of Chinese larch (Larix potaninii var. chinensis), an endangered conifer endemic to China

Abstract

Larix potaninii var. chinensis, an endemic larch distributed on several peaks of Qinling Mountains, is listed in China Species Red List as an endangered species. In this study, the complete chloroplast genome (cpDNA) sequence of Larix potaninii var. chinensis was determined from Illumina pair-end sequencing data. The cpDNA is 122,492 bp in length, and contains a pair of 435 bp inverted repeat (IR) region, one large single copy (LSC) region of 65,596 bp, and one small single copy (SSC) region of 56,026 bp. The genome contains 110 genes, including 72 protein-coding genes, 4 ribosomal RNA genes and 34 transfer RNA genes. The overall A + T content of the whole genome is 61.2 %, and the corresponding values of the LSC, SSC and IR regions are 62.0, 60.3 and 62.5 %, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis based on 36 chloroplast genomes indicates that L. potaninii var. chinensis is closely related to L. decidua.