Aster × chusanensis Growth and Phenolic Acid Composition under Different Cultivation Temperatures.

Plants of the Asteraceae family have been cultivated worldwide for economic, medicinal, and ornamental purposes, including genera such as Aster, Helianthus, and Cosmos. Numerous studies examined their secondary metabolites; however, those of Aster × chusanensis, which is a natural hybrid species in South Korea, are unclear, and optimized propagation methods should be identified. We analyzed phenolic acid concentrations in each part of Aster × chusanensis through HPLC. Further, we investigated the growth characteristics and secondary metabolite concentrations under various growth temperatures using division propagation, followed by growing at 20, 25, and 30 °C in a growth chamber. Chlorogenic acid was the primary compound, which was particularly high in the leaves. The growth characteristics did not differ significantly between temperatures, and 30 °C was most efficient for phenolic acid biosynthesis. Our results provide valuable information on optimized propagation and secondary metabolite concentrations under different temperatures of Aster × chusanensis.

Extensive reorganization of the chloroplast genome of Corydalis platycarpa: A comparative analysis of their organization and evolution with other Corydalis plastomes.

Introduction: The chloroplast (cp) is an autonomous plant organelle with an individual genome that encodes essential cellular functions. The genome architecture and gene content of the cp is highly conserved in angiosperms. The plastome of Corydalis belongs to the Papaveraceae family, and the genome is comprised of unusual rearrangements and gene content. Thus far, no extensive comparative studies have been carried out to understand the evolution of Corydalis chloroplast genomes. Methods: Therefore, the Corydalis platycarpa cp genome was sequenced, and wide-scale comparative studies were conducted using publicly available twenty Corydalis plastomes. Results: Comparative analyses showed that an extensive genome rearrangement and IR expansion occurred, and these events evolved independently in the Corydalis species. By contrast, the plastomes of its closely related subfamily Papaveroideae and other Ranunculales taxa are highly conserved. On the other hand, the synapomorphy characteristics of both accD and the ndh gene loss events happened in the common ancestor of the Corydalis and sub-clade of the Corydalis lineage, respectively. The Corydalis-sub clade species (ndh lost) are distributed predominantly in the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau (QTP) region. The phylogenetic analysis and divergence time estimation were also employed for the Corydalis species. Discussion: The divergence time of the ndh gene in the Corydalis sub-clade species (44.31 - 15.71 mya) coincides very well with the uplift of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in Oligocene and Miocene periods, and maybe during this period, it has probably triggered the radiation of the Corydalis species. Conclusion: To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first large-scale comparative study of Corydalis plastomes and their evolution. The present study may provide insights into the plastome architecture and the molecular evolution of Corydalis species.

Characterization of the complete chloroplast genome of Scrophularia cephalantha endemic to Korea.

Scrophularia species are highly valued and widely used traditional medicinal plants in East Asia. In this article, the complete chloroplast genome of Scrophularia cephalantha, a species endemic to South Korea, is reported for the first time. The genome is 153,016 bp long, and it is composed of a pair of 25,485 bp inverted repeats (IRs), separated by a large single copy (LSC) region of 84,124 bp, and a small single copy (SSC) region of 17,922 bp. There are 133 predicted genes in the genome, comprising 88 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNAs, and 8 rRNAs, with an overall GC content of 38%. Phylogenetic analysis based on the chloroplast genome data showed that S. cephalantha is a sister species to S. buergeriana and S. ningpoensis. The data provide useful molecular information for phylogenetic and evolutionary studies of the genus Scrophularia and its related species.

The complete chloroplast genome of Campanula takesimana Nakai from Dokdo Island in Korea (Campanulaceae).

Completed chloroplast genome of Campanula takesimana Nakai isolated from Dokdo island in Korea is 169,719 bp long (GC ratio is 38.8%) and has four subregions: 102,381 bp of large single-copy (37.8%) and 7,750 bp of small single-copy (32.6%) regions are separated by 29,794 bp of inverted repeat (41.3%) regions including 131 genes (87 protein-coding genes, eight rRNAs, and 36 tRNAs). Phylogenetic analyses suggested that C. takesimana from Dokdo Island form a clade with C. takesimana from Ulleungdo Island and that chloroplast genomes of the two accessions are diverged.

Identification of plastid genomic regions inferring species identity from de novo plastid genome assembly of 14 Korean-native Iris species (Iridaceae).

Iris is one of the largest genera in the family Iridaceae, comprising hundreds of species, including numerous economically important horticultural plants used in landscape gardening and herbal medicine. Improved taxonomic classification of Iris species, particularly the endangered Korean-native Iris, is needed for correct species delineation. To this end, identification of diverse genetic markers from Iris genomes would facilitate molecular identification and resolve ambiguous classifications from molecular analyses; however, only two Iris plastid genomes, from Iris gatesii and Iris sanguinea, have been sequenced. Here, we used high-throughput next-generation sequencing, combined with Sanger sequencing, to construct the plastid genomes of 14 Korean-native Iris species with one outgroup and predict their gene content. Using these data, combined with previously published plastid genomes from Iris and one outgroup (Sisyrinchium angustifolium), we constructed a Bayesian phylogenetic tree showing clear speciation among the samples. We further identified sub-genomic regions that have undergone neutral evolution and accurately recapitulate Bayesian-inferred speciation. These contain key markers that could be used to identify and classify Iris samples into taxonomic clades. Our results confirm previously reported speciation patterns and resolve questionable relationships within the Iris genus. These data also provide a valuable resource for studying genetic diversity and refining phylogenetic relationships between Iris species.

The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Lychnis kiusiana (Caryophyllaceae).

The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Lychnis kiusiana Makino (Caryophyllaceae) was determined. The genome was 151,831 bp long, consisting of a large single-copy region (83,875 bp) and a small single-copy region (17,591 bp) separated by two inverted repeats (25,331 bp). The plastome contained 124 genes; 82 encode proteins, 34 encode tRNA, and eight encode rRNA. The gene quantity and order resembled those of a typical Caryophyllaceae plastome. Phylogenetic analysis using 79 gene sequences from 14 previously reported genomes of Caryophyllaceae showed that Lychnis clades were nested within the Silene genus, suggesting that Lychnis is a lower taxonomic rank than genus.

Characterization of the complete chloroplast genome sequence of the giant knotweed, Fallopia sachalinensis from the volcanic island Dokdo, Republic of Korea.

The giant knotweed plant, Fallopia sachalinensis is confined to Ulleung and Dokdo islands, Korea. Here, we reported the complete chloroplast genome of F. sachalinensis. The chloroplast genome size was 163,485 bp in length, containing a couple of identical inverted repeat regions of 31,108 bp, a large single-copy region of 87,703 bp and small single-copy region of 13,566 bp. The genome encoded 129 genes, of which 112 were unique, including 78 protein-coding, 30 tRNA and 4 rRNA genes. The maximum-likelihood phylogenetic tree showed that F. sachalinensis is a basal group and sister to the rest of the Polygonaceae family plants.

The complete chloroplast genome of monocot plant, Maianthemum dilatatum.

The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Maianthemum dilatatum is sequenced and analyzed. The chloroplast genome is 156,921 bp, with 36.7% GC content. A pair of inverted repeats of 26,468 bp is separated by a large single-copy region (85,554 bp) and a small single-copy region (18,431 bp). It encodes 86 protein-coding genes, 38 tRNA genes and 8 rRNA genes. Of 132 individual genes, 19 genes are duplicated in the IR regions, while 14 genes are encoded with one intron and three genes with two introns.

The complete chloroplast genome sequences of Iris sanguinea donn ex Hornem.

The complete chloroplast genome of Iris sanguinea was sequenced newly in this study. The total chloroplast genome size of I. sanguinea was 152 408 bp, its structure and gene contents were well conserved as typical chloroplast characteristics. Large single copy (LSC) and small single copy (SSC) of 82 340 bp and 18 016 bp, respectively, were separated from a pair of inverted repeats (IRA and IRB) of 26 026 bp. A total of 112 genes, i.e. 78 protein-coding genes, 30 tRNA genes, and four rRNA genes, were encoded in the chloroplast genome of I. sanguinea. Overall GC content of I. sanguinea was 36.83%. Phylogenetic analysis with the reported chloroplast genomes revealed that I. sanguinea is most closely related to I. gatesii.