Full text 2025

Complete sequence of the <i>Achillea ptarmica</i> chloroplast genome determined by long-read sequencing

Natsume H, Kusaba M.

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Abstract

<i>Achillea</i> species, commonly referred to as yarrow, belong to the family Asteraceae and are typically perennial, outbreeding plants used in traditional medicine. The genus <i>Achillea</i> has undergone hybridization and polyploidization events, resulting in phylogenetically complex relationships. Considering the limited scope of genomic studies on this genus, a genomic analysis of a diploid <i>Achillea</i> species is important for advancing our understanding of its evolutionary biology and genetic diversity. In this study, we assembled the complete chloroplast genome sequence of a diploid <i>Achillea</i> species (<i>A. ptarmica</i>) using nanopore long-read sequencing technology. The assembled chloroplast genome (149,252 bp), with a GC content of 38%, was revealed to include a large single-copy region (82,498 bp), a small single-copy region (18,458 bp), and two inverted repeat regions (24,148 bp each). The genome contains 89 protein-coding genes, 8 rRNAs, and 37 tRNAs. A phylogenetic analysis clustered <i>A. ptarmica</i> with other <i>Achillea</i> species (<i>A. millefolium</i> and <i>A. wilsoniana</i>), positioning them within the same clade as the genus <i>Tanacetum</i>. The accuracy of nanopore sequencing was validated by comparing the results for 10 chloroplast genes with the corresponding Sanger sequencing results. Our findings provide valuable genetic resources for further taxonomic, evolutionary, and phylogenetic studies of the genus <i>Achillea</i>.

Keywords

Phylogenetic analysis Asteraceae Nanopore