The complete chloroplast genome of Erigeron sumatrensis (Asteraceae): genomic features and phylogenetic implications

Abstract

Abstract Erigeron sumatrensis Retz. (Asteraceae) is an annual herb native to South America that has become a noxious invasive weed in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. Here, we report the first complete chloroplast genome of this plant species. The chloroplast genome is 152,974 bp in length and exhibits a typical quadripartite structure, consisting of a large single-copy (LSC) region of 84,615 bp, a small single-copy (SSC) region of 18,335 bp, and a pair of inverted repeat (IR) regions of 25,012 bp each. The overall GC content is 37.16%. The genome encodes 133 genes, including 88 protein-coding genes, 37 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and 8 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. Phylogenetic analysis based on 29 chloroplast genomes indicated its close affinity to E. rupicola and E. fernandezianus within Erigeron. This study provides an important genomic resource for species identification, population genetics, and research on the invasion mechanism of E. sumatrensis.