Comparative analysis of the complete mitochondrial and chloroplast genomes of Krascheninnikovia arborescens reveals its evolutionary features in Amaranthaceae.
TL;DR
A combination of structural dynamism and functional conservation in the organellar genomes of K. arborescens is revealed, providing a foundation for future comparative and evolutionary studies of Amaranthaceae and expands genomic resources for this family.
Abstract
Background
Krascheninnikovia arborescens is a drought-tolerant subshrub of the Amaranthaceae family that is endemic to China and plays an important role in desert ecosystems. However, little is known about the structure and evolutionary dynamics of its organellar genomes. In this study, we assembled and characterized the mitochondrial and chloroplast genomes of K. arborescens using long-read sequencing data.
Results
The mitochondrial genome was assembled as a master circular genome representation of 387,891 bp and contains 62 annotated genes, whereas the chloroplast genome exhibits a typical quadripartite structure of 152,039 bp with 90 genes. The mitochondrial genome harbors abundant repetitive sequences and multiple plastid-derived insertions, indicating a dynamic structural organization. In contrast, gene content remains highly conserved, and all core protein-coding genes show signatures of purifying selection, particularly those involved in ATP synthesis and respiratory metabolism. Predicted RNA editing sites differ substantially between the two organelles, suggesting distinct post-transcriptional modification patterns. Phylogenetic analyses based on shared organellar genes consistently place K. arborescens within Amaranthaceae and support its evolutionary relationships within Caryophyllales. These results reveal a combination of structural dynamism and functional conservation in the organellar genomes of K. arborescens.
Conclusion
This study provides a foundation for future comparative and evolutionary studies of Amaranthaceae and expands genomic resources for this family.