The first complete chloroplast genome of Cymodocea rotundata Asch. & Schweinf. 1870 (Cymodoceaceae), an Indo-Pacific seagrass

Abstract

Cymodocea rotundata Asch. & Schweinf. 1870 (Cymodoceaceae) is a seagrass found in the tropical and temperate Indo-Pacific coastal waters. Seagrass beds composed of C. rotundata and other seagrasses form ecologically valuable ecosystems. In this study, the complete chloroplast genome of C. rotundata was sequenced and characterized for the first time. It is a circular genome of 158,311 bp in length, consisting of a large single-copy region (88,451 bp), a small single-copy region (18,836 bp), and a pair of inverted repeats (25,512 bp). A total of 130 genes were annotated, including 86 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 36 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and 8 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. Seven PCGs and 6 tRNA genes contain 1 intron, and 3 PCGs contain 2 introns. In addition, 7 PCGs, 7 tRNA genes, and all the rRNA genes are multi-copy genes with 2 copies. Phylogenetic analysis shows that C. rotundata clusters with Syringodium isoetifolium in one clade, both belonging to the family Cymodoceaceae. This study provides new information to support further research on the phylogeny of Cymodoceaceae.