The complete chloroplast genome of Mentha spicata, an endangered species native to South Europe

Abstract

Mentha spicata, also known as mint, is the best known source of aromatic essential oil. It was widespread in Europe and Asia. But due to human activity, it has been classified as Least Concern (LC) species in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Here, we presented the complete chloroplast genome of M. spicata. The circular genome is 16,430 bp in length and contains 132 genes, including 87 protein-coding genes (PCG), 37 transfer RNA genes (tRNA) and eight ribosomal RNA genes (rRNA). The overall nucleotide composition is: 30.7% A, 19.2% C, 18.6% G, 31.5% T, with a total G + C content of 37.85%. The phylogenetic tree was constructed to explore the taxonomic status of M. spicata, which contributes to phylogenetic studies and further conservation strategies for this species.