ABSTRACT
Characterization of the complete chloroplast genome of Talinum paniculatum (Jacq.) Gaertn. (Talinaceae) collected in Vietnam and its relatives

Thi Kim Anh Ngo1 and Viet The Ho1*
 
Talinum paniculatum (Jacq.) Gaertn. is an important medicinal and leafy vegetable widely used in Vietnam, yet no plastome data from Vietnamese populations have been available to support species authentication, conservation, or breeding. Here, we assembled and analyzed the complete chloroplast genome of T. paniculatum collected in southern Vietnam. The plastome is 156929 bp and exhibits a typical quadripartite structure, comprising an 86556 bp large single copy (LSC), an 18230 bp small single copy (SSC), and two inverted repeats (IRs) of 26071 bp. A total of 129 genes were identified, including 84 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNAs, and eight rRNAs, with 19 genes containing introns. Codon usage analysis revealed a pronounced AT bias, and 348 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were detected, mostly A/T mononucleotides. Comparative genomics showed > 99% similarity among Talinum plastomes, while IR boundary variation distinguished the Vietnamese plastome from previously published accessions. Phylogenomic reconstruction confirmed the monophyly of Talinum and clearly separated T. paniculatum from T. fruticosum (L.) Juss. This plastome provides a Vietnam-specific genomic reference that can support molecular authentication, germplasm monitoring, and the development of genetic tools for improving T. paniculatum cultivation and conservation in Vietnam.
Keywords: Chloroplast genome, IR boundaries, phylogenomics, plastome, SSRs, Talinaceae.
1Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade, Faculty of Biology and Environment, Ho Chi Minh city 700000, Vietnam.
*Corresponding author (thehv@huit.edu.vn).