Complete chloroplast genomes and comparative analysis of Ligustrum species

To obtain further genetic information about genus Ligustrum, we spliced, assembled, and annotated the chloroplasts of Ligustrum sinense, Ligustrum obtusifolium, Ligustrum vicaryi, and Ligustrum ovalifolium 'Aureum', and investigated their characteristics in comparison with those of other published Ligustrum species. The objectives of this study were to provide whole-chloroplast genome data for four Ligustrum species, compare the genome structure and sequence variation of their chloroplast genomes, investigate simple and large repetitive sequences and hotspot regions as candidate sequences for Ligustrum species identification and phylogenetic studies, identify positively selected genes as potential genes for adaptive evolution in the genus.