Elucidating the origin of Taimo, a cultivar of Taro (Colocasia esculenta) grown in the Ryukyu archipelago, through chloroplast genome analysis

Taimo is a cultivar of Colocasia esculenta, or Taro, which is grown in the Ryukyu archipelago located in southern Japan. Historical records suggest that the cultivation of Taimo dates back to the 15th century, predating the cultivation of rice or sweet potato. Taimo has been an essential food source in the region and continues to be used in traditional cuisine. Recent studies have indicated that Taro was domesticated multiple times within its natural distribution range spanning from eastern India to southeast Asia before being introduced to other regions. To determine which neighboring region(s) Taimo was introduced from to the Ryukyus (potentially mainland China, Taiwan, Philippines, or Japanese mainland), the chloroplast genome of Taimo was sequenced and analyzed using phylogenetic methods.