The complete chloroplast genome of Durio zibethinus L. cultivar Ri6 (Helicteroideae, Malvaceae)

Durian, a member of the Malvaceae family, is famous for its delicious fruits, which have strong scents and are rich in nutrients. In this study, we sequenced and characterized the complete chloroplast genome of Durio zibethinus L. 1774 cultivar Ri6, a popular durian cultivar in Vietnam, using the Illumina Hiseq platform. The results showed a circular chloroplast genome composed of a large single copy of 96,115 bp, a small single copy of 20,819 bp, and two inverted repeat regions of 24,185 bp. This genome consisted of 79 protein-coding genes, 30 transfer RNA genes, and four ribosomal RNA genes. The overall GC content of this genome was 35.7%. Phylogenetic analysis inferred from 78 protein-coding regions revealed monophyly of Durio species and a close relationship between D. zibethinus cultivar Ri6 and cultivar Mongthong. This study provides essential information for further studies examining genetic population, breedings, and species identification among Durio taxa and cultivars.