Table 2_Chloroplast genomic characterization and phylogenetic analysis of eleven Persicaria medicinal plants from Guangxi, Southern China.docx

Polygonaceae is widely distributed worldwide, with the genus Persicaria being one of its most medicinally important groups. Nonetheless, genomic research on this genus remains relatively sparse. Moreover, accurate identification of Persicaria species is challenging due to significant morphological variation and similarities, which hinders the development and utilization of their medicinal resources. To address these issues, this study undertook the sequencing, assembly, and annotation of the chloroplast genomes of 11 Persicaria species from Guangxi and reconstructed a phylogenetic tree. The findings reveal that the chloroplast genome lengths of these 11 species range from 159,028 to 161,023 bp, displaying a typical quadripartite structure comprising a large single-copy (LSC) region, a small single-copy (SSC) region, and two inverted repeat (IR) regions. All chloroplast genomes contain four rRNA genes, 30 tRNA genes, and between 74 and 78 protein-coding genes. The codon usage in the chloroplast genomes shows a preference for A or T at the codon endings. The flanking genes at the IR boundaries are highly consistent among the 11 species, indicating that these boundary regions are conserved within the genus Persicaria. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that the 11 species form distinct clades within Persicaria, separate from the genera Calligonum and Fallopia. The findings of this study reveal significant evolutionary conservation and divergence within Persicaria species in Guangxi. The BEAST estimate the stem age of the genus Persicaria to be 81.89 Ma. This research elucidates the phylogenetic positions of these 11 species within Persicaria, offering a scientific foundation for species identification, advancing the understanding of the evolutionary history of the genus in Guangxi, and providing insights into their genetic diversity to support the rational development and utilization of their medicinal resources.蓼科（Polygonaceae）在全球范围内广泛分布，其中蓼属（Persicaria）是其药用价值最为突出的类群之一。然而，目前针对该属的基因组学研究仍相对匮乏。此外，由于形态变异显著且形态特征相似度高，蓼属物种的精准鉴定颇具挑战，这一问题阻碍了其药用资源的开发与利用。为解决上述问题，本研究对采自广西的11种蓼属（Persicaria）植物的叶绿体基因组进行了测序、组装与注释，并构建了系统发育树。研究结果显示，这11个物种的叶绿体基因组长度介于159028 bp至161023 bp之间，呈现典型的四分体结构：包含一个大单拷贝区（large single-copy, LSC）、一个小单拷贝区（small single-copy, SSC）以及两个反向重复区（inverted repeat, IR）。所有叶绿体基因组均包含4个核糖体RNA（rRNA）基因、30个转运RNA（tRNA）基因，以及74至78个蛋白质编码基因。该属叶绿体基因组的密码子使用模式呈现出密码子末端偏好腺嘌呤（A）或胸腺嘧啶（T）的特征。11个物种的IR区边界侧翼基因高度保守，表明该属的IR边界区域具有较高的进化保守性。系统发育分析结果显示，这11个物种在蓼属内形成了独立的演化支，与沙拐枣属（Calligonum）和何首乌属（Fallopia）区分开来。本研究结果揭示了广西地区蓼属物种显著的进化保守性与分化特征。贝叶斯进化分析采样树（BEAST）估算显示，蓼属的茎部分化时间约为81.89百万年前（Ma）。本研究明确了这11种蓼属植物在蓼属内的系统发育位置，为物种鉴定提供了科学依据，有助于深化对广西地区蓼属植物进化历史的认知，并为解析其遗传多样性以合理开发利用药用资源提供了理论支撑。