Analysis of the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of the resurrection plant Haberlea rhodopensis

Abstract

Haberlea rhodopensis is a paleolithic tertiary relict species that belongs to the unique group of resurrection plants sharing remarkable tolerance to desiccation. When exposed to severe drought stress, this species shows an ability to maintain structural integrity of its deactivated photosynthetic apparatus, which easily reactivates upon rehydration. In addition to its homoiochlorophyllous nature, the resurrection capability of H. rhodopensis is of particular importance to the global climate change mitigation. In this study, we sequenced, assembled, and analyzed the mitochondrial (mt) genome of H. rhodopensis for the first time. The master circle has a typical circular structure of 484 138 bp in length with a 44.1% GC content in total. The mt genome of H. rhodopensis contains 59 genes in total, including 35 protein-coding, 21 tRNAs, and 3 rRNAs genes. 7 tandem repeats and 85 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) are distributed throughout the mt genome. The alignment of 20 plant mt genomes confirms the phylogenetic position of H. rhodopensis in the Lamiales order. Our comprehensive analysis of the complete mt genome of H. rhodopensis is a significant addition to the limited database of organelle genomes of resurrection species. Comparative and phylogenetic analysis provides valuable information for a better understanding of mitochondrial molecular evolution in plants.

Assembly and comparative analysis of the initial complete mitochondrial genome of Primulina hunanensis (Gesneriaceae): a cave-dwelling endangered plant

“…Currently, complete mtDNA have only been reported for B. hygrometrica and H. rhodopensis within the Gesneriaceae. In this study, we have assembled and determined that P. hunanensis mtDNA size was 575,242 bp, slightly longer than that of B. hygrometrica (510,519 bp) and H. rhodopensis (484,138 bp), with 43.54% GC content, similar to B. hygrometrica (43.27%) and H. rhodopensis (44.1%) [ 23 , 24 ] Most land plants typically possess three rRNA genes [ 25 ], and we identified the same three rRNA genes ( rrn 18, rrn 26, and rrn 5) in the mtDNA of P. hunanensis .…”

“…Earlier studies have reported 419 RNA editing sites in 35 PCGs of H. rhodopensis , 389 in 32 B. hygrometrica PCGs [ 24 ]. In this study, the 455 RNA editing sites identified were distributed across 37 PCGs within the mtDNA of P. hunanensis .…”

“…Within the family Gesneriaceae, mtDNA of only two species: Boea hygrometrica [ 23 ] and Haberlea rhodopensis [ 24 ], have been reported. In this study, we report the initial complete mtDNA of P. hunanensis , complementing the cpDNA sequence previously reported ( https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ , ON456288.1).…”