Characterization of Nine Chenopodiaceae Chloroplast Genomes From Whole Tissue Sequencing and Molecular Clock Phylogeny

Chloroplasts are an important organelle in plants as they convert light energy to chemical energy, are the site of biosynthesis of pigment precursors, lipids and several amino acids. Additionally the knowledge of a chloroplast’s sequence enables both phylogenetic and genetic areas of research. With this in mind we sequenced the chloroplast genomes of nine Chenopodiaceae species using High Throughput Sequencing (HTS) of total leaf tissue. The Chenopodiaceae are a physiological diverse family which includes members that perform C3, C4 and Single Cell C4 photosynthesis, are acclimated to diverse ecosystems from hot and wet to cold and arid as well as highly saline soils. Chenopodiaceae species chloroplast genomes: Amaranthus retroflexis, Bassia muricata, Bienertia cycloptera, Bienertia sinuspersici, Halosarcia indica, Haloxylon aphyllum, Suaeda aralocaspica, Suaeda eltonica and Suaeda maritima.