Rotheca myricoides (Hochst.) Steane & Mabb. is a plant species used in traditional medicine for the management of diabetes in the lower eastern part of Kenya (Kitui, Machakos and Makueni Counties, Kenya) that is mainly inhabited by the Kamba community. The complete chloroplast genome sequence of R. myricoides was assembled from the whole genome Illumina sequencing data. The genome was 150,596 bp in length, contained an SSC region of 17,237 bp and LSC region of 83,489 bp, separated by IRs of 24,935 bp, each. The genome contained 114 unique genes, including 80 PCGs, 4 rRNA genes, and 30 tRNA genes. In addition, 18 genes contained one or two introns, including 10 PCG genes with a single intron, 2 PCG genes harboring two introns, and 6 tRNA genes harboring a single intron. Phylogenetic analysis supported R. myricoides had the closest genetic relationship with Rotheca serrata and clustered with the Rotheca family species.
Keywords: Rotheca myricoides (Hochst.) Steane&Mabb.; chloroplast genome; illumina sequencing; phylogenetic analysis.
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