First Record of Comparative Plastid Genome Analysis and Phylogenetic Relationships among Siebold & Zucc. (Hamamelidaceae).

Siebold & Zucc. (Hamamelidaceae) is widely used as a horticultural plant and comprises approximately 25 species in East Asia. Molecular research is essential to distinguish species, which are morphologically similar. Molecular research has been conducted using a small number of genes but not in . Plastid genomes of species (, and ) were sequenced using next-generation sequencing techniques. Repeats and nucleotide diversity that could be used as DNA markers were also investigated. A phylogenetic investigation was carried out using 79 protein-coding genes to infer the evolutionary relationships within the genus . By including new plastomes, the overall plastid genome structure of was similar. Simple sequence repeats of 73-106 SSRs were identified in the protein-coding genes of the plastid genomes, and 33-40 long repeat sequences were identified in the plastomes. The Pi value of the region, an intergenic spacer, was the highest. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that is a monophyletic group and is closely related to . , and formed a clade distributed in Japan, whereas , , and formed a clade that was distributed in China.