The complete chloroplast genome of Hedera helix (Araliaceae): comparative plastome analyses reveal divergence hotspots, selective constraints, and phylogenetic placement.

The complete chloroplast genome of Hedera helix is 156,688 bp with conserved structure and 132 genes, revealing divergence hotspots and phylogenetic placement within Araliaceae.

• Why it matters: Understanding chloroplast genome variation in Hedera helix is crucial for evolutionary, medicinal, and horticultural research, filling gaps in detailed plastome analysis within Araliaceae.
• What they did: Using approximately 22 Gb of Illumina data, the study assembled and annotated the H. helix plastome, performing comparative analyses of genome structure, repeats, codon usage, divergence hotspots, and phylogenetics with related species.
• The result: Findings show high structural conservation, with divergence hotspots like ycf1, and support H. helix as sister to H. rhombea and H. nepalensis var. sinensis, aiding future marker development and phylogenetic understanding.