Characterization of the complete chloroplast genome of the Chinese cherry Prunus pseudocerasus (Rosaceae)

The Chinese cherry Prunus pseudocerasus is a fruit tree species with high economic and ornamental values. Many of its wild populations are under threat or even on the verge of extinction. Here, its complete chloroplast genome was assembled using next-generation sequencing technology. The circular genome is 157,834 bp long, and contains a pair of inverted repeat (IR) regions of 26,398 bp each, separated by a large single-copy (LSC) region of 85,954 bp and a small single-copy (SSC) region of 19,084 bp. It encodes a total of 131 genes, including 86 protein-coding genes (78 PCG species), 37 tRNA genes (29 tRNA species) and eight rRNA genes (four rRNA species). Its base composition is biased (31.2% A, 18.7% C, 18.0% G & 32.1% T) with an overall A + T content of 63.3%. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that P. pseudocerasus is closely related to the congeners P. maximowiczii, P. serrulata, P. subhirtella and P. yedoensis.