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Complete chloroplast genomes of three copal trees (Bursera: Bullockia): comparative analysis and phylogenetic relationships

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Abstract

Background

Bursera trees are conspicuous elements of the tropical dry forests in the Neotropics that have significant cultural value due to their fragrant resins (incense), wood sources (handcrafts), and ecological benefits. Despite their relevance, genetic resources developed for the genus are scarce.

Methods and results

We obtained the complete chloroplast (Cp) genome sequence, analyzed the genome structure, and performed functional annotation of three Bursera species of the Bullockia section: Bursera cuneata, B. palmeri, and B. bipinnata. The Cp genome sizes ranged from 159,824 to 159,872 bp in length, including a large single-copy (LSC) region from 87,668 to 87,656 bp, a small single-copy (SSC) from 18,581 to 18,571 bp, and two inverted repeats regions (IRa and IRb) of 26,814 bp each. The three Cp genomes consisted of 135 genes, of which 90 were protein-coding, 37 tRNAs, and 8 rRNAs. The Cp genomes were relatively conserved, with the LSC region exhibiting the greatest nucleotide divergence (psbJ, trnQ-UCC, trnG-UCC, and petL genes), whereas few changes were observed in the IR border regions. Between 589 and 591 simple sequence repeats were identified. Analysis of phylogenetic relationships using our data for each Cp region (LSC, SSC, IRa, and IRb) and of seven species within Burseraceae confirmed that Commiphora is the sister genus of Bursera. Only the phylogenetic trees based on the SSC and LSC regions resolved the close relationship between B. bipinnata and B. palmeri.

Conclusion

Our work contributes to the development of Bursera’s genomic resources for taxonomic, evolutionary, and ecological-genetic studies.

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Data availability

The complete chloroplast sequence data that support the findings of this study have been deposited in NCBI GenBank: Bursera bipinnata: OR003920, Bursera cuneata: OR003921, and Bursera palmeri: OR003922.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Mayra Castro Morales for performing the DNA extractions; also, to Marisol Zurita Solís, Ingrid Lara, and Antonio González Rodriguez for quantification of DNA using Qubit; and Carlos A. Cultid-Medina for providing computer equipment to perform the genome assemblies, annotation, and data analysis.

Funding

Consejo Nacional de Humanidades, Ciencia y Tecnología (CONAHCYT) (Ciencia Básica grant number to YR: CB2016-283237).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Forestry, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, 86011, USA

    Gustavo P. Lorenzana

  2. Red de Diversidad Biológica del Occidente Mexicano, Instituto de Ecología, 61600, Pátzcuaro, A.C, Mexico

    Yessica Rico

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  1. Gustavo P. Lorenzana
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Contributions

GPL performed data curation, analysis, and wrote of the original draft; YR collected samples, designed the study, performed analysis, acquired funding, and contributed to editing the original draft. All authors reviewed the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Yessica Rico.

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Lorenzana, G.P., Rico, Y. Complete chloroplast genomes of three copal trees (Bursera: Bullockia): comparative analysis and phylogenetic relationships. Mol Biol Rep 51, 406 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-024-09304-z

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