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Longan (Dimocarpus longan Lour.), as a kind of commercial fruit tree in the family Sapindaceae, is widely cultivated in South Asia. In this study, we obtained the complete chloroplast genome sequence of longan using Illumina paired-end sequencing. It has 160,833 bp in length, containing a pair of IR regions (28,428 bp) separated by a small single-copy region (18,270 bp) and a large single-copy region (85,707 bp). The overall GC contents of the chloroplast genome were 37.8%. This circular genome contains 130 annotated genes, including 85 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNAs and 8 rRNAs. The phylogenetic analysis using maximum–likelihood (ML) and neighbour-joining (NJ) method showed that longan has the closest relationship with Litchi chinensis, Sapindus mukorossi and Dodonaea viscosa. This complete chloroplast genomes can be subsequently used for the genetic breeding of this valuable species.

Tripsacum dactyloides, known as eastern gamagrass, is used as a donor of valuable traits. It grows naturally in the same region where maize is commercially cultured in the USA and has the ability to hybridize to maize. The wild genotype of eastern gamagrass is threaten by the gene flow from the transgenic maize. The circular genome is 141,050 bp in length and contains 120 genes, including 73 protein-coding genes (PCG), 39 transfer RNA genes (tRNA) and eight ribosomal RNA genes (rRNA). The overall nucleotide composition is: 30.8% A, 19.2% C, 19.3% G, 30.7% T, with a total G + C content of 38.5%. The phylogenetic tree was constructed to explore the taxonomic status of Tripsacum dactyloides, which contributes to phylogenetic studies and further conservation strategies for this species.

Mentha spicata, also known as mint, is the best known source of aromatic essential oil. It was widespread in Europe and Asia. But due to human activity, it has been classified as Least Concern (LC) species in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Here, we presented the complete chloroplast genome of M. spicata. The circular genome is 16,430 bp in length and contains 132 genes, including 87 protein-coding genes (PCG), 37 transfer RNA genes (tRNA) and eight ribosomal RNA genes (rRNA). The overall nucleotide composition is: 30.7% A, 19.2% C, 18.6% G, 31.5% T, with a total G + C content of 37.85%. The phylogenetic tree was constructed to explore the taxonomic status of M. spicata, which contributes to phylogenetic studies and further conservation strategies for this species.

Jilin ginseng, Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer, belongs to the Araliaceae family. It is known as the number one medicinal herb and one of the three native treasures in Northern China and has been cultivated in China for over 2000 years. Jilin ginseng is the staple ginseng in China, which contributes to 85% of the ginseng production in the country, thus becoming one of the most important, rapidly increasing industries in both the Province of Jilin and China. In this study, the complete chloroplast genome of Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer was determined by the next generation sequencing. The complete chloroplast genome of Jilin ginseng (P. ginseng C. A. Meyer) was 156,286 bp in length and displays a typical quadripartite structure of the large (LSC, 87,127 bp) and small (SSC, 18,329 bp) single-copy regions, separated by a pair of inverted repeat regions (IRs, 25,415 bp each). It harbors 132 functional genes, including 132 protein-coding genes, 37 transfer RNA, and 8 ribosomal RNA genes species. The overall nucleotide composition was: 30.6% A, 31.3% T, 19.4% C, and 18.7% G, with a total G + C content of 38.1%. Phylogenetic relationship analysis shows that P. ginseng closely related to Panax quinquefolius L.

Chenopodium quinoa Willd is the main traditional food of Inca aboriginal, which was a native grain in South American andes mountains. It has more than five thousand years of edible and cultivation history. Quinoa is rich of comprehensive nutritional value, therefore, be called as the mother of grain. In this study, the complete chloroplast genome of Chenopodium quinoa Willd was determined by the sequencing of PCR fragments. The complete chloroplast genome of C. quinoa Willd was 151,169 bp in length and displays a typical quadripartite structure of the large (LSC, 83,576 bp) and small (SSC, 18,107 bp) single-copy regions, separated by a pair of inverted repeat regions (IRs, 24,743 bp each). It harbours 120 gene species, including 87 protein-coding genes, 29 transfer RNA and 4 ribosomal RNA gene species. The overall nucleotide composition was: 31.2% A, 31.5% T, 19.0% C, and 18.3% G, with a total G + C content of 37.3%. Phylogenetic relationship analysis shows that C. quinoa closely related to Chenopodium album.