Assembly and analysis of the chloroplast genome of Amorphophallus kachinensis Engler & Gehrmann (Araceae) from Southwestern China: implications for conservation and utilization

AbstractKonjac glucomannan consists of D-mannose and D-glucose units and is a hydrocolloid obtained from the corm of Amorphophallus species. Due to its bioactive properties, biodegradability, and hydrophilic ability, glucomannan is widely used in the fields of food, medicine, and industry. Amorphophallus species have been cultivated as cash crops in many Asian countries. Amorphophallus kachinensis Engler & Gehrmann 1911 is naturally distributed in southwestern China, Laos, and northern Thailand. To help the genetic assessment and conservation of this species, the first chloroplast genome of A. kachinensis was sequenced on the Illumina sequencing platform. We assembled the chloroplast genome using the software GetOrganelle and annotated the genome by Geseq and Cpgavas 2. The assembled chloroplast genome was 173,330 bp long, and the average GC content was 35% (GenBank accession number: PP072244). The chloroplast genome of A. kachinensis contained one large single copy, one small single copy, and two inverted repeats, with lengths of 92,030 bp, 15,118 bp, 33,091 bp, and 33,091 bp, respectively. We successfully annotated 132 genes across the genome, which was consistent with other Amorphophallus species. The phylogenetic tree indicates a sub-divergence in the Amorphophallus genus with two main genetic groups detected among eight species. The two genetic groups should be treated as distinct evolutionarily significant units when making conservation strategies. Our study enriched the chloroplast genome resources of the Amorphophallus genus and could help future phylogeographic studies, protection, and utilization of wild resources.