Characterization of the first chloroplast genome of Tabebuia (Bignoniaceae)

The chloroplast genome of Tabebuia nodosa is described and characterized here. This species is endemic to the Chaco and the first species of Tabebuia to have its organelle genome sequenced, providing a genomic resource for phylogenetic inferences. The plastome of T. nodosa is 158,454 bp in length, with a large single-copy of 85,406 bp, a small single-copy of 12,785 bp, and inverted repeats of 30,116 bp each. It contains 131 genes, with 86 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA, and 8 rRNA. Overall, the GC content is 38.2%. The T. nodosa plastome resembles the structural organization of plastomes commonly found in flowering plants, including those of other genera of Bignoniaceae. A phylogenetic analysis combining a subset of Bignoniaceae plastomes confirms the placement of T. nodosa within the Tabebuia alliance with maximum support.