The complete genome sequence of Melia azedarach Linn. (Meliaceae): a multi-purpose pesticide species

The plant genus Melia has two or four species in the modern world, and is a natural source of a traditional pesticide, Toosendanin. In this study, we report the complete chloroplast genome of Melia azedarach, assembled from whole-genome high-throughput sequencing data, as a resource for future studies on the taxonomy and evolution of Melia. The chloroplast genome was 160,393 bp in length, with a large single-copy region of 87,598 bp, a small single-copy region of 18,709 bp, separated by two inverted repeat regions of 27,043 bp each. It was predicted to contain a total of 133 genes, with an overall GC content of 37.37%. Phylogenetic analysis placed M. azedarach closest to Azadirachta sp. in Meliaceae.