Plastid genome reveals the genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships of cultivated taro (Colocasia esculenta) in Korea

Plastid genome reveals the genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships of cultivated taro (Colocasia esculenta) in KoreaTaro (Colocasia esculenta) is a culturally and nutritionally important crop with a long history of cultivation in Korea. However, the genetic diversity of Korean taro and its relationship to global taro diversity have not been studied. Here, we report the complete plastid genomes (plastomes) of four cultivated taro samples (CESKR01–CESKR04) from two provinces in South Korea: three from Chungcheongnam-do and one from Jeollanam-do. The plastomes ranged from 162,376 to 162,546 bp and exhibited a GC content, gene composition, and quadripartite structure typical of this species, with a large single-copy region, a small singlecopy region, and a pair of large inverted repeats. Phylogenetic analyses of full-length multiple sequence alignments robustly identified two major plastid lineages (CI and CII) in cultivated taro, as previously reported. CESKR01, CESKR02, and CESKR03 grouped with the temperate-associated CII haplogroup, whereas CESKR04 grouped with the tropical CI haplogroup. These maternal lineages of taro in Korea are presumed to reflect independent introduction histories. Through comparative analyses, we identified seven highly variable loci in the CI and CII lineages that can be used in future characterization of Korean taro. A comprehensive taro sampling strategy is required to investigate the phylogeography of Korean taro in relation to local climate conditions and the global context.