First complete chloroplast genome of Thymus seravschanicus: Insights into genome structure and phylogenetic relationships within Lamiaceae

This study presents the complete chloroplast genome sequence of Thymus seravschanicus , a medicinally important species from Central Asia. The 151,712 bp genome features a typical quadripartite structure and 114 unique genes. Comparative analysis of eight Thymus chloroplast genomes identified hotspots of nucleotide diversity, including the SSC region, ycf1 gene, and intergenic spacers, which can be exploited for phylogenetic and population genetic marker development. Phylogenomic analysis of 33 Lamiaceae species strongly supports the monophyly of major clades, including the genus Thymus. This work provides a valuable reference for molecular studies of T. seravschanicus and contributes to our understanding of chloroplast evolution in the Mint family.