The Complete Chloroplast Genome of Water Crowfoot of Ranunculus cf. penicillatus and Phylogenetic Insight into the Genus Ranunculus (sect. Batrachium)

This study describes the first complete chloroplast genome of <i>Ranunculus</i> cf. <i>penicillatus</i> and provides new insights into the genetic composition and evolutionary relationships of the <i>Ranunculus</i> genus. The genome was assembled and characterized using high-throughput sequencing technologies, revealing a circular structure encompassing 158,313 base pairs. Comparative analysis with the chloroplast genomes of related species within the <i>Ranunculus</i> genus highlights notable variations in structural organization, which can elucidate potential adaptive evolutionary mechanisms. Phylogenetic analyses conducted using the maximum likelihood approach resulted in the placement of <i>Ranunculus</i> cf. <i>penicillatus</i> within a well-defined clade, revealing its relationship with other taxa. This study not only enriches the existing plastid genomic data of the genus <i>Ranunculus</i> but also serves as an additional resource for future studies on the phylogenetics, systematics, and conservation biology of this diverse group of aquatic plants. The findings highlight the importance of complete chloroplast genomes in the <i>Ranunculus</i> section <i>Batrachium</i>, an evolutionarily young group of aquatic plants, for understanding plant diversity and evolution. The genome can be accessed on GenBank with the accession number PV690257.