Complex plastome structural variation caused by intermolecular and intramolecular recombination accounts for leaf variegation in <i>Heptapleurum ellipticum</i>.

ABSTRACT: Plastome variation, including single spontaneous nucleotide substitutions and single insertions/deletions, is the major source of leaf variegation in plants. Additionally, one recent study has showed that a simple plastome structural variation, which is induced by one pair of small inverted repeats, can also result in leaf variegation. Here we show a complex plastome structural variation caused by intermolecular and intramolecular recombination across three pairs of small inverted repeats accounts for leaf variegation in a widely cultivated shrub Heptapleurum ellipticum (Araliaceae). This plastome structural variation contains two deletions and two duplications, resulting in dramatic expansion of IRs, substantial contraction of LSC and loss of 11 genes that essential for photosynthe

SUBMITTER: Ma K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12918204 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature