biostudies-literatureYu JNational Natural Science Foundation of ChinaChongqing Study Abroad Innovation Project132https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9993602biostudies-literatureUnknown23(1)<h4>Background</h4>The cactus family (Cactaceae) has been reported to have evolved a minimal photosynthetic plastome size, with the loss of inverted-repeat (IR) regions and NDH gene suites. However, there are very limited genomic data on the family, especially Cereoideae, the largest subfamily of cacti.<h4>Results</h4>In the present study, we assembled and annotated 35 plastomes, 33 of which were representatives of Cereoideae, alongside 2 previously published plastomes. We analyzed the organelle genomes of 35 genera in the subfamily. These plastomes have variations rarely observed in those of other angiosperms, including size differences (with ~ 30 kb between the shortest and longest), dramatic dynamic changes in IR boundaries, frequent plastome inversions, and rearrangements. These results suggested that cacti have the most complex plastome evolution among angiosperms.<h4>Conclusion</h4>These results provide unique insight into the dynamic evolutionary history of Cereoideae plastomes and refine current knowledge of the relationships within the subfamily.BMC plant biologyPlastome variations reveal the distinct evolutionary scenarios of plastomes in the subfamily Cereoideae (Cactaceae).PMC9993602cx201905231772260Qin QZeng SLi JZuo YRennenberg HYu JDeng HfalsePlastome variations reveal the distinct evolutionary scenarios of plastomes in the subfamily Cereoideae (Cactaceae).<h4>Background</h4>The cactus family (Cactaceae) has been reported to have evolved a minimal photosynthetic plastome size, with the loss of inverted-repeat (IR) regions and NDH gene suites. However, there are very limited genomic data on the family, especially Cereoideae, the largest subfamily of cacti.<h4>Results</h4>In the present study, we assembled and annotated 35 plastomes, 33 of which were representatives of Cereoideae, alongside 2 previously published plastomes. We analyzed the organelle genomes of 35 genera in the subfamily. These plastomes have variations rarely observed in those of other angiosperms, including size differences (with ~ 30 kb between the shortest and longest), dramatic dynamic changes in IR boundaries, frequent plastome inversions, and rearrangements. These results suggested that cacti have the most complex plastome evolution among angiosperms.<h4>Conclusion</h4>These results provide unique insight into the dynamic evolutionary history of Cereoideae plastomes and refine current knowledge of the relationships within the subfamily.2023-01-01T00:00:00Z2023 Mar2024-11-20T20:59:50.357Z2024-11-20T20:59:50.357ZS-EPMC99936023688268510.1186/s12870-023-04148-4