Characterization of the complete chloroplast genome seedless jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus var. seedless) and its relatives

Abstract

Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) is a perennial fruit tree extensively cultivated in Vietnam, where it plays a crucial role in economic development, especially in rural, disadvantaged regions. Recently, a seedless variety has emerged, attracting significant demand due to its superior fruit quality. Remarkably, the edible portion of this variety can comprise more than 90% of the fruit’s total weight, increasing its market appeal. As a result, the demand for seedlings of this variety has risen sharply. However, current identification methods for distinguishing seedless jackfruit from other varieties primarily rely on morphological traits, which are often ineffective due to high similarity. To overcome this limitation, the present study aimed to sequence and analyze the complete chloroplast (cp) genome of the seedless jackfruit variety. The cp genome was determined to be 160,385 base pairs in length, consisting of 128 genes, including 84 protein-coding genes, 36 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes. Comparative analysis revealed differences in simple sequence repeat (SSR) patterns between this seedless variety and other jackfruit cp genomes. These findings underscore the value of chloroplast genome characterization as a tool for the precise identification and classification of this novel seedless jackfruit variety