The complete plastid genome sequence of Ilex micrococca Maxim

Ilex micrococca Maxim. is a widely distributed species of Aquifoliaceae in Eastern Asia. In this study, the complete chloroplast (cp) genome sequence of I. micrococca was assembled and characterized by high-throughput sequencing data. The entire cp genome was 157,782 bp in length, containing a large single-copy region (LSC) of 87,200 bp, and a small single-copy region (SSC) of 18,434 bp, which were separated by a pair of 26,074 bp inverted repeat (IR) regions. The cp genome contained 134 genes, including 89 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and 8 ribosomal RNA genes. Eighteen genes occur in double copies. The overall GC content is 37.6%. The phylogenetic tree reconstructed by 13 chloroplast genomes reveals that I. micrococca is most related with Ilex wilsonii. The complete cp genome provides valuable information for further phylogenetic and cp genetic engineering studies of this important Ilex species I. micrococca.