Complete nucleotide sequence of the Oenothera elata plastid chromosome, representing plastome I of the five distinguishable Euoenothera plastomes (vol 263, pg 581, 2000)

We describe the 159,443-bp sequence of the plastid chromosome of Oenothera elata (evening primrose). The Oe. elata plastid chromosome represents type I of the five genetically distinguishable basic plastomes found in the subs ection Euoenothera. The genus Oenothera provides an ideal system in which t o address fundamental questions regarding the functional integration of the compartmentalised genetic system characteristic of the eukaryotic cell. It s highly developed taxonomy and genetics, together with a favourable combin ation of features in its genetic structure (interspecific fertility, stable heterozygous progeny, biparental transmission of organelles, and the pheno menon of complex heterozygosity), allow facile exchanges of nuclei, plastid s and mitochondria, as well as individual chromosome pairs, between species . The resulting hybrids or cybrids are usually viable and fertile, but can display various forms of developmental disturbance.