Identification and expression analysis of the GRF gene family in Pinellia ternata (Thunb.) Breit.

Pinellia ternata (Thunb.) Breit., a medicinally important plant, exhibits sensitivity to environmental cues such as light intensity and temperature, which can trigger a detrimental developmental disorder known as “sprout tumble” that compromises tuber productivity. Although shading has been shown to mitigate this disorder and enhance overall yield, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly characterized. Growth-regulating factors (GRFs) are key transcriptional regulators that orchestrate the growth and development of essential plant tissues and contribute to longevity and stress tolerance. In this study, a comprehensive genome-wide identification and characterization of the GRF gene family in P. ternata was conducted using its chromosome-level genome and full-length transcriptome datasets derived from shaded and high-temperature stress conditions. Thirteen GRF genes were identified and grouped into two subfamilies. Physicochemical profiling, subcellular localization prediction, and tertiary structure modeling revealed that these GRF proteins are hydrophilic, structurally unstable, and primarily localized in the nucleus, with potential functional overlap among members. Comparative phylogenetic and collinearity analyses suggested strong evolutionary conservation with GRF genes in Oryza sativa L.. Structural analyses of P. ternata GRFs revealed conserved motifs, structural domains, and gene architectures, highlighting distinct sequence conservation across family members. Promoter element analysis and transcriptomic profiling under shading and high-temperature stress conditions indicated that these GRFs participate in environmental stress responses. These findings provide a molecular framework for understanding how shading modulates GRF-mediated signaling to promote tuber development and suppress the initiation of sprout tumble in P. ternata.