# Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of Growth-Regulating Factor Family in Sweet Potato and Its Two Relatives

## TL;DR

This study identifies and analyzes GRF genes in sweet potato and its relatives, revealing their nuclear localization and varied expression patterns.

## Contribution

The first identification and characterization of the GRF gene family in sweet potato and its diploid relatives.

## Key findings

- Ten GRF genes were identified in sweet potato, with twelve each in its two relatives.
- GRF genes were localized in the nucleus across all three species.
- Most IbGRF genes showed high expression in vigorously growing buds.

## Abstract

Growth-regulating factor (GRF) is a multi-gene family that plays an important role in plant growth and development and is widely present in plants. Currently, GRF gene members have been reported in many plants, but the GRF gene family has not been found in sweet potato. In this study, ten GRF genes were identified in sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas), twelve and twelve were identified in its two diploid relatives (Ipomoea trifida) and (Ipomoea triloba), which were unevenly distributed on nine different chromosomes. Subcellular localization analysis showed that GRF genes of sweet potato, I. trifida, and I. triloba were all located in the nucleus. The expression analysis showed that the expression of IbGRFs was diverse in different sweet potato parts, and most of the genes were upregulated and even had the highest expression in the vigorous growth buds. These findings provide molecular characterization of sweet potato and its two diploid relatives, the GRF families, further supporting functional characterization.