Genome-Wide Prediction and Expression Characterization of the GATA Gene Family under Nitrogen and Phosphate Deficiency in <i>Panax ginseng</i>

GATA transcription factors are widespread in plants, exerting crucial functions in multiple processes such as flower development, photoperiod regulation, and light signal transduction. The <i>GATA</i> gene family has a key role in the regulation of medicinal plant adaptation to environmental stress. However, since the publication of the Ginseng (<i>Panax ginseng</i> C.A. Meyer) genome-wide data, there has never been an analysis of the whole <i>GATA</i> gene family. To understand the function of the <i>GATA</i> gene family more broadly, the <i>GATA</i> gene family members in <i>P. ginseng</i> were predicted using an in silico bioinformatics approach. A comprehensive and systematic analysis encompassing chromosome scaffold, expression pattern, gene structure, and phylogeny was conducted. The results showed that a total of 52 <i>GATA</i> gene family members were recognized in <i>P. ginseng</i>, distributed across 51 scaffolds. Each member encoded a diverse number of amino acid residues, extending from 138 to 1064. Moreover, the expression levels of <i>PgGATA</i> genes were significantly altered by nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) stresses. The expression levels of <i>PgGATA6</i>, <i>PgGATA11</i>, <i>PgGATA27</i>, <i>PgGATA32</i>, <i>PgGATA37</i>, <i>PgGATA39</i>, <i>PgGATA40</i>, and <i>PgGATA50</i> exhibited significant elevation under N deficiency, whereas <i>PgGATA15</i>, <i>PgGATA18</i>, <i>PgGATA34</i>, <i>PgGATA38</i>, <i>PgGATA41</i>, and <i>PgGATA44</i> genes showed substantial upregulation under P deficiency. In addition, <i>PgGATA3</i>, <i>PgGATA4</i>, <i>PgGATA14</i>, <i>PgGATA19</i>, and <i>PgGATA28</i> were substantially upregulated under both N and P deficiency. This research establishes a theoretical foundation for the thorough examination of the functions of the <i>PgGATA</i> gene family and its regulation by N and P fertilization during <i>P. ginseng</i> cultivation.