The Alfin-like transcription factors: Identification, characterization, and expression analysis in Pyrus bretschenedri provide insight into its divergent functions on abiotic response

•Systematic characterization of 15 Alfin-like (AL) transcription factors (PbAL genes) in chinese pear (Pyrus bretschenedri) reveals their unique chromosomal localizations and classification into six subfamilies, shedding light on their evolutionary relationships and structural features.•Microsynteny analysis among pyrus bretschenedri and related species demonstrates the conservation and purifying selection of AL duplicated regions, highlighting their importance and potential functional significance in the evolutionary process.•The expression pattern analysis of PbAL genes in various organs and during fruit development stages, coupled with their differential expression under hormone treatments, including indole acetic acid (IAA), gibberellic acid (GA), melatonin (ME), and abscisic acid (ABA), and abiotic stress conditions, suggests their involvement in key physiological processes, such as fruit growth and development, and their potential as candidate genes for further research and molecular breeding efforts to improve fruit quality.