Huangjing (Polygonati Rhizoma) is a medicinal and edible herb whose quality is primarily determined by its intrinsic medicinal properties, mainly characterized by polysaccharides and saponins. However, the content and composition of these bioactive constituents are highly susceptible to variations in germplasm, ecological conditions, and processing methods, leading to significant fluctuations in commercial product quality—a critical bottleneck impeding the standardized development of the industry. Traditional research has predominantly focused on the apparent effects of individual ecological or agronomic factors, lacking a holistic analysis of the complex system governing quality formation. This review focuses on the intrinsic medicinal quality of Polygonati Rhizoma and constructs a systematic theoretical framework of “genetic-environment-management” multifactorial interactions to elucidate the multidimensional regulatory network underlying its quality formation. The article comprehensively reviews and analyzes the synergistic regulatory mechanisms of various factors and their interactions on quality traits from three dimensions: intrinsic genetic basis (germplasm resources and metabolic regulatory networks), extrinsic environmental regulation (climatic factors and rhizosphere microecological interactions), and anthropogenic production interventions (precision cultivation and post-harvest processing). On this basis, we propose that future research should prioritize systems biology analysis through multi-omics integration, intelligent and precise management across the entire industrial chain, modernization and value-added transformation of processing technologies, and the establishment of a whole-process quality standard system. This review provides an integrated theoretical framework for understanding the formation mechanism of the geo-authentic medicinal quality of Polygonati Rhizoma and offers a theoretical foundation for guiding its standardized production and high-quality industrial development.

Polygonati Rhizoma  /  quality formation  /  multifactorial interactions  /  rhizosphere microecology  /  genetic regulation  /  molecular mechanisms