The integer equal to the larger of the two numbers $ p $
and $ q $
in the representation of the entire function $ f ( z) $
in the form
$$ \tag{* } f ( z) = z ^ \lambda e ^ {Q ( z) } \prod_{k=1} ^ \infty \left ( 1 - \frac{z}{a _ {k} } \right ) \mathop{\rm exp} \left ( \frac{z}{a _ {k} } + \frac{z ^ {2} }{2a _ {k} ^ {2} } + {} \dots + \frac{z ^ {p} }{pa _ {k} ^ {p} } \right ) , $$
where $ q $ is the degree of the polynomial $ Q ( z) $ and $ p $ is the least integer satisfying the condition
$$ \sum_{k=1} ^ \infty \frac{1}{| a _ {k} | ^ {p + 1 } } < \infty . $$
The number $ p $ is called the genus of the product appearing in formula (*).
[1] | B.Ya. Levin, "Distribution of zeros of entire functions" , Amer. Math. Soc. (1964) (Translated from Russian) |
The genus plays a role in factorization theorems for entire functions, cf. e.g. Hadamard theorem; Weierstrass theorem.
[a1] | R.P. Boas, "Entire functions" , Acad. Press (1954) |