Topics and Trends in Most Cited Agriculture and Biological Studies Papers

Ranked by citations 18 months after publication

Class of 2026 (Papers Published in 2024)

What topics and trends defined most-cited Agriculture and Biological Studies research in the Class of 2026?

The Class of 2026 reflects a sharp pivot toward understanding geopolitical disruptions in agriculture, spearheaded by the Russia-Ukraine conflict's impact on global trade. Alongside crisis response, researchers are prioritizing soil resilience—evidenced by rising interest in humic acids—and intensifying focus on the cultivation and biochemistry of Hemerocallis citrina.

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Updated September 14, 2026

At a glance

Field
Agriculture and Biological Studies
Cohort label
Class of 2026 (2024 publications)
Papers analyzed
5369
Papers ranked
20
Top topics in ranked papers
Hemerocallis citrina, Russia-Ukraine conflict, Hilly and mountainous areas, Gut microbiota
Publication window
Jan 1, 2024 – Dec 31, 2024
Eligibility
Research articles; reviews excluded
Citation window
18 months post-publication
18m citation range
12–48
Data source
OpenAlex · Retrieved June 2026
License
CC BY 4.0

Rankings

20 papers ranked by 18-month citation count

#1 of 5,369
4818m citations

Glutathione S-transferase: A versatile and dynamic enzyme

Chinyere Aloke et al.Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications202410.1016/j.bbrc.2024.150774

Chinyere AlokeUniversity of the Witwatersrand, South Africa

glutathione S-transferaseGSTenzyme versatilityenzyme dynamicsglutathione conjugationDetoxificationxenobiotic metabolismphase II metabolismGST isoformscatalytic mechanismsubstrate specificityprotein structure-functionelectrophilic substratesglutathione bindingenzyme regulation
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#3 of 5,369
2618m citations

Ultrasonic-assisted plasma-activated water extraction of polysaccharide from Hemerocallis citrina Baroni: Structural characterization and antioxidant mechanism in vitro

Tongliang Yang et al.Food Chemistry202410.1016/j.foodchem.2024.142049

Ye ChenTianjin University of Science and Technology, China

Hemerocallis citrinaPolysaccharide isolation and purificationUltrasonic-assisted extractionplasma-activated waterstructural characterizationantioxidant mechanismAntioxidant activity
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#4 of 5,369
2418m citations

Regional irrigation expansion can support climate-resilient crop production in post-invasion Ukraine

Lorenzo Rosa et al.Nature Food202410.1038/s43016-024-01017-7

Lorenzo RosaCarnegie Institution for Science, United States

regional irrigation expansionclimate-resilient crop productionpost-invasion Ukraineagricultural water managementclimate adaptation strategiesFood securitydrought mitigationYield stabilityirrigation infrastructureConflict-affected agriculture
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#5 of 5,369
2118m citations

War threatens 18 % of protective plantations in eastern agroforestry region of Ukraine

Maksym Matsala et al.Forest Ecology and Management202410.1016/j.foreco.2024.122361

Maksym MatsalaSwedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden

Russian invasion impact on forestsprotective plantationsshelterbeltsagroforestry systemscropland protection functionsatellite remote sensingraster patch analysisforest cover classificationurban forestsravine protectionwater protection plantationsroadside protective plantationsblack earth soilsnative tree species regenerationalien species riskspost-war forest regenerationspatial analysis for planninglocalized damage hotspotseastern Ukraine agroforestry region
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#6 of 5,369
1718m citations

Cordyceps polysaccharide improves polycystic ovary syndrome by inhibiting gut-derived LPS/TLR4 pathway to attenuates insulin resistance

Huiwen Zhang et al.International Journal of Biological Macromolecules202410.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.135844

Suhong Chen, Guiyuan Lv, Jie SuZhejiang Chinese Medical University, China

Cordyceps polysaccharidepolycystic ovary syndromeinsulin resistanceGut microbiotaLPS/TLR4 pathwayTLR4/MyD88/NF-κB inflammatory pathwayHirsutella sinensisgut-derived LPSintestinal barrierhyperandrogenemiaglucose-lipid metabolismGram-negative bacterianorank_f__DesulfovibrionaceaeHelicobacterinsulin signalingovarian polycystic lesionsestrous cycletriple helix structure polysaccharidesystemic inflammation
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#7 of 5,369
1618m citations

Analysis of Formal Concepts for Verification of Pests and Diseases of Crops Using Machine Learning Methods

Jamalbek Tussupov et al.IEEE Access202410.1109/access.2024.3361046

Jamalbek TussupovL. N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Kazakhstan

formal concept analysiscrop pest verificationcrop disease verificationspectral brightness coefficientsmachine learning classificationlogistic regressionExtreme gradient boostingVanilla convolutional neural networksatellite image analysisspectral data analysisearly detection of crop pestsearly detection of crop diseasesagricultural productivity optimizationgrowing season monitoringpest growth phase classificationdisease growth phase classificationautomated agricultural systemsremote sensing for agriculture
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#8 of 5,369
1618m citations

Screening and Evaluation of Salt-Tolerant Wheat Germplasm Based on the Main Morphological Indices at the Germination and Seedling Stages

Yunji Xu et al.Plants202410.3390/plants13223201

Guisheng ZhouYangzhou University, China

salt-tolerant wheat germplasmgermination stageseedling stagehydroponic exposurewater absorption ratedehiscence rategermination rategermination indexplant heightroot lengthstem diameterseedling biomassmultivariate statistical analysiscomprehensive salt tolerance indexsalt stress gradientWheat varietiessalt tolerance breeding
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#9 of 5,369
1618m citations

Humic Substances from Waste-Based Fertilizers for Improved Soil Fertility

Angela Maffia et al.Agronomy202410.3390/agronomy14112657

Adele MuscoloMediterranea University, Italy

humic substancesvermicompostingcompostinganaerobic digestionolive wasteorange wasteHumic acidFulvic acidhumification ratehumification degreeE4/E6 ratioDRIFT spectroscopycation exchange capacityorganic waste valorizationsoil organic carbonmicrobial biodiversityorganic matter stabilizationwaste-based fertilizerssoil quality improvement
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#10 of 5,369
1518m citations

Responsive mechanism of Hemerocallis citrina Baroni to complex saline-alkali stress revealed by photosynthetic characteristics and antioxidant regulation

Shuo Chen et al.Plant Cell Reports202410.1007/s00299-024-03261-4

Yue Wang, Wei LiuNortheast Agricultural University, China

Hemerocallis citrinasaline-alkali stressphotosynthetic characteristicsantioxidant regulationstress response mechanismsalt-alkalinity tolerancephotosynthetic pigmentsgas exchange parameterschlorophyll fluorescencereactive oxygen speciesantioxidant enzymeslipid peroxidationosmotic adjustmention homeostasisphotosystem efficiency
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#11 of 5,369
1518m citations

Traditional uses, phytochemical constituents, pharmacological properties, and quality control of Pseudostellaria heterophylla (Miq.) Pax

Ziwen Lei et al.Journal of Ethnopharmacology202410.1016/j.jep.2024.118871

Jingyuan Wang, Yajun ShiShaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, China

Pseudostellaria heterophyllatraditional usesphytochemical constituentspharmacological propertiesquality controlMiq.) Paxherbal medicinechemical compositionBioactive compoundstherapeutic applications
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#12 of 5,369
1518m citations

Effect of Dietary Concentrate-to-Forage Ratios During the Cold Season on Slaughter Performance, Meat Quality, Rumen Fermentation and Gut Microbiota of Tibetan Sheep

Shijia Wang et al.Animals202410.3390/ani14223305

Zijun ZhangAnhui Agricultural University, China

dietary concentrate-to-forage ratiosTibetan sheepslaughter performancemeat qualityrumen fermentationrumen microbiotafecal microbiotavolatile fatty acidspropionateacetateacetate:propionate ratioButyrivibrioRuminococcusMonoglobusUCG_002Prevotellashear forcecooking lossaverage daily gaincold season feeding
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#13 of 5,369
1418m citations

Impact of dietary Bacillus toyonensis M44 as an antibiotic alternative on growth, blood biochemical properties, immunity, gut microbiota, and meat quality of IR broilers

Unknown AuthorPakistan Veterinary Journal202410.29261/pakvetj/2024.215

Unknown AuthorUnknown Institution, Unknown

Bacillus toyonensis M44antibiotic alternativeBroiler chickensgrowth performanceblood biochemical propertiesimmunityGut microbiotameat qualitydietary supplementationProbioticspoultry production
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#14 of 5,369
1418m citations

Ecological Assessment of Heavy Metal Content in Ukrainian Soils

Gabriel Casella et al.Journal of Ecological Engineering202410.12911/22998993/192669

Yevheniia ButenkoGwen and Jules Knapp Center for Immunology and Lupus Research, United States

heavy metal contaminationmilitary bombardment impactagricultural landaerial bombsbomb cratersX-ray fluorescence analysisbariumzirconiumrubidiumzincvanadiummanganesestrontiumUkrainian soilsSumy regionChernihiv regioncrater slope samplingsoil remediationagrocenosesecosystem impact assessment
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#15 of 5,369
1318m citations

Codon usage characterization and phylogenetic analysis of the mitochondrial genome in Hemerocallis citrina

Kun Zhang, Yiheng Wang et al.BMC Genomic Data202410.1186/s12863-024-01191-4

Kun ZhangShanxi Datong University, China

Hemerocallis citrinacodon usage biasmitochondrial genomeGC contentGC3 contenteffective number of codonsENC-plotneutrality plotParity rule 2 plotnatural selectionmutation pressureoptimal codonsrelative synonymous codon usageprotein coding genesAsparagus officinalisChlorophytum comosumAllium cepaAllium fistulosumA/T-ending codonscompositional constraints
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#16 of 5,369
1318m citations

The pan-plastome of Hemerocallis citrina reveals new insights into the genetic diversity and cultivation history of an economically important food plant

Minlong Jia, Jie Wang et al.BMC Plant Biology202410.1186/s12870-023-04668-z

Minlong Jia, Jie WangShanxi Agricultural University, China

Hemerocallis citrinapan-plastomeplastid genomeGenetic diversityresequencingde novo assemblytetrameric structurelarge single copy (LSC)small single copy (SSC)inverted repeat regionsnucleotide variantsintergenic spacer regionphylogenetic treePopulation structureprincipal component analysis (PCA)genetic clustersgenetic distancegermplasm preservationcultivation history
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#17 of 5,369
1318m citations

Development of an autonomous drone spraying control system based on the coefficient of variation of spray distribution

Pingan Wang et al.Computers and Electronics in Agriculture202410.1016/j.compag.2024.109529

Chun-Gu Lee, Dae-Hyun Lee, Xiongzhe HanKangwon National University, South Korea

autonomous drone sprayingspray distributioncoefficient of variationspraying control systemdrone-based precision agriculturespray uniformityvariable rate applicationUAV sprayerdistribution control algorithmprecision spraying technology
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#18 of 5,369
1318m citations

Estimation of sunflower planted areas in Ukraine during full-scale Russian invasion: Insights from Sentinel-1 SAR data

Abdul Qadir et al.Science of Remote Sensing202410.1016/j.srs.2024.100139

Abdul QadirUniversity of Maryland, United States

Sentinel-1 SAR datasunflower planted area estimationUkraine cropland monitoringRussian invasion impact on agricultureTemporarily occupied territoriessynthetic aperture radarphenological metricsample-based area estimation20-m resolution crop mappinginterannual crop area changeConflict-affected agriculturesunflower production hotspotsremote sensing cropland assessmentEarth observation for food security
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#19 of 5,369
1218m citations

Impact of Cd and Pb on the photosynthetic and antioxidant systems of Hemerocallis citrina Baroni as revealed by physiological and transcriptomic analyses

Boxue Zhang et al.Plant Cell Reports202410.1007/s00299-024-03312-w

Wei Liu, Yongqing YanNortheast Agricultural University, China

CdPbHemerocallis citrinaphotosynthetic systemantioxidant systemPhysiological analysistranscriptomic analysisheavy metal stresscadmium toxicitylead toxicityoxidative stress responsephotosynthesis inhibitiongene expression profilingstress tolerance mechanismsmetal accumulation
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#20 of 5,369
1218m citations

Neuroprotective effects of total phenolics from Hemerocallis citrina Baroni leaves through the PI3K/AKT pathway

Yanjun Jia, Yanping Wang et al.Frontiers in Pharmacology202410.3389/fphar.2024.1370619

Guolin Chai, Fangdi HuLanzhou University, China

Hemerocallis citrinatotal phenolics from H. citrina leaves (HLTP)PI3K/AKT pathwaynetwork pharmacologycorticosterone-induced PC12 cell damage modelquercetinrutinApigeninIsoquercitrinAKT1molecular docking4-O-Caffeoylquinic acidoxidative stressmitochondrial dysfunctionCaspase-3Bcl-2/Bax ratioreactive oxygen species (ROS)mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP)cytochrome C (Cyt-C)neuronal cell protection
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Dominant research themes and year-over-year shifts in Agriculture and Biological Studies

What Topics Define the Class of 2026?

The research landscape is strongly defined by studies on Hemerocallis citrina, which is the most frequently mentioned concept, highlighting a strong interest in this specific crop. Beyond this, a prominent cluster focuses on the geopolitical impacts on agriculture, driven by terms like "Russia-Ukraine conflict", "Conflict-affected agriculture", "Temporarily occupied territories", and the "International wheat trade network". This indicates an acute awareness of global disruptions to food supply chains and agricultural infrastructure. A secondary cluster emphasizes agricultural sustainability and soil health, featuring "Humic acid", "Fulvic acid", "soil fertility restoration", and agricultural adaptation to "Hilly and mountainous areas". Lastly, there is sustained interest in plant biochemistry and its intersection with health, underscored by concepts like "Metabolomics", "Gut microbiota", "Ultrasonic-assisted extraction", and "Polysaccharide isolation and purification".

Leading research themes
Leading research themes

How Did Topics Shift from the Class of 2025 to the Class of 2026?

The transition to the Class of 2026 is marked by an extraordinary surge in research addressing geopolitical disruptions. Concepts such as "Russia-Ukraine conflict", "Conflict-affected agriculture", and "Temporarily occupied territories" saw the most dramatic relative increases, jumping from virtually zero presence to prominent focal points. This reflects a rapid realignment of agricultural research toward crisis management and global trade impacts. Simultaneously, the specific study of Hemerocallis citrina experienced the largest absolute growth, significantly expanding its footprint. There was also a notable new emergence of soil amendment topics, with "Humic acid", "Fulvic acid", and "humic substances" gaining traction alongside research tailored to "Hilly and mountainous areas". This combination points toward an increasing emphasis on resilient and adaptive agricultural practices designed to navigate both environmental constraints and ongoing conflict.

How topics shifted year over year
How topics shifted year over year
Methodology

PRI identifies high-impact research using a transparent, topic-agnostic framework applied consistently across scientific domains. Bibliographic records are drawn from OpenAlex, including publication dates, citation relationships, and document types.

This ranking covers the Class of 2026 cohort: journal articles published in 2024. Reviews and other non-article document types are excluded to ensure comparability.

Research impact is quantified with an 18-month post-publication citation window—the number of citing works published within 18 months of each paper's publication date. This metric captures early impact while controlling for publication age.

An LLM-based relevance classifier then reviews each candidate's title and abstract to confirm substantive alignment with the target domain. Only papers classified as relevant appear in the final ranking.

Zheng Su, Tinsley Li, Thematic Shifts in Early-High-Impact Cancer Genomics and Diagnostics Research: A Bibliometric and Semantic Analysis. bioRxiv 2026.07.04.736459; doi: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.07.04.736459

Full methodologyGitHubbioRxiv preprint

Cite this ranking

Pepkio Research Index (PRI). Topics and Trends in Most Cited Agriculture and Biological Studies Papers, Class of 2026. https://pri.pepkio.com/top-papers/agriculture-and-biological-studies/2026. Accessed 2026-10-24.

Methodology
Zheng Su, Tinsley Li, Thematic Shifts in Early-High-Impact Cancer Genomics and Diagnostics Research: A Bibliometric and Semantic Analysis. bioRxiv 2026.07.04.736459; doi: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.07.04.736459