# Topics and Trends in Most Cited Agriculture and Biological Studies Papers, Class of 2026

*Canonical URL: https://pri.pepkio.com/top-papers/agriculture-and-biological-studies/2026*

## 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.

## At a glance

| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| 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

| Rank | Title | Authors | Corresponding authors | Affiliation | Journal | 18m citations | DOI |
| ---: | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---: | --- |
| 1 | Glutathione S-transferase: A versatile and dynamic enzyme | Chinyere Aloke, Olalekan Olugbenga Onisuru, Ikechukwu Achilonu | Chinyere Aloke | University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa | Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications | 48 | 10.1016/j.bbrc.2024.150774 |
| 2 | Weed management challenges in modern agriculture: The role of environmental factors and fertilization strategies | Sachin Kumar, Shabnam Kumari, S.S. Rana, Ranbir Singh Rana, Tauseef Anwar, Huma Qureshi, Muneera A. Saleh, Khalid H. Alamer, Houneïda Attia, Sezai Ercisli, Saltanat Aghayeva | Sachin Kumar, Tauseef Anwar | SGT University, India | Crop Protection | 26 | 10.1016/j.cropro.2024.106903 |
| 3 | Ultrasonic-assisted plasma-activated water extraction of polysaccharide from Hemerocallis citrina Baroni: Structural characterization and antioxidant mechanism in vitro | Tongliang Yang, Han Zhang, Yaqing Bian, Zihan Qu, Yifu Zhang, Shuhong Li, Guiyun Chen, Ye Chen | Ye Chen | Tianjin University of Science and Technology, China | Food Chemistry | 26 | 10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.142049 |
| 4 | Regional irrigation expansion can support climate-resilient crop production in post-invasion Ukraine | Lorenzo Rosa, Silvan Ragettli, Ranu Sinha, Olga Zhovtonog, Winston Yu, Poolad Karimi | Lorenzo Rosa | Carnegie Institution for Science, United States | Nature Food | 24 | 10.1038/s43016-024-01017-7 |
| 5 | War threatens 18 % of protective plantations in eastern agroforestry region of Ukraine | Maksym Matsala, Andrii Odruzhenko, S. H. Sydorenko, Svitlana Sydorenko | Maksym Matsala | Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden | Forest Ecology and Management | 21 | 10.1016/j.foreco.2024.122361 |
| 6 | Cordyceps polysaccharide improves polycystic ovary syndrome by inhibiting gut-derived LPS/TLR4 pathway to attenuates insulin resistance | Huiwen Zhang, Ziwen He, Yigong Chen, Jingtong Chao, Xiamei Cheng, Jiayin Mao, Yulan Chen, Bo Li, Jingjing Yu, Meiqiu Yan, Suhong Chen, Guiyuan Lv, Jie Su | Suhong Chen, Guiyuan Lv, Jie Su | Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, China | International Journal of Biological Macromolecules | 17 | 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.135844 |
| 7 | Analysis of Formal Concepts for Verification of Pests and Diseases of Crops Using Machine Learning Methods | Jamalbek Tussupov, Moldir Yessenova, Gulzira Abdikerimova, Aidyn Aimbetov, Kazbek Baktybekov, Gulden Murzabekova, Ulzada Aitimova | Jamalbek Tussupov | L. N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Kazakhstan | IEEE Access | 16 | 10.1109/access.2024.3361046 |
| 8 | Screening and Evaluation of Salt-Tolerant Wheat Germplasm Based on the Main Morphological Indices at the Germination and Seedling Stages | Yunji Xu, Xuelian Weng, Liqiu Jiang, Yu Huang, Hao Wu, Kangjun Wang, Ke Li, Xiaoqian Guo, Guanglong Zhu, Guisheng Zhou | Guisheng Zhou | Yangzhou University, China | Plants | 16 | 10.3390/plants13223201 |
| 9 | Humic Substances from Waste-Based Fertilizers for Improved Soil Fertility | Angela Maffia, Federica Marra, Francesco Canino, Santo Battaglia, Carmelo Mallamaci, Mariateresa Oliva, Adele Muscolo | Adele Muscolo | Mediterranea University, Italy | Agronomy | 16 | 10.3390/agronomy14112657 |
| 10 | Responsive mechanism of Hemerocallis citrina Baroni to complex saline-alkali stress revealed by photosynthetic characteristics and antioxidant regulation | Shuo Chen, Qiuxue Zhou, Yuwei Feng, Yanjun Dong, Zixuan Zhang, Yue Wang, Wei Liu | Yue Wang, Wei Liu | Northeast Agricultural University, China | Plant Cell Reports | 15 | 10.1007/s00299-024-03261-4 |
| 11 | Traditional uses, phytochemical constituents, pharmacological properties, and quality control of Pseudostellaria heterophylla (Miq.) Pax | Ziwen Lei, Fei Luan, Junbo Zou, Xiaofei Zhang, Bingtao Zhai, Bao Xin, Jing Sun, Dongyan Guo, Jingyuan Wang, Yajun Shi | Jingyuan Wang, Yajun Shi | Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, China | Journal of Ethnopharmacology | 15 | 10.1016/j.jep.2024.118871 |
| 12 | 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, Wenhui Tang, Ting Jiang, Ru Wang, Ruoxi Zhang, Jingyu Ou, Qiangjun Wang, Xiao Cheng, Chunhuan Ren, Jiahong Chen, Yafeng Huang, Zijun Zhang | Zijun Zhang | Anhui Agricultural University, China | Animals | 15 | 10.3390/ani14223305 |
| 13 | 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 Author | Unknown Author | Unknown Institution, Unknown | Pakistan Veterinary Journal | 14 | 10.29261/pakvetj/2024.215 |
| 14 | Ecological Assessment of Heavy Metal Content in Ukrainian Soils | Gabriel Casella, Madeleine S Torcasso, Junting Ai, Thao P Cao, Satoshi Hara, Michael S Andrade, Deepjyoti Ghosh, Daming Shao, Anthony Chang, Kichul Ko, Anita S Chong, Maryellen L Giger, Marcus R Clark | Yevheniia Butenko | Gwen and Jules Knapp Center for Immunology and Lupus Research, United States | Journal of Ecological Engineering | 14 | 10.12911/22998993/192669 |
| 15 | Codon usage characterization and phylogenetic analysis of the mitochondrial genome in Hemerocallis citrina | Kun Zhang, Yiheng Wang, Yue Zhang, Xiaofei Shan | Kun Zhang | Shanxi Datong University, China | BMC Genomic Data | 13 | 10.1186/s12863-024-01191-4 |
| 16 | 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, Dongmei Cao, Congrong Jiang, Wei Li, Luke R Tembrock, Guoming Xing, Sen Li, Zhiqiang Wu | Minlong Jia, Jie Wang | Shanxi Agricultural University, China | BMC Plant Biology | 13 | 10.1186/s12870-023-04668-z |
| 17 | Development of an autonomous drone spraying control system based on the coefficient of variation of spray distribution | Pingan Wang, Adhitya Saiful Hanif, Seung-Hwa Yu, Chun-Gu Lee, Chun-Gu Lee, Yeong Ho Kang, Dae-Hyun Lee, Xiongzhe Han | Chun-Gu Lee, Dae-Hyun Lee, Xiongzhe Han | Kangwon National University, South Korea | Computers and Electronics in Agriculture | 13 | 10.1016/j.compag.2024.109529 |
| 18 | Estimation of sunflower planted areas in Ukraine during full-scale Russian invasion: Insights from Sentinel-1 SAR data | Abdul Qadir, Sergii Skakun, Inbal Becker‐Reshef, Nataliia Kussul, Андрій Шелестов | Abdul Qadir | University of Maryland, United States | Science of Remote Sensing | 13 | 10.1016/j.srs.2024.100139 |
| 19 | Impact of Cd and Pb on the photosynthetic and antioxidant systems of Hemerocallis citrina Baroni as revealed by physiological and transcriptomic analyses | Boxue Zhang, Zebin Li, Yuwei Feng, Sunara Qaharaduqin, Wei Liu, Yongqing Yan | Wei Liu, Yongqing Yan | Northeast Agricultural University, China | Plant Cell Reports | 12 | 10.1007/s00299-024-03312-w |
| 20 | Neuroprotective effects of total phenolics from Hemerocallis citrina Baroni leaves through the PI3K/AKT pathway | Yanjun Jia, Yanping Wang, Zixia Wang, Zeyu Zhang, Ju Zhang, Jingjing Zhang, Ke Sun, Yongchen Hua, Guolin Chai, Fangdi Hu | Guolin Chai, Fangdi Hu | Lanzhou University, China | Frontiers in Pharmacology | 12 | 10.3389/fphar.2024.1370619 |

## Topic trends

### 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*

### 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*

## 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 2026-10-29.

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
```