# Photosynthetic capacity and assimilate transport of the lower canopy influence maize yield under high planting density

*PRI Rank #9 · Topics and Trends in Most Cited Crop Yield and Soil Fertility Papers, Class of 2026*

*Canonical URL: https://pri.pepkio.com/top-papers/crop-yield-and-soil-fertility/2026/rank-9*

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Rank | #9 |
| 18m citations | 48 |
| Journal | PLANT PHYSIOLOGY |
| Year | 2024 |
| DOI | 10.1093/plphys/kiae204 |
| Corresponding authors | Wenbin Zhou |
| Institution | Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China |

**Ranking page:** [Topics and Trends in Most Cited Crop Yield and Soil Fertility Papers, Class of 2026](https://pri.pepkio.com/top-papers/crop-yield-and-soil-fertility/2026)

**Paper link:** [10.1093/plphys/kiae204](https://doi.org/10.1093/plphys/kiae204)

## Topics

Plant density · whole-canopy photosynthesis · lower canopy · Maize · LY66 · MC670 · JK968 · ear development · canopy layer stratification · single-leaf area · canopy transmission · Chlorophyll content · Photosynthetic rate · single-plant biomass accumulation · presilking biomass transfer · Assimilate allocation · glucose and fructose content · sink organ development · kernel number · Plant density

## Cite this ranking

```
Pepkio Research Index (PRI). Topics and Trends in Most Cited Crop Yield and Soil Fertility Papers, Class of 2026. https://pri.pepkio.com/top-papers/crop-yield-and-soil-fertility/2026. Accessed 2026-07-21.

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
```