# Topics and Trends in Most Cited Fungal Biology and Applications Papers, Class of 2026

*Canonical URL: https://pri.pepkio.com/top-papers/fungal-biology-and-applications/2026*

## What topics and trends defined most-cited Fungal Biology and Applications research in the Class of 2026?

The Class of 2026 is defined by expanding research in arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis and medicinal mushroom polysaccharides. Plant growth promotion and mycorrhizal colonization surged as major growth drivers, while generic antioxidant activity screening contracted sharply in favor of targeted immunomodulatory and structural bioactivity mechanisms.

## At a glance

| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Field | Fungal Biology and Applications |
| Cohort label | Class of 2026 (2024 publications) |
| Papers analyzed | 5,662 |
| Papers ranked | 20 |
| Top topics in ranked papers | Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, mycorrhizal colonization, mushroom polysaccharides, plant growth promotion, immunomodulation |
| Publication window | Jan 1, 2024 – Dec 31, 2024 |
| Eligibility | Research articles; reviews excluded |
| Citation window | 18 months post-publication |
| 18m citation range | 31–146 |
| Data source | OpenAlex · Retrieved Jul 2026 |
| License | CC BY 4.0 |

## Rankings

| Rank | Title | Authors | Corresponding authors | Affiliation | Journal | 18m citations | DOI |
| ---: | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---: | --- |
| 1 | Cross-kingdom nutrient exchange in the plant–arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus–bacterium continuum | Shilong Duan, Gu Feng, Erik Limpens, Paola Bonfante, Xianan Xie, Lin Zhang | Paola Bonfante, Xianan Xie, Lin Zhang | China Agricultural University, China | Nature Reviews Microbiology | 146 | 10.1038/s41579-024-01073-7 |
| 2 | Fungal bioremediation approaches for the removal of toxic pollutants: Mechanistic understanding for biorefinery applications | Bala Krishnan Navina, Nandha Kumar Velmurugan, P Senthil Kumar, Gayathri Rangasamy, Jeyanthi Palanivelu, P Thamarai, A S Vickram, A Saravanan, Awais Shakoor | P. Senthil Kumar | Vel Tech Rangarajan Dr. Sagunthala R&D Institute of Science and Technology, India | Chemosphere | 91 | 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141123 |
| 3 | The enzyme patterns of Ascomycota and Basidiomycota fungi reveal their different functions in soil | L. Manici, F. Caputo, Davide De Sabata, Flavio Fornasier | L. Manici | Council of Agricultural Research and Economics (CREA), Italy | Applied Soil Ecology | 71 | 10.1016/j.apsoil.2024.105323 |
| 4 | A genomic compendium of cultivated human gut fungi characterizes the gut mycobiome and its relevance to common diseases | Qiulong Yan, Shenghui Li, Qingsong Yan, Xiaokui Huo, Chao Wang, Xifan Wang, Yan Sun, Wenyu Zhao, Zhenlong Yu, Yue Zhang, Ruochun Guo, Qingbo Lv, Xin He, Changliang Yao, Zhiming Li, Fang Chen, Qianru Ji, Aiqin Zhang, Hao Jin, Guangyang Wang, Xiaoying Feng, Lei Feng, Fan Wu, Jing Ning, Sa Deng, Yue An, De-An Guo, Francis M Martin, Xiaochi Ma | Chao Wang, De-an Guo, Francis Martin, Xiaochi Ma | Second Affiliated Hospital, China | Cell | 67 | 10.1016/j.cell.2024.04.043 |
| 5 | Mechanisms for plant growth promotion activated by Trichoderma in natural and managed terrestrial ecosystems | Hexon Angel Contreras-Cornejo, Monika Schmoll, Blanca Alicia Esquivel-Ayala, Carlos E González-Esquivel, Victor Rocha-Ramírez, John Larsen | Hexon Ángel Contreras‐Cornejo | Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico | Microbiological Research | 49 | 10.1016/j.micres.2024.127621 |
| 6 | Edible mycelium bioengineered for enhanced nutritional value and sensory appeal using a modular synthetic biology toolkit | Vayu Maini Rekdal, Casper R B van der Luijt, Yan Chen, Ramu Kakumanu, Edward E K Baidoo, Christopher J Petzold, Pablo Cruz-Morales, Jay D Keasling | Jay D. Keasling | University of California, Berkeley, United States | Nature Communications | 47 | 10.1038/s41467-024-46314-8 |
| 7 | A re-evaluation of Diaporthe: refining the boundaries of species and species complexes | Asha J. Dissanayake, Jin-Tao Zhu, Yaya Chen, Sajeewa S. N. Maharachchikumbura, Kevin D. Hyde, Jian‐Kui Liu | Jian‐Kui Liu | University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, China | Fungal Diversity | 47 | 10.1007/s13225-024-00538-7 |
| 8 | Glucan polysaccharides isolated from Lactarius hatsudake Tanaka mushroom: Structural characterization and in vitro bioactivities | Qiao Yang, Song-Lin Chang, Yi-Ming Tian, Wang Li, Jia-Li Ren | Jiali Ren | Central South University of Forestry and Technology, China | Carbohydrate Polymers | 44 | 10.1016/j.carbpol.2024.122171 |
| 9 | Structural characteristics and intestinal flora metabolism mediated immunoregulatory effects of Lactarius deliciosus polysaccharide | Xiaodan Dong, Sujun Sun, Xinkun Wang, Huanjie Yu, Keyao Dai, Jianshuang Jiao, Chune Peng, Haiyu Ji, Lizeng Peng | Chune Peng, Haiyu Ji, Lizeng Peng | Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China | International Journal of Biological Macromolecules | 43 | 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.135063 |
| 10 | Assessing the nutritional quality of Pleurotus ostreatus (oyster mushroom) | Magdalene Eno Effiong, Chidinma Precious Umeokwochi, Israel Sunmola Afolabi, Shalom Nwodo Chinedu | Magdalene Eno Effiong | Covenant University, Nigeria | Frontiers in Nutrition | 42 | 10.3389/fnut.2023.1279208 |
| 11 | Meta‐analysis reveals globally sourced commercial mycorrhizal inoculants fall short | Liz Koziol, Thomas P McKenna, James D Bever | Liz Koziol | University of Kansas, United States | New Phytologist | 42 | 10.1111/nph.20278 |
| 12 | Biological Activities of Ethanol Extracts of Hericium erinaceus Obtained as a Result of Optimization Analysis | Mustafa Sevindik, Ayşenur Gürgen, Vadim Tagirovich Khassanov, Celal Bal | Мustafa Sevindik | Osmaniye Korkut Ata University, Turkey | Foods | 39 | 10.3390/foods13101560 |
| 13 | The gut microbiota‐aromatic hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) axis mediates the anticolitic effect of polyphenol‐rich extracts from <i>Sanghuangporus</i> | Shi Zhong, Yu-Qing Sun, Jin-Xi Huo, Wen-Yi Xu, Ya-Nan Yang, Jun-Bo Yang, Wei-Jie Wu, Yong-Xin Liu, Chong-Ming Wu, You-Gui Li | Yongxin Liu, Chongming Wu, Yougui Li | Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China | iMeta | 38 | 10.1002/imt2.180 |
| 14 | Anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties of polysaccharides in mushrooms | Masashi Mizuno, Ken-Ichiro Minato | Masashi Mizuno | Osaka Aoyama University, Japan | Current Opinion in Biotechnology | 37 | 10.1016/j.copbio.2024.103076 |
| 15 | <i>Ganoderma lucidum</i> Polysaccharide Supplementation Significantly Activates T-Cell-Mediated Antitumor Immunity and Enhances Anti-PD-1 Immunotherapy Efficacy in Colorectal Cancer | Wenshuai Li, Qi Zhou, Bin Lv, Na Li, Xiqing Bian, Lirong Chen, Mingjia Kong, Yuru Shen, Wanwei Zheng, Jun Zhang, Feifei Luo, Zhongguang Luo, Jie Liu, Jian-Lin Wu | Zhongguang Luo, Jie Liu, Jian‐Lin Wu | Macau University of Science and Technology, China | Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry | 37 | 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c08385 |
| 16 | Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide hydrogel accelerates diabetic wound healing by regulating macrophage polarization | Fei Li, Tingting Liu, Xia Liu, Cuiyan Han, Lili Li, Qi Zhang, Xiaoyu Sui | Xiaoyu Sui | Qiqihar Medical University, China | International Journal of Biological Macromolecules | 34 | 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.129682 |
| 17 | Fungal diversity notes 1818–1918: taxonomic and phylogenetic contributions on genera and species of fungi | Ishara S. Manawasinghe, Kevin D. Hyde, Dhanushka N. Wanasinghe, Samantha C. Karunarathna, Sajeewa S. N. Maharachchikumbura, Milan C. Samarakoon, Hermann Voglmayr, Ka-Lai Pang, Michael Chiang, E. B. Gareth Jones, Ramesh K. Saxena, Arun Kumar, Kunhiraman C. Rajeshkumar, Laura Selbmann, Claudia Coleine, Yuwei Hu, A. Martyn Ainsworth, Kare Liimatainen, Tuula Niskanen, Anna B. Ralaiveloarisoa, Elangovan Arumugam, Kezhocuyi Kezo, Malarvizhi Kaliyaperumal, Sugantha Gunaseelan, Asha J. Dissanayake, Abdul Nasir Khalid, Achala J. Gajanayake, Adam Flakus, Alireza Armand, André Aptroot, Andre Rodrigues, Andrei Tsurykau, Ángela López-Villalba, Antônio Roberto Gomes de Farias, Antonio Sánchez, Aristóteles Goés‐Neto, Bruno Tomio Goto, Carlos Alberto Fragoso de Souza, Charuwan Chuaseeharonnachai, Chuan-Gen Lin, Cui-Jin-Yi Li, Cvetomir M. Denchev, Daniel Guerra-Mateo, Danushka S. Tennakoon, De-Ping Wei, Dominik Begerow, Eduardo Alves, Elisandro Ricardo Drechsler‐Santos, Enayra Silva Sousa, Érika Valente de Medeiros, Ewald Langer, Zhang Fa, Francisco Adriano de Souza, Franco Magurno, Gabriel Ginane Barreto, Gabriel Moreno, Gajanan Mane, Genivaldo Alves-Silva, Gladstone Alves da Silva, Guiyang Xia, H. F. Shen, Heng Gui, Indunil C. Senanayake, Janet Jennifer Luangsa-ard, Jia-Wei Liu, Jian‐Kui Liu, Jian Ma, Jieying Lin, José Evando Aguiar Beserra, J. Cano, Josepa Gené, Kuniyil Harikrishnan, Li Lu, Lidiane Alves dos Santos, Lijian Xu, Lorena Tigre Lacerda, Luís Fernando Pascholati Gusmão, Marcela E. S. Cáceres, Marcos Paz Saraiva Câmara, Maria Beatriz Barbosa de Barros-Barreto, Mark S. Calabon, Martin Kukwa, Martin Kemler, Maruzanete Pereira de Melo, Masoomeh Ghobad‐Nejhad, Mei Luo, Mengmeng Ding, Mingkwan Doilom, Monthien Phonemany, Muhammad Usman, Naritsada Thongklang, Nattawut Boonyuen, Nikhil Ashtekar, Nuwan D. Kularathnage, Onden P. Sruthi, Papichaya Kwantong, Parayelil A. Ansil, Pepijn W. Kooij, Qi Zhao, Rafael Ferreira Alfenas | Ishara S. Manawasinghe | Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, China | Fungal Diversity | 32 | 10.1007/s13225-024-00541-y |
| 18 | A secondary mechanism of action for triazole antifungals in Aspergillus fumigatus mediated by hmg1 | Jeffrey M Rybak, Jinhong Xie, Adela Martin-Vicente, Xabier Guruceaga, Harrison I Thorn, Ashley V Nywening, Wenbo Ge, Ana C O Souza, Amol C Shetty, Carrie McCracken, Vincent M Bruno, Josie E Parker, Steven L Kelly, Hannah M Snell, Christina A Cuomo, P David Rogers, Jarrod R Fortwendel | Jarrod R. Fortwendel | St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, United States | Nature Communications | 31 | 10.1038/s41467-024-48029-2 |
| 19 | Visualization and classification of mushroom species with multi-feature fusion of metaheuristics-based convolutional neural network model | Erdal Özbay, Feyza Altunbey Ozbay, Farhad Soleimanian Gharehchopogh | Farhad Soleimanian Gharehchopogh | Firat University, Turkey | Applied Soft Computing | 31 | 10.1016/j.asoc.2024.111936 |
| 20 | Structural characterization of polysaccharide from an edible fungus Dictyophora indusiata and the remodel function of gut microbiota in inflammatory mice | Lin Wang, Zihao Zhang, Zhikun Zeng, Yaqing Lin, Bin Xiong, Baodong Zheng, Yi Zhang, Lei Pan | Lei Pan | Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, China | Carbohydrate Polymers | 31 | 10.1016/j.carbpol.2024.123141 |

## Topic trends

### What Topics Define the Class of 2026?

The Class of 2026 in fungal biology is anchored by two major research fronts: symbiotic mycorrhizal ecosystems and mushroom-derived bioactive compounds. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) dominate the literature, appearing in 20% of top-ranked publications, supported by related investigations into mycorrhizal colonization (10%), plant growth promotion (8%), and soil nutrient cycling (6%). These studies emphasize cross-kingdom nutrient exchange, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus transfer, highlighting the crucial role of fungal-bacterial-plant continua in sustainable agriculture and soil health. Concurrently, applied mycology exhibits high concentration in medicinal mushroom polysaccharides (8%), immunomodulation (8%), and anti-inflammatory bioactivities (6%). Research centered on high-value species like Agaricus bisporus, Pleurotus ostreatus, and Hericium erinaceus underscores structural characterization and monosaccharide profiling to elucidate therapeutic mechanisms against chronic metabolic and inflammatory conditions. Additional clusters address environmental bioremediation, including heavy metal biosorption and industrial pollutant degradation, alongside emerging computational tools such as artificial neural networks and genetic algorithms for species identification and bio-process optimization.

*Leading research themes*

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

Comparing the Class of 2026 to the preceding Class of 2025 reveals a distinct shift from descriptive bioactivity screens toward targeted functional application and agricultural sustainability. The most prominent risers include mushroom polysaccharides (+8% share) and plant growth promotion (+8% share), both jumping from zero representation in 2023 to top-tier frequency in 2024. Mycorrhizal colonization also surged from 4% to 10% (a 2.5-fold increase), alongside new entries in nutrient cycling (6%) and environmental biosorption (4%), reflecting intensified focus on fungal involvement in climate resilience and agro-ecosystem productivity. Conversely, broad antioxidant activity screens experienced the largest contraction, dropping sharply from 12% in 2023 to 4% in 2024 (-8% net share). General gut microbiota modulation also contracted slightly from 8% to 6%, while traditional phylogenetic multigene analyses declined from 6% to 4%. This reallocation of research attention indicates a maturation of the field, as investigators pivot away from initial antioxidant capacity assays to interrogate specific molecular pathways, structural polysaccharide immunomodulation, and symbiotic bio-fertilization mechanisms.

*How topics shifted year over year*

## Cite this ranking

```
Pepkio Research Index (PRI). Topics and Trends in Most Cited Fungal Biology and Applications Papers, Class of 2026. https://pri.pepkio.com/top-papers/fungal-biology-and-applications/2026. Accessed 2026-07-22.

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
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