Topics and Trends in Most Cited Nematode management and characterization studies Papers

Ranked by citations 18 months after publication

Class of 2026 (Papers Published in 2024)

What topics and trends defined most-cited Nematode management and characterization studies research in the Class of 2026?

Nematode management research is shifting from chemical controls and symptom assessment toward biological control and soil food web resilience. Key 2024 trends highlight Meloidogyne incognita suppression, microbial consortia, and pine wilt disease management, while direct gall formation studies decline as broader agroecosystem and molecular signaling approaches expand.

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Updated July 22, 2026

At a glance

Field
Nematode management and characterization studies
Cohort label
Class of 2026 (2024 publications)
Papers analyzed
3,432
Papers ranked
20
Top topics in ranked papers
Root-knot nematode, biological control, soil food web, pine wilt disease, Meloidogyne incognita
Publication window
Jan 1, 2024 – Dec 31, 2024
Eligibility
Research articles; reviews excluded
Citation window
18 months post-publication
18m citation range
16–123
Data source
OpenAlex · Retrieved Jul 2026
License
CC BY 4.0

Rankings

20 papers ranked by 18-month citation count

#1 of 3,432
12318m citations

Nutrient-induced acidification modulates soil biodiversity-function relationships

Zhengkun Hu et al.Nature Communications202410.1038/s41467-024-47323-3

Manqiang LiuNanjing Agricultural University, China

nutrient enrichmentsoil aciditySoil biodiversityecosystem multifunctionalitybiodiversity-function relationshipsNitrogen additionphosphorus additionbacterial diversityfungal diversityNematode diversitymicrobivorous nematodesSoil food webtrophic cascadescarbon cyclingnutrient cycling13-year field experimentspecies dominanceecosystem stability
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#2 of 3,432
3718m citations

Phylogenomic Insights into the Evolution and Origin of Nematoda

Xue Qing et al.Systematic Biology202410.1093/sysbio/syae073

Hongmei LiNanjing Agricultural University, China

Nematoda phylogenomicsEnopliaDorylaimidaMononchidaMonhysteridaChromadoridaTriplonchidaEnoplidastomatostyletAphelenchoideaTrichinellaTrichurisThorniaDorylaiminaNygolaiminawhole genome amplificationlow-coverage genome sequencingmolecular datingparaphylyDevonian-Permian transition
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#4 of 3,432
3318m citations

Biomass-Based, Dual Enzyme-Responsive Nanopesticides: Eco-friendly and Efficient Control of Pine Wood Nematode Disease

Yingjian Ma et al.ACS Nano202410.1021/acsnano.4c02031

Rui Zhao, Yong Xu, Xuemin WuChina Agricultural University, China

Pine wilt diseaseBursaphelenchus xylophilusMonochamus alternatusJapanese pine sawyerdual enzyme-responsive nanopesticidesAVM@EC@Pectinabamectinethyl cellulosepectincell wall-degrading enzymescontrolled pesticide releaseintegrated pest managementphotostability enhancementbidirectional transportationtarget penetrationnontarget organism safetybiomass-based nanocarriersLC50 toxicitytrunk injection applicationgreen nanopesticide design
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#5 of 3,432
3018m citations

Rhizosphere Engineering of Biocontrol Agents Enriches Soil Microbial Diversity and Effectively Controls Root-Knot Nematodes

K Vinothini et al.Microbial Ecology202410.1007/s00248-024-02435-7

S. Nakkeeran, R. Z. Sayyed, Andrea MastinuTamil Nadu Agricultural University, India

Root-knot nematodeBacillus velezensis VB7Trichoderma koningiopsis TKrhizosphere engineeringBiological controltomato rhizosphereamplicon sequencingmetagenomic analysisProteobacteriaFirmicutesActinobacteriamicrobial diversitybacterial communitiesNematicidal activitycombined biocontrol applicationsoil microbiome interactions
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#6 of 3,432
2618m citations

Cover crop rotation suppresses root‐knot nematode infection by shaping soil microbiota

Hualiang Zhang, Dongsheng Guo, Yuting Lei et al.New Phytologist202410.1111/nph.20220

Lingfei HuZhejiang University, China

cover crop rotationRoot-knot nematoderyegrassSoil microbiomeDisease suppressionbeneficial bacterianematode infectivityplant immunityOsLRR-RLKMAPK signalingWRKY transcription factorsJasmonate signalingroot exudatesbacterial enrichmentrice nematode diseasePlant-nematode interactionnematode preferencegrain crop rotationsmicrobiota-mediated suppression
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#7 of 3,432
2218m citations

Linking nematode trophic diversity to plantation identity and soil nutrient cycling

Chengwei Tu et al.Geoderma202410.1016/j.geoderma.2024.116945

Xueyong PangChinese Academy of Sciences, China

nematode trophic diversityforest plantationsLarix gmeliniiPinus tabuliformisCercidiphyllum japonicumconiferous plantationsbroadleaved plantationssoil nutrient cyclingnematode species diversityMicrobial biomassherbivorous nematodesOmnivorous-predatory nematodeslitter qualitymoisture limitationsorganic matter cyclingnitrogen cyclingphosphorus cyclingnematode functional traitsSoil food webresource availability
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#9 of 3,432
2218m citations

The origin, deployment, and evolution of a plant-parasitic nematode effectorome

Beth Molloy et al.PLoS Pathogens202410.1371/journal.ppat.1012395

B. P. J. Molloy, Dio S. Shin, J. D. Long, Clément Pellegrin, Beatrice Senatori, Paulo Vieira, Peter Thorpe, Anika Damm, Mariam Ahmad, Kerry Vermeulen, Lida Derevnina, Siyuan Wei, Alexis L. Sperling, Estefany Reyes Estévez, Samuel Bruty, Victor Hugo Moura de Souza, Olaf Prosper Kranse, Tom Maier, Thomas J. Baum, Sebastian Eves‐van den AkkerUniversity of Cambridge, United Kingdom

Plant-parasitic nematodeeffectorspharyngeal gland cellsHeterodera schachtiicyst nematodegland cell isolationeffectoromeImmunosuppressionfeeding organ establishmenteffector gene locigland cell expressioneffector deploymenteffector evolutionnematode parasitismtranscriptomic analysislife-stage analysisnematode pathology
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#10 of 3,432
2118m citations

Protective role of native root-associated bacterial consortium against root-knot nematode infection in susceptible plants

Shikai La, Jiafan Li et al.Nature Communications202410.1038/s41467-024-51073-7

Lihong Gao, Yongqiang TianChina Agricultural University, China

Root-knot nematodeMeloidogyne incognitaroot-associated microbescucumberbacterial diversitynematode-antagonistic activitymicrobial consortiadirect inhibition of infectionanti-nematode substancesplant defense responsesMicrobial assemblystrain richnessnematode life cycleplant susceptibilityBiological control
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#11 of 3,432
2118m citations

Impact of sequential and concurrent inoculations of Meloidogyne incognita and Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. vasinfectum on the growth performance of diverse okra cultivars

Ijaz Yaseen et al.Plant Protection202410.33804/pp.008.02.5186

Ijaz YaseenSunchon National University, South Korea

Meloidogyne incognitaFusarium oxysporumRoot-knot nematodeokra cultivarssequential inoculationconcurrent inoculationArka AnamikaIrka-1Irka-2Pusa SwamiGreen Starshoot length reductionroot length reductionshoot weightroot weightpathogen interactiondisease complexcultivar resistance
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#12 of 3,432
2018m citations

Phytophagy impacts the quality and quantity of plant carbon resources acquired by mutualistic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

C A Bell et al.Nature Communications202410.1038/s41467-024-45026-3

Christopher BellUniversity of Leeds, United Kingdom

arbuscular mycorrhizal fungiSolanum tuberosum cv. DésiréeGlobodera pallidacarbon allocationphotosynthateshexosesplant-derived fatty acidsfatty acid biosynthesis pathwaysmycorrhizal-induced hexose transporterstranscriptomic analysisMedicago truncatulaMyzus persicaeplant-fungal mutualismphytophagous parasitesresource allocation prioritizationtripartite interactionssymbiont competition
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#13 of 3,432
1918m citations

Redundancy in microbiota-mediated suppression of the soybean cyst nematode

Muzammil Hussain et al.Microbiome202410.1186/s40168-024-01840-x

Xingzhong Liu, Meichun XiangChinese Academy of Sciences, China

Soybean cyst nematodedisease-suppressive soilscrop monocultureBacteroidetesChitinophaga spp.Dyadobacter sp.cyst colonizationEgg hatching inhibitionchitinase activitySecond-stage juveniles (J2)plant defense gene expressionsoil transplantationmicrobial antagonismmicrobiota homeostasisbacterial community analysisdirect suppressionindirect suppressionvirulence modulationobligate parasitism
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#14 of 3,432
1918m citations

Green Carbon Dots/CaCO<sub>3</sub>/Abamectin Colloidal Pesticide Formulation for Safer and More Effective Pest Management

Chuang Chen et al.ACS Nano202410.1021/acsnano.4c12707

Zhengyan Wu, Jia ZhangUniversity of Science and Technology of China, China

green carbon dotscalcium carbonateabamectincolloidal pesticide formulationpest managementnanopesticidecarbon nanomaterialspesticide delivery systemagricultural nanotechnologypesticide efficacy enhancementpesticide safety
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#15 of 3,432
1818m citations

Utilizing bio-synthesis of nanomaterials as biological agents for controlling soil-borne diseases in pepper plants: root-knot nematodes and root rot fungus

Rehab Y Ghareeb et al.BMC Plant Biology202410.1186/s12870-024-04760-y

Rehab Y. GhareebCity of Scientific Research and Technological Applications, Egypt

Trichoderma longibrachiatumzinc nanoparticlesbiosynthesisMeloidogyne incognitaFusarium oxysporumRoot-knot nematoderoot rot fungusNematicidal activityfungicidal activitysweet peppersoil drench applicationSecond-stage juveniles (J2)Disease suppressionGall formationegg mass suppressionreal-time PCRDD-PCRplant growth promotionsoil-borne disease management
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#16 of 3,432
1818m citations

Utilizing endophytic plant growth-promoting bacteria and the nematophagous fungus Purpureocillium lilacinum as biocontrol agents against the root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) on tomato plants

Abdelhadi Ali et al.European Journal of Plant Pathology202410.1007/s10658-024-02907-z

Khaled A. El‐Tarabily, Synan F. AbuQamarZagazig University, Egypt

Purpureocillium lilacinumPseudomonas fluorescensSerratia marcescensMeloidogyne incognitaRoot-knot nematodeendophytic bacterianematophagous fungiBiological controltomato plantsSecond-stage juveniles (J2)Nematicidal activitycell-free culture filtratesEgg hatching inhibitiongall size reductionreproduction factorplant growth promotiongreenhouse conditionseconomic thresholdegg masses per rootnematode population density
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#17 of 3,432
1818m citations

Differential responses of Meloidogyne spp. to Pasteuria isolates over crop cycles

Muhammad Shahid et al.Plant Protection202410.33804/pp.008.02.5192

Muhammad ShahidAyub Agricultural Research Institute, Pakistan

Meloidogyne spp.Pasteuria isolatescrop cyclesnematode-bacteria interactiondifferential responsesBiological controlhost specificityendospore attachmentRoot-knot nematodebacterial parasitetemporal dynamicsfield populationsinfectivity variationmulti-cycle evaluationparasitism rates
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#18 of 3,432
1718m citations

Continuous cropping obstacles: Insights from the community composition and the imbalance carbon fluxes within soil nematode food web

Xiao Wang et al.Geoderma202410.1016/j.geoderma.2024.117060

Xiaoke ZhangChinese Academy of Sciences, China

continuous croppingNematode food webcarbon fluxpeanut croppingmicrobivorous nematodesPlant-parasitic nematodesoil aciditysoil organic carbontotal nitrogenNematode diversitytrophic channelscarbon flux uniformitymultitrophic carbon flux complementaritycrop productivity declinePearson correlation analysisRandom Forest modelnutrient cyclingagroecosystemSoil biotaresource transfers
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#19 of 3,432
1618m citations

Soil enzyme profile analysis for indicating decomposer micro‐food web

Wen Xing et al.iMeta202410.1002/imt2.161

Qingwen Zhang, Yilai LouHezhou University, China

soil enzyme profile analysisdecomposer micro-food webexoenzymesenzyme profile indicesenzymatic C:N stoichiometrydecomposability indexShannon diversity indexC-degrading hydrolaseexoenzyme networkmicro-food web networkssoil multifunctionalitymicrobiota community diversityenzymic channel indexdecomposition channel indicesabandoned cropland restorationsubstrate availabilitynetwork complexitynematodes
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#20 of 3,432
1618m citations

Protorhabditis nematodes and pathogen-antagonistic bacteria interactively promote plant health

Xu Xu et al.Microbiome202410.1186/s40168-024-01947-1

Chengyuan Tao, Rong LiNanjing Agricultural University, China

ProtorhabditisRalstonia solanacearumbacterial wiltpathogen-antagonistic bacteriaBacillusbacterivorous nematodesbio-organic fertilizationSoil microbiomeNematode community structureselective predationmultitrophic interactionstomato plantsDisease suppressionfertilization regimesmicrobial food webs
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Dominant research themes and year-over-year shifts in Nematode management and characterization studies

What Topics Define the Class of 2026?

Research in nematode management and characterization is heavily centered on sustainable agricultural protection and ecological soil dynamics. The dominant topic in the 2024 cohort is the management of root-knot nematodes, led by Meloidogyne incognita (present in 27.6% and 17.2% of analyzed papers, respectively). Environmentally friendly intervention strategies form a primary pillar, with biological control (20.7%) and plant growth promotion (10.3%) emerging as core management paradigms alongside microbial consortia and egg hatching inhibition techniques. In parallel, attention has expanded toward soil food web structure (13.8%) and agroecosystem health (10.3%), emphasizing how nematode communities interface with soil organic carbon, nutrient cycling, and native microbial diversity. Beyond agricultural crops, forestry research focuses on Bursaphelenchus xylophilus and pine wilt disease (10.3% each), utilizing dual-action nanopesticides and bio-protective treatments. Methodologically, studies increasingly leverage transcriptomic analysis, cell wall-degrading enzymes, and MAPK signaling pathways to decipher host-parasite effector interactions. Together, these trends demonstrate a shift from conventional chemical nematicides toward holistic, microbial, and molecularly targeted nematode management.

Leading research themes
Leading research themes

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

Comparing the 2023 and 2024 publication cohorts reveals a distinct transition from descriptive symptom characterization toward ecosystem-level intervention and bio-based pest suppression. The most pronounced expansion occurred in soil food web dynamics (+13.8 percentage points; entering 4 top papers in 2024) and agroecosystem analysis (+10.3 percentage points), signaling heightened interest in soil community resilience and trophic interactions. Biological control strategies also surged, driven by rising interest in microbial consortia (+6.9 percentage points), plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (+6.9 percentage points), and real-time PCR diagnostics (+6.9 percentage points). Research on specific life stages and host mechanisms gained momentum as second-stage juveniles (J2) targeting and cell wall-degrading enzymes both grew by +6.9 percentage points, alongside pine wilt disease research (+6.9 percentage points). Conversely, studies focusing strictly on symptom-based gall formation declined (-6.9 percentage points; falling from 4 to 2 papers), while generic root-knot nematode reporting eased slightly (-3.4 percentage points). Overall, the field is evolving from reactive damage assessment to proactive, microbiome-mediated soil health management.

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 Nematode management and characterization studies Papers, Class of 2026. https://pri.pepkio.com/top-papers/nematode-management-and-characterization-studies/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