# A Zea genus-specific micropeptide controls kernel dehydration in maize

*PRI Rank #16 · Topics and Trends in Most Cited Plant Molecular Biology Research Papers, Class of 2026*

*Canonical URL: https://pri.pepkio.com/top-papers/plant-molecular-biology-research/2026/rank-16*

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Rank | #16 |
| 18m citations | 49 |
| Journal | Cell |
| Year | 2024 |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.cell.2024.10.030 |
| Corresponding authors | Junjun Yan, Jiali Yan, Jianbing Yan |
| Institution | Huazhong Agricultural University, China |

**Ranking page:** [Topics and Trends in Most Cited Plant Molecular Biology Research Papers, Class of 2026](https://pri.pepkio.com/top-papers/plant-molecular-biology-research/2026)

**Paper link:** [10.1016/j.cell.2024.10.030](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2024.10.030)

## Topics

kernel dehydration rate · qKDR1 · quantitative trait locus · qKDR1 REGULATED PEPTIDE GENE · RPG · microRPG1 · micropeptide · ZmETHYLENE-INSENSITIVE3-like 1 · ZmETHYLENE-INSENSITIVE3-like 3 · Ethylene signaling · Zea genus-specific · de novo gene origination · non-coding sequence · kernel filling · mechanized harvesting · gene expression modulation · knockout · Overexpression · exogenous application · cross-species validation

## Cite this ranking

```
Pepkio Research Index (PRI). Topics and Trends in Most Cited Plant Molecular Biology Research Papers, Class of 2026. https://pri.pepkio.com/top-papers/plant-molecular-biology-research/2026. Accessed 2026-07-23.

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
```