Scientific evolution and translational horizons of plant core germplasm: a global bibliometric synthesis and...

The increasing volume of global plant germplasm resources has led to the complexity of plant germplasm resource management. Plant core germplasm collections demonstrate significant potential in improving the efficiency of germplasm resource management, promoting crop improvement, and maintaining biodiversity.

This study conducted a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of 2,303 Chinese and English publications (2004-2024) sourced from the Web of Science (WoS) and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), offering an integrated bilingual perspective on global research patterns and evolution.

Results show sustained growth in the field, with China and the United States as the leading contributors and collaborative hubs. The research trajectory progressed through three distinct phases-foundational, consolidation, and predictive-driven by advances from phenotypic evaluation to high-throughput genomics and genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Keyword evolution reveals a clear paradigm shift from descriptive, phenotype-based management toward allele-driven, predictive breeding platforms. Persistent challenges include data fragmentation, limited sharing, and a strong taxonomic bias toward major cereal crops. Looking forward, we propose the integration of artificial intelligence to establish biodigital resource centers and the development of functionally designed core collections tailored to specific plant groups. These strategies will enhance precision breeding and support sustainable agriculture and global food security.