Research trends and patterns in studies on Brazilian native Bambuseae species recorded in Santa Catarina: a...

The tribe Bambuseae (Poaceae), comprising tropical woody bamboos, displays remarkable diversity in Brazil, particularly within the state of Santa Catarina. Despite their ecological, economic, and cultural relevance, scientific research on native species within this group remains limited. This study aims to analyse the scientific literature addressing native Bambuseae species recorded in Santa Catarina, identifying research trends, knowledge gaps, and priority areas for future inquiry. A bibliometric survey was conducted using SciVerse Scopus, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, SciELO, and PubMed, employing scientific names and synonyms of the target species as search terms. All articles referencing native bamboos from Santa Catarina as primary descriptors and published up to October 2023 were considered. The review encompassed 110 articles published across 78 journals. The number of publications increased markedly from the 2000s onwards, with a predominance of ecological research. Nonetheless, gaps remain, particularly concerning undomesticated taxa and topics such as ethnobotany and applied uses. Current research trends continue to favour ecological investigations, with growing interest in biochemical and nutritional studies. Ultimately, taxonomic, genetic, and propagation-related research is highlighted as essential for overcoming domestication challenges and advancing scientific progress in conservation and sustainable use. Such efforts may contribute meaningfully to biodiversity preservation and socio-economic development.