Cassava (<i>Manihot esculenta</i> Crantz): Evolution and Perspectives in Genetic Studies

• Published in: Agronomy
• Main Authors: Vinicius Campos Silva, Gustavo Reis de Brito, Wellington Ferreira do Nascimento, Eduardo Alano Vieira, Felipe Machado Navaes, Marcos Vinícius Bohrer Monteiro Siqueira
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2025-08-01
• Subjects: genomics; infometrics; molecular markers; scientific mapping; roots and tubers
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/8/1897

Cassava (<i>Manihot esculenta</i> Crantz) is essential for global food security, especially in tropical regions. As an important genetic resource, its genetics plays a key role in crop breeding, enabling the development of more productive and pest- and disease-resistant varieties. Scientometrics, which quantitatively analyzes the production and impact of scientific research, is crucial for understanding trends in cassava genetics. This study aimed to apply bibliometric methods to conduct a scientific mapping analysis based on yearly publication trends, paper classification, author productivity, journal impact factor, keywords occurrences, and omic approaches to investigate the application of genetics to the species from 1960 to 2022. From the quantitative data analyzed, 3246 articles were retrieved from the Web of Science platform, of which 654 met the inclusion criteria. A significant increase in scientific production was observed from 1993, peaking in 2018. The first article focused on genetics was published in 1969. Among the most relevant journals, <i>Euphytica</i> stood out with 36 articles, followed by <i>Genetics and Molecular Research</i> (n = 30) and <i>Frontiers in Plant Science</i> (n = 25). Brazil leads in the number of papers on cassava genetics (n = 143), followed by China (n = 110) and the United States (n = 75). The analysis of major methodologies (n = 185) reveals a diversified panorama during the study period. Morpho-agronomic descriptors persisted from 1978 to 2022; however, microsatellite markers were the most widely used, with 102 records. Genomics was addressed in 87 articles, and transcriptomics in 65. By clarifying the current landscape, this study supports cassava conservation and breeding, assists in public policy formulation, and guides future research in the field.