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Plant Science Today (PST)

Review Articles

Vol. 13 No. sp5 (2026): Recent Advances in Agriculture

Trends and advancements in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) breeding: A bibliometric review

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.14286
Submitted
28 February 2026
Published
30-09-2026

Abstract

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is one of the most important vegetable crops in the world and faces several challenges in global agriculture, such as climate change, pest outbreaks and sustainable production. The species’ narrow genetic base further constrains breeding efforts, making the development of stable and resilient cultivars particularly difficult. These challenges underscore the importance of evaluating ongoing research progress in cucumber breeding. In the present study, a bibliometric analysis was conducted to evaluate the publication process and trend of the cucumber breeding technologies. A total of 166 papers between 2015 and 2024 were retrieved from the Scopus database and, analysed using Bibliometrix R, Biblioshiny and VOS viewer. The results revealed a steady growth in annual publications, which peaked in 2024. China contributed most, in terms of the number and citations of publications. Frontiers in Plant Science was the most productive journal and study of CRISPR-associated protein 9 (CRISPR/Cas9) had the highest number of citations. Networks of collaboration between authors and countries, helped find focused research clusters. Thematic analysis showed that the major subjects of research are molecular breeding, quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping, transcriptomic profiling, disease resistance and gene expression. This bibliography analysis provides a quantitative reference for future cucumber breeding research prospects, research hotspots and the pattern of cooperation.

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