Bibliometric analysis of global research on seed vigor: evolution, collaboration gaps, and emerging hotspots

Underpinning crop yield and quality, seed vigor is an essential agronomic characteristic, especially given the substantial obstacles to crop production brought on by climate change. Although extensively studied, a systematic bibliometric analysis of this field – mapping its knowledge structure and research trends – has been lacking. In this paper, a bibliometric analysis of seed vigor studies was conducted, and the data were visualized using VOSviewer. The findings showed a marked increase in research output and citations, with China, Brazil, and the United States ranking as the most prolific countries. Notably, the field currently lacks dominant research groups and large-scale collaborative efforts. Furthermore, thanks to the keyword evolution map, potential future study focuses were revealed on: (1) seed aging (natural and artificial); (2) abiotic stresses; and (3) seed priming, particularly nanoparticle-based approaches. Finally, the current knowledge gaps and the suggested future actions are discussed. By offering a fundamental viewpoint to future research on seed vigor, this study can be used as a brick to attract jade.