Global drought tolerant maize research and development: Analysis and visualization of cutting-edge scientific technologies

This study explores bibliometric analysis of advanced breeding tools for drought-tolerant maize, focusing on transgenic, marker-assisted selection (MAS), high-throughput phenotyping (HTPP), and genome editing. The research underlines the growing importance of these tools in developing drought-tolerant maize varieties to address climate change issues. The methodology involves identifying countries significant in advanced breeding research, analyzing common terms in publications, and examining networking where authors share their work. The dataset from Scopus was divided into two categories: a unified query and segmented queries, categorizing documents into four specific themes: transgenic, MAS, HTPP, and genome editing. A careful filtering process removed duplicates and irrelevant documents, ensuring dataset accuracy and relevance. Results reveal varying emphasis on different advanced breeding tools, with transgenic techniques leading at 51.30 %, followed by MAS at 19.87 %, HTPP at 19.74 %, and genome editing at 9.04 %. Co-occurrence analysis highlights distinct associations for each tool: transgenic techniques are linked to specific gene modifications, transcriptional regulation, and genetic transformation; MAS is linked to quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping, molecular markers, and Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR); HTPP is linked to remote sensing, multi/hyperspectral, crop phenology, and phenotypic traits; and genome editing is associated with CRISPR-Cas9 and complex trait loci. Integrating cutting-edge breeding tools such as HTPP and genome editing/CRISPR-Cas9 indicates a shift toward improving breeding efficiency and accuracy. Future research aims to refine precision editing techniques and promote transparent communication for ethical deployment. Collaborative efforts among research institutions and regulatory bodies for establishing standardized protocols and addressing safety, ethical, and environmental concerns, advancing the development of drought-tolerant maize varieties, and fortifying global food security amidst climate change.