Work

Rhizosheath Research at the Root–Soil–Microbiome Interface: A Bibliometric and Thematic Analysis of Stress Adaptation and Crop Resilience

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: The rhizosheath is a dynamic plant–soil interface in which root traits, microbial activity, and soil physical properties jointly regulate plant adaptation to drought and nutrient limitation. Despite the growing interest in this field, it remains conceptually fragmented. This study mapped the development, structure, and emerging directions of rhizosheath research, with particular attention to plant–soil–microbiome interactions and stress responses. Bibliometric and science-mapping analyses were performed on 136 publications (2015–2026) retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection. Using the Bibliometrix framework, we examined publication dynamics, collaboration networks, citation patterns, keyword co-occurrence, and thematic structures. The dataset comprised 136 publications, 6,366 citations, and 723 authors, with 54.41% international co-authorship. Logistic modeling identified a growth inflection in 2022.54 and a projected saturation of nearly 160% publications. Document coupling resolved nine clusters dominated by soil–root interface processes (n = 51; 1,358 citations) and plant–microbe interactions (n = 18; 895 citations). Thematic analysis positioned soil and rhizosheath as central domains and identified water stress as a key motor theme, whereas mucilage, hydraulic functioning, and microbiome assembly emerged as recent trends. Rhizosheath research is transitioning from descriptive characterization to integrative, mechanistic perspectives linking root traits, soil processes, and microbial dynamics. Progress will depend on resolving genotype × soil × microbiome interactions and advancing field-based cross-scale phenotyping to support climate-resilient cropping systems.

Source: Agriculture

DOI: 10.3390/agriculture16181953