Abstract:

This study conducts a comprehensive analysis of the research context of Cyperus esculentus (tigernut) in China to identify current research hotspots and future development trends. Based on literature retrieved from the CNKI and Web of Science core databases, 1223 relevant publications from 2005 to March 2025 were collected and analyzed using bibliometric and visualization methods. The results demonstrate that: (1) both Chinese and English publications showed fluctuating growth patterns, with academic articles being the predominant form; Chinese publications surpassed English ones in 2022, exceeding 70 articles. (2) Domestic research primarily focuses on industrial upgrading, emphasizing characteristic analysis and processing technology innovation, while international research centers on health demands and ecological agriculture, particularly developing tuber-based functional foods (e.g., meal replacements), cultivating stress-resistant varieties, and investigating metabolic disease interventions. (3) While both the United States and China show high research output, China's academic influence lags behind that of the U.S. and Spain. China's National Key R&D Program and National Natural Science Foundation are among the top funding sources globally, and Henan University of Technology has established notable influence in this field. (4) Institutional collaboration network analysis reveals that domestic research forms isolated region-centric clusters, whereas international research exhibits extensively connected global networks, and only a few Chinese institutions successfully integrated. Comparative analysis of authorship networks shows that English publications feature multi-centric, international collaboration patterns, while Chinese publications demonstrate mono-centric, localized core-periphery structures. (5) Chinese research is transitioning from quantitative expansion to quality improvement, requiring strengthened basic theoretical research, enhanced technological innovation efficiency, and breakthroughs in core areas such as functional component mechanisms and intelligent processing technologies. With China's economic development driving increased demand for oil crops and growing health consciousness, Cyperus esculentus is expected to become an important research focus and emerging trend in energy and food sectors.

Key words: Cyperus esculentus, bibliometric analysis, research hotspots, future prospects, CiteSpace, VOSviewer, knowledge mapping