From taxonomy to biotechnology: A bibliometric review of global Amorphophallus research in the context of tropical bioresources (1912–2025)

¹ Science Education Program, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education Lambung Mangkurat University, Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, 70124, Indonesia
² Biology Education Program, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education Lambung Mangkurat University, Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, 70124, Indonesia
³ Study Programme of Agricultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Padjadjaran, Bandung, West Java, 45363, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: wida.salupi@ulm.ac.id

Abstract

The genus Amorphophallus, belonging to the family Araceae, is an important component of tropical bioresources. Over the past century, and especially within the last decade, Amorphophallus has attracted increasing scholarly attention because of its considerable ecological, economic, and biotechnological potential. This study aimed to assess global research productivity on Amorphophallus using a bibliometric approach, drawing on data retrieved from the Scopus database covering the period from 1912 to 2024. Bibliometric mapping and analysis were conducted using VOSviewer and Biblioshiny. The results revealed that Amorphophallus is significant in terms of taxonomy and ecology and holds substantial promise across multiple applied domains. These include sustainable agriculture, food security (with its tubers serving as alternative carbohydrate sources), pharmaceuticals (notably due to bioactive compounds such as glucomannan), biotechnology, cosmetics, and bio- based industries. Furthermore, the genus plays a growing role in biodiversity conservation and in support of resource-based economic development, particularly in the context of climate change and tropical land degradation. By providing a comprehensive visualization of the global research landscape on Amorphophallus, this study reconstructs its historical development and identifies emerging trends, while offering strategic insights to guide future research directions and the sustainable utilization of this genus as a valuable tropical bioresource through 2025 and beyond.