Citation Rankings
Highly Cited Researchers
South Africa Highly Cited Researchers CitationAgriculture & Forestry / Plant Science in South Africa Rankings 2025
The Citation Rankings (Highly Cited Researchers) highlight the most cited and influential researchers across a vast range of scientific fields, covering 197 main and sub-disciplines, including the Art and Humanities Citation Rankings and Social Sciences and Humanities Citation Rankings. This service, offered exclusively by AD Scientific Index, aims to provide a balanced perspective by excluding data from CERN and other statistical sources that disproportionately favor certain researchers, particularly in the social sciences and humanities. This unique approach addresses the advantages researchers with multi-author publications and CERN involvement hold over others. Furthermore, citation rankings help uncover rule violations and unethical practices within the research community. For more detailed citation analyses, explore the Scientists Last 6 Years Citation Index, Universities Total Citations Rankings 2025, and Universities Last 6 Years Citations Rankings 2025.
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :26
Plant Ecophysiology
Climate Change
Grass Ecology and Evolution
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
3,460
1,874
0.542
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :27
Plant-Microbe Interactions
Environmental Microbiology
Molecular Biology
Food Security
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
3,363
3,318
0.987
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :28
Plant hormone physiology
Biotechnology
Crop-based agriculture
plant breeding and agronomy
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
3,238
1,681
0.519
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :29
Taxonomy
systematics
invasive plants
barcoding
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
3,237
1,943
0.600
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :30
Plant Systematics
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
3,068
844
0.275
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :31
plant systematics
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
3,009
1,102
0.366
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :32
Molecular Plant Pathology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,922
1,604
0.549
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :33
Plant Cell Walls
Grapevine
Plant Desiccation Tolerance
Polyphenols
Wine
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,811
1,601
0.570
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :34
Plant Pathology
molecular biology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,774
1,224
0.441
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :35
molecular plant pathology
plant genomics
fungal genetics
maize disease
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,599
974
0.375
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :36
Plant Protection and Horticultural Sciences
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,514
1,258
0.500
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :37
Pest-plant inteactions and plant physiology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,471
1,251
0.506
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :38
Plant physiology and ecology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,424
583
0.241
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :39
Virology
Plant Biotechnology
Geminiviruses
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,420
993
0.410
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :40
Agriculture
Plant Pathology
Microbiology
Crop Protection
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,371
1,488
0.628
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :41
Plant breeding
molecular breeding
disease resistance
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,334
1,910
0.818
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :42
Plant Science
Somatic embryogenesis
Transcription factors
Epigenetics in Somatic embryogenesis
Secondary metabolite
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,325
1,961
0.843
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :43
Seed Science
seed vigour
seed pathology
seed treatments
plant pathology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,314
1,043
0.451
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :44
agriculture
plants and plant symbionts
genomics
bioinformatics
molecular biology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,277
861
0.378
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :45
Horticultural Sciences: Herbal beverages
medicinal
aromatic
vegetable and fruit sciences
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,267
1,600
0.706
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :46
Plant Biotechnology
plant propagation
plant physiology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,254
662
0.294
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :47
Plant-pathogen interactions
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,183
1,670
0.765
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :48
Vegetation ecology
Fire ecology
Invasive plant biology
Conservation management
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,160
1,324
0.613
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :49
Plant-insect relationships
biological control
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,960
928
0.473
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :50
Ecology
urban ecology
plants
ecosystem services
plant functional traits
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,931
1,210
0.627
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
285,698
1,272
29
Ranking Based On Selection: 26
Brad Ripley
Rhodes University
Grahamstown, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
3,460
1,874
0.542
Plant Ecophysiology
Climate Change
Grass Ecology and Evolution
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
292,728
1,309
63
Ranking Based On Selection: 27
Oluwaseyi Samuel Olanrewaju
North West University
Potchefstroom, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
3,363
3,318
0.987
Plant-Microbe Interactions
Environmental Microbiology
Molecular Biology
Food Security
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
302,367
1,376
4
Ranking Based On Selection: 28
Michael Bairu
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
3,238
1,681
0.519
Plant hormone physiology
Biotechnology
Crop-based agriculture
plant breeding and agronomy
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
302,446
1,377
43
Ranking Based On Selection: 29
James Stephen Boatwright
University of the Western Cape
Bellville, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
3,237
1,943
0.600
Taxonomy
systematics
invasive plants
barcoding
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
316,275
1,448
123
Ranking Based On Selection: 30
Benny Bytebier
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
3,068
844
0.275
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
321,411
1,478
303
Ranking Based On Selection: 31
Peter Bruyns
University of Cape Town
Cape Town, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
3,009
1,102
0.366
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
329,173
1,511
151
Ranking Based On Selection: 32
Lucy N. Moleleki (Thokoane)
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,922
1,604
0.549
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
339,648
1,572
198
Ranking Based On Selection: 33
John P Moore
Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,811
1,601
0.570
Plant Cell Walls
Grapevine
Plant Desiccation Tolerance
Polyphenols
Wine
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
343,350
1,588
203
Ranking Based On Selection: 34
A. Mcleod
Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,774
1,224
0.441
Plant Pathology
molecular biology
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
361,767
1,689
169
Ranking Based On Selection: 35
Dave K. Berger
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,599
974
0.375
molecular plant pathology
plant genomics
fungal genetics
maize disease
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
371,171
1,741
9
Ranking Based On Selection: 36
PW Mashela
University of Limpopo
Mankweng, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,514
1,258
0.500
Plant Protection and Horticultural Sciences
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
376,135
1,772
10
Ranking Based On Selection: 37
Phatu Mashela
University of Limpopo
Mankweng, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,471
1,251
0.506
Pest-plant inteactions and plant physiology
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
381,720
1,807
10
Ranking Based On Selection: 38
Charles Musil
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,424
583
0.241
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
382,184
1,810
345
Ranking Based On Selection: 39
Dionne Shepherd (Miles)
University of Cape Town
Cape Town, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,420
993
0.410
Virology
Plant Biotechnology
Geminiviruses
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
388,245
1,839
184
Ranking Based On Selection: 40
Jacquie Van Der Waals
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,371
1,488
0.628
Agriculture
Plant Pathology
Microbiology
Crop Protection
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
392,783
1,870
161
Ranking Based On Selection: 41
Julia Sibiya
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,334
1,910
0.818
Plant breeding
molecular breeding
disease resistance
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
393,932
1,878
162
Ranking Based On Selection: 42
Vijay Kumar
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,325
1,961
0.843
Plant Science
Somatic embryogenesis
Transcription factors
Epigenetics in Somatic embryogenesis
Secondary metabolite
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
395,416
1,888
189
Ranking Based On Selection: 43
Tas (Terry) Aveling
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,314
1,043
0.451
Seed Science
seed vigour
seed pathology
seed treatments
plant pathology
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
400,232
1,914
59
Ranking Based On Selection: 44
Uljana Hesse
University of the Western Cape
Bellville, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,277
861
0.378
agriculture
plants and plant symbionts
genomics
bioinformatics
molecular biology
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
401,379
1,923
167
Ranking Based On Selection: 45
Fhatuwani N. Mudau
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,267
1,600
0.706
Horticultural Sciences: Herbal beverages
medicinal
aromatic
vegetable and fruit sciences
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
403,147
1,926
168
Ranking Based On Selection: 46
MP Watt
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,254
662
0.294
Plant Biotechnology
plant propagation
plant physiology
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
412,717
1,977
198
Ranking Based On Selection: 47
Sanushka Naidoo
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,183
1,670
0.765
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
415,912
1,995
14
Ranking Based On Selection: 48
Tineke Kraaij
Nelson Mandela University
Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,160
1,324
0.613
Vegetation ecology
Fire ecology
Invasive plant biology
Conservation management
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
446,400
2,173
11
Ranking Based On Selection: 49
Costas Zachariades
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,960
928
0.473
Plant-insect relationships
biological control
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
451,180
2,197
395
Ranking Based On Selection: 50
Pippin Ml Anderson
University of Cape Town
Cape Town, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
1,931
1,210
0.627
Ecology
urban ecology
plants
ecosystem services
plant functional traits