Space-time analysis of scientific research on Brosimum alicastrum Swartz

Abstract

Brosimum alicastrum is a forest species of broad natural distribution in southeastern Mexico, with high potential for animal and human diets, although with incipient forest management. The objective of this study was to analyze the spatial-temporal evolution of basic and applied research where B. alicastrum was the object of study; through a bibliometric analysis of the texts available in the main editorial houses; to identify research areas that are not developed. In 308 texts found from 1883 to 2020, spatial-temporal evolution showed an exponential growth that concentrated the highest productivity from 2002 to 2020 (222 texts) in countries of the Americas. For the case of Mexico, it was found that the research was focused the southeast, which coincides with the natural distribution of the species. However, this research had a low impact (measured by the number of bibliographic citations) as a result of the publication in journals edited in Spanish, while impact journals are led by English-speaking countries, in English. Therefore, the research about B. alicastrum in Latin America has a broad margin of improvement through the publication of texts in English and in journals of greater impact, through the development of research areas that have been slightly explored such as silviculture of the species with special emphasis on its propagation, management in nursery, and forest plantations, which can contribute to food security in each country by ensuring the prime material of an emerging food agro-industry.