Citral ( \({\text{C}}_{6}{\text{H}}_{16}\text{O}\) ), a key monoterpene aldehyde found in many plant essential oils, has contributed significantly to advancements in sustainable agriculture. However, its research evolution and future trends in agriculture remain underexplored. This work presents a comprehensive bibliometric overview of citral research from 2014 to September 2024 based on 363 citral-related papers from the Scopus database. It explores publication trends, research hotspots and future directions in agriculture through the analysis of publication outputs, journal rankings, influential research contributions (countries and authors), keyword co-occurrence and paper citations. Publication trends indicated a steady growth and rising interest in citral research, with untapped potential, while China emerged as the key contributor with the highest publication output. The top ten most cited articles and reviews were also analyzed for their field impact. Major research directions included antifungal and herbicidal activities, edible coatings, encapsulation technologies, therapeutic applications, and catalysis. An in-depth review of the agricultural applications of citral is presented, including its mechanisms of action and limitations. The review also highlights remaining research gaps and future opportunities. Finally, the challenges and future directions of citral research were discussed to promote sustainable agricultural practices. This study offers valuable insights for researchers, industry stakeholders and policymakers in advancing citral-related research and its practical applications in agriculture.
