Editorial Policies

Plant Science Horizons is committed to maintaining high standards of publication ethics, editorial integrity, transparency, and scientific quality.

Peer Review Policy

All manuscripts submitted to Plant Science Horizons undergo editorial screening followed by a double-blind peer review process. Submissions are assessed for originality, scientific validity, clarity, relevance, and contribution to plant science.

Initial screening by the editorial office
Double-blind review by qualified experts
Editorial decision based on reviewer reports
Final acceptance after satisfactory revision

Publication Ethics

PSH follows recognized standards of scholarly publishing and expects authors, reviewers, and editors to act with honesty, fairness, and responsibility throughout the publication process.

Submitted work must be original and unpublished
Plagiarism, fabrication, and falsification are prohibited
Proper citation and acknowledgment are required
Conflicts of interest must be disclosed

Open Access Policy

Plant Science Horizons provides immediate open access to published articles to support global knowledge sharing, academic visibility, and wider dissemination of plant science research.

Published articles are freely available online
No subscription is required for readers
Authors retain copyright of their work
Content may be shared with proper attribution

Copyright & Licensing

Authors retain copyright while granting PSH the right of first publication. Authors are responsible for obtaining permission for any copyrighted material included in their manuscripts.

Proper attribution to authors and journal is required
Reuse must follow the journal’s licensing terms
Permission is required for third-party material

Authorship Criteria

Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made substantial intellectual contributions to the conception, design, execution, analysis, or interpretation of the study. All listed authors must approve the final manuscript before submission.

Guest authorship, honorary authorship, and ghost authorship are considered unethical and are not permitted by Plant Science Horizons.

Data Availability & Reproducibility

Authors are encouraged to provide access to research data, protocols, materials, and supporting information whenever possible. Transparent reporting improves reproducibility and strengthens confidence in published findings.

Conflict of Interest

Authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any financial, institutional, personal, or professional relationships that may influence manuscript evaluation and publication decisions.

Corrections & Retractions

PSH is committed to preserving the integrity of the scholarly record. Corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions may be issued when errors, ethical concerns, or unreliable findings are identified after publication.

Artificial Intelligence Policy

The use of artificial intelligence tools in manuscript preparation must be clearly disclosed. AI tools cannot be listed as authors because they cannot take responsibility for the accuracy, integrity, and originality of the work.

Editorial Independence

Editorial decisions are made independently and are based on scientific merit, originality, methodological quality, clarity, and relevance to the journal’s scope.

Archiving Policy

Plant Science Horizons aims to ensure long-term digital preservation and accessibility of published content through secure online systems, indexing platforms, and archival services whenever applicable.