Author Guidelines

1. Introduction

Plant Science Horizons is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal dedicated to publishing high-quality research across all areas of plant science, including molecular biology, physiology, genetics, biotechnology, crop science, and sustainable agriculture. The journal aims to provide a platform for the dissemination of scientifically rigorous and innovative research that contributes to both fundamental understanding and practical applications in plant science.

Authors submitting to this journal are expected to ensure that their manuscripts meet the highest standards of scientific quality, originality, clarity, and ethical compliance. Submissions should present well-designed studies, clearly articulated hypotheses, reproducible methodologies, and robust data analysis.

All manuscripts must be written in professional academic English. Poorly written or unclear manuscripts may be returned without review. Authors whose first language is not English are strongly advised to use professional editing services prior to submission.

2. Types of Manuscripts

2.1 Original Research Articles

Original research articles are the primary form of contribution and must present novel scientific findings that significantly advance current knowledge. These manuscripts should not merely confirm existing knowledge but must demonstrate clear innovation or new insights.

The study must include:

  • a clearly defined research objective or hypothesis
  • a well-structured experimental design
  • appropriate controls and replication
  • rigorous statistical analysis
  • transparent and reproducible methodology

The results must be presented objectively, and conclusions must be supported by data. Authors should also discuss the broader scientific significance of their findings and potential applications.

2.2 Review Articles

Review articles should provide a comprehensive, critical, and analytical synthesis of existing literature on a specific topic. These manuscripts must go beyond summarizing studies and should:

  • evaluate trends and developments
  • identify knowledge gaps
  • assess methodological strengths and weaknesses
  • propose future research directions

Reviews should prioritize recent literature but may include foundational studies where necessary. The structure should be logical and clearly organized to guide readers through complex topics.

2.3 Short Communications

Short communications are intended for the rapid publication of important preliminary findings or innovative methods. These articles must still present scientifically valid results, even if the scope is limited.

Authors should ensure that:

  • the findings are novel and significant
  • the methodology is sound
  • conclusions are clearly supported

These articles are shorter but must maintain the same scientific standards as full research papers.

2.4 Perspectives and Opinions

Perspective and opinion articles provide expert insights into emerging scientific issues, debates, or future directions in plant science. These contributions should:

  • be grounded in scientific evidence
  • present balanced and logical arguments
  • avoid speculation without support
  • contribute to academic discussion

These articles are particularly valuable for highlighting emerging trends and interdisciplinary topics.

2.5 Commentaries

Commentaries are concise articles that critically discuss recently published work or topical issues in plant science. They should not include an abstract and must remain focused and analytical.

They should:

  • provide clear arguments
  • highlight strengths and limitations
  • offer new interpretations or viewpoints

2.6 Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor are brief communications that may address specific issues, critique published articles, or present short observations. These are subject to editorial evaluation and must maintain scientific relevance and clarity.

3. Submission Requirements

All manuscripts must be submitted through the journal’s online submission system. Authors are responsible for ensuring that all required files and information are included at the time of submission.

Manuscript File

The main manuscript must be anonymized for double-blind review and should contain:

  • title
  • abstract
  • keywords
  • full text
  • references
  • tables and figure captions

Author names and affiliations must not appear in this file.

Title Page

The title page must be submitted separately and must include:

  • full title of the manuscript
  • full names of all authors
  • institutional affiliations
  • corresponding author details
  • email addresses
  • ORCID iDs (recommended)

Cover Letter

The cover letter is mandatory and must:

  • confirm the originality of the manuscript
  • confirm that it is not under consideration elsewhere
  • confirm approval by all authors
  • briefly explain the importance and novelty of the study

Authors may optionally suggest reviewers, but these must not have conflicts of interest.

4. Manuscript Structure

Title

The title must be precise and informative, clearly reflecting the core findings of the study. It should avoid abbreviations, unnecessary words, and overly technical jargon.

Abstract

The abstract must provide a concise but complete summary of the study. It should include:

  • background context
  • objectives
  • methodology
  • key findings
  • main conclusions

It must be written as a single paragraph and should not contain citations.

Keywords

Keywords should accurately represent the subject of the manuscript. Authors should select terms that improve discoverability and indexing. Avoid repeating words already used in the title.

Main Text

Introduction

The introduction should provide sufficient background information to allow readers to understand the context of the study. It should clearly identify the research gap and state the objectives or hypotheses.

Materials and Methods

This section must describe the experimental design, materials, procedures, and analytical methods in sufficient detail to allow replication. Statistical methods must be clearly explained, including software used.

Results

Results should be presented clearly and objectively, using tables and figures where appropriate. This section should not include interpretation or discussion.

Discussion

The discussion should interpret the results in the context of existing literature. Authors should explain the significance of their findings, highlight limitations, and suggest future research directions.

Conclusion

The conclusion should summarize the key findings and their implications without repeating detailed results.

5. Formatting Requirements

Manuscripts must follow consistent formatting to ensure readability and efficient review. Authors must use standard fonts, maintain consistent spacing, and ensure proper alignment.

All scientific terms should be used consistently, and abbreviations must be defined at first use.

6. Figures and Tables

Figures and tables must be of high quality and clearly presented. Figures should not be manipulated in a misleading way. Any adjustments must not alter the scientific meaning.

Tables should be structured clearly and should not duplicate information already presented in the text.

7. Reference Style

Plant Science Horizons requires all references to be formatted according to the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) citation style. This numeric referencing system uses sequential numbering in the order in which sources are cited in the text.

In-text citation:

Each reference is assigned a number in square brackets (e.g., [1], [2], [3]) and must correspond to the full reference listed at the end of the manuscript.

The IEEE style ensures clarity, consistency, and ease of reading, particularly in technical and scientific disciplines.

Authors are responsible for ensuring the accuracy of their references.

Note: We recommend preparing the references with a bibliography software package, such as EndNote, Reference Manager or Zotero to avoid typing mistakes and duplicated references.

8. Ethical Requirements

Authors must ensure that their research adheres to the highest ethical standards. Any study involving humans or animals must include ethical approval statements.

All data must be reported honestly, and any manipulation of results is strictly prohibited.

9. Plagiarism Policy

All manuscripts are screened using plagiarism detection software. Manuscripts exceeding acceptable similarity thresholds will be rejected or returned for revision.

10. Data Availability

Authors are encouraged to share their data to support reproducibility. Data availability statements should clearly indicate where and how data can be accessed.

11. Funding and Conflict of Interest

All funding sources must be disclosed. Authors must also declare any conflicts of interest that could influence their work.

12. Submission Process

Authors must submit manuscripts through the online system and ensure that all required information is correctly entered.

13. Peer Review Process

All manuscripts undergo a double-blind peer review process involving at least two independent reviewers. The process is designed to ensure objectivity, fairness, and scientific rigor.

14. Revision Process

Authors must respond to reviewer comments carefully and provide detailed explanations of revisions made.

15. Acceptance and Publication

Accepted manuscripts undergo production and proofreading before final publication. Authors are responsible for checking proofs carefully.

16. Article Processing Charges

The journal may charge publication fees. Details are provided on the journal website.

17. Copyright and Licensing

Authors retain copyright, and articles are published under a Creative Commons license.

18. Self-Archiving

Authors may deposit their work in repositories and academic platforms, provided proper citation is included.

19. Disclaimer

The journal and publisher are not responsible for the opinions expressed by authors.