Publication Ethics

Editorial Policies & Ethical Publishing

Plant Science Horizons is committed to maintaining the highest standards of editorial integrity, transparency, and ethical publishing. The journal adheres to internationally recognized guidelines for scholarly publishing and expects all participants—authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher—to uphold principles of honesty, accountability, and academic rigor.

1. Editorial Independence and Decision-Making

Editorial decisions are made solely on the basis of the scientific merit, originality, clarity, and relevance of the manuscript to the journal’s scope. These decisions are independent of any commercial, institutional, or personal influences.

The Editor-in-Chief holds full responsibility for all final publication decisions and may consult associate editors and reviewers where appropriate. Decisions are made in accordance with the journal’s policies and applicable legal and ethical standards.

2. Peer Review Integrity

The journal operates a double-blind peer review system, ensuring that both authors and reviewers remain anonymous throughout the evaluation process.

Editors are responsible for:

  • selecting qualified and unbiased reviewers
  • ensuring fair, objective, and timely review
  • maintaining confidentiality throughout the process

Reviewers are expected to provide constructive, evidence-based, and impartial evaluations. Any conflicts of interest must be disclosed immediately.

3. Ethical Standards in Publishing

All manuscripts must comply with recognized standards of ethical research and publication.

Authors must:

  • submit original, unpublished work
  • avoid plagiarism, duplication, and data manipulation
  • properly acknowledge all sources
  • disclose conflicts of interest
  • ensure accurate reporting of methods and results

Unacceptable practices include:

  • plagiarism and self-plagiarism
  • data fabrication or falsification
  • inappropriate image manipulation
  • duplicate or simultaneous submission

Cases of misconduct will be handled in accordance with accepted ethical guidelines, and may result in rejection, correction, or retraction.

4. Conflicts of Interest

All participants in the publication process must disclose any financial, institutional, or personal relationships that could influence their work.

  • Authors must declare conflicts in the manuscript
  • Reviewers must decline assignments where conflicts exist
  • Editors must recuse themselves from decisions where impartiality may be compromised

5. Confidentiality

Editors, reviewers, and editorial staff must treat all submitted manuscripts as confidential documents.

  • Information from manuscripts must not be shared or used for personal advantage
  • Reviewer identities remain confidential under the double-blind system
  • Unpublished data may not be used without author consent

6. Handling of Misconduct

The journal takes allegations of misconduct seriously. Reports of unethical behavior may be submitted by any individual with supporting evidence.

The editorial team will:

  • investigate allegations confidentially
  • allow authors to respond
  • follow established procedures for resolution

If misconduct is confirmed, actions may include:

  • rejection of the manuscript
  • publication of corrections or retractions
  • notification of authors’ institutions or funders

7. Corrections, Retractions, and Expressions of Concern

To maintain the integrity of the scholarly record:

  • Corrections will be issued for minor errors
  • Retractions will be published in cases of serious ethical violations or unreliable data
  • Expressions of concern may be issued during ongoing investigations

Retracted articles will remain accessible but clearly marked as retracted.

8. Data Integrity and Transparency

Authors are expected to:

  • present data accurately and transparently
  • retain original data where possible
  • provide data upon reasonable request

The journal encourages data sharing to support reproducibility and scientific advancement.

9. Human and Animal Research Ethics

Research involving humans or animals must comply with relevant ethical standards.

Authors must:

  • obtain appropriate ethical approvals
  • include statements confirming compliance
  • ensure informed consent where applicable

Submissions that fail to meet ethical standards may be rejected.

10. Intellectual Property and Copyright

Authors retain copyright of their work while granting the publisher a license to publish and distribute the article.

All articles are published under a Creative Commons license, ensuring accessibility while protecting author rights.

11. Commitment to Ethical Publishing

Plant Science Horizons is dedicated to safeguarding the integrity of scientific publishing through:

  • rigorous peer review
  • transparent editorial processes
  • adherence to ethical guidelines
  • continuous improvement of publication standards

All stakeholders are expected to act responsibly and contribute to maintaining trust in the scholarly record.

12. Alignment with International Standards

The journal follows the recommendations and best practices of:

  • Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE)
  • International standards for scholarly publishing
  • Responsible research and publication guidelines