Article Retraction & Withdrawal Policy

Plant Science Horizons (PSH) is committed to preserving the integrity, transparency, reliability, and accuracy of the scholarly record through ethical handling of corrections, withdrawals, and retractions.

Plant Science Horizons recognizes that, in certain circumstances, it may become necessary to correct, withdraw, or retract published or submitted work.

All editorial actions are conducted according to internationally recognized publication ethics standards and guided by principles of transparency, fairness, accountability, and academic integrity.

Definitions

Withdrawal

Removal of a manuscript before formal publication, usually during submission, review, or production stages.

Retraction

Formal removal or correction of a published article when findings are unreliable or serious ethical concerns exist.

Correction / Erratum

Notice issued to correct minor errors that do not invalidate the overall scientific conclusions.

Expression of Concern

Notice published when serious concerns exist but sufficient evidence for retraction is not yet available.

Grounds for Article Withdrawal (Pre-Publication)

A manuscript may be withdrawn before publication under the following circumstances:

Author-requested withdrawal during early review stages

Duplicate submission to another journal

Significant scientific errors identified

Ethical concerns during editorial review

Extended failure to respond to editorial communication

Authors requesting withdrawal must submit a formal written explanation. The editorial office reserves the right to approve or deny withdrawal requests.

Grounds for Retraction (Post-Publication)

A published article may be retracted if:

Data fabrication or falsification is identified

Plagiarism or redundant publication is detected

Findings become scientifically unreliable

Unethical research practices are confirmed

Serious authorship disputes affect publication validity

Undisclosed conflicts of interest compromise integrity

Retraction is considered a serious editorial action and is undertaken only after careful evaluation and investigation.

Retraction Procedure

1. Initial Assessment

The editorial team evaluates the reported concern or allegation.

2. Author Communication

Authors are contacted and provided an opportunity to respond or clarify.

3. Evidence Review

Relevant documentation, reviewer reports, and supporting evidence are examined.

4. Expert Consultation

Editors may consult editorial board members or independent experts when required.

5. Final Decision

A final editorial decision is made based on available evidence and ethical standards.

Retraction Notice

If a retraction is issued:

A formal retraction notice will be published

The reason for retraction will be clearly stated

The notice will remain linked to the original article

The article will remain accessible but clearly marked “Retracted”

Corrections & Errata

Minor issues that do not invalidate conclusions may be corrected through an erratum or correction notice.

Typographical errors
Author name corrections
Minor figure or data adjustments
Clarification of statements

Expression of Concern

The journal may publish an expression of concern while investigations are ongoing or inconclusive.

Concerns have been raised
Investigation is ongoing
Further action may follow

Author & Editorial Responsibilities

Author Responsibilities

Report discovered errors promptly
Cooperate fully during investigations
Provide accurate information when requested

Editorial Responsibilities

Investigate misconduct allegations
Maintain confidentiality during review
Ensure fair and evidence-based decisions
Correct the scholarly record when necessary

Handling Research Misconduct

Suspected misconduct is handled according to recognized publication ethics guidelines.

Manuscript rejection

Publication of corrections or retractions

Notification of institutions or funding bodies

Transparency & Record Integrity

Public documentation of corrections
Clear linkage between notices and articles
Transparent scholarly record maintenance

Appeals

Authors may appeal editorial decisions related to withdrawal or retraction by submitting a detailed explanation with supporting evidence.

Commitment to Ethical Publishing

Plant Science Horizons is committed to preserving the integrity of scientific publishing through responsible, transparent, fair, and ethically grounded management of corrections, withdrawals, and retractions.