Two Convenient Submission Methods

Choose the submission method that works best for your research workflow. Both options provide secure, efficient manuscript handling with full tracking capabilities.

Article Types We Publish

Advances in Plant Biology welcomes diverse research contributions that advance our understanding of plant systems, agricultural productivity, and sustainable farming practices. Our expert reviewers specialize in evaluating agricultural science research across multiple disciplines.

Pre-Submission Checklist

Ensure your plant biology manuscript is submission-ready by verifying these essential components. A complete submission accelerates the review process and demonstrates your commitment to publication excellence.

Peer Review Timeline

We understand that timely publication is critical for advancing agricultural science. Our streamlined review process ensures your plant biology research reaches the global community quickly while maintaining rigorous quality standards.

Why Agricultural Scientists Choose Us

Submission Requirements

Manuscript Preparation

Your plant biology manuscript should follow standard scientific writing conventions with clear organization and comprehensive methodology descriptions. Agricultural science research requires particular attention to experimental design, statistical analysis, and reproducibility.

• Title: Concise and descriptive, including key terms (crop species, trait studied, methodology)
• Abstract: 250-300 words summarizing objectives, methods, key results, and implications for agricultural practice
• Keywords: 5-8 terms for indexing (include crop names, techniques, traits studied)
• Introduction: Clear research gap, objectives, and significance for plant biology or agricultural systems
• Materials & Methods: Detailed descriptions enabling replication—germplasm sources, experimental design, field conditions, analytical methods
• Results: Logical presentation with appropriate statistical analyses and clear figures/tables
• Discussion: Interpretation in context of existing literature, limitations, and practical implications
• Conclusions: Key findings and their significance for agricultural science advancement
• References: Vancouver or APA style, emphasizing recent agricultural science literature

Figures and Tables

High-quality visual presentation is essential for communicating complex plant biology data. We accept various formats optimized for both digital and print publication.

• Figures: TIFF, EPS, or high-resolution JPEG (300 DPI minimum)
• Graphs: Vector formats preferred (EPS, PDF) for scalability
• Photographs: TIFF format, RGB color mode, 300 DPI
• Tables: Editable format (Word or Excel), clear headers, appropriate statistical notation
• Captions: Descriptive and self-explanatory, defining all abbreviations
• Color figures: Accepted at no additional charge for online publication

Supplementary Materials

We encourage submission of supplementary data that supports your main findings but is too extensive for the main manuscript. This is particularly valuable for agricultural science research with large datasets.

• Additional figures, tables, or detailed protocols
• Raw data files (CSV, Excel) for transparency and reuse
• Video demonstrations of field techniques or laboratory methods
• Genetic sequences or genomic data (link to public repositories)
• Extended statistical analyses or model outputs
• Supplementary materials undergo peer review alongside the main manuscript

Editorial Process

Initial Screening

Upon submission, your manuscript undergoes initial screening by our editorial team within 3 days. We assess scope alignment with Advances in Plant Biology, technical completeness, and adherence to submission guidelines. Manuscripts clearly outside our scope or with major formatting issues are returned immediately with guidance.

Plagiarism Check

All submissions are screened using iThenticate plagiarism detection software. We maintain strict standards: manuscripts with similarity index above 30% (excluding references and methods) are returned for revision before peer review. This protects the integrity of agricultural science literature and ensures your work is original.

Editor Assignment

Manuscripts passing initial screening are assigned to an Associate Editor with expertise matching your research area. For crop genetics studies, you'll work with a geneticist; for soil science research, a soil specialist. This ensures your work is evaluated by someone who truly understands your field's methodologies and significance.

Peer Review

We employ single-blind peer review by at least two independent experts in agricultural science. Reviewers are selected based on their publication record, expertise in your specific topic, and absence of conflicts of interest. They evaluate:

• Scientific rigor and methodological soundness
• Novelty and significance for plant biology or agricultural practice
• Clarity of presentation and logical flow
• Appropriateness of statistical analyses
• Adequacy of experimental design and controls
• Validity of conclusions based on presented data

Editorial Decision

Based on reviewer recommendations, the Associate Editor makes one of four decisions:

• Accept: Manuscript accepted with minor editorial corrections only
• Minor Revisions: Small changes required, typically completed within 2 weeks
• Major Revisions: Substantial improvements needed, re-review by original reviewers
• Reject: Fundamental flaws or insufficient novelty, with constructive feedback provided

You receive detailed reviewer comments and clear guidance on required revisions. Our editors work with you to strengthen your manuscript, not simply identify problems.

Revision and Re-review

For manuscripts requiring revision, you'll submit a point-by-point response addressing each reviewer comment. Revised manuscripts are typically re-reviewed within 14 days. We understand that agricultural research often involves seasonal constraints—communicate any timing concerns to your editor.

Final Acceptance and Production

Accepted manuscripts enter production immediately. Our team handles copyediting, formatting, and typesetting. You'll receive proofs for final approval before publication. The entire production process takes approximately 10 days, ensuring rapid dissemination of your plant biology research.

Open Access and Article Processing Charges

Advances in Plant Biology operates on an open access model, ensuring your agricultural science research is immediately available to researchers, practitioners, and policymakers worldwide without subscription barriers. This maximizes the impact of your work on global food security and sustainable agriculture.

Article Processing Charges (APCs)

To sustain high-quality peer review and production services, we charge APCs upon manuscript acceptance. However, we believe financial constraints should never prevent publication of quality research.

• Standard APC covers peer review, editing, production, and perpetual open access hosting
• Transparent pricing with no hidden fees or surprise charges
• Invoicing only after acceptance—no upfront submission fees
• Multiple payment options including institutional billing and credit card

APC Waivers and Discounts

We offer financial support for eligible authors:

• Partial waivers: Authors from low-income countries (World Bank classification)
• 50% discounts: Authors from lower-middle-income countries
• Case-by-case waivers: Unfunded research, early-career researchers, exceptional circumstances
• Waiver requests evaluated confidentially—never affects editorial decisions
• Apply for waivers during submission or after acceptance

Financial considerations are completely separate from editorial evaluation. Your manuscript is judged solely on scientific merit, regardless of ability to pay APCs.