Instructions for AuthorsAdvanced Research in Botany
These instructions help authors prepare manuscripts for JARB with clarity, scientific rigor, and strong reporting practices. Please review the scope, formatting, data, and ethics requirements before submission to support a smooth peer review process and timely publication.
Scope and Article Types
JARB publishes research that advances botany across plant physiology, ecology, taxonomy, systematics, genetics, and conservation. We welcome studies in plant development, biodiversity, plant microbe interactions, genomics, and sustainable crop systems.
Submissions should highlight methodological rigor, reproducibility, and relevance to plant science, ecosystem management, or agricultural innovation. Interdisciplinary studies that connect botany with climate science, soil science, or bioinformatics are encouraged.
Authors should clearly state the research question, botany relevance, and how the work advances current knowledge.
Accepted Article Types
- Original research articles
- Systematic reviews and meta analyses
- Short communications
- Methods and protocols
- Technical notes and data reports
- Reviews and perspectives
Manuscript Organization
Manuscripts should be structured to support reproducibility and botanical interpretation. Use a concise title that reflects the study design and field or laboratory focus. Provide a structured abstract with background, methods, results, and conclusions.
The main text should include introduction, materials and methods, results, discussion, and conclusion. Clearly describe sampling strategy, experimental conditions, instruments, and statistical approaches. Provide a brief statement on botanical significance in the discussion.
All tables and figures must be cited in the text and accompanied by descriptive captions. Supplementary files should be labeled clearly and referenced in the manuscript.
Required Elements
- Title page with author affiliations
- Structured abstract and keywords
- Graphical abstracts when appropriate
- Funding and conflict disclosures
- Data availability statement
- References in a consistent style
Formatting and Reporting Standards
Language and Style
Use clear, professional English and define abbreviations at first use. Maintain consistent botanical nomenclature, Latin binomials, and taxonomic authorities throughout the manuscript.
References
Provide complete, accurate citations and ensure in text references match the reference list.
Tables and Figures
Submit high resolution figures with labeled axes, units, and statistical annotations. Tables should be readable and self explanatory.
Methods Detail
Describe experimental design, sampling protocols, cultivation conditions, and software settings when applicable with enough detail for replication.
Statistical Reporting
Provide appropriate statistical tests, effect sizes, and measures of uncertainty. Report the number of replicates and controls.
Nomenclature
Use standardized taxonomic nomenclature and include voucher specimen numbers or accession IDs when applicable.
Reporting Guidelines and Study Documentation
Use recognized reporting standards to improve transparency and reduce review delays. Include the appropriate checklist as supplementary material when available. This helps reviewers verify study quality and makes your methods easier to reproduce.
For data intensive studies, clearly describe sample selection, data collection, validation steps, and quality control. For multi site studies, report harmonization steps and data normalization procedures.
When describing field or greenhouse experiments, provide plot design, replication strategy, and validation metrics. This level of detail strengthens the credibility of the findings.
Recommended Checklists
- STROBE for observational studies
- PRISMA for systematic reviews
- MIAPPE for plant phenotyping
- Darwin Core for biodiversity datasets
Data Availability and Materials
JARB supports transparent data sharing to strengthen reproducibility. Provide a data availability statement describing where datasets, sequence data, voucher records, code, and protocols can be accessed. If data access is restricted, explain the limitation and any request process.
Describe any biosafety constraints or proprietary materials that limit sharing.
For studies involving datasets, statistical models, or analysis code, include repository identifiers or accession numbers. Clearly describe preprocessing and quality control procedures.
Supplementary files may include extended methods, additional figures, or raw data tables. Ensure all supplemental content is referenced in the main text.
Data Checklist
- Data availability statement
- Repository links or accession IDs
- Code or analysis scripts
- Protocol details and instruments
- Sample sizes and controls
- Quality control documentation
Authorship, Acknowledgments, and Funding
Authorship should reflect substantial contributions to study conception, experimental design, data acquisition, analysis, or manuscript drafting. The corresponding author is responsible for confirming that all coauthors approve the final version and agree to submission.
Include a contributor statement that outlines individual roles. Acknowledge technical support, facility access, and funding sources, including grant numbers. Any professional writing or editing support must be disclosed.
Use ORCID identifiers to improve overall attribution accuracy.
Guest authorship and ghostwriting are not permitted. Ensure that all contributions are documented transparently to protect the integrity of the scientific record.
Language Editing and Accessibility
Clear language improves peer review efficiency and helps readers interpret botany findings accurately. Authors should use precise terminology, define abbreviations, and avoid ambiguous units or inconsistent naming conventions.
Manuscripts intended for interdisciplinary audiences should explain specialized terms and provide context for experimental workflows, modeling approaches, or analysis models. This supports broader readership and citation impact.
If needed, authors may use professional language editing before submission. Editing can improve readability but does not guarantee acceptance.
Clarity Tips
- Use consistent botanical nomenclature and authorities
- Define abbreviations at first use
- Specify units and conditions clearly
- Keep sentences concise and direct
- Explain key methodological choices
- Provide clear figure captions
Ethics, Authorship, and Transparency
JARB requires ethical compliance, transparent reporting, and clear authorship practices for all submissions.
Include collecting permits, access approvals, and conservation compliance when applicable.
Provide a contributor statement describing roles such as study design, data analysis, and writing.
Disclose funding sources, affiliations, and potential conflicts of interest.
All submissions are screened for plagiarism and duplicate publication.
Submission Process
Submit manuscripts through ManuscriptZone or the Simple Manuscript Submission form. The corresponding author should ensure that all required files are included and that metadata is complete and accurate.
Include a cover letter summarizing the botany contribution and explaining relevance to the journal scope. If your manuscript is part of a special issue, note the special issue title in the cover letter and submission comments.
During submission, provide keywords, suggested reviewers, and any required ethics documentation to avoid processing delays.
Upload figures as separate files in standard formats and provide any supplemental data tables or protocols as supporting files. Clearly label all files to match references in the manuscript.
Submission Checklist
- Cover letter with study summary
- Complete author affiliations and ORCID IDs
- Ethics approvals and consent details
- Figures and tables uploaded separately
- Conflict of interest statement
- Suggested reviewers if applicable
Peer Review and Decisions
All submissions undergo editorial screening followed by peer review by botany experts. Reviews evaluate methodological rigor, botany significance, data integrity, and clarity of reporting.
Authors may be asked to revise the manuscript and respond to reviewer comments in detail. Revisions should include a point by point response letter.
Editorial decisions are independent of payment and based solely on scientific merit. We aim to provide timely decisions while maintaining rigorous review standards.
Rapid review may be available for time sensitive findings when justified in the cover letter.
Review Focus Areas
- Study design and appropriate controls
- Statistical validity and transparency
- Botanical relevance and novelty
- Data integrity and reproducibility
- Clarity of figures and tables
- Relevance to botany
Preprints, Prior Publication, and Permissions
Preprints are permitted when disclosed at submission. Provide the preprint DOI or URL and ensure the manuscript has not been formally published elsewhere. Duplicate submission to other journals is not allowed.
If your manuscript includes third party figures, tables, or datasets, obtain written permission for reuse and include appropriate credit lines. Authors are responsible for securing reuse rights before acceptance.
For previously published methods or datasets, cite the original source clearly and explain how the current work extends or validates the earlier findings.
Publication, APCs, and Post Acceptance
Upon acceptance, authors receive an invoice for the Article Processing Charge. APCs are applied only after acceptance and support peer review management, production, and open access dissemination.
Proofs are provided for author review. Prompt corrections help keep publication timelines on track. Articles receive DOIs and are indexed with structured metadata to improve discoverability.
After publication, authors may share the final article under the Creative Commons license with proper attribution. Corrections and updates follow editorial policy to protect the scientific record.
We encourage authors to link published articles to datasets, protocols, and preprints when applicable to strengthen visibility and reuse.
Submit Your JARB Manuscript
Choose the submission method that fits your workflow and share your botany research with the global community.
Email: [email protected] | Response within 24 business hours | Author support available