Publication Ethics

In all facets of the editorial and peer review procedures, Plant Research Journal (PRJ) adheres to the Committee on Publishing Ethics' (COPE) rules. It is dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of publishing ethics.

COPE Guidelines

  • Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing
  • Ethical Guidelines for Peer Reviewers
  • Guidelines for Ethical Editing
  • Editing Peer Review
  • Editorial Board Participation

Publication Ethics Framework

Publication decisions, fair play, confidentiality, disclosure of conflicts of interest, data sharing, ethical oversight, and IP protection are all integral to our editorial practices. Authors, reviewers, editors, and publishers are expected to adhere strictly to ethical standards in line with COPE’s guidance.

Reviewer Responsibilities

  • Assist editors with editorial decisions
  • Maintain objectivity, confidentiality, and timeliness
  • Disclose conflicts of interest
  • Acknowledge relevant sources

Author Responsibilities

  • Ensure originality and accuracy of data
  • Disclose conflicts of interest and funding sources
  • Avoid redundant publications and plagiarism
  • Ensure appropriate authorship and acknowledgement

Post-Publication Practices

Plant Research Journal allows and supports post-publication corrections, discussions, and retractions. Our policy aligns with COPE’s post-publication guidelines: Post-Publication Discussions.

Data Sharing & Reproducibility

We encourage authors to share raw data where feasible and adhere to reproducibility and transparency standards. See COPE's advice here: Data Sharing.

Ethical Oversight

We follow ethical practices in human/animal research, consent to publication, and marketing. More at COPE Ethical Oversight.

Intellectual Property

PRJ allows preprints and has defined plagiarism and copyright policies. Details: COPE Intellectual Property Guidelines.

Complaints & Appeals

Complaints are handled by a Complaint Redressal & Appellate Committee. Resolutions are guided by COPE and usually addressed within 4 weeks. More: COPE Appeals Process.

Complaint Redressal & Appellate Committee

  • Editor‑in‑Chief
  • Managing Editor
  • Two relevant Plant Research Journal editorial board members
  • One external board member from another journal