Journal Guide
Publishing in Frontiers in Plant Science: Fit, Timeline & Submission Guide
Plant biology: genetics, physiology, ecology, and crop improvement
Should you submit here?
5.9
Impact Factor
Not published by the journal
Acceptance Rate
Not publicly verified
Time to First Decision
Readiness Scan
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What Front. Plant Sci. Publishes
Frontiers in Plant Science published by Frontiers is an open-access journal covering all aspects of plant biology and agriculture. With JIF 4.8 and Q1 coverage, FPS emphasizes research on plant genetics, physiology, ecology, and crop improvement. The journal publishes research on plant development, stress response, and agricultural applications. Critically: FPS values research with clear biological or agricultural relevance. Pure molecular characterization without plant context is less competitive. The journal seeks papers advancing plant understanding or agricultural productivity.
- Plant genetics: gene function, QTL mapping, genomics, CRISPR applications
- Crop improvement: breeding, trait selection, yield enhancement
- Plant physiology: growth, development, stress responses, signaling
- Abiotic stress: drought, heat, cold tolerance, adaptive mechanisms
- Plant-microbe interactions: pathogenesis, symbiosis, beneficial microbes
- Photosynthesis: light reactions, carbon fixation, efficiency improvement
- Root biology: nutrient uptake, rhizosphere, root development
- Sustainable agriculture: reducing inputs, improving practices, resilience
Editor Insight
“Frontiers in Plant Science publishes plant research advancing agronomic and biological understanding. We seek genes or mechanisms with clear plant physiological or agricultural significance.”
What Front. Plant Sci. Editors Look For
Gene or trait advancing plant function or agricultural productivity
Identify gene or mechanism improving growth, stress tolerance, or yield. Show functional significance through phenotypic characterization.
Rigorous genetic and molecular characterization linking gene to phenotype
Show how gene/mutation affects plant phenotype. Characterize expression, localization, interaction. Link DNA/RNA to plant physiology.
Agronomic significance or field-relevant performance
Connect lab findings to agricultural outcomes. Show how gene improves crop performance, yield, or stress tolerance in realistic conditions.
Mechanistic understanding of how trait drives phenotype
Explain molecular mechanisms. How does gene affect physiology? What signaling pathways involved? Mechanism stronger than association alone.
Breeding or biotechnology pathway for trait utilization
Show how discovery enables crop improvement. How would breeders use this? CRISPR potential? Application pathway matters.
Why Papers Get Rejected
These patterns appear repeatedly in manuscripts that don't make it past Front. Plant Sci.'s editorial review:
Gene/molecular characterization without agronomic relevance or field performance
FPS expects agricultural or plant biological significance. Lab gene characterization alone insufficient without phenotypic consequence.
Field-grown plants without rigorous molecular characterization
Phenotypic observation needs molecular support. Characterize gene expression, protein function, signaling pathways.
No functional validation of proposed gene function
Show gene actually causes phenotype. Loss-of-function, gain-of-function, or overexpression validation essential.
No discussion of breeding application or agronomic impact
Connect to agriculture. How does discovery benefit crops? Why would breeders care?
Limited environmental conditions or growth stages tested
Show phenotype robust across conditions. Single-condition testing less compelling than multi-environment validation.
Does your manuscript avoid these patterns?
The Free Readiness Scan reads your full manuscript against Front. Plant Sci.'s criteria and flags the specific issues most likely to cause rejection.
Insider Tips from Front. Plant Sci. Authors
Stress tolerance genes (drought, heat, cold) highly competitive
Climate change drives interest in crop resilience. Genes improving stress tolerance have immediate relevance.
Yield-enhancing traits increasingly valued
Genes or mechanisms improving yield receive strong editorial interest for food security.
CRISPR and gene editing applications trending
Using CRISPR to validate genes or improve traits increasingly prominent in plant research.
Microbiome and beneficial microbe interactions gaining prominence
Plant-microbe interactions affecting growth or stress tolerance increasingly competitive.
Sustainable agriculture and reduced-input systems valued
Research reducing fertilizer, pesticide, or water requirements increasingly important.
The Front. Plant Sci. Submission Process
Manuscript preparation
Prep5,000-8,000 words with 5-7 figures. Include gene identification, molecular characterization, functional validation, phenotypic analysis, mechanistic discussion, agronomic significance.
Submission via Frontiers system
Day 0Submit at https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/. Required: manuscript emphasizing gene novelty and agronomic significance, figures showing characterization and phenotype.
Editorial assessment
1-2 weeksEditor assesses gene novelty and agronomic relevance. Papers lacking functional validation or agricultural context face lower priority. Moderate desk rejection ~20-30%.
Peer review
80-110 days2-3 plant biology experts assess gene characterization, functional validation, and agronomic significance. First decision 80-110 days.
Revision and publication
Revision: 4-8 weeksRevisions often request additional functional validation or field data. Publication 2-4 weeks after acceptance.
Front. Plant Sci. by the Numbers
| 2025 Impact Factor(2026 JCR release) | 5.9 |
| 5-Year Impact Factor | 4.5 |
| Acceptance rate | Not published by the journal |
| Desk rejection rate | ~20-30% |
| Median first decision | ~95 days |
| Open access APC(Frontiers publishing fees, checked 2026-10-10) | CHF 3,150 |
| Publisher | Frontiers |
| Founded | 2010 |
Before you submit
Front. Plant Sci. accepts a small fraction of submissions. Make your attempt count.
Start with the Free Readiness Scan. Unlock the Full Review from $39, with local pricing shown before checkout. If you need deeper submission planning, choose the Submission-Ready Dossier. The full report is calibrated to Front. Plant Sci..
Article Types
Research Article
5,000-8,000 wordsPlant gene/trait research with functional validation
Review
7,000-12,000 wordsPlant science topic review
Landmark Front. Plant Sci. Papers
Papers that defined fields and changed science:
- Stress tolerance gene discovery (2000s+) - drought and heat resistance
- Yield-enhancing traits (various) - food security
- CRISPR plant improvement (2010s+) - gene editing validation
- Beneficial microbe symbiosis (various) - plant-microbe cooperation
Preparing a Front. Plant Sci. Submission?
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Primary Fields
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Related Journal Guides
All journal guidesLatest Journal-Specific Guides
- Submission guideFrontiers in Plant Science Submission Guide: Steps, Timeline & What Editors WantA practical Frontiers in Plant Science submission guide covering section fit, editorial screening, manuscript packaging, and the mistakes that slow or sink review.
- Journal assessmentIs Frontiers in Plant Science a Good Journal? OA Plant Biology, AssessedFrontiers in Plant Science is a legitimate high-volume open-access plant biology journal. Here's when it fits, where the reputation tradeoffs are, and how it compares to Plant Cell, New Phytologist, and Plant Physiology.
- Desk rejectionHow to Avoid Desk Rejection at Frontiers in Plant ScienceAvoid desk rejection at Frontiers in Plant Science with clear section fit, plant-science consequence, and review-ready framing.
- Review timelineFrontiers in Plant Science Review Time: What Authors Can Actually ExpectFrontiers in Plant Science is quicker than many traditional plant journals, but the useful question is not just how fast the platform moves. It is whether the manuscript is in the right section and mechanistically complete enough to benefit from that speed.
More Guides for This Journal
- Acceptance rateFrontiers in Plant Science Acceptance Rate: What Authors Can UseFrontiers in Plant Science does not publish a strong official acceptance rate. The better submission question is whether the paper is section-ready, review-ready, and suited to the Frontiers model.
- Impact factorFrontiers in Plant Science Impact Factor 2026: Ranking, Quartile & What It MeansFrontiers in Plant Science impact factor is 5.9. Five-year JIF 5.7, Q1, rank 33/273. See comparisons and what it means.
- Publishing costsFrontiers in Plant Science APC and Open Access: What CHF 3,150 Buys in Plant Biology PublishingFrontiers in Plant Science charges CHF 3,150 for A-type articles (CHF 2,500 for B-type). Compare fee support, institutional discounts, and Plant Cell.
- Submission processFrontiers in Plant Science Submission Process: What Happens, How Long It Takes, and Where Papers StallA practical guide to the Frontiers in Plant Science submission process, from section choice and editorial screening to review timing and common delay points.
- Manuscript prepFrontiers in Plant Science Cover Letter: What Editors Actually Need to SeeFrontiers in Plant Science has 24 specialty sections. Frontiers takes a scope statement in place of a cover letter, and its main job is getting the paper routed correctly. Name the section, name the organism, state the finding.
- Publishing guideFrontiers in Plant Science Formatting Requirements: Complete Author GuideFrontiers in Plant Science formatting guide: word limits, figure specs, author-year references, LaTeX vs Word, and journal-specific quirks.
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