Publication Policies

Phyton-Annales Rei Botanicae is committed to maintaining the highest standards of scholarly publishing, ethical conduct, and editorial transparency. The following policies define the principles and procedures governing all stages of publication.

Open Access Policy
The journal operates under a full open access model, ensuring that all published articles are freely and permanently accessible immediately upon publication. Users are permitted to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, and link to the full texts of articles without prior permission, subject to proper attribution and licensing terms.
This model supports the unrestricted dissemination of scientific knowledge and promotes global accessibility, particularly benefiting researchers in resource-limited settings. The journal does not impose subscription fees or paywalls for readers.

Article Processing Charges (APC)
The journal follows an Article Processing Charge (APC) model to sustain its editorial and publishing operations. APCs are applicable only after a manuscript has successfully passed peer review and has been formally accepted for publication.
The APC covers:
● Editorial handling and administrative processing
● Coordination of peer review
● Copyediting, typesetting, and formatting
● DOI registration and indexing support
● Website hosting and digital infrastructure
● Long-term archiving and preservation
The exact APC amount, payment methods, and timelines are clearly communicated to authors during the acceptance stage. The journal does not charge any fees at the submission stage.
In exceptional cases, partial waivers or discounts may be considered based on author circumstances, institutional support limitations, or editorial discretion.

Licensing Policy
All articles are published under the Creative Commons Attribution–NonCommercial (CC BY-NC) license. This allows users to:
● Share (copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format)
● Adapt (remix, transform, and build upon the material)

under the following conditions:
● Proper credit must be given to the original author(s) and the journal
● The use must be non-commercial in nature
● Any modifications must not misrepresent the original work

Commercial use of published content requires prior written permission from the journal.

Copyright and Author Rights
Authors retain full copyright of their published work. By submitting and publishing with the journal, authors grant the journal a non-exclusive right of first publication.

Authors are permitted to:
● Deposit their published articles in institutional or subject repositories
● Share the final published version on personal or academic websites
● Use the content for educational and research purposes

All such sharing must include proper citation to the original publication in the journal.

Peer Review Policy
The journal follows a double-blind peer review process, ensuring that both authors and reviewers remain anonymous throughout the review process.
Review workflow includes:
● Initial Screening – Assessment for scope, formatting, and ethical compliance
● Editorial Evaluation – Assignment to handling editor
● Peer Review – Evaluation by at least two independent experts
● Decision Making – Based on reviewer reports and editorial judgment

Possible decisions include:
● Accept
● Minor Revision
● Major Revision
● Reject

The journal ensures:
● Confidentiality of submissions
● Objectivity and fairness in evaluation
● Timely communication with authors

Reviewers are selected based on expertise, publication record, and absence of conflicts of interest.

Publication Ethics and Malpractice
The journal adheres to internationally accepted standards of publication ethics. All stakeholders—authors, reviewers, and editors—are expected to uphold principles of honesty, transparency, and accountability.

Unethical practices include:
● Plagiarism
● Data fabrication or falsification
● Duplicate or redundant publication
● Undisclosed conflicts of interest

Confirmed cases of misconduct may result in:
● Immediate rejection
● Retraction of published articles
● Notification to affiliated institutions

Plagiarism and Similarity Policy
All manuscripts are screened using plagiarism detection software prior to peer review.
● Minor similarity (with proper citation) may be acceptable
● Moderate similarity may require revision
● High similarity or copied content will result in rejection

The journal maintains a strict stance against academic misconduct and expects authors to ensure originality and proper attribution.

AI and Generative Tools Policy
The journal acknowledges the role of artificial intelligence tools in modern research workflows but maintains strict guidelines:
● AI tools may be used for language editing and grammar improvement
● AI tools must not generate scientific content, data, or interpretations without human validation
● AI tools cannot be listed as authors
● Any use of AI must be transparently disclosed in the manuscript

Authors bear full responsibility for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of their work.

Conflict of Interest Policy
All authors must disclose any financial, institutional, or personal relationships that could influence their work.
Reviewers and editors must also declare conflicts of interest and recuse themselves where appropriate to ensure impartial decision-making.

Data Availability and Reproducibility
The journal encourages transparency and reproducibility in research. Authors should:
● Provide clear data availability statements
● Share datasets where possible
● Ensure that methods are described in sufficient detail

Where data cannot be shared, valid reasons must be stated.

Corrections, Retractions, and Editorial Actions
To maintain the integrity of the scholarly record:
● Corrections are issued for minor errors
● Retractions are issued for major ethical or scientific issues
● Expressions of Concern may be issued when investigations are ongoing

All such actions are conducted transparently and in accordance with publishing best practices.

Disclaimer
The journal, its editors, and publisher are not responsible for the content of published articles. All opinions, findings, and conclusions expressed are solely those of the authors.
The journal does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or applicability of the published material and shall not be held liable for any consequences arising from its use.