Information For Authors

General Information

The research collection publishes original experimental and review articles focusing on:

·                Plant breeding and genetics;

·                Plant physiology;

·                Seed production and seed science;

·                Plant genetic resources;

·                Variety trials and variety science;

·                Other issues related to field crop breeding.

We also welcome articles on new or modernized research methods in the aforementioned areas of agricultural and biological sciences. Furthermore, the research collection accepts systematic reviews prepared using meta-analysis, bibliometrics, and other data processing techniques. Articles employing an interdisciplinary approach to current problems in agricultural plant biology are highly encouraged.

Languages of Publication: Articles are published in Ukrainian and English. All papers include abstracts in both languages, summarizing the core content.

The research collection accepts original manuscripts that have not been previously published and are not currently under consideration by any other publication. The following types of submissions are welcome:

  • Original Research Articles: Complete original works. The recommended length is approximately approx. 1 printed sheet or 24 standard pages, with 30 lines per page. However, the length may vary depending on the content.
  • Theoretical and Problem-oriented Review Articles: Comprehensive reviews. The recommended length is approximately approx. 2 printed sheets or 48 standard pages, including the reference list. Longer manuscripts may be accepted upon prior agreement with the Editorial Office.
  • Descriptions of Original Methods and Equipment: Technical papers detailing innovative methodologies or instrumentation in agricultural science.

Articles are published in Ukrainian and English. Authors from Ukraine are required to submit manuscripts in the state language (Ukrainian). Translation into English is provided free of charge by the Editorial Office. Authors may also provide their own English translation; in this case the Editorial Office reserves the right to edit the text for clarity and style. International authors must submit their manuscripts in English. Review articles may be published in either of the research collection’s languages (Ukrainian or English) as determined by the author and the Editorial Board.

Manuscript Preparation

Manuscript Structure

An experimental research article must include the following sections: Introduction, Materials and Methods, Results, Discussion (a combined "Results and Discussion" section is also permitted), and References.

Title Page and Initial Elements:

The manuscript begins with the UDC index, followed by:

  • Title: Must be concise, informative, and accurately reflect the article's content.
  • Author information: Initials and surnames of all authors.
  • Affiliations: Full names of scientific institutions and their complete postal addresses.
  • Corresponding author: Must be clearly identified with his/her email address.
  • Abstract (original language): Placed below the header, summarizing the relevance, essence of experiments and/or observations, core results, and their interpretation. Avoid filler words and non- informative phrases.
  • Keywords: Positioned under the abstract. Provide up to 10 keywords or short phrases, separated by semicolons. It is recommended to begin the list with the Latin names of the research objects. Keywords should not repeat words already present in the article's title.
  • Main text.
  • Еwo bibliography lists: «Цитована література» (in the original language) and «References» (in English). Detailed formatting rules and examples for both lists are provided in below.

Sectional Guidelines:

  • Introduction: Should provide a general statement of the problem and its connection to significant scientific or practical tasks. It must include a brief analysis of recent publications that have laid the foundation for addressing the stated problem, highlight the specific unresolved issues the article addresses, and formulate the aim of the study. Essentially, the introduction answers: What is known? What remains unknown? What is the objective of this work?
  • Materials and Methods: Must detail the research object(s), experimental conditions, analytical methods, equipment, and reagents used. This section must specify the sample size, number of replications, and methods of statistical processing. Authors must define the values presented in tables and figures (e.g., arithmetic means, absolute values, etc.) and variation indicators (standard error, standard deviation, confidence intervals). The significance level (e.g., p≤ 0.05$) and the specific tests used (e.g., Fisher’s, Mann-Whitney) should be stated.
  • Results: Describe the observed effects clearly without interpretation; all commentary belongs in the Discussion. The narrative should highlight patterns derived from the data rather than merely repeating the content of tables and figures. Results are typically presented in the past tense.
  • Discussion: Aimed at the generalization and interpretation of results, including the analysis of causal relationships. Findings should be compared with literature data to demonstrate novelty. The discussion must culminate in answering the question(s) posed in the Introduction.
  • Conclusions: While a separate "Conclusions" section is optional, every original article must include a substantive concluding paragraph that reflects the study's primary outcome.

Manuscript Layout and Technical Requirements

Text Formatting

  • File Format: Manuscripts must be submitted in .doc or .docx format.
  • Font and Spacing: Use Times New Roman, 14 pt, with 1.5 line spacing.
  • Alignment: Main text should be justified. Do not use special formatting styles or manual hyphenation.

Figures and Tables

Illustrations (figures, graphs, schemes, micrographs, diagrams, and tables) are integral parts of the scientific article and must adhere to the same principles of research integrity as the text. Illustrations must accurately represent the results without distortion or selective data presentation. Image editing must be kept to a minimum and must not alter the interpretation of the results. Each figure or table must be self-explanatory and understandable without reference to the main text. Captions must include explanations for all symbols, abbreviations, and notations. Figures and tables should be embedded within the main text, each with its own descriptive title and sequential numbering. All text elements within tables and illustrations (titles, headers, legends, axis labels, and notes) must be provided in both Ukrainian and English (e.g., Сорт / Cultivar; Врожайність, т/га / Yield, t/ha).

 

Technical Specifications for Images

  • Vector Graphics: Graphs, schemes, diagrams, and structural models should preferably be submitted in PDF or EPS vector formats.
  • Raster Images: Photographs of biological objects, electrophoretic spectra, and micrographs must be submitted in TIFF format with a minimum resolution of 300 dpi. If TIFF is unavailable, the PNG format may be used.
    • Note: Artificially increasing resolution via software upscaling is strictly prohibited.
  • Micrographs: Must include a scale bar; simply stating the magnification level is insufficient.
  • Dimensions: The preferred width for figures and graphs is 160 mm. It is recommended to create graphics at this final width from the start.

Statistical Presentation in Graphics

  • Error Bars: Authors must specify the type of variability shown: SD (standard deviation), SEM (standard error of the mean), or CI (confidence interval). Error bars must never be left unexplained.
  • Statistical Significance: Where applicable, include the sample size (n), the type of statistical test used, and significance levels (e.g., p < 0.05, p < 0.01).
  • Data Visualization: Authors are encouraged to use scatter plots, box plots, or violin plots instead of simple bar charts, especially for small sample sizes.

 

In-Text Citations and Reference Lists

In-Text Citations References in the text should be cited in parentheses, providing the author's(s’) surname(s) and the year of publication.

  • Two or more authors: For more than two authors, use "et al." (e.g., Dogadina et al., 2008; Коць та ін., 2009).
  • Multiple works by the same author: Distinguish works published in the same year by adding lowercase letters (e.g., Smith, 2017a; Smith, 2017b).
  • Chronological order: When citing several works simultaneously, arrange them in chronological order.

The reference list should primarily consist of articles from scientific journals published within the last 5–7 years, focusing on sources that have a DOI and are accessible online.

Monographs may be cited only if necessary and should not dominate the reference list. References to conference abstracts/theses, popular science articles, commercial/advertising publications, and newspapers are not permitted. Textbooks, manuals, dissertations, and dissertation synopses should be used only in review articles and only if strictly necessary. References to regulatory documents (e.g., DSTU) should be provided only if necessary, as hyperlinks within the text, and should not be included in the reference list.

Bibliographies must be arranged in alphabetical order and presented in two separate blocks:

  1. Література (Literature): Contains full bibliographic descriptions in the original language of the source.
  2. References: For sources in non-Latin scripts (e.g. Cyrillic, Hebrew, Arabic), the title of the article or book must be translated into English. If the cited journal has an official English-language version (a translated edition), the English version of the publication should be used in the References list. Journal titles and publisher names must be transliterated according to the official rules approved by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine (Resolution No. 55, dated Jan 27, 2010). https://www.kmu.gov.ua/npas/243262567 Author surnames may be transliterated according to the author's specific preference. For sources in Latin-based non-English Languages (e.g., Italian, German, French, Polish), transliteration is not required. However, the title of the work must be followed by its English translation in parentheses. At the end, add the original language in square brackets.

Formatting Requirements For journal articles, provide: authors' surnames and initials, year, article title, journal title, volume number, and first/last page numbers. English-language sources must appear identically in both blocks.

Examples for block 1

Рибалка О.І., Моргун В.В., Моргун Б.В., Починок В.М. (2015). Агрономічний потенціал і перспективи тритикале. Физиология растений и генетика, 47 (2), с. 95-111.  

Tshewang, S., Jessop, R. & Birchall, C. (2017). Effect of frost on triticale and wheat varieties at flowering in the north eastern Australian cereal belt. Cereal Res. Commun., 45, pp. 655-664. https://doi.org/10.1556/0806.45.2017.042

Block 2, titled "References", must be formatted according to the APA 7th edition style. https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/index.html

Examples for block 2

Rybalka, O.I., Morgun, V.V., Morgun, B.V. & Pochynok, V.M. (2015). Agronomic potential and perspectives of triticale. Fiziol. rast. genet., 47 (2), pp. 95-111 [in Ukrainian].

Rossi, G. (2021). La genetica del girasole (The genetics of sunflower). Edizioni Agricole. [in Italian].

Tshewang, S., Jessop, R. & Birchall, C. (2017). Effect of frost on triticale and wheat varieties at flowering in the north eastern Australian cereal belt. Cereal Res. Commun., 45, pp. 655-664. https://doi.org/10.1556/0806.45.2017.042

 

For book chapters, include: authors' surnames and initials, year of publication, chapter title, book title, editor(s) (if any), publisher, volume/issue number (if any), and the page range. For example,

Arseniuk, E. (2015). Triticale abiotic stresses — an overview. Triticale. F. Eudes (ed.). Switzerland: Springer International Publishing, pp. 69-80. https://doi.org/10.1007/9783-319-22551-7_4

 

For books and monographs, provide: authors' surnames and initials, year, book title, city of publication, publisher, and the total number of pages.

Example for block 1

Починок Х.Н. (1976). Методы биохимического анализа растений. Киев, 333 с.

Example for block 2 («References»)

Pochinok, H.N. (1976). Metody biokhimicheskogo analiza rastenii (Methods of biochemical analysis of plants). Kiev, 333 p. [in Ukrainian]

 

The surnames and initials of all authors must be listed in the bibliographic description, regardless of the source type (article, book, etc.). The use of "et al." in the reference list is not permitted.

A Digital Object Identifier (DOI) must be included at the end of every bibliographic entry if it has been assigned to the source. All DOIs must be presented as full, active URL addresses starting with https://doi.org/.

·       Correct: https://doi.org/10.30835/2413-7510.2023.273456

·       Incorrect: doi: 10.30835/2413-7510... or DOI 10.30835..

Declarations

At the end of the main text, before the reference list, authors must provide the following formal statements:

  • Data Availability Statement: Authors must state where the data supporting the findings of the study can be found. Data may be included directly in the article or its appendices. Alternatively, authors are encouraged to deposit research datasets in recognized institutional, national, or international repositories (e.g., Zenodo, Figshare), which must be specified in this section.
  • Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): The use of generative AI for creating scientific content is considered unacceptable. Authors must state that generative AI was not used in the research execution. If AI tools were used solely for linguistic editing and/or the preparation of graphics, this must be explicitly disclosed in this section.
  • Compliance with Ethical Standards: Authors should typically state that the study does not involve research on human participants or animals. If such research was conducted, authors must confirm that the work complied with relevant Ukrainian legislation and international declarations, including approval from the Bioethics Committee of the institution where the research was performed (an electronic copy of the approval must be submitted to the Editorial Office).
  • Conflict of Interest: Authors must declare any potential conflicts of interest or state that no such conflicts exist.
  • Funding: Specify the program, project, grant, or state registration number under which the research was conducted. If no external funding was received, state that the work was performed without dedicated funding.

Author Information

On a separate page, authors must provide the following details for all contributors:

  • Full names (Surname, First Name, and Patronymic);
  • ORCID identifiers for all authors;
  • Contact telephone numbers and email addresses.

 

Manuscript Submission, Technical Processing and Peer Reviewing

Manuscript Submission

Authors may submit their materials to the Editorial Office by:

  • Uploading them via the submission system on the website (right sidebar).
  • Sending them via email to the official contact address provided on the website.

Editorial Preparation and Initial Screening

All manuscripts submitted to the Editorial Office undergo a primary technical screening, including plagiarism check, to ensure consistency with the publication's scientific profile, adherence to general layout requirements, and originality. In the event that a manuscript does not align with the research collection's profile or if significant unauthorized borrowings are detected (originality level below 70%), it will not be admitted to the peer review process and will be rejected by the decision of the Editor-in-Chief or the Deputy Editor. Should substantial formatting defects be identified, the manuscript may be returned to the authors for technical revision prior to the peer review procedure.

Peer Review Process

Manuscripts that pass the initial screening are sent for single-blind peer review by two leading experts in the relevant field. Authors may suggest independent reviewers. The Editorial Board considers these suggestions but reserves the right to select reviewers who ensure the most thorough and objective analysis. If reviewers provide comments or suggestions, the manuscript is returned to the authors for revision. The revised version must be resubmitted along with a formal response to reviewers' comments. The revised version and a response to reviewers' comments are uploaded via the submission system on the website (sidebar) or sent via email to the official contact address provided on the website.  A reviewer’s conclusion is not final. If an author disagrees with the comments, they may provide a reasoned rebuttal to the Editorial Office. In such cases, the manuscript may be sent for additional review or referred to the Editorial Board for a final decision. In all disputed cases, the Editorial Board reserves the right to make the final decision.

Final Processing and Publication

The sequence of publication is determined by the date the final, accepted version of the manuscript is received.

The Editorial Office reserves the right to edit and condense the text or return manuscripts that do not meet the submission requirements.

Before publication, authors receive a page proof via email for final review. Authors must proofread it and either upload the revised version through the website or send a list of necessary corrections (specifying page, column, and line) via email within three working days.