Journal profile · Plant Sciences
Photosynthesis Research
ISSN 0166-8595 · eISSN 1573-5079 · Springer Netherlands · NETHERLANDS · Monthly · Founded 1980
Photosynthesis Research: CAS Zone 3 · Biology (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 3.81; hybrid open access; APC about USD 3,890; median 84 days to acceptance (94 articles, last 24 months); community-reported acceptance: moderate; 67 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Photosynthesis Research is published by Springer Netherlands and is in Zone 3 of Biology in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Photosynthetic Processes and Mechanisms, Algal biology and biofuel production and Photoreceptor and optogenetics research, together about 52.2% of its articles. Its main subfields are Plant Science. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
Photosynthesis Research welcomes basic and applied research on photosynthetic systems that furthers the understanding or direct utilization/adaptation of photosynthetic process. This includes all levels of organization – including molecular, subcellular, cellular, whole plants, canopy, ecosystem, and global – and encompasses both natural organisms and (semi-)artificial systems.The breadth of research covered by the journal includes, and is not limited to, the following areas in photosynthesis: Light absorption and emission; excitation energy transfer; charge separation; electron and proton transfer; catalysis Carbon assimilation/metabolism and photorespiration Structure and function Regulatory mechanisms and signaling pathways Ecosystems, agriculture and the environment Climate change, renewable energy and fuels Evolution Research in photosynthesis employing various disciplines are welcome, including but not limited to biochemistry, biophysics, cell and molecular biology, genomics, theory and modelling. Studies taking an interdisciplinary approach with a broad range of experimental and theoretical techniques are encouraged. In addition to Research and Review articles, the journal also publishes Brief Reports, Methodologies, and History and Biography articles. See our submission guidelines for more information.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Plant Sciences
Editor-in-chief Johannes MessingerPublisher website
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Photosynthetic Processes and MechanismsBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology34.1%
- Algal biology and biofuel productionEnergy9.3%
- Photoreceptor and optogenetics researchNeuroscience8.9%
- Spectroscopy and Quantum Chemical StudiesPhysics and Astronomy7.5%
- Light effects on plantsAgricultural and Biological Sciences6.8%
- Plant Stress Responses and ToleranceAgricultural and Biological Sciences4.6%
- Mitochondrial Function and PathologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology4.2%
- Plant responses to elevated CO2Agricultural and Biological Sciences3.6%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Biology Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Biology | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Plant Sciences | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Biology Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Biology | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Plant Sciences | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Biology Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Biology | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Plant Sciences | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
Database indexing
SCIEScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Indexing the journal's website claims
EI CompendexMEDLINECASCAB AbstractsCurrent ContentsPublisher website
Other: Google Scholar, EBSCO, ProQuest, Dimensions, CNKI, Baidu, AGRICOLA, Astrophysics Data System, Naver, OCLC, Portico, CLOCKSS
As the journal's website lists them, not checked against each database; for Web of Science editions the records above apply.
Editions, and major and minor categories, are shown separately and never merged into one zone; check which edition your institution uses before you submit or report.
Metrics
Impact metrics and publication volume
Impact
- Impact factor
- 3.81LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 3.8Publisher website ·
- 5-year impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 3.9Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 7.3LetPub ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 1.12LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 1.15LetPub ·
- h-index
- 99LetPub ·
- h-index
- 186OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 3,339OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 3.09OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 5.3%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 36.41%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 65LetPub ·
- Downloads per year (publisher) 2025
- 612,800Publisher website ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 4,812 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 46 | 25 | 18 |
| 2025 | 67 | 29 | 145 |
| 2024 | 59 | 29 | 369 |
| 2023 | 74 | 37 | 1,008 |
| 2022 | 100 | 46 | 1,697 |
| 2021 | 86 | 27 | 1,930 |
Sources count differently and were observed at different times, so each source's own value is kept; "publisher" marks figures from the journal's website.
Review & acceptance
Review time and acceptance
Review time from article dates manuscript dates registered with Crossref · to
84 daysMedian, submission to acceptance · P25–P75 58 days – 123 days
- Acceptance to online
- median 11 days (94 articles)
- Submission to online
- median 100 days
- Sample
- 94 articles with submission and acceptance dates (116 in the window); the latest was accepted on
Only articles that were accepted and published are counted, not the time spent on rejected manuscripts, so this usually runs longer than a publisher's "time to first decision".
Other sources
- Average review time (community reports)
- about 3 monthsLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- ModerateLetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 5 daysPublisher website ·
- Peer review
- Double anonymous peer reviewPublisher website
Community reports come from authors' own submissions (confidence 0.5) and are not a promise from the journal; for publisher figures, the journal's own definitions apply.
Fees & open access
APC and open-access policy
Hybrid open accessLetPub
A subscription journal in which authors can pay to publish their article open access.
| Source | APC | Fee waiver | License | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAlex | USD 3,890 / EUR 2,890 / GBP 2,490 | — | — |
A hybrid journal charges the APC only when the author chooses open access; publishing under the subscription model is usually free.
The journal's website is authoritative for fees; sources were observed at different times and each keeps its own value, without averaging.
Submission
Article types and submission policies (journal website)
Open calls for papers2, by deadline
Publisher websiteWhat to prepare5 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- 150–250 words
- Keywords
- ≥ 4
- Manuscript length
- ≤ 2,500 words
- Reference style
- Author–date
- Suggested reviewers
- Optional
Article types accepted6, with length limits
- brief reportPhotosynthesis Research considers and publishes the following types of articles: Research Presents new and original research result that should be structured ac…main text ≤ 2,500 words · figures and tables ≤ 3
- hypothesisPhotosynthesis Research considers and publishes the following types of articles: Research Presents new and original research result that should be structured ac…main text ≤ 4,000 words
- original researchPhotosynthesis Research considers and publishes the following types of articles: Research Presents new and original research result that should be structured ac…Length not stated
- protocolPhotosynthesis Research considers and publishes the following types of articles: Research Presents new and original research result that should be structured ac…Length not stated
- reviewPhotosynthesis Research considers and publishes the following types of articles: Research Presents new and original research result that should be structured ac…Length not stated
- review articlePhotosynthesis Research considers and publishes the following types of articles: Research Presents new and original research result that should be structured ac…Length not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, Data availability, Publication ethics, License & copyright, Open access
- AI use Generative AI Images
Please check Springer’s policy on generative AI images and make sure your work adheres to the principles described therein. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Authorship Authorship principles
These guidelines describe authorship principles and good authorship practices to which prospective authors should adhere to. Authorship clarified The Journal and Publisher assume all authors agreed with the content and that all gave explicit consent to submit and that they obtained consent from the responsible authorities at the institute/organization where the work has been carried out, before th…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Disclosures and declarations
All authors are requested to include information regarding sources of funding, financial or non-financial interests, study-specific approval by the appropriate ethics committee for research involving humans and/or animals, informed consent if the research involved human participants, and a statement on welfare of animals if the research involved animals (as appropriate). The decision whether such …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Data availability Data availability statements
All original research must include a data availability statement. This statement should explain how to access data supporting the results and analysis in the article, including links/citations to publicly archived datasets analysed or generated during the study. Please see our full policy here. If it is not possible to share research data publicly, for instance when individual privacy could be com…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Publication ethics Compliance with Ethical Standards
To ensure objectivity and transparency in research and to ensure that accepted principles of ethical and professional conduct have been followed, authors should include information regarding sources of funding, potential conflicts of interest (financial or non-financial), informed consent if the research involved human participants, and a statement on welfare of animals if the research involved an…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright Copyright
Open Choice articles do not require transfer of copyright as the copyright remains with the author. In opting for open access, the author(s) agree to publish the article under a Creative Commons license. Details of the OA licences offered to authors can be found on the individual journal website, in the journal's How to publish with us guide. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access publishing
To find out more about publishing your work Open Access in Photosynthesis Research, including information on fees, funding and licences, visit our Open access publishing page. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·
Excerpts are quoted from the journal's website; "model summary" lines are written by Workers AI and checked against the text. The journal's website is authoritative.
Profile
Publication details and official links
- Publisher
- Springer Netherlands
- Country or region
- NETHERLANDS
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- Monthly
- Founded
- 1980
- ISSN
- 0166-8595
- Electronic ISSN
- 1573-5079
- Society / sponsor
- International Society of Photosynthesis Research
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗OpenAlex
- Submission system ↗LetPub
- Author guidelines ↗LetPub
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Photosynthesis Research
What CAS zone is Photosynthesis Research in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Photosynthesis Research is in Zone 3 of Biology, and in Zone 3 of the minor category Plant Sciences. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 3 of Biology. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of Photosynthesis Research?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 3.81; CiteScore 7.3, h-index 186.
How long does peer review take at Photosynthesis Research?
Based on the dates recorded on 94 articles published between October 2024 and October 2026 (the last 24 months), the median time from submission to acceptance is 84 days (interquartile range 58–123 days); authors report an average review time of about 3 months; the community-reported acceptance is “Moderate”. Article statistics cover accepted papers only, publisher figures follow the journal's own definitions, and community reports come from authors' own submissions; none is a promise from the journal.
What are the manuscript requirements of Photosynthesis Research?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: 150–250 words; Keywords: ≥ 4; Manuscript length: ≤ 2,500 words; Reference style: Author–date; Suggested reviewers: Optional. A model extracted these from the author guidelines and each was checked against the text; check the latest version on the journal's website before submitting.
Which databases index Photosynthesis Research?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Photosynthesis Research is indexed in SCIE and Scopus. The journal's website also lists EI Compendex, MEDLINE, CAS, CAB Abstracts and Current Contents; that list has not been checked against each database.
Is Photosynthesis Research open access, and what is the APC?
Photosynthesis Research is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 3,890.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, OpenAlex, Publisher website; every figure is tagged with its source and the date it was observed, and conflicting values are kept per source. LetPub source page: view ↗ (archived 2026-08-26). Last updated: .