Journal profile · Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Plant Molecular Biology
ISSN 0167-4412 · eISSN 1573-5028 · Springer Netherlands · NETHERLANDS · Semimonthly · Founded 1981
Plant Molecular Biology: CAS Zone 3 · Biology (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 3.6; hybrid open access; APC about USD 4,590; median 142 days to acceptance (89 articles, last 24 months); community-reported acceptance: fairly hard; 128 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Plant Molecular Biology 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 Plant Molecular Biology Research, Photosynthetic Processes and Mechanisms and Plant tissue culture and regeneration, together about 32.4% of its articles. Its main subfields are Plant Science and Molecular Biology. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
Plant Molecular Biology is an international journal dedicated to rapid publication of original research in all areas of plant biology. Coverage includes research addressing biological questions of broad interest, using approaches in comparative genomics, functional genomics, proteomics, bioinformatics, computational biology, biochemical and regulatory networks, and biotechnology. Preference is given to research providing new insights that advance our understanding of structure, function, mechanisms, or regulation in plants. While the journal encourages research works in plant functional genomics, computational approaches, and bioinformatics, gene discovery studies must be accompanied by new biological, biochemical, or mechanistic information. By extension, manuscripts reporting the cloning of new genes without functional information obtained from biochemical assays, genetic analysis, or other appropriate experimental approaches will not be considered and returned without review. Reports on genes whose function has already been analyzed in other plant systems will be considered only if the research significantly advances our understanding of their biological function and regulation. Supporting results from DNA, RNA and protein blots, or limited in situ analysis experiments, are not sufficient documentation for gene function or regulation. Manuscripts reporting new experimental techniques, construction of DNA libraries, mutant collections, phylogenetic analysis, or computational methods will be considered if they provide important new information or significant resources to the plant community.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Editor-in-chief Motoaki Seki RIKENPublisher website
Editorial board by country: 3 in mainland China (about 10%); most named Japan 7, United States 4, Mainland China 3, Hong Kong, China 2, United Kingdom 2 (31 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Plant Molecular Biology ResearchAgricultural and Biological Sciences12.1%
- Photosynthetic Processes and MechanismsBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology11.2%
- Plant tissue culture and regenerationBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology9%
- Plant Reproductive BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology7.4%
- Plant Stress Responses and ToleranceAgricultural and Biological Sciences6.3%
- Plant nutrient uptake and metabolismAgricultural and Biological Sciences5.8%
- Plant Gene Expression AnalysisBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology5.1%
- Legume Nitrogen Fixing SymbiosisAgricultural and Biological Sciences4.1%
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 | Biochemistry & Molecular Biology | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Plant Sciences | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Biology Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Biology | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Biochemistry & Molecular Biology | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Plant Sciences | Zone 2 |
Top journal: noReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Biology Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Biology | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Biochemistry & Molecular Biology | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Plant Sciences | Zone 2 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
Database indexing
SCIEScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Indexing the journal's website claims
MEDLINECASCAB AbstractsCurrent ContentsPublisher website
Other: Google Scholar, EBSCO, ProQuest, Dimensions, CNKI, Baidu, AGRICOLA, 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
- 3.6LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 3.7Publisher website ·
- 5-year impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 4.6Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 7.7LetPub ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 1.11LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 1.01LetPub ·
- h-index
- 157LetPub ·
- h-index
- 255OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 7,126OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 4.52OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 2.7%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 23.05%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 121LetPub ·
- Articles per year (publisher)
- 2,025Publisher website ·
- Downloads per year (publisher) 2025
- 918,000Publisher website ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 8,456 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 92 | 27 | 30 |
| 2025 | 128 | 31 | 548 |
| 2024 | 144 | 49 | 1,066 |
| 2023 | 66 | 22 | 796 |
| 2022 | 102 | 28 | 1,881 |
| 2021 | 128 | 32 | 3,624 |
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
142 daysMedian, submission to acceptance · P25–P75 101 days – 183 days
- Acceptance to online
- median 25 days (89 articles)
- Submission to online
- median 174 days
- Sample
- 89 articles with submission and acceptance dates (263 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 1 monthLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- Fairly hardLetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 8 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 4,590 / EUR 3,790 / GBP 2,990 | — | — |
A hybrid journal charges the APC only when the author chooses open access; publishing under the subscription model is usually free.
Other charges and waivers (author guidelines)
- Submission fee
- No submission fee
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)
What to prepare6 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- 150–250 words
- Keywords
- ≥ 4
- Manuscript length
- ≤ 3,500 words
- Reference style
- Author–date
- Suggested reviewers
- Optional
- Cover letter
- Required
Article types accepted10, with length limits
- brief reportResearch Reports scientific advances and contribute new insight into clearly identified research questions within the scope of the journal. Should contain a nov…main text ≤ 3,500 words
- hypothesisResearch Reports scientific advances and contribute new insight into clearly identified research questions within the scope of the journal. Should contain a nov…Length not stated
- letterResearch Reports scientific advances and contribute new insight into clearly identified research questions within the scope of the journal. Should contain a nov…Length not stated
- original researchResearch Reports scientific advances and contribute new insight into clearly identified research questions within the scope of the journal. Should contain a nov…Length not stated
- original research articleResearch Reports scientific advances and contribute new insight into clearly identified research questions within the scope of the journal. Should contain a nov…Length not stated
- perspectiveResearch Reports scientific advances and contribute new insight into clearly identified research questions within the scope of the journal. Should contain a nov…Length not stated
- research reportResearch Reports scientific advances and contribute new insight into clearly identified research questions within the scope of the journal. Should contain a nov…Length not stated
- reviewResearch Reports scientific advances and contribute new insight into clearly identified research questions within the scope of the journal. Should contain a nov…Length not stated
- surveyResearch Reports scientific advances and contribute new insight into clearly identified research questions within the scope of the journal. Should contain a nov…Length not stated
- viewpointResearch Reports scientific advances and contribute new insight into clearly identified research questions within the scope of the journal. Should contain a nov…Length not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, Data availability, Publication ethics, License & copyright, Open access, Peer review
- 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
Data availability statement required for all original research Model summary
All original research must include a Data Availability Statement. Data Availability Statements should provide information on where data supporting the results reported in the article can be found. Statements should include, where applicable, hyperlinks to publicly archived datasets analysed or generated during the study. When it is not possible to share research data publicly, for instance when in…
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 Plant Molecular Biology, including information on fees, funding and licences, visit our Open access publishing page. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review
Reviewer suggestions and exclusions allowed at submission Model summary
Authors are welcome to suggest suitable reviewers and/or request the exclusion of certain individuals when they submit their manuscripts.
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
- Semimonthly
- Founded
- 1981
- ISSN
- 0167-4412
- Electronic ISSN
- 1573-5028
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗OpenAlex
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Author guidelines ↗LetPub
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Plant Molecular Biology
What CAS zone is Plant Molecular Biology in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Plant Molecular Biology is in Zone 3 of Biology, and in Zone 3 of the minor category Biochemistry & Molecular Biology / Plant Sciences. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 2 of Biology. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of Plant Molecular Biology?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 3.6; CiteScore 7.7, h-index 255.
How long does peer review take at Plant Molecular Biology?
Based on the dates recorded on 89 articles published between October 2024 and October 2026 (the last 24 months), the median time from submission to acceptance is 142 days (interquartile range 101–183 days); authors report an average review time of about 1 month; the community-reported acceptance is “Fairly hard”. 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 Plant Molecular Biology?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: 150–250 words; Keywords: ≥ 4; Manuscript length: ≤ 3,500 words; Reference style: Author–date; Suggested reviewers: Optional; Cover letter: Required. 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.
Where are the editorial board members of Plant Molecular Biology based?
Of the 31 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 3 (about 10%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are Japan (7), United States (4) and Mainland China (3). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Plant Molecular Biology?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Plant Molecular Biology is indexed in SCIE and Scopus. The journal's website also lists MEDLINE, CAS, CAB Abstracts and Current Contents; that list has not been checked against each database.
Is Plant Molecular Biology open access, and what is the APC?
Plant Molecular Biology is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 4,590.
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 2026-08-25). Last updated: .