Journal profile · Plant Sciences
Plant Physiology and Biochemistry
ISSN 0981-9428 · eISSN 1873-2690 · Elsevier Masson SAS · FRANCE · Monthly · Founded 1987
Plant Physiology and Biochemistry: CAS Zone 2 · Biology (2025 upgraded edition, Top journal); impact factor 6.11; hybrid open access; APC about USD 3,990; median 89 days to acceptance (144 articles, last 24 months); community-reported acceptance: about 75%; 1,399 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Plant Physiology and Biochemistry is published by Elsevier Masson SAS and is in Zone 2 of Biology in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition, Top journal). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Plant Stress Responses and Tolerance, Plant Molecular Biology Research and Photosynthetic Processes and Mechanisms, together about 35.6% of its articles. Its main subfields are Plant Science and Molecular Biology. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
Integrating molecular, cellular, and organismal plant biologyPlant Physiology and Biochemistry publishes original theoretical, experimental and technical contributions in the various fields of plant physiology (biochemistry, physiology, structure, genetics, plant-microbe interactions, etc.) at diverse levels of integration (molecular, subcellular, cellular, organ, whole plant, environmental). Opinions expressed in the journal are the sole responsibility of the authors and publication does not imply the agreement.Manuscripts describing molecular-genetic and/or gene expression data that are not integrated with biochemical analysis and/or actual measurements of plant physiological processes are not suitable for PPB. Also "Omics" studies (transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, etc.) reporting descriptive analysis without an element of functional validation assays of investigated genes (DEGs), will not be considered. Similarly, applied agronomic or phytochemical studies that generate no new, fundamental insights in plant physiological and/or biochemical processes are not suitable for publication in PPB. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry publishes several types of articles: Reviews, Papers and Short Papers. Authors interested in writing a review article should contact one of the review editors in advance by submitting a summary of the intended manuscript. The editor may then send an official letter of invitation with further instructions. Reviews should not exceed 40 typewritten pages and Short Papers no more than approximately 8 typewritten pages. The fundamental character of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry remains that of a journal for original results.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Plant Sciences
Editor-in-chief Guojing LiPublisher website
Editorial board by country: 26 in mainland China (about 25%); most named Mainland China 26, India 12, United States 10, Italy 8, Spain 6 (103 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Plant Stress Responses and ToleranceAgricultural and Biological Sciences18.3%
- Plant Molecular Biology ResearchAgricultural and Biological Sciences9.4%
- Photosynthetic Processes and MechanismsBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology7.9%
- Plant Gene Expression AnalysisBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology7%
- Plant nutrient uptake and metabolismAgricultural and Biological Sciences6.9%
- Plant Micronutrient Interactions and EffectsAgricultural and Biological Sciences4.6%
- Plant-Microbe Interactions and ImmunityAgricultural and Biological Sciences4.1%
- Plant responses to water stressAgricultural and Biological Sciences4.1%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Biology Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Biology | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Plant Sciences | Zone 2 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Biology Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Biology | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Plant Sciences | Zone 2 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Biology Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Biology | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Plant Sciences | Zone 2 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: no
Database indexing
SCIEScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
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
- 6.11LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher)
- 6.2Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 8.2LetPub ·
- CiteScore (publisher)
- 8.2Publisher website ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 1.31LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 1.31LetPub ·
- h-index
- 105LetPub ·
- h-index
- 208OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 6,754OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 5.9OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 8.1%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 14.85%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 1,341LetPub ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 10,971 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 773 | 756 | 407 |
| 2025 | 1,399 | 365 | 5,897 |
| 2024 | 1,016 | 219 | 12,502 |
| 2023 | 749 | 118 | 15,171 |
| 2022 | 431 | 58 | 11,781 |
| 2021 | 570 | 102 | 22,842 |
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 PubMed · to
89 daysMedian, submission to acceptance · P25–P75 71 days – 131 days
- Acceptance to online
- median 1 days (144 articles)
- Submission to online
- median 93 days
- Sample
- 144 articles with submission and acceptance dates (2,488 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 7 monthsLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- 75%LetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 5 daysPublisher website ·
- First decision after review
- 39 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to acceptance
- 95 daysPublisher website ·
- Acceptance to publication
- 2 daysPublisher website ·
- Peer review
- Single 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 3,990 / EUR 3,730 / GBP 3,190 / JPY 494,880 | — | — | |
| Publisher website | USD 3,000 | — | — |
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 prepare6 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- ≤ 250 words
- Keywords
- 1–7
- Reference style
- Author–date
- Suggested reviewers
- Optional
- Highlights
- Required
- Cover letter
- Required
Article types accepted6
- letterPlant and Biochemistry publishes several types of articles: Reviews, Papers and Short Papers. Reviews should not exceed 40 typewritten pages (see detailed instr…Length not stated
- papersPlant Physiology and Biochemistry publishes several types of articles: Reviews, Papers and Short Papers.Length not stated
- reviewPlant and Biochemistry publishes several types of articles: Reviews, Papers and Short Papers. Reviews should not exceed 40 typewritten pages (see detailed instr…Length not stated
- review articlePlant and Biochemistry publishes several types of articles: Reviews, Papers and Short Papers. Reviews should not exceed 40 typewritten pages (see detailed instr…Length not stated
- reviewsPlant Physiology and Biochemistry publishes several types of articles: Reviews, Papers and Short Papers.Length not stated
- short papersPlant Physiology and Biochemistry publishes several types of articles: Reviews, Papers and Short Papers.Length not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, License & copyright, Open access, Peer review, Preprints
- AI use Declaration of generative AI use
Authors must declare the use of generative AI tools in the manuscript preparation process upon submission of the paper.Generative AI and AI-assisted technologies (“AI tools”) have been rapidly adopted in research and scholarly publishing, offering significant benefits while requiring clear standards for responsible and transparent use.Authors preparing a manuscript for this journal may use AI tool…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Authorship Group authorship
Group authorship refers to the attribution of an article to a defined and named group of authors whose members have contributed to the work. Examples include research consortia, clinical trial groups, collaborative networks, task forces or working groups, expert panels or consensus groups, and participatory research groups. Group authorship must be declared on the title page at submission. When av…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Declaration of competing interests
All authors must disclose any financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence or bias their work. Examples of potential competing interests include:EmploymentConsultanciesStock ownershipHonorariaPaid expert testimonyPatent applications or registrationsGrants or any other fundingAffiliation with the journal as an Editor or Advisory Board …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright License options
Authors will be offered open access user license options which will determine how you, and third parties, can reuse your open access article. We advise that you review these options and any funding body license requirements before selecting a license option.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access
We refer you to our open access information page to learn about open access options for this journal.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review Peer review
Single anonymized review process Model summary
This journal follows a single anonymized review process. Your submission will initially be assessed by our editors. If your submission is deemed suitable, it will typically be sent to be reviewed by a minimum of two reviewers for an independent expert assessment of the scientific quality. The decision as to whether your article is accepted or rejected for publication will be made by our editors.Re…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Preprints Preprints
Preprint sharingAuthors may share preprints in line with Elsevier's article sharing policy. Sharing preprints, such as on a preprint server, will not count as prior publication.We advise you to read our policy on multiple, redundant or concurrent publication. In support of Open Science, this journal offers its authors a free preprint posting service on SSRN, Elsevier’s preprint and early research …
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
- Elsevier Masson SAS
- Country or region
- FRANCE
- Language
- Multi-Language
- Frequency
- Monthly
- Founded
- 1987
- ISSN
- 0981-9428
- Electronic ISSN
- 1873-2690
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗LetPub
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Plant Physiology and Biochemistry
What CAS zone is Plant Physiology and Biochemistry in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Plant Physiology and Biochemistry is in Zone 2 of Biology, and in Zone 2 of the minor category Plant Sciences; it is a Top journal. 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 Physiology and Biochemistry?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 6.11; CiteScore 8.2, h-index 208.
How long does peer review take at Plant Physiology and Biochemistry?
Based on the dates recorded on 144 articles published between October 2024 and October 2026 (the last 24 months), the median time from submission to acceptance is 89 days (interquartile range 71–131 days); authors report an average review time of about 7 months; the community-reported acceptance is “about 75%”. 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 Physiology and Biochemistry?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: ≤ 250 words; Keywords: 1–7; Reference style: Author–date; Suggested reviewers: Optional; Highlights: Required; 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 Physiology and Biochemistry based?
Of the 103 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 26 (about 25%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are Mainland China (26), India (12) and United States (10). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Plant Physiology and Biochemistry?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Plant Physiology and Biochemistry is indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Is Plant Physiology and Biochemistry open access, and what is the APC?
Plant Physiology and Biochemistry is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 3,990.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, Publisher website, OpenAlex; 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: .