Plant Gene

Plant Gene publishes high-quality research that advances understanding of plant genes and genomes, including their regulation, expression, function, and evolution and their roles in plant biology, adaptation, and traits of biological or agricultural relevance. The journal provides a dedicated forum for studies on the discovery, characterization, and functional interpretation of plant genes, genetic variations, and genome features across model and non-model species, including crops, horticultural species, and wild plants.

The journal publishes original research articles, short communications, reviews, and resource articles that provide new biological insights, robust functional interpretation, or valuable reference resources relevant to plant gene and genome research.

Topics considered for publication span diverse areas of plant molecular biology, genetics, and genomics, including but not limited to

• Plant gene regulation and expression (transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation, RNA biology, regulatory elements, epigenetics)

• Plant genome biology and evolution (nuclear, plastid, and mitochondrial genomes; chromatin organization; transposable elements; comparative and evolutionary genomics)

• Functional and mechanistic genomics (gene discovery and characterization, functional genomics, pathway and network analysis, multi-omics integration)

• Plant development, signaling, and environmental responses (hormone signaling, developmental transitions, abiotic and biotic stress responses)

• Plant–microbe interactions and associated systems (symbiosis, pathogenesis, endophytes, co-evolution, horizontal gene transfer relevant to plant biology)

• Plant diversity, adaptation, and traits (population and evolutionary genetics, domestication, genetic diversity, gene-to-trait relationships, crop improvement)

• Computational and translational approaches in plant genomics (AI and machine learning applications, predictive modeling, data integration, genome editing, plant biotechnology)

Submissions may range from studies of individual genes or regulatory elements to analyses of pathways, networks, and genome-scale datasets. Plant Gene welcomes hypothesis-driven, descriptive, confirmatory, and resource-generating studies when they provide sound data and clear value to the plant genetics and genomics community. Computational studies and resource articles must provide appropriate biological, functional or benchmarking validation. Studies in algae and other photosynthetic organisms, as well as plant-associated microorganisms, are also considered when they provide clear insights into plant gene or genome biology or plant–microbe interactions.

Studies that are purely descriptive, with limited biological, comparative, or resource value, as well as computational predictions without adequate validation or interpretation, are generally outside the scope of the journal.

Plant Gene is a companion journal to Gene and a member of the Gene Family of journals, alongside Gene Reports and Human Gene, offering a coordinated forum for research on genes, genetic variation, and gene function, with Plant Gene offering a focused platform for plant-centered gene and genome research.