SCIENTIFIC NOVELTYField Crops Research is an international journal publishing scientific articles on:√ Original experimental and modelling research, meta-analysis of published data. √ Articles must demonstrate new scientific insights, original technologies or novel methods at crop, field, farm and landscape levels.FOCUS and SCOPEThe focus of Field Crops Research is crop ecology, crop physiology, agronomy, and crop improvement of field crops for food, fibre, feed and biofuel. The inclusion of yield data is encouraged to demonstrate how the field experiments contribute to the understanding of the bio-physical processes related to crop growth, development and the formation and realisation of yield. Articles on quality (grain, fibre, fodder), breeding and genetics, crop protection (diseases, pests, weeds), phenotyping, remote and non-contact sensing, soils, climate and greenhouse gas emissions, are encouraged, provided they are integrated with crop ecology, crop physiology, crop improvement and/or agronomy. Articles containing new insights into resource-use efficiency, crop intensification, precision and digital agriculture, climate smart practices and molecular and/or physiological breeding are welcome. Studies at lower levels of organisation (plant to molecular) must demonstrate scaling up to crop level or higher.SCIENTIFIC and PRESENTATION STANDARDManuscripts must be written in grammatically sound English.Objectives must flow from complete, brief, unbiased and updated review of the literature.Experimental design must match objectives.Field experiments must be repeated in at least two seasons or locations.Key agronomic practices and environmental conditions (soil, weather) must be detailed, and weather information should be shown in relation to crop phenology.Data must be analysed with appropriate statistics, and results have to be concise and address objectives.A separate discussion must not repeat results but place findings in agronomic context with conclusions fully justified by data.OUT of SCOPEResearch that is corroborative, descriptive, or only of local significance.Studies carried-out exclusively under controlled-environment (greenhouse, pot, or any system that constricts root growth) conditions.Studies on natural grasslands, horticultural (i.e., vegetable and fruit species), woody perennial and non-cultivated species.One-year field studies in one location or environment.Articles on crop storage, transportation and usage, and social studies on crops and cropping systems.
Industrial Crops and Products is an international journal publishing research on cultivated plants (crops) of industrial interest (non-food, non-feed). Papers concern both crop-oriented and bio-based materials research. It should be of interest to an international audience, hypothesis driven, and repeatable. Crops and products of interest include: fiber, forest, and energy crops, industrial oilseeds, rubber and resins, and cultivated medicinal and aromatic plants. The plant(s) in the manuscript must fit our definition of industrial crops, before it is classified further in research topics as indicated below. Research on food, phytochemistry, ethnobotany, and medicine are not in the scope of the journal. Authors should make clear in the cover letter how the research fits our scope following the detailed scope description below.The following are examples of research that fits within the scope of the journal:Industrial crop management practices to increase productivity and specific chemical components. Including cultural practices (sowing, plant density, fertilization, pruning, shading, management of wild stands for sustainable harvest, pests and weed management, harvest, post-harvest, etc.).Breeding and genetics of cultivated industrial crops. The research must be of international interest and hypothesis driven. The research must be of value to other breeders and the germplasm developed must be available to other researchers for further genetic improvement.Response of cultivated industrial crops to abiotic (temperature, water, salinity, pH, heavy metals, etc.) and biotic stresses (insects, diseases, weeds).Sustainable cropping systems including an industrial crop to reduce negative environmental impacts of conventional cropping systems. For example, cultivation in marginal lands, intercropping, double or relay cropping, cover cropping or other systems intended to minimize soil erosion, eutrophication, greenhouse gases emissions, loss of biodiversity, etc.New techniques for the propagation of industrial crops or production of metabolites in vitro (root and tissue culture, micropropagation).Discovery or development of new industrial crops is in the scope, but must include an evaluation of the real potential to make a plant an industrial crop, not just information on plants gathered in natural habitats (many plants make products, but they will not become a crop). An economic analysis may be included as appropriate.Extraction methods of metabolites from industrial crops and waste streams of industrial crops processing (non-food related).Biochemical and thermochemical conversion of lignocellulosic biomass.Bio-based materials:Fiber and fiber compounds: cellulose-, hemicelluloses-and lignin-based products, textiles, nanofibers, composites, films, etc.Other crop-polysaccharides based materials such as carbohydrates and proteins-based products not intended for the food industry (adhesives, varnishes, paints, etc.)Rubber, waxes, resins, gums from cropsPolymers from cropsCrop and forestry biorefinery:Energy crops: fuel (bioethanol, biogas, syngas), biochar, chemicals, etc.Oils, fatty acids, biofuels (biodiesel, jet fuel, drop-in fuels), and chemicals derived from oilseed cropsBiologically active compounds:Insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, and pharmaceuticals (the species has to fit our definition of industrial crop; cultivated plants or plants with demonstrated potential to be cultivated with non-food purposes)Essential oils: inks, dyes, lubricants, perfumes, cosmetics, plastics, and other industrial applicationsBio-based products must be tied to specific crops/plants, and their modification to meet new industrial uses. For instance, for nanoparticles, a direct link is required with an industrial crop or with the respective value-chain.In the manuscript, all species must include the Latin name and Authority, the first time the species is mentioned in the abstract or text.Research not in the scope of the journal:Field or horticultural crops and products which main use is food, functional food, or nutraceutical. Some crops might have both an industrial and food use. For example rapeseed (Brassica napus L.), if the work is directed to industrial rapeseed (biodiesel, jet fuel) fits the scope; but if it is a canola type with main use as food; then is not in the scope, same for other oilseeds (sunflower, safflower), sugar crops( sugarcane, sugarbeet), and others.Non-plant research or non-plant derived products, for instance animal, algae, fungi, microorganisms, and minerals. For example: honey, propolis, chitosan, graphene, etc. are not in the scope.Genetic, phytochemical, molecular characterization or screening of plant species collected in their natural habitat or a local set of genotypes of a species with or without potential to become a cultivated industrial crop.In vitro antioxidant activity characterization with indirect methods (DPPH, ABTS, FRAP or ORAC) of plants or plant parts without proof of biological activity. Antioxidant activity is present in all plants and thus is meaningless without additional data.Edible films and food/feed related antioxidant activity.Ethnobotany, ethnopharmacology, pharmacology, and phytochemistry.Development of analytical methods of metabolites.Valorization and metabolite extraction of waste streams from food industry (peels, seeds, pomace, coffee grounds, vegetables processing, etc.).
Expanding the scope of Scientia HorticulturaeSubmissions to Scientia Horticulturae must clearly fall within the scope of horticultural science. This is a critical aspect for the initial evaluation of whether a manuscript is accepted or rejected.1. In this context, descriptions of plant species, topics, and experimental designs that are OUT OF SCOPE are provided below. Note, many excellent manuscripts may need to be directed elsewhere if they fall outside these parameters.1.1. Regarding PLANT SPECIES: Manuscript submissions focusing on cereal, agronomic, forestry, medicinal, industrial, and oleaginous crops (e.g., olive studies linked to oil production) are out of scope. Some row crops that yield a product that may be used fresh (e.g., tropical vegetables, citrus, bananas, and other fruits) will be considered. Dried or highly processed crops as well as manuscripts that describe the processing of a plant product (e.g., rubber, tobacco, and quinine) will not be considered.1.2. Regarding TOPICS: a) Phytopathological studies that focus on a pathogen(s) or plant physiology without a clear horticulture orientation or economic impact on horticultural crop production are out of scope. b) Plant molecular and phylogenetic studies without a clear horticultural orientation, as well as basic molecular studies with no direct application to horticulture traits are also out of scope. c) Food technology studies focused on processed products, rather than fresh products, are out of scope; however, postharvest studies are within the journal’s scope. d) Crop management studies must be linked to horticultural traits. e) Papers on the technical aspects of horticulture (such as engineering, imaging and data processing, crop processing, storage and transport) will only be considered if they relate directly to the living product with a clear horticulture focus.1.3. Regarding EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: several seasons are required for many phenology studies. Analysis using local ecotypes without pedigree descriptions, and lacking international references are of limited interest. However, single-season studies based on robust data and considering multiple traits with significant results may be considered as short communications. Experimental designs and statistical analyses for all submitted manuscripts must be rigorous, including the necessary replications in any phenotypic or molecular study. Simple comparisons (such as yield and morphological traits) between genotypes without encompassing any physiological aspects are out of scope.Our journal is one of the leading global sources of information for horticulture researchers. The knowledge we publish must be accurate, significant, novel, advance the state-of-the-art, and be of interest to our international readership. The growth of the journal must continue in a sustainable way. The quality of the journal will be enhanced by increasing its Impact Factor, thereby making it an attractive publishing venue for top-tier research groups.2. In this context, we can clarify ADDITIONAL SCOPES of the journal.2.1. Regarding ACCEPTED SPECIES: A wide variety of horticultural crops with significant economic value may be considered. For example, Scientia Horticulturae is one of the few Q1 journals that accepts papers on edible fungi (mushrooms), and we are open to expanding the acceptance of papers on these species. Potentially, medicinal crops should also be included if they have a direct fresh use, except for rare regional medicinal crops, although this becomes complex when considering phytochemicals and related aspects. Exploitation of wild germplasm resources also has good prospects in horticulture, and manuscripts will be considered if they have a clear horticultural focus.2.2. Regarding NEW TOPICS: Submissions that focus on omics, biochemistry, micropropagation, breeding, plant physiology, and phytopathology will be considered if they contain information that relates to important horticulture traits. Additionally, new uses of fresh crops and the development of new quality indicators or methods to assess product quality for fresh fruits and vegetables are acceptable for submission. New sustainable production systems or techniques in horticulture, focusing on horticultural crops and traits rather than technical details, are of great interest. These include urban horticulture, mitigation of climate change on horticultural crop production, soilless culture, novel growing media, and protected cultivation. Socio-horticulture, which examines the sociological impact and implications of horticulture on people and communities, is also acceptable for submission. This may include consumer studies that deal with horticultural crops or traits. The Manuscriptsthataddress symbioses between microbes and horticultural plants are also acceptable for submission if they relate to the production of horticultural crops.