About the Journal of Plant Cell Development

Advancing plant molecular biology through rigorous peer-reviewed research on cellular mechanisms, gene regulation, and developmental pathways that shape plant form and function.

Molecular Insights into Plant Cell Biology

The Journal of Plant Cell Development (JPCD) (ISSN 2832-5311) is an open access, peer-reviewed platform dedicated to publishing cutting-edge research in plant molecular biology and cellular processes. Our journal focuses on the fundamental mechanisms that govern plant cell structure, function, signaling, metabolism, and development at the molecular and biochemical levels.

JPCD provides a scholarly forum for researchers investigating gene expression patterns, protein interactions, metabolic networks, and cellular differentiation processes that underlie plant growth, adaptation, and responses to environmental challenges. We publish research employing genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and systems biology approaches to elucidate the molecular architecture of plant cells.

As part of the Open Access Pub portfolio, JPCD operates under strict ethical guidelines and transparent peer review processes aligned with COPE standards, ensuring scientific integrity and reproducibility in all published work.

12-15 Days to First Decision

24-48h Acceptance to Online

100% Open Access Articles

Global Indexing Coverage

Research Scope & Molecular Focus Areas

JPCD welcomes original research, reviews, and short communications that advance our understanding of plant cellular and molecular processes. Our scope encompasses fundamental molecular biology research across diverse plant systems, from model organisms to crop species.

Gene Expression & Regulation

Transcriptional control, epigenetic modifications, post-transcriptional regulation, RNA processing, and non-coding RNA functions in plant development.

Cellular Signaling Pathways

Signal transduction cascades, hormone perception and response, calcium signaling, kinase networks, and second messenger systems in plant cells.

Protein Structure & Function

Protein-protein interactions, post-translational modifications, protein localization, enzyme kinetics, and structural biology of plant proteins.

Cellular Metabolism

Metabolic pathway analysis, metabolomics, enzyme regulation, carbon and nitrogen metabolism, and secondary metabolite biosynthesis.

Cell Differentiation & Development

Molecular mechanisms of cell fate determination, tissue-specific gene expression, developmental transitions, and cellular morphogenesis.

Organelle Biology

Chloroplast and mitochondrial function, protein targeting, organellar gene expression, and inter-organellar communication at molecular level.

Stress Response Mechanisms

Molecular pathways mediating responses to abiotic and biotic stress, protective protein functions, and cellular adaptation mechanisms.

Systems Biology & Omics

Genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics integration, network analysis, and computational modeling of cellular processes.

Methodological Rigor: JPCD prioritizes manuscripts demonstrating robust experimental design, appropriate controls, statistical validation, and reproducible methodologies. We encourage data sharing through public repositories and support transparent reporting of materials, methods, and analytical approaches.

Article Types & Publication Formats

JPCD publishes diverse article formats to accommodate different research outputs and communication needs within the plant molecular biology community:

Original Research Articles: Comprehensive reports of novel experimental findings with full methodological detail and data interpretation
Reviews & Mini-Reviews: Critical syntheses of current knowledge, emerging trends, and future directions in specific areas
Short Communications: Concise reports of preliminary findings, technical advances, or time-sensitive discoveries
Methods & Protocols: Detailed descriptions of novel techniques, improvements to existing methods, or validated protocols
Data Notes: Reports focused on novel datasets, omics resources, or bioinformatics tools valuable to the research community
Letters to the Editor: Expert commentary on previously published articles or emerging issues in plant molecular biology

Peer Review Process & Editorial Standards

JPCD operates a rigorous single-blind peer review system managed by our expert editorial board. Each manuscript undergoes evaluation by at least two independent reviewers with expertise in the relevant molecular biology subdiscipline.

Initial Screening (2-3 days): Editorial assessment of scope fit, methodological soundness, and scientific merit by the handling editor.

Peer Review (10-15 days): Independent evaluation by expert reviewers focusing on experimental design, data quality, interpretation validity, and significance.

Editorial Decision (12-15 days average): Accept, minor/major revision, or reject decision communicated with detailed reviewer feedback.

Revision & Re-review (as needed): Authors address reviewer comments; revised manuscripts undergo expedited re-evaluation.

Production & Publishing (24-48 hours post-acceptance): Rapid copyediting, author proofing, and online publication with DOI assignment.

Quality Assurance: All accepted manuscripts undergo plagiarism screening, image integrity verification, and statistical validation checks. JPCD adheres to comprehensive editorial policies ensuring transparency, fairness, and ethical compliance throughout the publication process.

Why Publish with JPCD?

Rapid Publication Timeline: Fast-track review and publishing processes ensure timely dissemination of your molecular biology discoveries
Expert Editorial Oversight: Rigorous evaluation by leading plant molecular biologists guarantees high scientific standards and constructive feedback
Global Open Access: Immediate worldwide availability maximizes visibility, citations, and research impact across the scientific community
No Geographic Barriers: We welcome submissions from researchers worldwide, fostering international collaboration and knowledge exchange
Comprehensive Indexing: Articles indexed in major scientific databases ensuring discoverability by researchers, databases, and search engines
Author Rights Retention: Creative Commons licensing allows authors to retain copyright while enabling broad reuse and dissemination
Post-Publication Promotion: Active social media campaigns and targeted outreach amplify your research reach beyond traditional channels
Data Transparency: Support for supplementary materials, data repository linking, and detailed method documentation enhances reproducibility

Submission Guidelines & Requirements

Authors should prepare manuscripts according to JPCD formatting standards before submission. Detailed guidance is available in our Instructions for Authors.

Manuscript Structure: Include Title, Author List with Affiliations and ORCID IDs, Structured Abstract (200-300 words), Introduction, Materials & Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusions, Data Availability Statement, Acknowledgments (if applicable), Conflict of Interest Declaration, Funding Information, and References formatted per journal style.

Submit manuscripts directly through our Online Manuscript Submission portal or via email to [email protected]. For submission assistance, use the live chat feature on our website.

Publication Ethics & Integrity

JPCD is committed to maintaining the highest standards of publication ethics. We follow COPE guidelines and expect all participants—authors, reviewers, and editors—to adhere to ethical research and publishing practices.

Originality & Plagiarism: All submissions must be original work not published elsewhere; manuscripts undergo similarity screening
Data Integrity: Authors must provide accurate, reproducible data; image manipulation and data fabrication are strictly prohibited
Authorship Criteria: All listed authors must meet authorship criteria and approve the final manuscript version
Conflict of Interest: Full disclosure of financial, personal, or professional relationships that could influence research interpretation
Ethical Approvals: Research involving genetically modified organisms or regulated biological materials must document appropriate institutional approvals
Peer Review Integrity: Confidential, unbiased evaluation free from conflicts of interest; reviewers must disclose any competing interests

Article Processing Charges

JPCD operates an open access publishing model supported by article processing charges (APCs) paid by authors or their institutions upon manuscript acceptance. APCs enable us to maintain professional editorial services, rigorous peer review, production quality, and permanent open access archiving.

We offer APC waivers and discounts for authors from low-income countries and those demonstrating financial hardship. Contact our editorial office at [email protected] to discuss funding assistance options.

Contribute to Plant Molecular Biology Knowledge

Join the global community of plant scientists advancing our understanding of cellular mechanisms through rigorous molecular research. Submit your discoveries to JPCD and benefit from rapid, fair peer review and worldwide open access dissemination.

Submit Manuscript Author Guidelines

Questions or Inquiries? Our editorial team is available to answer questions about scope suitability, submission procedures, review timelines, or ethical requirements. Contact us at [email protected] or use our website chat feature for prompt assistance.