Plagiarism Policy

Plagiarism Policy

At Acta Botanica Plantae, plagiarism is strictly prohibited. Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to, the uncredited copying or reuse of text, ideas, images, or data from other sources, violating the ethical principles of academic publishing. This also encompasses self-plagiarism, where authors reuse portions of their previous publications without proper citation.

Authors must ensure all reused text or ideas are appropriately cited at the point of use. Text reuse should be minimal and must be clearly attributed or quoted in the manuscript.

Acta Botanica Plantae utilizes iThenticate software to screen all submissions for originality before publication. This software compares manuscripts against a vast database of published research and web content. Any detected issues are addressed following the COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) guidelines. If plagiarism is confirmed, the manuscript may be rejected, corrected, or retracted. In severe cases, the authors’ institutions may be informed. We encourage editors, reviewers, and readers to report suspected plagiarism during any stage of peer review, publication, or post-publication.

Duplicate Publication

Acta Botanica Plantae accepts only original content. Articles must not have been previously published or submitted elsewhere, including in non-English languages. If related materials are under consideration or in press elsewhere, authors must disclose this in their cover letter.

Reuse of previously published work requires citation and clear differentiation of the new manuscript from the prior work. Substantial reuse of figures or text may require copyright permissions, which are the responsibility of the authors.

Exceptions include:

• Preprints: Manuscripts posted on preprint servers or institutional websites are allowed.
• Theses: Academic theses made publicly available by institutional requirements are exempt.
• Conference Abstracts/Posters: Prior publication of abstracts or posters at conferences is permissible but must be disclosed.
• Datasets: Publicly accessible datasets prior to manuscript submission are allowed.
• Clinical Trial Results: Summary results in public registries are acceptable with proper citation.
• Translations: With permission and clear acknowledgment, translated articles may be considered at the editor’s discretion.

Manuscripts found to be redundant after publication will be managed following the COPE flowcharts, with corrections or retractions issued as necessary.

Misconduct Policy

Scientific misconduct is addressed on a case-by-case basis, adhering to COPE, WAME, and ICMJE guidelines. Misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

• Falsification of data: Fabrication, selective reporting, or suppression of data.
• Plagiarism: Use of others’ ideas or language without credit.
• Improper authorship: Misrepresentation of contributions or lack of authors’ agreement on publication.
• Duplicate publication: Submission of the same or similar work to multiple journals.
• Ethical violations: Non-compliance with regulations on human or animal research, investigational drugs, or hazardous materials.

Editors will investigate allegations thoroughly and may involve authors, reviewers, or institutional bodies. Appropriate actions, including corrections or retractions, will be taken when misconduct is verified.

CrossMark, Corrections, and Retractions

Acta Botanica Plantae is committed to maintaining the accuracy and integrity of published work:

• CrossMark: We participate in CrossMark to notify readers of updates or changes to published content.
• Corrections: Errors identified post-publication will be corrected promptly, with the original article remaining accessible alongside the correction notice.
• Retractions: Articles may be retracted for serious errors or misconduct. Retractions will follow COPE guidelines and remain linked to the original article, ensuring transparency.

Preprint Policy

We allow authors to post preprints of their manuscripts on preprint servers, institutional websites, or communication platforms before submission. Preprints must be disclosed during submission, and once accepted, authors should update preprint records to include a journal reference and DOI.

Post-Publication Discussions

We encourage readers, authors, and organizations to report errors or ethical concerns in published articles. Issues will be investigated thoroughly, and appropriate actions (e.g., corrections or retractions) will follow. Readers are also welcome to submit critiques, commentaries, or letters to the editor.

Archive and Preservation

To ensure long-term preservation of content, all published articles are archived on the Portico platform. Authors are encouraged to deposit articles in PubMed Central or other appropriate archives, complying with institutional and funder requirements.

Appeals and Complaints

Authors may appeal editorial decisions or review reports by contacting the editorial office. Appeals will be reviewed thoroughly, and editors may seek additional peer reviews to make a final decision. Complaints regarding editorial processes or publication ethics should be directed to the journal’s editorial office. Serious complaints involving editors may be escalated to the publisher.

Advertising Policy

The mission of Acta Botanica Plantae is to disseminate high-quality botanical research freely and widely. To support this mission:

• All advertisements must be clearly distinguishable from editorial content.
• Editorial decisions are not influenced by advertisers.
• Advertisements must comply with legal and ethical standards.
• Editors-in-Chief have the final authority to approve or reject advertisements.

Complaints regarding advertisements will be reviewed and resolved appropriately.