in Plant Science Template
Draft for in Plant Science with confidence. The template sets the correct structure, abstract, and references up front, so your manuscript clears editorial screening.
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How to Use the in Plant Science Template | A Step-by-Step Guide
Authored by Sumalatha Gangadhar | Published on 25 July, 2026
Submitting to in Plant Science goes smoothly when your draft already matches the journal's own rules. Editors screen new manuscripts against the in Plant Science guide for authors before peer review, so formatting, structure, and required statements should be right on the first draft rather than repaired during upload. This template sets that structure up for you.
What is the in Plant Science Template?
It is a manuscript shell aligned to in Plant Science. It covers front matter, the abstract the journal expects, a body organized to the journal's article types, and a reference list in the journal's required style. Confirm current scope and article types on the in Plant Science journal page before you draft.
What's actually in a PS submission:
Prepare the title, authors, affiliations, and ORCID iDs. Write the abstract to the journal's rule and word limit, organize the body to the article type, and apply the required reference style from the first citation. Complete every declaration (ethics, competing interests, funding, data availability) the in Plant Science guide for authors lists, and cite figures and tables in order.
What separates a clean submission from one that gets kicked back:
The common failure modes are formatting or reference style that does not match the guide for authors, missing required statements, and an incomplete portal checklist. Clear all three against the in Plant Science guide for authors before you submit.
What does this in Plant Science Template include?
The shell mirrors what editorial staff check first: article-type fit, the abstract rules, required declarations, and the journal's reference style. For more detail see the author resources. When your draft is ready, upload it through the Frontiers submission system.
Steps to Use This Template with Scispace Agent
- Click Start Writing on this page. The Scispace Agent prompt screen opens with the template loaded.
- Use the loaded template, or upload a version your group already uses for PS.
- Edit the prompt with your topic and article type, and note any requirement from the in Plant Science guide for authors.
- Run the prompt. The agent drafts into the correct structure and reference style.
- Use View Outputs to verify required statements and formatting are present.
- Export and submit through the Frontiers submission system.
in Plant Science Template Structure at a Glance
| Element | PS requirement |
|---|---|
| Abstract | Structured abstract required, no longer than a single paragraph, following IMRAD format (Introduction, Methods, Results, And Discussion). No specific word limit is set in the guidelines - only stated as 'no longer than a single paragraph'. Specific structure may vary by article type as stated in the author guidelines: 'For the specific structure of the abstract, authors should follow the requirements of the article type or journal to which they're submitting.' Minimize use of abbreviations and do not cite references, figures or tables in the abstract. |
| Main text | Section order and length per article type |
| Declarations | Ethics, competing interests, funding, data as required |
| Figures/tables | Publication-ready; cited in order |
| Supplemental | Upload separately when used |
| Keywords | Required: minimum of 5 and maximum of 8 keywords. Authors should pick 5-8 keywords using a mix of generic and more specific terms on the article subject(s). No mention of MeSH terms or editor-assigned keywords. |
| References | Harvard (author-date) reference style. References cited in text by name and year in parentheses. Reference list includes full last name and first name initials of the first six authors, followed by et al., year of publication, arranged in alphabetical order. Frontiers journals use either Harvard or Vancouver style - Frontiers in Plant Science specifically uses Harvard style. |
| Peer review | Open/transparent peer review. Reviewer and editor names appear on published articles. The process involves direct online dialogue between authors and reviewers through an interactive review forum. Quote from guidelines: 'The names of reviewers and editors appear on published articles, encouraging them to act responsibly and in the best interests of the final article' and 'Our process means that authors and reviewers engage in a direct online dialogue that enables quick iterations and facilitates consensus.' |
| Submission | frontiersin.org |
Quick Tips for Using the in Plant Science Template
Read the in Plant Science guide for authors once before drafting and once before upload. Draft the abstract after results are stable. Set the reference style before adding citations. Keep a cover letter that states your contribution and fit to in Plant Science in under a page.
Best Practices
Skim two or three recent PS papers to calibrate depth and figure style. Make the novelty clear in the first two pages. Deposit data and code when the policy on the in Plant Science journal page requires it. Disclose any preprint or conference version with identifiers in the cover letter.
Before You Submit: Final Check
Do one focused pass against the in Plant Science guide for authors: scope, length, reference style, required declarations, and figure quality. Then submit through the Frontiers submission system.
