- For general guidance, please refer to the journal information section: “Aims & Scope”, and also “Guide for Authors”.

- All submitted papers are checked for text similarity by iThenticate.

Editorial Member(s):

1. Publication Decision

Editors of Rostaniha (Botanical Journal of Iran) are entirely free in their decision to accept/reject a paper submitted for publication. All the editorial members should not change or overrule a decision once taken by themselves (or the previous editors), respectively unless they find a firm reason. They are, therefore, responsible for the overall quality of the manuscript being accepted for publication.

2. Peer Review

The process of peer review for each paper is being performed confidentially. In the reviewing process, precautionary majors are taken to keep name of the reviewer(s) secret for the concerning author(s). Efforts are made to observe the reviewing process in a proper time considering all unpredicted consequences if occurs. The editor shall also be ensured that, reviewing process is being done fairly with no discrimination. Full manuscript is sent to 2–3 expert reviewers. The editor should not disclose the replies sent back by the reviewer(s) unless for the corresponding author to review/edit the paper. Moreover, the journal editor/reviewer(s) should not force the authors to include any articles/parts/text etc. in which they have some interest.

3. Fairness

Research articles are merely judged by its novelty, originality and merit bases irrespective of country, religion, position, institutional affiliation etc. of its author. Management of the journal must do his best for the electronic submission of the paper (through the journal’s submission device) instead of other ways of contacts.

4. Scrutiny on Published Record

Editor of the journal must keep a sharp vigilance on placement of all sources of findings in research materials and method under the framework of the journal. Therefore, if and when a dispute is emerged, editor of the journal should put all efforts to resolve the problem. If a dispute/claim occurs (such as plagiarism, republication etc.), the editor shall further take appropriate decision to detect the problem and hinder the misconduct.

Author(s):

1. Authorship of the Paper

Authors when submitting a paper should solemnly certify that, the paper is purely derived from their own original findings and is not at whole or a part derived from published/unpublished work of others. The corresponding author who is appointed for future communications would be responsible to keep interest of other authors. He/she must ensure to mention all the names of co-authors who worked for the paper. The right of author’s name hierarchy is also with the corresponding author. At the time of submission, the sender of the paper (indicated by an e-mail as paper’s corresponding author), must enclose a certificate duly attested and signed by the co-authors to show the consent of all the authors to publish the paper which act as a testimony on behalf of all authors (sample given at the end of this text). As considering all authors collectively being responsible for the paper, this means corresponding author is the responsible person to do all suggestions and corrections (within max. 15 days for short- articles/reports & 30 days for full papers) such as removal, rearrangement, addition, edition etc. being offered by the reviewer(s) as well as the editor. In some cases, corresponding author may also be asked to edit the paper more than once.

2. Affiliation

An educational, research institution, official organization etc. must be provided along with the author(s)’s contribution where the activity is/was carried out. For final checking of the paper, editor of the journal sends proof of the paper to the corresponding author. It is his/her duty to consult with co-author(s) for editing and returning the final version of the paper.

3. Novelty of a Paper

It is author(s)’s responsibility to send an original and previously unpublished article for consideration of its publication. Manuscript should not be sent to other journal(s) simultaneously.

4. Avoid Sending Inaccurate Data

All data and analyses of a research article must be accurate and sound correctly. Knowingly inaccurate data or copying/duplicating other people’s work is strictly prohibited (detail given in next section).

5. Plagiarism

Copying or replicating other’s published work in part or whole is unacceptable. All the information must be relevant and not derived from personal correspondence unless fully cited and supported with permission. Rostaniha (Bot. J. Iran)thoroughly follows all terms and condition being proposed by COPE on plagiarism. Therefore, journal editors strongly recommend avoiding submission of similar paper/study/research work/manuscript (irrespective of its language) that has already been published.

6. Authenticity and Environmental Menace

A valid herbarium voucher number, GenBank code number etc. must be obtained for the plant/fungi materials worked out in the manuscript. Authenticity of the scientific information for specific taxa must be verified through the reliable internet sources/sites. Authors must also certify that, any plant or animal species/part(s) being used in their study is/are not hazardous or do not endanger human and animal environmentallyand is/are accordance with regional and international conservation rules and regulations.

7. Photography

Original and high quality of photographs is recommended. Retouching to either enhancing or improving a photo is acceptable but not allowed if used from other sources unless permission obtained from its original owner. The permission note should be stated in an appropriate place inside the paper.

8. Chemical, Software, Factory Model/Country Name, Brand

Chemical, trademark, software, camera, instrument etc. used for the research must be clearly mentioned along with factory name, model along with the manufacturing country.

9. Abbreviations

Standard abbreviations that accepted internationally/nationally must be used in the paper.

10. Financial Support

Sponsorship or funding support for fulfillment in part or whole of the research/paper should be notedinthe Acknowledgement section.

11. Contributors

Author should individually declare his/her contributions in the covering letter to describe his/her role in preparation of the paper.

Reviewer(s):

1. Peer Review

All papers depending upon editorial decisions are sent to 1 to 3 reviewers and will be requested to scientifically review the paper and send their unbiased reports (reflecting suggestion, correction etc.) to the editor-in-chief within a proper time. The same reviewer may also be asked to re-check a paper after it was being edited by the author(s) at the final process of its conformity.

2. Cooperation

Considering reviewers as co-members of the editorial board, they help both author(s) as well as the journal for enhancing scientific quality of the manuscript. When a paper is being allotted to reviewer(s), he/she is free to accept or reject the job right at the process being started. If accepted, reviewer(s) should reasonably effort their best to send their comprehensive and constructive reports within the time-bound period designated by the editor-in-chief.

3. Reviewer’s Confidential Reports

Reviewer’s report(s) are kept confidential to the authors when his/her viewpoint is/are transferred to the authors. Reviewers are not only expected to keep their reports secret to the authors but they are also not allowed to contact the authors directly. On the other hand, unpublished materials of the authors should not be used by reviewer’s own personal work without author’s permission.

4. Reviewer’s Alertness

Reviewers should have the potentiality to inform the journal editors on whether a paper is already published or even submitted to another journal simultaneously.

5. Ethical Guidelines

Reviewers are expected to ensure that, the paper comply within the ethical guidelines and also avoid making their reports unethically. They should judge each paper for their originality, novelty and such kind of merits when taking a paper into their reviewing process.

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Corresponding Authors are requested to prepare a Recognizance Letter (sample given below), and send it along with their paper.

Recognizance Letter:

I, as corresponding author, solemnly state that, the paper entitled: "........" written by: "........................" is originally derived from pure research work of the above-mentioned author(s)/researcher(s) and is not simultaneously being submitted to any other journal for its publication until the last process which would be taken by Rostaniha journal.

Name:

Signature:

Date: 

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- This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.