Author Guidelines

 Author’s Guidelines for Submission of Manuscript

Where to submit

Indian Phytopathology publishes Full Papers, Short Communications, New Records, Focus and Book Reviews. All submissions should be addressed to: The Chief Editor/ Editor, Indian Phytopathological Society (IPS), Division of Plant Pathology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi-110012, India.

Indian Phytopathology requires that all manuscripts be submitted electronically via an Internet in order to be considered for publication. Electronic submission speeds the handling of your manuscript and allows you to monitor its status at any time during the review process.

Procedure: Type http://ipsdis.org or http://epubs.icar.org.in/ejournal/index.php/IPPJ in your Internet browser to bring up the log-in screen. First-time users must create an account. Follow the on-screen directions to create your account and submit your manuscript. Text files should be in Microsoft Word. Figures should be submitted in .tif, .eps, or .jpg format. MS should be strictly according to IPS format.

Editorial Policy/Process

• All authors in a manuscripts (MS) submitted for publication in Indian Phytopathology should be members of the Society
• MS must be original and contribute substantially to the advancement of knowledge in any discipline of Plant Pathology.
• MS should have unpublished data and should not be more than five years old; and not submitted elsewhere (wholly or in part) for publication.
• MS concerning in vitro nutritional studies and bioassay, and pre-and post infectional changes in phenols, sugars, amino acids etc. will be considered only if supported by substantial basic data for publication.
• Records of diseases/pathogens on various hosts new toIndiawould be considered for publication as ‘New Records’. Taxonomic description of ‘genera’ and ‘species’ new to the science would be considered for publication either as Full Paper or Short Communication. Deposition of culture/specimen with recognized repository such as Indian Type Culture Collection (ITCC) and HCIO, IARI,New Delhi–12 is a pre-requisite for MS acceptance. The accession number must be given in the MS. New hosts or pathogens recorded from a district or state would not be accepted for publication. New records/species, preferably be supported by molecular data.
• Long nucleotide/amino acid sequences will be published only in exceptional circumstances. Deposition of sequences with one of the publically accessible databases (Gen Bank/EMBL/DDBJ) is a pre-requisite for MS acceptance and accession number (s) must be given in the MS.
• MS are subjected to ‘peer review’ by two experts in the relevant field and by the members of Editorial Board. The decision of Chief Editor in accepting the MS with major/minor revision or rejecting the paper would be final. 

• The MS should be written in Standard English. The authors should ensure that the language and grammar of the MS is correct. Avoid using he, she, they, we I, us and our etc. in the manuscrips.

 

Manuscript Format

Manuscript should be written in standard grammatical English, preferably be submitted online. It should carry the E-mail address of the corresponding author in addition to the postal address (address without e-mail will not be consider for publication). MS should be in double space, all pages including text, references, tables and legends to figures should be numbered (also give line number in each page except tables and figures). MS should be concised and devoid of repetition between Materials and methods, Results and Discussion. Manuscripts not complying the instructions to authors will not be considered. Avoid tables in Short Communication, if possible.

 

Research Article

Preparation of manuscript

Organization of text: A Full Paper should not exceed 15,000 words. The contents should be organized as: Titl, Authors, Address, Abstract, Key Words, Introduction, Materials and Methods, Results, Discussion (Results and Discussion can also be combined), Acknowledgements and References.

 

Title          

It should be short, concise and informative, typed in first letter capital, latin name italicized.

 

Authors    

Name of the authors be typed in all capitals with each name separated by comma, except for the last two which are separated by ‘and’.

 

Abstract  

This should not exceed 250 words and should indicate main findings of the paper, without presenting experimental details and without any abbreviations, but wherever appropriate quantitative data may be given and should contain a conclusion.

 

Key words

There should be 4-5 key words indicating the contents of the MS and should follow

the abstract, be arranged alphabetically, key word should not be repeat of the title.

 

Results/data     

Data should be presented in text, tables or figures. Repetition of data in two or three forms be avoided. All quantitative data should be in standard in metric units. Each table, figure or illustration must have a self contained legend. Use prefixes to avoid citing units as decimals or as large numbers, thus, 14 mg, not 0.014 g or 14000 μg. The following abbreviations should be used : yr, wk, h, min, sec., r.h., g, ml, g/l, temp., kg/ha, a.i., 2:1 (v/v), 1:2 (w/v), 0:20:10 (N:P:K), mm, cm, nm, μm, µl, rpm, DNA, RNA, Fig. (Figs. for plural), cv. (cvs. for plural), % etc. Data should be analyzed statistically and it should be properly utilized in describing results. 

 

Materials and Methods

Experiment design and methodology to be explained, describe statistical procedures followed with references wherever applicable. Names of unusual proprietary materials and special apparatus should be followed by the manufacturer’s name (manual, city, state, country). Well known procedures should not be decribed in detail, it should be supported with references only.

 

Results
This should be presented in orderly manner, using Tables, and figures wherever necessary. Materials presented in tables should not be repeated in figures. The data given in the tables should not be repeated in the text.

 

Discussion

The discussion normally should be presented separately from the Results, and it should be noted that simple restatement of results in it does not constitute adequate discussion. The Discussion should be focused on the work presented and its relationship with other relevant published work highlighting the strengths and weaknesses.  

 

Units and Quantities

SI units are preferred. Others should be related to SI units at the first mention. Numbers proceeding units should be written as numerals; those preceeding other items up to nine should be spelt out; e.g. 8 cm, 2 days, nine fields, 10 leaves etc.

 

Figures

High resolution figures are necessary (EPS, TIF or JPEG format (600 dpi). Each complete figure should be placed in a separate file as well as in the body text of the manuscript. Compose related images as a single figure within single or double printing space. Figure parts should be denoted by lowercase letters (a), (b), (c) etc. Prepare or compose figure in the required programme and then paste them in the Window Word document. Direct pasting of figures on the Word document of Window-7 version will cause loss of resolution of images and associated letterings. Perform special paste in Window-7 and then select ‘Picture (enhanced metafile)’ for pasting clear image on the Word document.

 

Figure Lettering: Use Helvetica or Arial (sans serif font), size 8-12 pt. Avoid effects such as shading, outline letters, etc. Do not include titles embedded within your illustrations.

 

Figure Numbering: All figures are to be numbered using Arabic numerals and to be written as Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3 etc. Figures should always be cited in text in consecutive numerical order. In the figure legend, Fig is written in bold (Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3 etc.).

 

Figure Legends: Each figure should have a stand-alone informative legend. Include the legends in the text file of the manuscript, not in the figure file. No punctuation is to be included after the figure number and at the end of the legend. After the figure title, add critical parameters of the figures and details of each figure parts. Identify previously published material by giving the original source in the form of a reference citation at the end of the figure legend.

 

Graphs: Line or bar graph should be in black and white without any shading. Do not use faint lines and/or lettering and check that all lines and lettering within the figures are legible at final size. The axis line thickness should be at least 1.75-2.0 pt. Each bar should have black outline with thickness 1.25-1.5 pt. To differentiate one bar from other, use black, white or grey fill or different line-patterns. Do not use colour fill in the bar as it may be distinguished in black and white print.

 

Photograph: High resolution photographs should be composed together with hairline space and should fit either in single or double column printing space of a page. Each figure parts should be marked with (a), (b), (c) etc. Electron micrograph should have magnification bar.

Color photograph is free of charge for online publication. If black and white will be shown in the print version, make sure that the main information will still be visible. Many colors are not distinguishable from one another when converted to black and white.

 

Gel picture: Trim excess portion of the gel and retain only the band portion and then compose related gel images together. Each image should be marked with (a), (b), (c) etc and lanes with 1, 2, 3 etc. Marker bands should be labeled with nucleotide length and with bold arrows.

 

Phylogenetic Tree

Phylogenetic tree should be composed within single or double printing space. The tree branch line should be bold and branch letter should be clearly readable even after reducing the size of the tree to the printing space. The tree branch should contain name of the virus, isolate identity and accession number. The legend should have detail information about the tree including the parameters and software used. Show the grouping of the tree branch where ever applicable.

 

Coloured photographs can be printed on payment of full printing cost by the authors.

 

Tables

Each table should be self-explanatory with an appropriate caption. Table should be referred to in the text with Arabic numerals as, e.g. Table 1, etc. In the Results section, do not state ‘Table 1 shows the results of a given test’ – describe the results of the test and then indicate which table shows them. The description should not repeat the results of the table but can draw attention to particular or general features of them. Refer to tables in the sequence in which they are presented. Tables should always be cited in text in consecutive numerical order.

 

It should be typed on separate page and numbered sequentially. Tables should have a descriptive heading. Authors are advised to avoid large tables with complex columns. Data should be restricted to only one or two decimal figures only. Transformed values should be included only if these are discussed.

 

 

References   : Reference should not more than 5-8 years old. The authors are requested to limit the no. of references (upto 10 in Short Communication and upto 30 in Full Paper). References should be cited by authors and date: Gupta (1985), Gupta et al. (1985) or (Gupta and Chenulu, 1985) in the text. All the journal title should be abbreviated according to International standard abbreviation. References should be arranged in alphabetical order and listed at the end of the paper as follows :

For edited book:

Jain RK, Rao GP and Varma A (1998). Present status of management of sugarcane mosaic virus. In: Plant Virus Disease Control (Eds. Hadidi A, Khetarpal RK and Koganezana H), pp. 495-523, APS Press, Minnesota, USA.

For authored book:

Raychaudhuri SP, Johnston, Anthony and Sarbhoy AK (1996). History of Plant Pathology of South East Asia with special reference to India. APC Publication Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi, 124 pp.

For journal:

Bahadur P, Singh DV and Srivastava KD (1974). Management of wheat rust – Gene deployment a revised strategy. Indian Phytopath. 47:41-47.

 

Short Communication

Short Communication should not exceed 3000 words and should not be treated as preliminary communication for an incomplete study. It should include a brief abstract (not exceeding 150 words) and key words. The division of the text in to sections by way of heading should be omitted. Figures and Tables should be kept to a minimum. References should be in the same format as Research Article References.

 

New Records

They are meant for early dissemination of information regarding new disease situations/pathogens/hosts etc. They should not exceed approximately 300 words excluding title, authors and references (not more than two) and may contain figures (s). Accession number of HCIO and ITCC or any recognized culture collection centre and herbarium is rejected.

 

Proofs

Authors should correct the galley-proof very critically. Changes/additions should be avoided and corrected proof must be returned immediately to shorten the reproduction time.

 

Processing charges

The details of cost of the processing charges be sent along with the galley-proof.

 

Other general Guidelines

 

Authorities for Latin binomials. Citation of authorities for Latin binomial names is optional but is appropriate for manuscripts dealing with taxonomy or nomenclature or for organisms with unfamiliar binomials. When used, authorities should be provided at first mention of the organism only.

 

Bacteria. Spellings should be based on Bergey’s Manual of Systemic Bacteriology, the Approved Lists of Bacterial Names, or the lists of species validly published in the International Journal of Systemic Bacteriology (IJSB). Based on Bergey’s manual, groups below the level of subspecies should be italicized. Where applicable, designate strains.

 

Common names of plant diseases. For common names of plant diseases, the list developed by the APS Committee on Standardization of Common Names for Plant Diseases should be used (http://www.apsnet.org/publications/commonnames/Pages/Approved CommonNames.aspx).

 

Chemicals, chemistry, and biochemistry terms. The ACS Style Guide describes conventions in chemistry and biochemistry. The Merck Index and Hawley’s Condensed Chemical Dictionary are good sources for spellings of chemical terms. List fungicides by their approved common or generic names. Trade names may be included parenthetically, but do not include manufacturers. See the current issue of Farm Chemicals Handbook or the most recent edition of Acceptable Common Names and Chemical Names for the Ingredient Statement on Pesticide Labels. Use the chemical name if a common name is not available.

 

Cultures. Indicate the source of cultures. Include culture designations obtained from or deposited in recognized collections. Authors are encouraged to deposit voucher cultures and specimens documenting their research at recognized institutions and to cite the place of deposit in the text. In addition, papers are accepted on the condition that recombinant plasmids and bacteriophages, microbe strains, and plant variants developed in the course of the research will be available for distribution to all qualified members of the scientific community, either directly from the investigator or by deposit in national or international collections. Though designations from recognized collections should generally be provided, avoid unnecessary use of arbitrary genotype designations in the text. For example, “The avirulent isolate showed a larger colony diameter than did the virulent isolate” is more informative than “Isolate ISF234 showed a larger colony diameter than did isolate ABF672.”

 

Enzymes. Use the enzyme names recommended in the latest issue of Enzyme Nomenclature. Give the number (classification) of the enzyme at its first use (e.g., EC 1.1.75.6).

 

Fungi. The preferred source for common and scientific names  and authorities of fungi is “Fungi on Plants and Plant Products in the United States.” Ainsworth and Bisby’s Dictionary of the Fungi is another good reference.

 

Insects. Common Names of Insects and Related Organisms can be used to verify insect names.

 

Nucleotide or amino acid sequences. Accession numbers cited from GenBank or other sequence databases must be provided. If the sequence is not available for general access from the database when the manuscript is submitted, a computer file or copy of sequences described in the manuscript should be provided for reviewers.

 

Phylogenetic trees. Authors are encouraged to deposit phylogenetic trees and data used to generate them in TreeBASE, and cite accession number(s). If not deposited, authors of manuscripts may be required, at the discretion of the Editor, to provide unpublished sequences, alignments, or other data used to construct phylogenies, for the sole purpose of providing reviewers with sufficient data with which to evaluate the submitted manuscript. As with the manuscript itself, any unpublished information provided for the purpose of review will be considered confidential.

 

Plants. Use the term “cultivar” for cultivated agronomic and horticultural varieties. Identify the source of the cultivars. The name of a cultivar may be preceded by the abbreviation cv. or enclosed in single quotation marks.

 

Software. Software used should be treated as proprietary material or apparatus. Give the manufacturer or developer name and location parenthetically within the text. Software should not be listed in Literature Cited.