Editorial

Abstract

Welcome to this, the fifth volume of the Plant Biotechnology Journal. The journal continues to go from strength to strength and, as in all of our previous years, the submission rate of new manuscripts continues to increase. In 2006, we saw the journal's impact factor rise from a respectable 2.7 to an impressive 4.2, a 35% increase in 1 year! The increase in impact factor means that our ranking in the plant sciences category of journals is now ninth out of 144 and, within the biotechnology and applied microbiology category, it is now 16th out of 139. Authors will be pleased to know that the increased submission rate has not reduced our average turn-around time for manuscripts, which stands at a respectable 30 days. Obviously, individual manuscripts may, for various reasons, take longer to process, but every author of a manuscript submitted to the Plant Biotechnology Journal can be assured that the Editorial Board and office staff give each and every manuscript the individual attention it deserves. Despite this accomplishment, you, our reader, can be assured that we do not intend to sit back and enjoy this success; our sights are set for even greater achievements in 2007. As somebody who strongly believes that research results are of greatest value when they are shared by the whole global community, I am pleased to remind our authors that, during 2006, the Plant Biotechnology Journal launched its ‘Online Open’ scheme. The Online Open scheme, which is approved by the Wellcome Trust, allows authors of articles in the Plant Biotechnology Journal to choose to make their articles ‘open access’, and hence make them available free for all readers through the payment of an author fee. In addition to publication online via Blackwell Synergy, authors of Online Open articles are permitted to post the final published PDF of their article on a website, institutional repository or other free public server immediately on publication. In addition, the article is also deposited with PubMedCentral (PMC) as well as with any mirror of PMC. See http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/static/onlineopen.asp? for further information on this exciting development. On the subject of accessibility, I am pleased to announce that, from the beginning of 2007, manuscripts published in the Plant Biotechnology Journal will be included in MEDLINE and its associated databases, such as PubMed. This means that manuscripts published in the Plant Biotechnology Journal will be even more accessible to the research community. Much of my time as Editor-in-Chief is spent dealing with issues relating to the submission process; these can broadly be divided into issues concerning the aims and scope of the journal, the submission process and, finally, the ultimate results of the review process. Of these three categories, most enquiries concern the journal's aims and scope. The aim of the Plant Biotechnology Journal is to publish substantial, world-class primary research articles in applied plant science, involving applications of plant biotechnology and plant biology across all sectors. Applications may involve any of the following areas. Gene and genome analysis: analysis of genes and gene networks showing the potential for industrial application; gene expression studies; biotech plant breeding, e.g. marker-assisted breeding. Transgenic technologies: production and analysis of transgenic crops; gene insertion studies; gene silencing; factors affecting gene expression; post-translational analysis; molecular farming; field trial analysis; commercialization of modified crops; safety and regulatory affairs. Functional genomics: bioinformatics; gene function studies for applied uses. Comparative genomics: applications to crop species; use of current crop databases. Physiological studies: pathways relevant to an application; secondary metabolites; manipulations of physiology. Developmental studies: developmental mechanisms leading to a further understanding of an industrial use of plants. Finally, as in previous years, I continue to manage the Plant Biotechnology Journal alongside my university and laboratory-based activities. This, together with my ever-expanding garden, keeps me just on the right side of sanity, although I know that some of my colleagues question which side is which. Whatever, the Plant Biotechnology Journal is now an integral part of my life and the life of many of our regular readers and authors; I look forward to new and exciting manuscripts arriving via ManuscriptCentral and, as in previous years, may it always be so.