Submission Guidelines for Maize Sciences
GENERAL INFORMATION
Maize Sciences is an open-access and international peer-reviewed serial academic journal, sponsored by Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences (Northeast Agricultural Research Center of China), co-sponsored by the National Technology Innovation Center for Corn Seed Industry and the State Key Laboratory of Maize Bio-Breeding, hosting by the Higher Education Press. The journal is published online. Online versions are available at https://journal.hep.com.cn/maize.
A checklist of special requirements submission to Maize Sciences is provided as following to save time from scanning the whole guide and to help re-check before submission.
Article types:
Research article
Word limit: not exceed 6,000 words in the main text (excluding the title page, references, figure legends, and tables) and have no more than 8 display items (figures and tables) in total.
Research articles should fully present systematic and in-depth research achievements in the field of maize science, with standardized structure and detailed content, reflecting the academic level and innovation of the research. A research article typically includes the following sections in the main text: Abstract, Introduction, Materials and methods, Results, Discussion, and Conclusion.
Review
Word limit: not exceed 8,000 words in the main text (excluding the title page, references, figure legends, and tables) and have no more than 10 display items (figures and tables) in total.
Review articles should systematically summarize the research progress, hot issues, and future development directions of a specific field in maize science, with comprehensiveness and guiding significance, providing reference for researchers to grasp the research context.
Letters
Word limit: not exceed 2000 words and should include at least 8 references, together with no more than three figures and tables in total.
Letters focus on publishing the latest breakthrough achievements and urgent research findings in the field of maize science, with the characteristics of timeliness and conciseness, ensuring rapid communication of vital academic advancements.
Methods
Word limit: not exceed 5000 words, together with no more than 7 figures and tables in total.
Methods focus on the development, improvement and application of new technologies, new methods and new tools in maize research, highlight innovation, feasibility and practicality, and provide technical support for the field of maize science.
Applications
Word limit: not exceed 5000 words, together with no more than 7 figures and tables in total.
Applications focus on the validation, demonstration, and transfer of new technologies, new methods and new tools in maize research, emphasize real-world deployment, scenario adaptability and practical outcomes, and promote the translation of research into field applications in maize science.
Special column
Reports typically present significant findings of broad interest, used to provide and analyze specific information, to be applied to discuss or solve particular problems.
Perspectives (up to 2000 words) are academic reviews of fundamental concepts or prevailing ideas in the field of maize research, typically in the form of an essay, offering personal commentary on the concepts and insights into recent research trends.
Editorials (up to 1000 words) are signed pieces (up to 2 authors) and express a compelling opinion on a broadly interesting topic. With rare exceptions, they are solicited by the editors.
Others: News, Comments, Highlights, Data, and Resource, and Information articles are also published in Maize Sciences.
Submission Process
The manuscript should be submitted online through the official Manuscript Submission System of Maize Sciences (https://journal.hep.com.cn/maize). Submissions by email or post will not be considered. The system allows authors to track the status of their manuscripts throughout the review and publication process.
All manuscripts submitted will be evaluated by the Editorial Board. The Board may reject manuscripts without further review or may subject manuscripts to the "double-blind peer review" mechanism. Manuscripts that do not meet the standards of the journal will be rejected. When revisions are requested prior to final decision, revised papers must be received within 30 days or they will be treated as new submissions.
Copyright and License
All the articles published in Maize Sciences are open access under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0). Copyright belongs to the authors, the authors are required to sign a copyright statement after their articles are accepted.
Manuscript Format
Manuscripts should be assembled in the order listed below:
Full Title
Running Title
Name(s) of Author(s)
Affiliations
Abstract
Main Text
Acknowledgments
List of Supplementary Materials
References
1 Title Page
Full title: It should be concise, informative, and avoid non-standard abbreviations (maximum 30 words).
Running title: Less than 80 characters.
All author(s) name(s): The names of all authors, including first names and family names (with the first letter capitalized). Authors from China should present their names using Pinyin and Chinese characters. To facilitate blind review, authors' names and affiliations should not appear in the main text.
Corresponding author(s): Include full mailing address, telephone number, and email address.
Author affiliation: Include department, institution, and complete address for each author. If there are authors with different affiliations, use superscript-numerals to match authors with institutions.
2 Abstract and key words
Abstract: A concise summary of the manuscript (maximum 350 words). It should provide the background, key objectives, main methods, major findings, and conclusions of the research.
Graphical abstract: Graphical abstract submission is optional yet highly recommended to boost online visibility of published manuscripts. This visual synopsis needs to concisely illustrate the core findings of your work via graphics, aiming to attract broad readership. You need to upload the graphical abstract as an independent file through the journal’s online submission portal.
For image specifications: the minimum pixel dimension is 531 (height) × 1328 (width), and larger proportional sizes are acceptable. When displayed at 96 dpi standard screen resolution and scaled to 5 cm × 13 cm, all details of the graphic must remain legible. Accepted formats include TIFF, EPS, PDF and MS Office documents.
Key words: 3–8 key words (in lowercase) for indexing and database searches, which should be listed directly after the abstract. Key words should be standardized terms in maize field.
3 Main text
The body of the manuscript should be organized in the following sections:
INTRODUCTION: should be concise and set the context for the maize research, explaining the background and significance of the study. It should also state the objectives and hypotheses clearly.
RESULTS: present the maize research data clearly and succinctly, with appropriate statistical analyses. It should be presented logically, either in a sequential or thematic order. Data presented should be complete, and appropriate controls should be mentioned.
DISCUSSION: interpret the results, exploring their implications in the context of existing maize research literature. Authors should not simply restate results but should interpret their significance and address any potential limitations. A brief summary of the conclusions drawn from the research should follow, highlighting the main findings and their broader impact on the maize field.
Materials and METHODS: describe in detail all materials (including maize varieties, experimental reagents), techniques, and procedures used in the research. Sufficient detail should be provided to allow for replication of the study. Authors should avoid laboratory jargon and clarify any abbreviations used. Chemical names should be listed in their correct forms, and any trade names should be capitalized and accompanied by the manufacturer's information.
Conclusion：summarizes the findings using descriptive statements rather than numerical data, and discuss the degree to which the study objectives were achieved. Do not include information derived from the literature review; instead, emphasize the main conclusions drawn directly from the study.
Headings and subheadings: should be used throughout the text to divide the subject matter into its important, logical parts. Typical headings include: Introduction, Results, Discussion, Materials and methods, Conclusion, Acknowledgments, References, Supplementary data (if needed).
4 Abbreviations
In general abbreviations should be avoided in the main text because they decrease article readability and impact. Only a minimum of common abbreviation such as DNA or SNP are accepted in the main text. When their use is essential, abbreviations must be explained when they first appear in the text. Please explain them if they are needed for the first time in the text and also in the Material and Method section.
Abbreviations in figures, tables and equations are accepted only if there is not enough space to write full words. Here, abbreviations should be explained in figure and table captions, or after equations.
5 Acknowledgements
List dedications, acknowledgments, and funding sources.
6 Supplemental data
Supplemental Data should be submitted as a single Word file. Supplemental files may include additional data, figures, or videos that support the maize research findings but are not essential to the main text.
7 Declaration of competing interest
Each manuscript submitted to Maize Sciences is required to provide a conflict of interest statement during the submission process. See the section ‘Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest’ in the Editorial Policies section for details on what to include in this section. Please ensure you liaise with all co-authors to confirm agreement with the final statement.
8 Math formulae
Please submit math equations as editable text and not as images. Present simple formulae in line with normal text where possible and use the solidus (/) instead of a horizontal line for small fractional terms, e.g., X/Y. In principle, variables are to be presented in italics. Powers of e are often more conveniently denoted by exp. Number consecutively any equations that have to be displayed separately from the text (if referred to explicitly in the text).
9 Footnotes
Footnotes in the running text are not accepted.
10 Citations and references
Author-date style for in-text citations: e.g., (Yan, 2026), (Yan and Zhang, 2026) or (Yan et al., 2026). Only published and accepted works should be cited. Priority is given to citing core journal literatures at home and abroad in the past 5 years and published papers of Maize Sciences.
Provide full details for each reference, including authors (up to 3), year, article title, journal name, volume, issue, page range, DOI link (if available). Journal names should be given in full and typed in italics. Volumes should be in bold. For books, include authors, year, the title, publisher, city of publication, and country. Personal communications or unpublished data should not be included in the reference list but can be cited in the text with appropriate permission from the authors.
Some examples to follow are provided below:
a. Yan T, Guo S, Liu J, et al. 2026. Development of high-HIR maize haploid inducer line CAU8 [J]. Maize Sciences, 1(1): 100002. (for journal paper)
b. Huang T, Wang Y, Wang L, et al. 2026. Analysis of heterosis and parental utilization potential for important traits in maize three-way combinations [J]. Maize science, 34(6): 1-8. (in Chinese) (for Chinese journal paper)
c. Wang X L. 2025. Genetic mapping and candidate gene mining of broad-spectrum resistance QTLs to southern corn leaf blight in temperate maize populations [J/OL]. Frontiers of Agricultural Science and Engineering. [Epub ahead of print] doi: 10.15302/J-FASE-2025187 (for online article)
d. Marschner P. 2011. Marschner's mineral nutrition of higher plants [M]. London: Academic Press. (for monograph)
e. Miller R M, Jastrow J D. 2000. Mycorrhizal fungi influence soil structure. In: Kapulnik Y, Douds D D, eds. Arbuscular mycorrhizas: Physiology and function [M]. Dordrecht: Springer, 3-18. (for a chapter in a book)
f. Li M H. 2021. Identification and cloning of NLR immune genes conferring northern leaf blight resistance in maize germplasm [D]. Beijing: China Agricultural University. (in Chinese) (for dissertation)
g. Chen Y M, Li J. 2023. Molecular screening of NLR resistance genes against northern leaf blight in maize core germplasm [C]//Proceedings of Global Cereal Stress Resistance Conference 2023, Amsterdam. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 69-78. (for proceeding)
h. Jones R H. 2011. Genetic mapping of northern leaf blight resistance QTLs in tropical maize germplasm [C]//Smith J T, Garcia M A, eds. Maize Genetic Improvement and Stress Resistance: Proceedings of International Maize Breeding Symposium. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 112-128. (for symposium)
i. ISO 21378:2019 Audit data collection [S]. (for standard)
j. U.S.Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service. Technical guidelines for maize disease resistance identification and field cultivation management: PB 22-186009 [R]. Springfield: U.S.Department of Commerce National Information Service, 2022: 32. (for report)
k. Library of Congress [EB/OL]. [2020-06-12]. https://www.loc.gov. (for website)
l. IHME.Global burden of disease study 2019 (GBD 2019) data resources [DS/OL]. Global Health Data Exchange(2021) [2025-07-15]. https://ghdx.healthdata.org/gbd-2019. (for database)
Figures and Tables
Please ensure the figures and the tables included in the single file are placed next to the relevant text in the manuscript, rather than at the bottom or the top of the file. The corresponding caption should be placed directly below the figure or table.
1 Figures
Figure format: acceptable file formats include TIFF, JPEG, EPS, PDF and MS Office files.
Figure quality: The resolution of at least 300 dpi is required for photographic images, 1000 dpi for line art, and all line drawings must be 0.75 point or above. If you use PPT, please send the original files.
Line figures should be supplied as sharp, preferably color graphs or diagrams, either professionally drawn or created by a computer graphics package. It is not required to add a frame for the figures.
Detailed figure requirements follow:
Number all figures in the order of their citation in the text and cited as: e.g., (Fig. 1), (Fig. 1–A), (Fig. 1–A to –D), or (Fig. 1–A and –B).
Figure caption font size and typeface: 8.0 pt, Times New Roman, bold.
Figure labels (A, B, C, etc.) font size and typeface: 8.0 pt, Arial, no bold.
X-axis, y-axis labels font size and typeface: 7.5 pt, Arial, no bold.
X-axis, y-axis units: 7.5 pt, Arial, no bold.
All other text inside figures: 7.5 pt, Arial, no bold.
And you may supply the original and editable figures for editing, especially those vector diagrams.
2 Tables
Please submit all tables as editable documents instead of picture formats. Tables can be arranged adjacent to related text or grouped on separate final pages. Number tables sequentially (Table 1, Table 2, etc.) based on their in-text appearance. Footnotes should be used to explain any abbreviations or special notations in the table. Limit unnecessary tables and prevent repeated data overlapping with textual results; remove all vertical table lines and cell fill shading.
3 Figure legends
Legends should be concise and comprehensive: the figure and its legend must be self-sufficient, understandable without reference to the text, including definitions of any symbols used, and define/explain all abbreviations and units of measurement.
Include information on sample sizes, statistical significance, and error bars where applicable (especially for maize experimental data).
Review and Publication Process
1 Peer review
All submitted manuscripts will undergo a "double-blind peer review" process. Typically, two to three reviewers in the maize field will assess each manuscript. The peer review process usually takes 1-2 months, and authors will be notified of the editorial decision afterward.
2 Revision
Minor revision: Authors will be given 20 days to revise the manuscript and resubmit it.
Major revision: If significant changes are needed, authors will be given up to 30 days for revisions.
Resubmission: Revised manuscripts should be accompanied by a detailed point-by-point response to the reviewers’ comments, clearly stating the revision content and reasons. Keep Track Changes on during revisions.
3 Acceptance and publication
Accepted manuscripts will be online first after preliminary edit within 10 days, and the final edited and typeset version of record will appear in the future.
If major changes are required after acceptance, the manuscript may go through another round of review. The editorial department will conduct typesetting and proofreading, and the proof will be returned to the author for confirmation before official publication.
Data and Image Integrity
1 Data availability
Authors must ensure that all primary data supporting the conclusions of the maize research manuscript are available. Data should be shared in public repositories where possible, and access details must be provided in the Methods section.
2 Image manipulation
Any image processing (e.g., brightness or contrast adjustment) must be applied uniformly across the entire image and disclosed in the figure legend. Cropping or grouping images must also be transparent and should be mentioned in the figure legend. Falsification or modification of maize experimental images is regarded as academic misconduct.
Submission of Revised Manuscripts
1 Final submission
Upon acceptance, the manuscript must be submitted as a Word document. Figures should be provided as separate high-resolution files in TIFF, JPEG, PDF, or AI format. Supplemental information should be submitted as a single file in Word format.
2 File format
Manuscript text should be formatted with continuous line numbers and in 1.5 line spacing.
Use Times New Roman font (12-point) for the main text, and Song font (12-point) for Chinese content.
Publication Fees
1 Handling fees
There will be no article processing charges (APC) for accepted manuscripts within the first three years, after which a certain handling fee will be charged to accepted manuscripts. Details of the fee will be provided upon acceptance.
2 Open access
Authors may choose the open-access publication option, which will allow the article to be freely available to the public immediately upon publication.
Final Checklist for Authors
Before submitting, authors should ensure that the following items are included:
Title page with author information;
Manuscript body, including all required sections (Introduction, Materials and Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusion) and in line with maize research content;
Figures and tables in correct formats;
Figure legends and supplemental data (if applicable);
A cover letter addressing the significance of the maize study and confirming compliance with submission guidelines, including declarations of originality and no conflict of interest.