Open access and reproducibility in plant pathology research: Guidelines and best practices

Authors: Grunwald, Niklaus - Nik; Bock, Clive; CHANG, JEFF - Oregon State University; ALVES DE SOUZA, ALESSANDRA - Agronomical Institute Of Campinas (IAC); DEL PONTE, EMERSON - Universidade Federal De Vicosa; DU TOIT, LINDSEY - Washington State University; DORRANCE, ANNE - The Ohio State University; DUNG, JEREMIAH - Oregon State University; Gent, David - Dave; GOSS, ERICA - University Of Florida; LOWE-POWER, TIFFANY - University Of California, Davis; MADDEN, LAURENCE - The Ohio State University; Martin, Frank; MCDOWELL, JOHN - Virginia Tech; Naegele, Rachel; POTNIS, NEHA - Auburn University; QUESADA-OCAMPO, LINA - North Carolina State University; SUNDIN, GEORGE - Michigan State University; THIESSEN, LINDSEY - Animal And Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS); VINATZER, BORIS - Virginia Tech; ZENG, QUAN - Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station

Submitted to: Phytopathology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/27/2024
Publication Date: 2/8/2024
Citation: Grunwald, N.J., Bock, C.H., Chang, J.H., Alves De Souza, A., Del Ponte, E.M., du Toit, L.J., Dorrance, A.E., Dung, J., Gent, D.H., Goss, E.M., Lowe-Power, T., Madden, L.V., Martin, F.N., McDowell, J., Naegele, R.P., Potnis, N., Quesada-Ocampo, L.M., Sundin, G.W., Thiessen, L., Vinatzer, B.A., Zeng, Q. 2024. Open access and reproducibility in plant pathology research: Guidelines and best practices. Phytopathology. 114(5):910-916. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-12-23-0483-IA.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-12-23-0483-IA

Interpretive Summary: Scientific publishing is undergoing a revolution with the rapid move towards open access. Open access is a set of standards that requires free availability of research outputs, including data, code, materials, and publications. Open access provides increased reproducibility and allows for reuse of data, code, and resources. We provide guidance for best publishing practices of scientific research, data, and associated resources, including code, in journals of the American Phytopathological Society. This guidance is in line with those observed by other leading journals. We hope that the information assembled in this paper will raise awareness of best practices and enable greater appraisal of the true effects of biological phenomena in plant pathology.

Technical Abstract: Scientific publishing is undergoing a revolution with the rapid move towards open access (OA). OA is a set of standards that requires free availability of research outputs, including data, code, materials, and publications. OA provides increased reproducibility and allows for reuse of data, code, and resources. We provide guidance for best publishing practices of scientific research, data, and associated resources, including code, in APS journals. This guidance is in line with those observed by other leading journals. We hope that the information assembled in this paper will raise awareness of best practices and enable greater appraisal of the true effects of biological phenomena in plant pathology.