The "Journal of Plant Physiology" publishes original papers, reviews and rapid communications dealing with all aspects of plant biochemistry, molecular biology, physiology and basic aspects of plant biotechnology. All papers will be published in English. The main focus of the journal is the dissemination of original and high quality information governing basic plant processes and development. The journal also invites submission of papers which bridge basic research in functional plant sciences with applied aspects of plant biotechnology. Papers will be accepted only after peer reviewing according to high scientific quality standards. As a new feature, and in order to promote rapid publication for excellent papers which need urgent publication, a credit point system will be used to define the priority of publication of the accepted manuscripts. We will also streamline the review process as well as the time for printing.