We are thrilled to share the updated Exceptional Reviewers List 2025. This program was designed to recognize and honor scholars who have consistently delivered exceptional review reports to our journal. Committed to fostering rigorous research and promoting knowledge exchange, Plants (ISSN: 2223-7747) recognizes the significant role our reviewers play in maintaining the quality and integrity of the articles we publish. According to surveys conducted in 2024, 92% of our authors rate the peer review as good or excellent, thanks to our pool of excellent reviewers.

We would like to express our sincere appreciation to all the reviewers who have generously volunteered their time and expertise to assist in Plants’ peer-review process. Their dedication and attention to detail in evaluating manuscripts, offering valuable feedback, and contributing to academic rigor are truly commendable.

The Exceptional Reviewers List was introduced in April 2024. Each quarter, we will be selecting a group of outstanding reviewers and introduce them here.

Q3:
Name: Prof. Dr. David Higgs
Affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Parkside, Kenosha, USA
Interests: molecular biology; genetics; plant physiology; eukaryotic gene expression; photosynthesis
“Manuscript reviewing is a vital part of scientific peer-review that requires the reviewer to be thorough, critical, honest, and accurate. Peer review adds integrity and believability to publications.”

Name: Prof. Dr. Elias Milios
Affiliation: Department of Forestry and Management of the Environment and Natural Resources, Democritus University of Thrace, Orestiada, Greece
Interests: silvicultural treatments; stand natural regeneration; stand dynamics; tree growth ecology; tree growth; disturbances and forest ecosystems; facilitation-competition; restoration of degraded forest ecosystems; seed dormancy and germination; peri-urban forest
“A good review strengthens the science while respecting the author's voice. Don't impose wording, style, or favorite tests/figures; advice should be need-driven, not preference-based.”

Name: Prof. Dr. David Midmore
Affiliation: Institute for Future Farming Systems, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, Australia
Interests: agronomy; plant nutrition; soil science; soil; crop physiology; irrigation; vegetable production; farming systems; drip irrigation; sustainability; water stress; cropping systems; soil erosion; roots; food security; seedling

Name: Dr. Anita Osvalde
Affiliation: Institute of Biology, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Latvia, Latvia
Interests: plant physiology; plant mineral nutrition; plant fertilization; heavy metal pollution; plant stress; urban trees; salinity; ecology

Name: Dr. Mi-Jeong Yoo
Affiliation: Department of Biology, Clarkson University, Potsdam, USA
Interests: polyploid evolution; impact of polyploidy on crop domestication using transcriptomics and proteomics; stress response in plant system using various omics tools; integrated study of transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics; phylogenomics and evolution of flowering plants

Q2:
Name: Dr. Elias Afif Khouri
Affiliation: Department of Organisms and Systems Biology, University of Oviedo, Asturias, Spain
Interests: soil–plant interactions; phytoremediation; use of organic amendments and by-products for the restoration of degraded soils; ecosystem conservation
“I consider peer review a significant responsibility in ensuring scientific quality. It should not be taken lightly; it requires dedicating the necessary time to thoroughly evaluate each manuscript, providing a critical, constructive, and respectful assessment. This process should not only identify potential weaknesses but also contribute to strengthening the submitted work. Such commitment demands attention to detail and a collaborative attitude, but it is essential to foster a strong and rigorous scientific community.”

Name: Dr. Walter Esfrain Pereira
Affiliation: Program of Postgraduate in Agronomy, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Areia, Brazil
Interests: fruit science; mineral nutrition; stress
“As a reviewer for Plants, I am committed to providing thorough, constructive feedback that helps authors improve their research quality and advance plant science knowledge.”

Name: Dr. Andrzej Cezary Żołnowski
Affiliation: Department of Agricultural and Environmental Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland
Interests: environmental sciences; environmental pollution; plant quality; soil sciences

Name: Dr. Alejandro Chamizo-Ampudia
Affiliation: Departamento de Biología Molecular, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, León, Spain
Interests: microbial biotechnology; biopolymers; extraction processes; PHAs; environmental biotechnology

Name: Dr. Prof. O. Roger Anderson
Affiliation: Biology and Paleo Environment, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, New York, USA
Interests: microbial physiological ecology; plant physiology, anatomy and physiological ecology

Q1:
Name: Dr. Žiga Laznik
Affiliation: Department of Agronomy, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Interests: Integrated Pest Management (IPM), plant-insect interactions, biological control, sustainable agriculture, invasive species, semiochemicals
“I strive to provide constructive, timely, and thorough reviews to support high-quality scientific publishing and help authors improve their research.”

Name: Prof. Dr. Angel J. Matilla
Affiliation: Departamento de Biología Funcional (Área Fisiología Vegetal), Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Interests: molecular and physiological aspects of seeds development

Name: Prof. Dr. Jozef Sowinski
Affiliation: Institute of Agroecology and Plant Production, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wrocław, Poland
Interests: climate change; soil and plant analysis; crop adaptation to the changing weather conditions; bio-economy; circular economy

Name: Prof. Dr. Mayker Lazaro Dantas Miranda
Affiliation: Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Triângulo Mineiro—Campus Uberlândia Centro, Uberlândia, Brazil
Interests: natural products; organic chemistry; essential oils; biologically active compounds; agrochemistry; chemical education

Name: Dr. Takashi Akihiro
Affiliation: Faculty of Life and Environmental Science, Shimane University, Matsue, Japan
Interests: plant molecular cell biology; Arabidopsis; rice; yeast expression library; transporter