Style Guide for Cucurbit Genetics Cooperative Research Reports

Submit contributions to [email protected]. In addition, please copy your submission to the current CGC chair (currently Amnon Levi [[email protected]])

CGC reports should be related to cucurbit genetics and breeding, or topics of interest to cucurbit breeders. The CGC encourages reports of any length, from a few paragraphs to 10 single-spaced pages (please contact the editor concerning publication of a longer contribution). While traditional manuscripts describing a full research study are accepted, we also welcome much shorter reports, including things such results from consumer or grower surveys, interesting observations in the field, reports of a new disease, new or improved laboratory or field techniques, etc.

While CGC reports are not peer-reviewed, they will be reviewed by one or more associate editors. If substantial revisions are needed, the corresponding author will be contacted. Minor revisions will be made directly by the editors without contacting the corresponding author.

Please follow the guidelines below when preparing your CGC report:

Refer to the latest Cucurbit Genetics Cooperative Report regarding questions of style not mentioned.

  • Reports should be submitted as Microsoft WORD files with editing enabled. Use a 10 or 12 pt font, preferably Times New Roman.
  • Except as indicated below, no formatting should be used. The entire report should be in a single column (the main text will be formatted into two columns by the editor).
  • The report should be single-spaced except as noted below. All text (including the title) should be left-justified.

Title

The title should be a precise and concise description of the work. Avoid the use of meaningless words such as “influence of,” “effects of,” “results of,” “studies on,” “evaluation of,” “factors involved in,” and “tests on.” Capitalize the first letter of all words except for articles such as “a” and “the,” prepositions such as “of,” “in,” “on,” “during,” and “between,” and conjunctions such as “and” and “with” that are not the first word. Double space between title and by-line.

By-line

Author(s) name(s) followed by middle initial and last name. Names of two or more authors at the same institution are on the same line. Names of authors in separate institutions are on different lines. Concise mailing address is on the line below the author(s) name(s). Email of the corresponding author is on the line below the concise address. Double space between the by-line and the Introduction.

Body of Report

CGC reports should NOT include an Abstract. Include a brief Introduction, essential Materials & Methods, and concise Results and Discussion. If desired, an Acknowledgement(s) can be included before the Literature Cited section. Double space between
each section of the body of the report. DO NOT double space between paragraphs within sections.

Citations

Within the body of the report, cite the author or authors (for two authors, include both last names, for three or more authors use [first author name] et al.) followed by the year of publication in parentheses. A complete reference for all citations should appear in the Literature Cited section. Only references cited in the body of the report should be included in Literature Cited.

Taxonomy and Genetic Nomenclature:

Taxomony

The first time they are mentioned, give the full scientific names of plants, disease organisms, and insects, along with their authority (and if important, the cultivar name). Italicize scientific names. Use common names whenever possible. Cultivar names can be preceded by the abbreviation for the word cultivar (e.g., cv. Calypso), or can be set off with single quotes (e.g., `Calypso’).

Genetic Nomenclature

Names and symbols of genes are subject to the gene nomenclature rules for the Cucurbitaceae. (Robinson et al. 1976. Genes of the Cucurbitaceae. HortScience 11:554-568; CGC Gene List Committee. 1982. Update of cucurbit gene list and nomenclature rules. Cucurbit Genetics Cooperative Report 5:62-66.) Refer to the rules of nomenclature before assigning a name and symbol to a newly described gene in a published report regardless of where it is published. If necessary, consult the CGC Gene List Committee regarding questions of gene names and symbols. Members of the Gene List Committee are listed in the latest CGC Report. Italicize gene names and symbols.

Tables and Figures:

Tables and Figures should follow the main body of the report (within the same WORD file). Captions should be clear, concise and complete. In general, tables should be made using the “tables” feature in WORD.
Continue Reading