JFD accepts original research articles, systematic or narrative reviews, short communications, and application focused reports that advance fungal diversity science. Research articles should present novel data or validated computational models with clear methodology, statistical analysis when appropriate, and a strong connection to fungal ecology, taxonomy, or applied outcomes.

Reviews should provide structured synthesis of current knowledge, identify gaps, and outline practical implications for conservation, plant health, or biotechnology. Short communications are suitable for concise but impactful findings such as new records, methodological innovations, or rapid biodiversity assessments.

Manuscripts must be written in clear English and framed for an interdisciplinary audience that includes mycologists, ecologists, plant pathologists, microbiologists, and applied researchers. Define acronyms, explain specialized terms, and provide sufficient detail for reproducibility.

Manuscripts should be prepared in a clear, logical structure with numbered sections where appropriate. Use SI units and standard scientific notation. Define all symbols and variables at first use. Provide units and tolerance ranges for quantitative measurements and environmental parameters.

Figures and tables must be cited in the text and provided with descriptive captions. Avoid embedding text in images when possible. Provide vector graphics or high resolution raster files for microscopy, phylogenetic trees, and habitat imagery. Ensure figures remain legible in grayscale.

Reference formatting should be consistent and complete, including all authors, title, journal, volume, pages, and DOI where available. For taxonomic work, include relevant repository identifiers and accession numbers.

JFD expects complete reporting of collection metadata and experimental conditions. Provide geographic coordinates, habitat descriptions, collection dates, and voucher information where applicable. For culture studies, include strain identifiers, growth media, incubation conditions, and preservation details.

For molecular studies, report primer sequences, PCR conditions, sequencing platforms, and bioinformatic pipelines. Include accession numbers for sequence deposits and reference databases used. For ecological analyses, report sampling design, replication, statistical tests, and assumptions.

When describing new taxa, follow relevant nomenclatural codes and include diagnostic characters, type material, and repository information. Clear reporting improves reproducibility and ensures the long term value of taxonomic contributions.

For taxonomic and ecological studies, JFD encourages deposition of voucher specimens in recognized herbaria or culture collections. Provide accession numbers and collection identifiers to support verification and future studies. Voucher data should include collector names, location, date, and substrate where the fungus was found.

Culture based studies should identify strains clearly and state repository details for long term preservation. If cultures are not deposited, explain the reason and describe how qualified researchers can request access. This ensures that key findings can be validated and extended by other labs.

New species names must follow accepted nomenclatural standards. Include registration identifiers where applicable and provide clear diagnostic comparisons with related taxa. If new combinations or revisions are proposed, present the reasoning and supporting evidence clearly.

Taxonomic papers should include a stable reference framework, such as type specimen citations, accepted synonyms, and relevant phylogenetic context. Accurate nomenclature supports biodiversity databases and improves the value of the published record for conservation and applied research.

Supplementary files can include raw sequence data, alignments, morphological measurement tables, field images, or short videos. Label files clearly and provide a brief description of content and required software. Provide file formats and versions when relevant. Keep file names descriptive and consistent. This improves reuse and validation. Supplementary material should be referenced in the manuscript where appropriate.

JFD follows recognized publication ethics standards. Authors must confirm that the submission is original, not under review elsewhere, and that all contributors meet authorship criteria. Disclose any conflicts of interest, including financial relationships or patent ownership.

For studies involving human or animal subjects, provide ethics approvals and describe consent procedures. For field collections, confirm permits and compliance with local regulations. JFD uses similarity checks during editorial review to protect research integrity.

The cover letter should explain why your manuscript fits JFD and highlight the specific contribution to fungal diversity knowledge. Indicate whether the submission aligns with a special issue and list any relevant preprints or prior versions.

Authors may suggest potential reviewers who are free of conflicts of interest and have published in related areas. Provide institutional email addresses and short descriptions of expertise. The editorial team may or may not use these suggestions, but they can speed reviewer selection.

All listed authors must have contributed significantly to study design, data collection, analysis, or manuscript preparation. The corresponding author is responsible for confirming that all coauthors approve the final submission. JFD supports the CRediT contributor roles and encourages a brief statement of each author contribution.

Before final submission, confirm that the abstract reflects the main findings, all figures and tables are cited in the text, and references are complete. Verify that units and symbols are consistent throughout, and that the data availability statement is accurate. Ensure that the cover letter is uploaded and that supplementary materials are labeled clearly for reviewers and readers. Confirm that abbreviations are defined at first use.

After acceptance, authors receive production proofs for review. The editorial office will provide the APC invoice and payment instructions. JFD applies APCs only after acceptance, and no submission or peer review fees are charged. Review proofs carefully to ensure that figures, taxonomic names, and sequence references are correct.

Once production is complete, the article is published as open access with a Crossref DOI and structured metadata. Publication ensures that your work is discoverable through scholarly search platforms and reference databases. We encourage authors to share the published link with collaborators, conservation networks, and professional societies.