Transcriptomic and Physiological Analyses Reveal Potential Genes Involved in Photoperiod-Regulated β-Carotene Accumulation Mechanisms in the Endocarp of Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) Fruit
, Chunyan Cheng 1,†, Zhen Tian 1, Martin Kagiki Njogu 3, Ji Li 1, Shengli Du 4, Qunfeng Lou 1,2, Junguo Zhou 5, Xiaqing Yu 1, Joshua Otieno Ogweno 2,6 and Jinfeng Chen 1,2,*
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Please see in the attached file
Comments for author File: 
Comments.pdf
Author Response
We are very much grateful for taking your valuable time to concisely review our manuscript. the details of our responses to the raised concerns are in the attachment. We hope our revisions meet your expectations for further processing of our manuscript. Thank you so much
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
In this manuscript, authors did the transcriptomic, and physiological analyses to reveal potential genes involved in photoperiod-regulated β-carotene accumulation mechanisms in the endocarp of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) Fruit. In this study, authors performed physiological and Transcriptomic analysis using two cucumber genotypes SWCC8 (XIS-orange-fleshed) and CC3 (White-fleshed) established under two photoperiod conditions (8L/16D vs. 12L/12D) at four fruit developmental stages. Day-neutral treatments significantly increased fruit β-carotene content by 42.1% compared to short day (SD) in XIS at 40 DAP with no significant changes in CC3. In addition, sugar levels increased under day-neutral and decreased on short-day. GO, and KEGG analysis revealed that the predominantly expressed genes were associated with the carbohydrate, circadian rhythm, carotenoid biosynthesis, plant hormone signaling, and photosynthesis. Consistent with β-carotene accumulation in XIS, day-neutral condition elevated expression of key carotenoid biosynthesis genes PSY1, PDS, ZDS1, LYCb, and CHYB1 during later stages between 30 to 40 days of fruit development. Compared to XIS, CC3 showed expression of DEGs related to carotenoid cleavage and oxidative stresses, signifying reduced β-carotene in CC3. Further, carbohydrate-related genes (pentose-phosphatase synthase, β-glucosidase, and trehalose-6-phosphatase) and photoperiod signaling genes (LHY, APRR7/5, FKF1, PIF3, COP1, GIGANTEA, and CK2) co-express with the carotenoid biosynthetic genes, thus suggesting a cross-talk mechanism between carbohydrates and light-related genes induce β-carotene accumulation.
1. It would be better if the authors tried to functionally validate at least one gene they found in this study, or they could do promoter analysis using any reporter gene. Writing is poor. Needs English editing.
2. The introduction is short. The author should include recent genome-wide studies such as:
- Genome-wide identification and expression pattern analysis of the KCS gene family in barley.
- Genome-Wide Analysis and Characterization of the Proline-Rich Extensin-like Receptor Kinases (PERKs) Gene Family Reveals Their Role in Different Developmental Stages and Stress Conditions in Wheat (Triticum aestivumL.)
- Genome-wide identification and characterization of abiotic stress-responsive lncRNAs in Capsicum annuum.
- Genome-wide identification and functional characterization of natural antisense transcripts in Salvia miltiorrhiza.
3. Make tables 1 and 2 not as a table but as bars graph.
4. I found plagiarism from L60-61, L65-67, L68-69, L70-72, L76-78, L90-91, L98-99, L107-108, L148-149, L164-171, L225, L231-235, L257-258, L341-346, L352-353, L406-407, L408-411, L421-422, L442,L460-463, L467-468, L476-477, L482-486, L483-496, L506-510, L514-517, L534-536, L545-547, L548-549, L560-564, L583-587, L590-591, L596-598, L600-601.
Author Response
We are very much grateful for taking your valuable time to concisely review our manuscript. The details of our responses to the raised concerns are in the attachment. We hope our revisions meet your expectations for further processing of our manuscript. Thank you so much
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
The comments were carefully addressed by the authors in the revised manuscript of ijms-1888976.
Reviewer 2 Report
I am happy with the changes, and the manuscript can be accepted.
