Detection and Quantification of Serpula himantioides in the Wood of Chamaecyparis pisifera Butt Rot Trees by Real-Time PCR

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

I recommend discussing whether three wood samples distinguished  by  the degree of wood discoloration differ in species composition and population density of individual species.

Author Response

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Reviewer 2 Report

The study of this manuscript is interesting and clear as its topic. However, there are some issues should be directed to improve the quality of the manuscript. 

Here are my points to the authors.

Please clarify why you selected to used primer as ITS2. 

Why authors designated those tree samples from that area? please give more reasons.

Figure 2 (b) should be make it clearly.

In Table 1 and 2 could be used S. himantioides 

In conclusion, please provide some information of your primer sequence. 

Author Response

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Reviewer 3 Report

The paper doesn't really show novel concepts, ideas, tools and data. However the information related to the present of Serpula himantioides in decayed wood of Chamaecyparis pisifera could be a good start for developing further research accordingly. 

Author Response

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Reviewer 4 Report

1. More molecular background reviews on the same work can be included.

2. Results, discussion, and conclusion can be described in a better way.

3. Overall, the work bears merit.

Author Response

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Reviewer 5 Report

This manuscript tries to provide a rapid detection method with a high sensitivity for Serpula himantioides in the wood of Chamaecyparis pisifera. The results show that this method works well. I do not doubt about the feasibility of this method. However, the samples as negative control (lack of Serpula himantioides) should be included. Then, it can be known whether false positive will happen. Actually, as shown in Table 2, the species-specific primer set can detect Serpula spp. instead of Serpula himantioides. So, the posibility of detecting false positive cannot be excluded according to the current data.

Author Response

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Round 2

Reviewer 5 Report

Although my suggestion is not supplemented by experiments, the authors' explanation works well for me. So, I propose to accept this manuscript.