The Genetic Homogeneity of Uganda’s East African Highland Bananas (Mutika/Lujugira) Does Not Match the Extensive Morphological Variation Identified in this Subgroup
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The East African Highland banana is an important fruit in the East Africa. This study assessed the genetic variation in 27 varieties from 13 the Mutika/Lujugira subgroup using Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD). Their results showed that there were no genetic 14 variation was observed among the banana varieties, and the 18 ten-mer primers produced mono- 15 morphic banding profiles. The genetic homogeneity of this banana subgroup is not congruent with 16 the extensive morphological variation found in these bananas. Although the results are a little bit negative, but they also provide some useful genetic information for these varieties. I have the following comments
1. The experiment design is too simple, only RAPD banding patterns of 27 East African Highland banana varieties were detected.
2. Is it possible to do some sequence which will provide much better genetic information?
3. References are need to be updated, references are very old.
4. Cited pattern of references are not consistent, some have DOI link, some donot have it, it should be the same.
References are too old and reference cited patterns are not consistent, some have DOI link and some donot have it.
Author Response
Please see the attachment
Author Response File: 
Author Response.docx
Reviewer 2 Report
Ijpb-2924172 provides lower valuable information to the researchers and readers. The subject of the manuscript is consistent with the scope of the Journal. I suggested that the manuscript need to be revised before it is accepted by this journal.
1. Manuscript needs through language editing.
2. The logic and neat of introduction need to be further improved.
3. Your study is not innovative, it is more like a review.
4. Keywords are listed directly without the need for indexing. Keyword separator please use ‘;’.
5. Lines 97 and 99 repeat. Please check the full text.
6. Line 144: ‘Fig. 1, 2 and 3’ and line 141: ‘Figures 1, 2 and 3’ should be uniform. Please check the full text.
7. This study has focused on the genetic diversity of bananas, but functional studies of these genetic variants are lacking. Further functional studies could reveal the relationship between genetic variation and the morphological and biochemical characteristics of bananas.
8. Lack of in-depth study of polyploidy: The polyploid nature of bananas was mentioned in the study, but the mechanism of polyploidy formation and its impact on plant traits were not investigated in depth. Further studies on polyploidy could increase the understanding of genetic diversity in bananas.
9. Lines 456-458 are a little redundant, and please refine them.
10. In the conclusions, in addition to summarizing the actions taken and results, please strengthen the explanation of their significance.
Ijpb-2924172 provides lower valuable information to the researchers and readers. The subject of the manuscript is consistent with the scope of the Journal. I suggested that the manuscript need to be revised before it is accepted by this journal.
1. Manuscript needs through language editing.
2. The logic and neat of introduction need to be further improved.
3. Your study is not innovative, it is more like a review.
4. Keywords are listed directly without the need for indexing. Keyword separator please use ‘;’.
5. Lines 97 and 99 repeat. Please check the full text.
6. Line 144: ‘Fig. 1, 2 and 3’ and line 141: ‘Figures 1, 2 and 3’ should be uniform. Please check the full text.
7. This study has focused on the genetic diversity of bananas, but functional studies of these genetic variants are lacking. Further functional studies could reveal the relationship between genetic variation and the morphological and biochemical characteristics of bananas.
8. Lack of in-depth study of polyploidy: The polyploid nature of bananas was mentioned in the study, but the mechanism of polyploidy formation and its impact on plant traits were not investigated in depth. Further studies on polyploidy could increase the understanding of genetic diversity in bananas.
9. Lines 456-458 are a little redundant, and please refine them.
10. In the conclusions, in addition to summarizing the actions taken and results, please strengthen the explanation of their significance.
Author Response
Please see attachment
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
The reversion is in a much better form than the original manuscript. The authors answered all my inquieis except the sequence analyses, since it is not possible for author to do the sequence analyses, thus, I have no further questions.
The reversion is in a much better form than the original manuscript. The authors answered all my inquieis except the sequence analyses, since it is not possible for author to do the sequence analyses, thus, I have no further questions.
Reviewer 2 Report
I have no comments.
I have no comments.
