Indigenous Knowledge on the Uses and Morphological Variation among Strychnos spinosa Lam. at Oyemeni Area, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Based on my academic judgment, the quality of the manuscript can be improved after a substantial revision. I have provided my comments as follow:

1) Abstract: it is unclear how the study was conducted. Study protocol was not explained explicitly.

2) Introduction: What is the research gap of the S. spinosa usage and morphological diversity in the region? Please explain explicitly.

3) Previous studies were not discussed and included to illustrate the importance of the topic.

3) Methods: it is unclear when the study was conducted. Ethical approval no. was not included. The inclusion, exclusion criteria and study protocol were not clearly expressed and logically connected.

4) How was the questionnaire developed? Was the questionnaire pilot-tested and validated?

5) The study protocol is too brief and more details are needed. For example, how many questions are included in the questionnaire and what kinds of questions are included. Are these questions open- or close-ended?

6) Results: The results were poorly written, and did not address the research questions sufficiently. Please start with the main findings, followed by the secondary findings.

7) Discussion: Poorly structured, lack of references to the previous study. Please compare the findings in the study with other published studies. Please discuss the main findings first, followed by the secondary findings.

8) What were the study strengths and limitations? Please explain these explicitly.

Author Response

Please see the attachment

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Dear author(s),

Please find my comments below:

 

Title

1.    Please write author name of plant as Strychnos spinosa Lam., if it conforms to the guide for authors

2.    Please remove “Morphotypes” since readers are interested in plant

 

Abstract

3.    Line (L) 13, please use alternative word instead of poverty such as insufficient nutrition.

4.    L15-16, author name of Strychnos spinoL

5.    L15, common name of plant species (Natal orange) can be given with regional names.

6.    L21, change Strychnos spinosa to S. spinosa

 

Keywords

7.    L28, common name should be written.

 

Introduction

8.    L31, common and author name of the plant should be written. Also, provide regional name of the plant species.

9.    L44, change poverty to insufficient nutrition.

10.L46, change Strychnos spinosa to S. spinose

11.L50, change [9], [10] to [9, 10]

 

M&M

12.L71, write altitude of location

13.L75, please ignore L71.

14.L76, check (Kruger and [13].

15.L80, change Strychnos spinosa to S. spinose

16.L123, please re-write this sentence

17.L122-136, are these parag important to write in M&M?

18.Please give us climatic data such as min and max temperatures, rainfall about the region.

19.Please give us knowledge about leaf and fruit traits in M&M.

20.L136, have you analyzed your data? If so, please explain. Which statistical package program was used?

 

Results

21. L140, change Strychnos spinosa to S. spinose

22.L159, correct no of subtitle

23.L182, I think Table caption should be above table.

24.L191, change Strychnos spinosa to S. spinose

25.L213, change Strychnos spinosa to S. spinose

26.L281-282, Please give us knowledge about leaf traits in M&M.

27.L316, change Strychnos spinosa to S. spinose

28.L333, change Strychnos spinosa to S. spinose

29.L344, change Strychnos spinosa to S. spinose

30.L351, change Strychnos spinosa to S. spinose

31.L363, change Strychnos spinosa to S. spinose

32.L372, change Strychnos spinosa to S. spinose

 

Discussion

33.L407, change Strychnos spinosa to S. spinose

34.L428, change Strychnos spinosa to S. spinose

35.L433, change Use-Value to use value

36.L438, change Strychnos spinosa to S. spinose

37.L440, change Strychnos spinosa to S. spinose

38.L470, change Strychnos spinosa to S. spinose. Please correct other in the text.

39.L653, change [9], [27] to [9,27]

40.L660, correct the cited reference styles as above and correct others in the text.

 

Conclusion

41.L705, change Strychnos spinosa to S. spinose

42.L710, change Strychnos spinosa to S. spinose

 

I have reviewed mn with great pleasure.

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

The manuscript describes the indigenous knowledge on the uses and morphological variation of Strychnos spinosa Morphotypes at Oyemeni Area, Kwa-Zulu-Natal, South Arfica. The manuscript is interesting. However, the manuscript needs minor assessment before publish as follows:

1. Abstract - Please provide 'real value/data' of results in the abstract. None of value found in the abstract. Only general results.
2. Introduction - well-explained.
3. Method - well-presented, provide figure of Strychnos spinosa (structure; plant, leaves, fruits, etc)
4. Results - Major concern on this part - no citation found
5. Line 142-144 - What made you interview least number of youth compared to middle-aged and ederly? Justify.
6. Line 169 - On contrary, younger men were more knowledgeable 169 of this meal than older men. Why? Provide with citation/references.
7. Line 193 - Why elder ladies were more  informed than younger ones among females. Why the youth was better knowledgeable than older men among the males. Citation?
8. What is the age of the fruit when you do the experiment/survey?
9. Why you did not conduct experimental work in the lab for morphological and organoleptic variation of Strychnos spinosa? and compare/validate with your social science work?
10. Why Table 1 caption after table?
11. Discussion - support findings/results with any policy by national goverment/international framework or sustainable development goals, etc...
12. Conclusion - acceptable.
13. References - acceptable.

Author Response

Please see the attachment. 

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

The authors have addressed my comments satisfactorily. Please improve the English throughout the manuscript.

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

Dear Author,

I have checked your responses about my comments and the suggested corrections. I hope that readers will find it as useful.

Best regards

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx