Postharvest Eucalyptus Leaf Extract Application Extends the Sustainable Supply of Strawberries by Retaining Physicochemical Quality during Cold Storage

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

My main observation is regarding the sampling and statistical analysis. It not clear how many fruits per replicate were used. A better explanation in the M&M is necessary regarding this topic.

The authors should pay attention with the units and the international system of units.

Conclusions should be shorter and not discuss in the conclusions.

Author Response

Respected Editor,

Thank you for reviewing our manuscript entitled “Postharvest eucalyptus leaf extract application extends sustainable supply of strawberry by retaining physicochemical quality during cold storage”. We gratefully acknowledge all the valuable feedback given by the reviewers to improve our manuscript. The suggested changes have been incorporated in the revised manuscript. The detail is as follows:

Comment My main observation is regarding the sampling and statistical analysis. The following questions should be addressed.

Response: We are highly thankful to the respectable reviewer for revising our manuscript. We have considered all queries and incorporated the requested information in the revised version of manuscript and all changes have been highlighted with turquoise color for reviewer #1.

1. 1. It not clear how many fruits per replicate were used. A better explanation in the M&M is necessary regarding this topic.

Response: Total 25 fruits were used in each of four replications of both control and ELE treatment. This has been added in the M&M Section.

2. 2. The authors should pay attention with the units and the international system of units.

Response: Rectified

3. 3. Conclusions should be shorter and not discuss in the conclusions.

Response: Discussion has been removed.

 

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

My in-depth review is given in the attached file.

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Respected Editor,

Thank you for reviewing our manuscript entitled “Postharvest eucalyptus leaf extract application extends sustainable supply of strawberry by retaining physicochemical quality during cold storage”. We gratefully acknowledge all your efforts and the reviewers to improve this manuscript. The tracked changes have been improved in the revised manuscript. The detail is given below:

Comment. My in-depth review is attached for improvement in manuscript:

Response: We are grateful to the respectable reviewer for revising our manuscript. We have gone through all the queries and incorporated the requested information in the revised version of manuscript and all changes have been highlighted with green color for reviewer #2.

1. 1. The keyword strawberry must be replaced with Fragaria×ananassa.

Response: Replaced

2. 2. The Introduction section should be developed further for example economic aspects, health aspects, novelty items that could lead your research.

Response: The Introduction section has been extended.

3. 3. Why did you put the control fruits close to the treated ones? There could be antimicrobial effect from volatile compounds released into storage environment.

Response: Agreed. The samples were actually kept in closed plastic boxes. So there might be very less effect.     

4. 4. Weight of fruits was taken on the first and last day of each removal - Page 3 line 115

Response: This sentence means the fruits were re-weighed at every mentioned stage such as 5-day, 10-day, 15-day.

5. 5. These sentences look like conclusion. Better to add it in conclusion chapter. Page 7 line 342

Response: Moved to conclusion section.

6. 6. No discussion in Correlation Section.

Response: This section has been omitted on recommendation of respectable Reviewer 3.    

7. 7. Figures are difficult to understand.

Response: The figures have been revised and lettered.

Reviewer 3 Report

The manuscript entitled:” Postharvest eucalyptus leaf extract application extends sustainable supply of strawberry by retaining physicochemical quality during cold storage” deals with interesting topics related to the improvement of the quality of raw materials in the post-harvest period. The Authors present interesting data but the manner of their presentation and the discussion undertaken are not always correct. Below  are a few remarks:

p. 2       In my opinion, the introduction is too short. The Authors should refer to the importance of the activity of enzymes determined in the study.

p. 2 line 54    should be “physico-chemical changes” instead of „Physico-chemical changes”

p. 2 line 74       should be „cineole” instead of „Cineole”

p. 3 line 89    Why the fruit was rinsed in distilled water?

p. 4 In my opinion, the description of research methods concerning biochemical indicators should be more precise.

p.5 line 205 What temperature the samples were stored. In the methodological part, it was stated that at 10°C.

p. 5 line 206 Should be “P” or “p”?

p. 5-6 lines 238-243 In my opinion, soaking the raw material in a solution of eucalyptus extract does not have the same effect as coating. Therefore, the use of references to study related to the application of coatings in the discussion of the results seems to me unjustified. Did the eucalyptus extract penetrate the raw tissue during soaking? Is it possible that eucalyptus phenols could penetrate into the strawberry tissue?

p. 6 lines 247-249 In the case of strawberries, the statement "climacteric peak" is appropriate?

p. 7 line 315 What does “ALV” mean?

In my opinion the chapter "correlation" is not very communicative and should be omitted or rewritten.

 

Figures

I would suggest presenting significant differences between the means in the form of letter markings.

The line markers are hardly visible.

 

In my opinion, the studies conducted are preliminary. The conducted analyzes would require deepening, e.g. by analyzing the microbiological quality.

Author Response

Respected Editor,

Thank you for taking time to critically review our manuscript entitled “Postharvest eucalyptus leaf extract application extends sustainable supply of strawberry by retaining physicochemical quality during cold storage”. We appreciate for all of the constructive criticism provided by the reviewers, which has helped us improve our manuscript. The suggested improvements have been incorporated in the revised manuscript. The detail is as follows:

Comment: The experiment examined the dormancy response of six genotypes after exposure to GA₃ and ZT, cold, electric current, and gamma ray exposures.

Response: We are grateful to the respected reviewer for making changes to our manuscript. We have considered all queries and incorporated the requested information in the revised version of manuscript and all changes have been highlighted with gray color for reviewer #3.

1. 1. p. 2 - In my opinion, the introduction is too short. The authors should refer to the importance of the activity of enzymes determined in the study.

Response: The introduction section has been stretched by adding economic, health and ecological significance as well as their effects on sensory and antioxidants characteristics.

2. 2. p. 2 line 54 - should be “physico-chemical changes” instead of “Physico-chemical changes”

Response: corrected.

3. 3. p. 2 line 74 - should be “cineole” instead of “Cineole”

Response: rectified.

4. 4. p. 3 line 89 - Why the fruit was rinsed in distilled water?

Response: To remove dirt as so that its pH is not affected.  

5. 5. p. 4 In my opinion, the description of research methods concerning biochemical indicators should be more precise.

Response: Suggested changes incorporated.

6. 6. lines 238-243 In my opinion, soaking the raw material in a solution of eucalyptus extract does not have the same effect as coating. Therefore, the use of references to study related to the application of coatings in the discussion of the results seems to me unjustified. 

Response: Both plant-based extracts and coatings are related.   

7. 7. p. 6 lines 247-249 In the case of strawberries, the statement "climacteric peak" is appropriate? 

Response: Removed.

8. 8. p. 7 line 315 What does “ALV” mean? 

Response: Aloe vera.

9. 9. Figures - I would suggest presenting significant differences between the means in the form of letter markings. The line markers are hardly visible. 

Response: Revised.

Round 2

Reviewer 3 Report

Does the use of soaking strawberries in a 30% aqueous solution of eucalyptus extract allow to obtain an edible coating on the surface of the raw material, as in the case of coatings based on chitosan or carrageenan and whey protein concentrate?

An explanation of the markings of the statistical analysis should be provided under the figures.

Author Response

Respected Editor,

Thank you for taking time to critically review our manuscript entitled “Postharvest eucalyptus leaf extract application extends the sustainable supply of strawberries by retaining physicochemical quality during cold storage”. We appreciate for all of the constructive criticism provided by the reviewers, which has helped us improve our manuscript. The asked queries have been addressed in this letter and suggested changes have been incorporated and highlighted with pink color.

1. 1.: Does the use of soaking strawberries in a 30% aqueous solution of eucalyptus extract allow to obtain an edible coating on the surface of the raw material, as in the case of coatings based on chitosan or carrageenan and whey protein concentrate?

Response: Yes, soaking strawberries in a 30% aqueous solution of eucalyptus leaf extract allowed us to obtain an edible coating on the surface of the raw material. Here, I will quote the work of Prasad et al. (2022) who evaluated the impact of various plant/ plant parts extracts i.e., pummelo peel extract, turmeric leaf extract, and neem leaf extract on storage life and quality of papaya and got a coating on fruits. Similarly, Regnier et al. (2010) found the reduced occurrence of anthracnose in mango caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides by application of Lippiascaberrima and Mentha spicata (spearmint) plant extracts. 

Prasad, K., Singh, G., Singh, S. K., Pradhan, J., Kumar, U., & Singh, H. (2022). Plant extract and essential oil coating prolongs shelf life and maintains keeping quality of papaya fruit during storage. Journal of Food Processing and Preservation, e17015.

Regnier, T., Combrinck, S., Du Plooy, W., & Botha, B. (2010). Evaluation of Lippia scaberrima essential oil and some pure terpenoid constituents as postharvest mycobiocides for avocado fruit. Postharvest Biology and Technology, 57(3), 176–182. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.postharvbio.2010.03.0

2. 2. An explanation of the markings of the statistical analysis should be provided under the figures.

Response: Added.