Effects of Salt Stress on Growth, Proline and Mineral Content in Native Desert Species
, Tareq A. Madouh, M. Anisul Islam, Sheena Jacob, Rini Rachel Thomas and Mini Thiruthath SivadasanRound 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Overall its a comprehensive MS. Minor changes have been mentioned in MS attached (highlighted yellow). Some addition is suggested in M&M section. More conclusions could be drawn from this extensive study.
Comments for author File: 
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Author Response
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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
The manuscript entitled “Effects of salt stress on growth, proline and mineral content in native desert species” was evaluated. He proposes that the implementing large-scale restoration programs required in-depth understanding about the salinity tolerance of native species especially in Arabian Peninsula where salinity is one of the serious problems. However, this research evaluated seedlings of four native species namely Vachillea pachyceras, Haloxylon salicornicum, Rhanterium epapposum, and Farsetia aegyptia were subjected to different salinity treatments (1.6 (control), 3, 5, 7, and 10 dS/m). In general, the manuscript is well written, but needs minor revision in order to be accepted Sustainability. Below are some considerations made.
11. Abstract / Authors must include more details on results (may be in percentage);
22. Introduction / Hypothesis can be improved with recent literature;
33. Materials and methods / How were chosen salinity treatments and four species tested?
44. Materials and methods / More details on data analysis.
55. Results / Subtitles can be more detailed (main results).
66. Discussion / Authors must elaborate a sentence with a broad approach to the results obtained in this research.
77. Discussion / What genes are involved in salt tolerance?
88. Discussion / Authors must include more studies available in literature linked to salt effects on root system.
https://doi.org/10.1111/plb.13176
99. Discussion / Authors must include more studies available in literature on oxidative stress and antioxidant responses generated during salt stress.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00344-021-10481-5
https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13010232
110. Conclusion / In relation to a possible tolerance mechanism to H. salicornicum.
111. Tables / Tables were well elaborated.
112. Figures / Figures were well elaborated.
Author Response
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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
The authors in this manuscript studied the Effects of salt stress on growth, proline and mineral content in native desert species. The overall structure of the article is well organized; however, it should be revised and rewritten professionally. My comments will be detailed in the reviewer's remarks to the authors. It is briefly included,
1- For the abstract results section, it is better to include some results from the figures and tables.
2- The introductory section should include information from the previous literature regarding the aim of the study. This would provide more predictive and rich outlines in which to present and interpret the results and support the major conclusions.
3- In table 2 you can add the values of chemical properties after terminating the experiment, also keep table 3 for Analysis of Variance testing.
4- Figures from 10 -14 require more clarification and enhancement to be easy for the readers.
5- Figure 11 needs to add the EC10 treatment on the figure.
6- Figure 14 (a) needs to add the EC7 and EC10 treatments on the figure.
7- Titles for y axis for figures 12, 13(a), 14(a) overlap with the numbers.
8- I suggest that the authors revise the language through the whole paper to make the idea clearer for the readers.
9- I suggest that conclusions should include key findings and messages from the whole results. For example, the readers could easily figure out the main effect of salinity levels on growth, proline and mineral content in the studied species.
Author Response
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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 4 Report
REPORT
In abstract:
You may be write "As a coclusion",
in the last sentence. WHY? Please provide descriptive information regarding the results you have obtained.
In Material and Method
Page 2: Could you give some more descriptive information about the preparation of the seeds (about the quantities and sizes and how they are made)
Page 3: How much is the amount added. How much of the fertilizers used was applied and How was it applied and was it given in liters?
how much of each was given. These must be specified
You can use as "L/plant" in stead of 1 lit/ plant
2.3. Proline estimation
Page 3: You can use concentration or content in stead of estimation
2.4. Chemical analyses of plant tissues
Page 4: can be relocated as shoot and root
Page 5: It must be changed mistakenly, the reversed places should be changed.
Correct form is 2.795 ± 8.45 (in Ca)
FOR FIGURES:
Let's write control instead of EC 1.6 in all figures (Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9). Let's either write the control as a control on the figure or write it as contol: EC 1.6 under the figure.
In Discussion
Page 15: Let's specify EC in parentheses (10 dS/m)
Page 15: Due to H+ ions from fertilizers with physiological acid character
Page 15: There's a foreign character who's attracted to the 39th literature here
Comments for author File: Comments.pdf
Author Response
Please find attached the response letter
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 3 Report
The manuscript search has been improved and is now acceptable
Comments for author File: Comments.pdf
