Genetic Analysis of Yield and Quality Characteristics in Provitamin A Hybrid Cassava Families in Ghana

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The article "Genetic analysis of yield and quality characteristics in
provitamin A hybrid cassava families in Ghana" with Bright Boakye Peprah, Elizabeth Yaa Parkes, Peter Kulakow, Angeline van Biljon and Maryke Labuschagne as authors address the possibility of genetic improvement of quantitative and qualitative traits of cassava.

Congratulations to the authors for the research undertaken! I would like to propose some recommendations:

• more study-specific bibliography
• avoid using acronyms
• detailing the modalities of large-scale production of valuable seeds

Author Response

Reviewer 1

• more study-specific bibliography

We removed one reference, but for the rest I checked again and all the references are relevant to the study, even though some are on dry matter content and CMD, as these characteristics are directly related to the carotenoids. The study is part of the PhD study of the first author and he really took care to cover all the literature relevant to the research.

• avoid using acronyms

We have written out most acronyms, with the exception of generally used one like CMD and SCA and GCA.

• detailing the modalities of large-scale production of valuable seeds

I have read up on this, but I do not think it is relevant to the current study, which concerns the genetics of yellow cassava, focusing on the edible roots. I do think this can be important in a follow-up study where seed production could be the focus.

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments:

1. The statistical design and statistical methods were applied correctly.

2. Table 3: for Genotype df=9 it is not correct.

Author Response

Reviewer 2

1. The statistical design and statistical methods were applied correctly.
2. Table 3: for Genotype df=9 it is not correct.

In this table the F1 families (10 in total) were separated from the male (2) and female (5) progenitors, so the DF of 9 refers to the F1 families, and the DF of 1 and 4 to the male and female parents. So in the end all the genotypes together (17) have a total DF of 14.  So this value is actually correct.

Reviewer 3 Report

The research explores an interesting topic. The topic is well developed. Instead of tables, I would suggest graphs in one or two places.

Author Response

Reviewer 3

The research explores an interesting topic. The topic is well developed. Instead of tables, I would suggest graphs in one or two places.

Only one table (Table 2) has data averages, the other tables all have genetic values like GCA and SCA. The problem is that we measured many characteristics, and adding graphs will lengthen the paper significantly. We thought that table 2 is a clear, but compact way to present the data. We hope you find this in order

Reviewer 4 Report

The manuscript entitled "Genetic analysis of yield and quality characteristics in provitamin A hybrid cassava families in Ghana" is highly informative and the results highlighted can be easily incorporated into the breeding programs for improved cassava cultivars in Ghana. 

Minor corrections and spell check needed for the manuscript.
Follow a uniform writing pattern ug or μg
Mention the abbreviation for Wenchi Alata for the first time.
Table 2 kg change to kg plot-1
Line 162, 165, 198, Table 7, 294, 296, 303, 338 : What is RWT?
Line 208-209: All the studied characteristics had a ratio closer to one ..........most of the characteristics.
The Baker ratio for RTW is 0.66 and cant be considered near to one. The above statement needs to modify.
Line 223: CGM and RTN correlation is negative but non-significant.
Line 225: TWT and RTW is having P=0.001 significance. Also, check the correlation between RTN and RTW.
Line 255: Check the grant mean value for DMC
 

Author Response

Reviewer 4

The manuscript entitled "Genetic analysis of yield and quality characteristics in provitamin A hybrid cassava families in Ghana" is highly informative and the results highlighted can be easily incorporated into the breeding programs for improved cassava cultivars in Ghana. 

Minor corrections and spell check needed for the manuscript.
Follow a uniform writing pattern ug or μg

We corrected this.

Mention the abbreviation for Wenchi Alata for the first time.

We decided to rather write it out and not use the abbreviation

Table 2 kg change to kg plot-1

This was corrected

Line 162, 165, 198, Table 7, 294, 296, 303, 338 : What is RWT?

We removed the acronym and wrote out root weight throughout.

Line 208-209: All the studied characteristics had a ratio closer to one ..........most of the characteristics.

This was corrected

The Baker ratio for RTW is 0.66 and cant be considered near to one. The above statement needs to modify.

We have modified the statement to also exclude root weight.

Line 223: CGM and RTN correlation is negative but non-significant.

Sorry this should have been root weight not root number, was corrected. We have rewritten this whole paragraph to make it clearer.

Line 225: TWT and RTW is having P=0.001 significance. Also, check the correlation between RTN and RTW.

We have rewritten this whole paragraph to clearly reflect the significant correlations.

Line 255: Check the grant mean value for DMC

I corrected this.