Effects and Molecular Mechanism of Mycorrhiza on the Growth, Nutrient Absorption, Quality of Fresh Leaves, and Antioxidant System of Tea Seedlings Suffering from Salt Stress
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
This paper contains interesting studies on Mycorrhizal Response of Tea under Non-salt, and Salt Stress by Regulating seedlings’ Growth, Nutrient Uptake, Quality of Fresh Leaves, and Antioxidant System. Although many studies have been conducted on that is still lacking in English and more informations. In addition, this study is significant for the experimental regions. However, this manuscript still needs improving in writing logic and the analysis of the discussion are not clear . It is recommended to modify for a better version. Moreover the discussion section is not deep enough, the sentence structure is simple, and there is much repetition ,it must be combined with results.
Title: It needs to modify and clear.
Abstract: it should consider focusing the important findings briefly .
Keywords:should be re- consider and updating.
Abbreviations: should arrange
Introduction:
-Introduction part is appropriate ,but, it needs for further improvements with highlighting research gaps which necessitated conducting this experiment for the last 5 years.
Materials and methods:
-this part needs to describe very well by using suitable subheadings. However, it needs more of the data and information’s for the investigations, specially regards the methodology and statisticians. It is suggested to prepare good data. in the revised version to enhance clarity.
Results and Discussion
-Both parts needs major revision with providing last 5 years and arrange some figures instead of tables to be more clear and understanding and must be combined.
Please, add ANOVA Table for all treatments and interactions.
Figures must be more clear.
Conclusion:
-arrange this part with briefly and respect to formulated objectives.
References:
-Cross check the references in the text and reference cite. Few references are not as per journal style in the text as well reference section.
Comments for author File: 
Comments.pdf
Author Response
Dear Editor and Reviewers:
We are thankful to the reviewers and editor for comments on the manuscript (Agronomy-1888040-Mycorrhizal Response of Tea under Non-salt, and Salt Stress by Regulating seedlings’ Growth, Nutrient Uptake, Quality of Fresh Leaves, and Antioxidant System) and helpful suggestions to improve the quality of our manuscript. Based on review comments and suggestions, the paper was carefully revised. Our responses to the comments are listed on the following pages. The revised manuscript has been formatted according to Agronomy, and the text and English have been carefully checked. All corrected and added parts in the revised manuscript have been marked up using the “Track Changes” function. Also, we used English language editing by MDPI in order to meet the requirements of this journal.
Thank you for your attention and consideration of our work and we look forward to your response. Welcome to keep in touch with us, if there are any questions about this manuscript.
Kind regards.
Yours sincerely,
Mufang Sun
Address: Xinyang Agriculture and Forestry University, 1 North Ring Road, Xinyang, Henan Province, 464000, P. R. China
Responses to reviewer 1:
This paper contains interesting studies on Mycorrhizal Response of Tea under Non-salt, and Salt Stress by Regulating seedlings’Growth, Nutrient Uptake, Quality of Fresh Leaves, and Antioxidant System. Although many studies have been conducted on that is still lacking in English and more informations. In addition, this study is significant for the experimental regions. However, this manuscript still needs improving in writing logic and the analysis of the discussion are not clear. It is recommended to modify for a better version. Moreover the discussion section is not deep enough, the sentence structure is simple, and there is much repetition, it must be combined with results.
Response: Thank you for your comments of this article. Also, thank you very much for your modifications and suggestions in the PDF. We have carefully revised the article according to your suggestions in the PDF. Please see in revised manuscript.
Title: It needs to modify and clear.
Response: Thanks. We have modified the title to “Effects and Molecular Mechanism of Mycorrhizal on the Growth, Nutrient Absorption, Quality of Fresh Leaves, and Antioxidant System of Tea Seedlings Suffer from Salt Stress”.
Abstract: it should consider focusing the important findings briefly.
Response: Thanks. We have focusing the important findings briefly in Abstract based on your suggestions in PDF.
Keywords:should be re- consider and updating.
Response: Thanks. We have changed and rearranged the Keywords.
Abbreviations: should arrange
Response: Thanks. We have changed and rearranged the Keywords.
Introduction:
-Introduction part is appropriate, but, it needs for further improvements with highlighting research gaps which necessitated conducting this experiment for the last 5 years.
Response: Thanks. We have improved this part. Also, we updated the 10th to 12th references, which are the last 5 years.
Materials and methods:
-this part needs to describe very well by using suitable subheadings. However, it needs more of the data and information’s for the investigations, specially regards the methodology and statisticians. It is suggested to prepare good data. in the revised version to enhance clarity.
Response: Thanks. We used the suitable subheadings in this part. We added the location of the experimental in “2.2.AMF processing and Plant Culture”: The seedlings were transplanted into a 3.5-L pot with a uniform size, and grown in the glasshouse of Xinyang Agriculture and Forestry University. Also, we added the detailed formula of Hoagland solution. Furthermore, we have added the detailed detection methods of some tests in “2.3. Variable Determinations”, such as Mycorrhizal colonization rate and qRT-PCR.
Results and Discussion
-Both parts needs major revision with providing last 5 years and arrange some figures instead of tables to be more clear and understanding and must be combined.
Response: Thanks. We have changed Tables 4 and 5 to Figures 3 and 4. Also, we updated the 34th, 38th, 48th, 50th, and 52th references, which are the last 5 years.
Please, add ANOVA Table for all treatments and interactions.
Response: Thanks. We have added ANOVA in Tables 2 and 3.
Figures must be more clear.
Response: Thanks. We increased the resolution of the Figures 5 and 6.
Conclusion:
-arrange this part with briefly and respect to formulated objectives.
Response: Thanks. We have modified this part to be more briefly.
References:
-Cross check the references in the text and reference cite. Few references are not as per journal style in the text as well reference section.
Response: Thanks. We have checked this part carefully.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.docx
Reviewer 2 Report
Abstract
L17-20, 29-30: give some examples of values of these parameters or % changes compared to control
Introduction
Add a short paragraph related to general influence of fungi on plant physiology and biochemistry and compare with AMF (e.g.: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-022-03838-x)
L49: nowadays instead every day
Materials and Methods
L92: if it is treatment without AMF do not use the term inoculation. Write control instead CK
L97: add a city of the University
L100: how many seedlings were used and how many repetitions were performed? Add a city and country of the University
L102: do not start the sentence with a number
L105: add a model and manufacturer of the phytotron. What was the photoperiod?
L113-115: describe briefly methods used for determination of examined parameters
L118-119: add names of used kits and their manufacturers
Results, Discussion and Conclusions are fine
Author Response
Dear Editor and Reviewers:
We are thankful to the reviewers and editor for comments on the manuscript (Agronomy-1888040-Mycorrhizal Response of Tea under Non-salt, and Salt Stress by Regulating seedlings’ Growth, Nutrient Uptake, Quality of Fresh Leaves, and Antioxidant System) and helpful suggestions to improve the quality of our manuscript. Based on review comments and suggestions, the paper was carefully revised. Our responses to the comments are listed on the following pages. The revised manuscript has been formatted according to Agronomy, and the text and English have been carefully checked. All corrected and added parts in the revised manuscript have been marked up using the “Track Changes” function. Also, we used English language editing by MDPI in order to meet the requirements of this journal.
Thank you for your attention and consideration of our work and we look forward to your response. Welcome to keep in touch with us, if there are any questions about this manuscript.
Kind regards.
Yours sincerely,
Mufang Sun
Address: Xinyang Agriculture and Forestry University, 1 North Ring Road, Xinyang, Henan Province, 464000, P. R. China
Responses to reviewer 2:
Abstract
L17-20, 29-30: give some examples of values of these parameters or % changes compared to control
Response: Thanks. We have added some data in these two sentences.
Introduction
Add a short paragraph related to general influence of fungi on plant physiology and biochemistry and compare with AMF (e.g.: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-022-03838-x)
L49: nowadays instead every day
Response: Thanks. We have added this ref in 15th.
Materials and Methods
L92: if it is treatment without AMF do not use the term inoculation. Write control instead CK.
Response: Thanks. We have changed it.
L97: add a city of the University
Response: Thanks. We have added it.
L100: how many seedlings were used and how many repetitions were performed? Add a city and country of the University
Response: Thanks. We added it “Each treatment had four replicates of 12 pots of seedlings with 3 seedlings in each pot” in “2.1. Experimental Design”. Also, we added the city and country of the university in the MS.
L102: do not start the sentence with a number
Response: Thanks. We have changed this sentence.
L105: add a model and manufacturer of the phytotron. What was the photoperiod?
Response: Thanks. We changed photoperiod to glasshouse, and add the manufacturer.
L113-115: describe briefly methods used for determination of examined parameters
Response: Thanks. We have added the detailed detection methods of some tests in “2.3. Variable Determinations”, such as Mycorrhizal colonization rate and qRT-PCR.
L118-119: add names of used kits and their manufacturers
Response: Thanks. We have added the names of used kits and their manufacturers.
Results, Discussion and Conclusions are fine.
Response: Thank you for your affirmation of the Results, Discussion and Conclusions.
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Reviewer 3 Report
Some questions/observations are included in the ms to improved the analysis of your research
Comments for author File: Comments.pdf
Author Response
Dear Editor and Reviewers:
We are thankful to the reviewers and editor for comments on the manuscript (Agronomy-1888040-Mycorrhizal Response of Tea under Non-salt, and Salt Stress by Regulating seedlings’ Growth, Nutrient Uptake, Quality of Fresh Leaves, and Antioxidant System) and helpful suggestions to improve the quality of our manuscript. Based on review comments and suggestions, the paper was carefully revised. Our responses to the comments are listed on the following pages. The revised manuscript has been formatted according to Agronomy, and the text and English have been carefully checked. All corrected and added parts in the revised manuscript have been marked up using the “Track Changes” function. Also, we used English language editing by MDPI in order to meet the requirements of this journal.
Thank you for your attention and consideration of our work and we look forward to your response. Welcome to keep in touch with us, if there are any questions about this manuscript.
Kind regards.
Yours sincerely,
Mufang Sun
Address: Xinyang Agriculture and Forestry University, 1 North Ring Road, Xinyang, Henan Province, 464000, P. R. China
Responses to reviewer 3:
L91: Why only 100 mmol/L NaCl?
Response: Thanks. We made a preliminary experiment of salt stress on tea plants. The results of the preliminary experiment showed that 100 mmol/L NaCl significantly inhibited the growth of tea seedlings. So, we chosen the 100 mmol/L NaCl in this study.
L99: Why not a native MA consortium?
Response: Thanks. The Glomus etunicatum had shown positive effect on the growth of tea based on the result of Sun et al. [23]. Based our previous study, we chosen this AMF (Glomus etunicatum).
Sun, M.F.; Yuan, D.; Hu, X.C.; Zhang, D.J.; Li, Y.Y. Effects of Mycorrhizal Fungi on Plant Growth, Nutrient Absorption and Phytohormones Levels in Tea Under Shading Condition. Not. Bot. Horti Agrobot. Cluj Napoca 2020, 48, 2006-2020. doi:10.15835/nbha48412082
L244: Why Fe not change?
Response: Our test results show that there was no significant change in Fe content. Relevant mechanism is not clear. It is need to be further in-depth study of this phenomenon.
L337: It would be interesting to evaluate NATIVE AMF tolerant to salt stress.
Response: It's a pity that we didn't do the native AMF study in tea plants this time. That's a very good suggestion. We will begin this study in the near future. Thanks.
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
Dera editor
Thanks for your concern
the paper is ok. only english editing
Thanks
Author Response
Dear Editor and Reviewers:
Thank you very much for your help about our MS.
Kind regards.
Yours sincerely,
Mufang Sun
Address: Xinyang Agriculture and Forestry University, 1 North Ring Road, Xinyang, Henan Province, 464000, P. R. China
Reviewer 2 Report
The Authors improved the manuscript according to most of the comments. In L109-113 I suggest to replace the word 'inoculation' with 'treatment' for controls because controls were not inoculated.
Author Response
Dear Editor and Reviewers:
Thank you very much for your help about our MS. Based on your suggestion, we have changed “After inoculation for 9 weeks” to “After treatment for 9 weeks” in L109-113. Thank you again.
Kind regards.
Yours sincerely,
Mufang Sun
Address: Xinyang Agriculture and Forestry University, 1 North Ring Road, Xinyang, Henan Province, 464000, P. R. China
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
