Soil Predisposing Factors to Fusarium oxysporum f.sp Cubense Tropical Race 4 on Banana Crops of La Guajira, Colombia

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The authors tried to investigate the physics and chemical soil predisposing factors that influence the prevalence and severity of Foc TR4, in La Guajira and to identify the key drivers that underlie the susceptibility of this region to TR4.

However, for the next step, the authors have to provide

1. environmental data

2. second year data

3. the rate of FWB on each farm.

If the authors present the data, I'll review the results and discussion.

My comments are in the file.

Thanks,

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

The authors tried to investigate the physics and chemical soil predisposing factors that influence the prevalence and severity of Foc TR4, in La Guajira and to identify the key drivers that underlie the susceptibility of this region to TR4.

 

However, for the next step, the authors have to provide

 

Response : All changes, suggestions, and recommendations suggested in the manuscript were made. The answer to each point is found in the pdf document

 

1. environmental data

 

Response 1: Thank you for pointing this out. We agree with this comment. A paragraph showing the environmental conditions of the study area was added to the manuscript.

Line 118-136: In the Dibulla municipality, the climate is classified as arid. The average temperature varies between 28 and 30°C, the average annual precipitation of 1,403 mm, the potential evapotranspiration of 1,736 mm/year, solar radiation between 400 to 425 w/m2, and relative humidity between 80 to 85% [24]. The predominant soils are of the Inceptisols order, haplustepts group, and alfisol order, natrustalfs group. The most representative soil series is Aquic Haplstepts, fine loam family, kaolinitic, soils that have evolved from medium and moderately fine alluvial sediments recently, are moderately deep, with imperfect drainage, affected by flooding [25].

 

2. second year data

 

Response 2: Thank you for pointing this out. The sampling was carried out for two years (2019-2020).

 

3. the rate of FWB on each farm.

 

Response 3: Thank you for pointing this out. The table A1 was added to the manuscript

 

Table A1. Characteristics of each farm related to the presence and incidence of the disease Foc TR4 in La Guajira, Colombia

Code	Farm	Accumulated incidence (%)*	Estimated Eradicated area (ha)	Total area of the farm (ha)	Affected area (%)	Cultivated clone
E44001-435	1	1.2	1.6	234.0	0.6	Williams (53%) Valery (47%)
C44001-388ab	2	2.5	8.4	393.0	2.1	Valery (88%) Williams (12%)
A44001-288	3	6.6	27.8	217.0	12.8	Valery (100%)

*Note: The information corresponds to two years (2019-2020) of data accumulated on each farm until the moment of soil sampling carried out in the research.

 

If the authors present the data, I'll review the results and discussion.

 

My comments are in the file.

 

Thanks,

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

The article is novel and interesting. However, it needs to be improved as I have suggested throughout the text. I think the improvements should start with the title. Please review the statistical part of the paper, and the description of the results. After that, the manuscript should be revised again.

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

The article is novel and interesting. However, it needs to be improved as I have suggested throughout the text. I think the improvements should start with the title. Please review the statistical part of the paper, and the description of the results. After that, the manuscript should be revised again.

Author Response

The article is novel and interesting. However, it needs to be improved as I have suggested throughout the text. I think the improvements should start with the title. Please review the statistical part of the paper, and the description of the results. After that, the manuscript should be revised again.

 

Response 1: Thank you for pointing this out. We agree with this comment. All changes, suggestions, and recommendations suggested in the manuscript were made. The answer to each point is found in the pdf document

 

I suggest improving the title: Soil predisposing factors to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense Tropical Race 4 on banana crops of La Guajira, Colombia

 

Response: Accepted

 

Why were only calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and zinc (Zn) analyzed? There are other important elements that could also affect the pathogen.

 

Response: These variables were the ones that had significant differences. The analyzes were done for all macro and microelements

 

Please insert the reference

 

Response: It is the same reference that is indicated at the end of the paragraph

 

You should rephrase the sentence. The region is not susceptible to the disease, but its plants or agroclimatic conditions are ideal for the disease to become an epidemic.

 

Response: Line 100: The sentence is changed as suggested

Please provide the geographic coordinates of each location or farm.

 

Response: Due to confidentiality clauses, the economic group of these properties does not allow coordinates to be indicated, since it is sensitive information.

 

I think the best thing to do is to put the specific information for each site or farm. Even in a table that can be filed as supplemental material.

 

Response: Accepted. Thank you for pointing this out. The table A1 was added to the manuscript

 

Table A1. Characteristics of each farm related to the presence and incidence of the disease Foc TR4 in La Guajira, Colombia

Code	Farm	Accumulated incidence (%)*	Estimated Eradicated area (ha)	Total area of the farm (ha)	Affected area (%)	Cultivated clone
E44001-435	1	1.2	1.6	234.0	0.6	Williams (53%) Valery (47%)
C44001-388ab	2	2.5	8.4	393.0	2.1	Valery (88%) Williams (12%)
A44001-288	3	6.6	27.8	217.0	12.8	Valery (100%)

*Note: The information corresponds to two years (2019-2020) of data accumulated on each farm until the moment of soil sampling carried out in the research.

 

In the same table suggested in the previous comment, the authors could include the incidence (%) of Fusarium wilt and the established banana clone.

 

Response: Accepted.

 

Why does the summary say that only three elements were identified?

 

Response: Thank you for pointing this out. Because 3 variables only showed significant differences

 

How do you know the plants were healthy? Have you done molecular analysis to verify the absence or presence of FW? I think the ideal would be to place symptomatic and asymptomatic plants.

 

Response: Thank you for pointing this out. Each condition is detailed as suggested. It is clarified that the identification of the affected areas corresponds to eradication foci that included symptomatic plants. The healthy areas were without the presence of symptomatic plants or nearby eradication foci. It’s corresponded to the zone C.

 

I think the authors should have first checked the normality and homoscedasticity assumptions of the data. In Figure 1, we can see that they used the median, so I conclude that the data are not parametric. Therefore, Tukey could not be used.

 

Response: Thank you for pointing this out. All variables met the assumptions of ANOVA, including normality. There were no variables with non-parametric data

 

Where is the Figure A1? The veracity of the description of the results cannot be verified without looking at Figure A1.

 

Response: Thank you for pointing this out. The Figure was located in the corresponding section.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

I suppose the manuscript may be published in the journal.

However, the conclusion should be improved.

Thanks,

Author Response

Response to Reviewer 1 Comments

I suppose the manuscript may be published in the journal.

 

However, the conclusion should be improved.

 

Thanks,

 

Response: Thanks, Corrected. Line 653: The findings of this research underscore the importance of soil management practices, including pH adjustment, organic matter content, adequate fertilization with Ca, Mg, Zn, soil drainage improvements, and pathogen monitoring, in mitigating the risk of Foc TR4 infection. Furthermore, it highlights the need for tailored strategies and interventions to address the specific challenges faced by banana growers in  Colombia, as well as for other producing regions in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Reviewer 2 Report

Dear authors,

I kindly ask you to send the new version of the manuscript with the corrections in red. As you have done it, it is not possible to identify the changes in the text. If possible, send also a document with the answers and corrections, it is more elegant.

Best regards.

Author Response

Thank you very much for taking the time to review this manuscript

Round 3

Reviewer 2 Report

I have observed that the authors have made all the suggested changes, and those who have not, have been able to justify them properly. Thus, I believe that the manuscript can be published in the journal. 

Author Response

Thank you very much for taking the time to review this manuscript.