Improved Forage Quality in Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) via Selection for Increased Stem Fiber Digestibility
, Deborah J. Heuschele †, JoAnn F. S. Lamb, Hans-Joachim G. Jung and Deborah A. Samac
Dan Undersander
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Α very good quality paper with out comments. Veru important findings from a major plant (alfalfa) for animal production especially for ruminants.
Reviewer 2 Report
Review of Agronomy-2228691
Comments to the Author: Please be consistent with use of abbreviations throughout the paper, and supplemental information. Also, correct measurements so that there is a space between number and its unit. Please do not rely on a reference manager for accurate references. Unfortunately reference managers are not 100% accurate, and their output needs to be checked manually.
Specific Comments:
Line 4: Author’s full first and last name should be provided.
Line 9: Should Latin name of species be italicized in the abstract?
Line 11: When writing measurements, use a space between a number and its unit. Please adjust all units throughout paper.
Line 17: “stages and reduced” does not make sense, omit “and”.
Line 19: “Better than average”, is inappropriate considering we do not know what the average is.
Line 27: The information in this sentence is not supported by the reference cited.
Line 30: The nutrient content of alfalfa increases milk productivity compared to what?
Line 43: In line 61 you use CW as an abbreviation for cell wall. It should be used here first, and then be used consistently throughout the paper.
Line 45: “forages that limit forage intake” is repetitive, reword.
Line 46: Please use CW abbreviation consistently throughout the paper.
Line 54: Please use CW abbreviation consistently throughout the paper.
Line 56: Please use CW abbreviation consistently throughout the paper.
Line 60: Please use CW abbreviation consistently throughout the paper.
Line 61: Please use CW abbreviation consistently throughout the paper.
Line 79: Please use CW abbreviation consistently throughout the paper.
Line 93: When writing measurements, use a space between a number and its unit.
Line 101: Abbreviation CO has already been defined in line 85.
Line 116: Shouldn’t cycle 1 also be abbreviated as C1?
Line 131: Meters squared does not have a negative superscript.
Line 141: When writing measurements, use a space between a number and its unit.
Line 144: When writing measurements, use a space between a number and its unit.
Line 164: Should analysis of variance be abbreviated to ANOVA?
Line 180: Please use CW abbreviation consistently throughout the paper.
Line 185: Significantly greater, different? Please be more specific.
Line 202: Please use CW abbreviation consistently throughout the paper.
Line 295: Use of abbreviations for cycle 2 and cycle 1?
Line 331: C2 abbreviation?
Line 352: Cycle abbreviations?
Line 369: Please use CW abbreviation consistently throughout the paper.
Line 370: Please use CW abbreviation consistently throughout the paper.
Line 373: Please use CW abbreviation consistently throughout the paper.
Line 374: Please use CW abbreviation consistently throughout the paper.
Line 376: Please use CW abbreviation consistently throughout the paper.
Line 378: Please use CW abbreviation consistently throughout the paper.
Line 422: Cycle abbreviations?
Line 424: Cycle abbreviations?
Line 430: Please use CW abbreviation consistently throughout the paper.
Line 525: Please correct capitalization requirements in reference.
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Tables and Figures:
Table 1: Please correct table description. When writing measurements, use a space between a number and its unit.
Table 2: Please correct table description. When writing measurements, use a space between a number and its unit.
Figure 2: Please correct table description. When writing measurements, use a space between a number and its unit.
Table 4: Please correct table description. When writing measurements, use a space between a number and its unit.
Figure 3: Please correct table description. When writing measurements, use a space between a number and its unit.
Figure 4: Please correct table description. When writing measurements, use a space between a number and its unit.
Comments for author File: 
Comments.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
Extremely well written. The only suggestion I have is to mention decline in forage quality with advancing maturity from other research is section 3.4 line 287. This would tie these results to previous research. The quality change with advancing maturity is mentioned at line 405 but could also be included earlier.
