Identification of Stress Responsive NAC Genes in Casuarina equisetifolia L. and Its Expression Analysis under Abiotic Stresses
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe article addresses a current topic of great relevance to agriculture. I only detected some errors in the document that are duly noted and even when the work is concluded, it must come in a paragraph of conclusions as established by the journal.
Specific Comments Encouraged
1. What is the main question addressed by the research?
- Even though the objective of the research is not stated in either the summary or the introduction, in this research genes related to abiotic stress in Casuarina equisetifolia are identified and characterized at a molecular level and their expression against different stresses is also studied. abiotics (low temperature, drought, salinity, ABA and MeJA).
2. What parts do you consider original or relevant for the field?
-What specific gap in the field does the paper address? Currently, the different abiotic stresses that affect crops have intensified, so it is of utmost importance to be able to identify, characterize and also study the expression of this stress under these conditions. The work is extremely complete because it does not stop at characterization but even goes so far as to study gene expression.
3. What does it add to the subject area compared with other published
material?
-First the species, which is a forest species with numerous uses which are pointed out in the article. Second, the transcription factors and genes identified and characterized in this species. Finally, the expression of these genes against important abiotic stresses.
4. What specific improvements should the authors consider regarding the
methodology?
-What further controls should be considered? Clarify well the plant material that was used, whether it was leaves, stems and roots or just leaves.
5. Please describe how the conclusions are or are not consistent with the
evidence and arguments presented.
-There is no section of conclusions in the article so it must be clearly established including the identified genes, their accession number in the NCBI and the expression against the different stresses studied.
6. Are the references appropriate?
-Yes
Comments for author File: 
Comments.pdf
Author Response
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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsDear authors,
The manuscript entitled (Identification of Stress Responsive NAC Genes in 2 Casuarina equisetifolia and Its Expression Analysis under 3 Abiotic Stresses) have somme comments as the following
In title, change Casuarina equisetifolia to Casuarina equisetifolia L.
Line 22, Write the full name of ABA when mentioned first.
Line 24 Write the full name of meJA when mentioned first
In keywords, use other words did not mentioned in title.
In introduction, add information related to MeJA like ABA.
Improve the aim of the work.
Line 123, Agrobacterium tumetacie should be italicized.
How many plants were used per treatment?
How were the plants gown in Hogland solution or pots? Add more information on that part, how many plants per pots,.......
For saline treatment, you say (The treatment was conducted every 24 hours for a total of 7 days). you changed the solution every day or what was happened?
What do you mean by a regular watering, line 139?
Why you use the level 200mM for salinity?
Why you use the concentration of 100 μmol•L-1for ABA or JA, line 147.
The quality of Figure 2 and 3 should be improved.
Why the authors selected MEJA or ABA, as stress factor?
The discussion section and conclusion must be improved.
The reference style must be revised according the MDPI guidlines
Comments on the Quality of English Language
The English is fine .
Author Response
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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe paper entitled „Identification of Stress Responsive NAC Genes in Casuarina equisetifolia and Its Expression Analysis under Abiotic Stresses“ by Xiaomei et al. is very well written, so I recommend to be published in Agronomy after a minor revision of the manuscript:
1. According to instructions for authors, acronyms/abbreviations/initialisms should be defined the first time they appear in each of three sections: the abstract; the main text; the first figure or table. When defined for the first time, the acronym/abbreviation/initialism should be added in parentheses after the written-out form. For exsample: NAC, ATAF, NAP, STRE, MBS, ABRE, LTR, ABA, MeJA in Abstract section and so on throughout the whole text of the manuscript!
2. On page 3, line 129, indicate that 150μmol•m-2•s-1 is the light intensity.
3. On page 4, line 153, it says that there are 5 seedlings per group. Is this sample size adequate for statistical analysis?
Author Response
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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 4 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsDear authors,
Your manuscript is very well written and the topic is very interesting. the experiments are well prepared and the results are very well presented, especially from a graphical point of view. However, I needed some conclusions that summarise the findings and highlight their importance. That closing sentence, for me, was not enough to crown a well-prepared article and experiment.
Author Response
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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
