An Analysis of the Genetic Relation between Photosynthesis and Yield-Related Traits in Wheat
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
1- The introduction is too weak and needs improvement to highlight the novelty of the study. For that, add more references for the importance of CO2 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.10.209,https://doi.org/10.1038/nclimate2183), RUE (https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.13933). In addition, due to the importance of wheat as a strategic crop in food security worldwide, particularly nowadays with rapid population growth, pandemic and wars, so authors have to add another paragraph demonstrating the importance of wheat to food security. For help, you can use these references from top-ranked journals :
(https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/aada50, https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11122495, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2002655117,
https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2020.617009
- Lines 58-61 require improvement with related references
- Line 66 "Most of these QTL were detected separately by using 66 different bi-parental genetic populations under various conditions", How can you prove that?
- Line 72, what you mean with "high light stress"?
2- Methods are presented very well
- Lines 85-86, add pedigree of these cultivars
3- Results, improve the quality of Figure 1
4- Conclusion need to be extended and future perspectives are required at the end of this section.
Author Response
Response to Reviewer 1
1- The introduction is too weak and needs improvement to highlight the novelty of the study. For that, add more references for the importance of CO2 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.10.209, https://doi.org/10.1038/nclimate2183), RUE (https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.13933). In addition, due to the importance of wheat as a strategic crop in food security worldwide, particularly nowadays with rapid population growth, pandemic and wars, so authors have to add another paragraph demonstrating the importance of wheat to food security. For help, you can use these references from top-ranked journals : (https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/aada50, https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11122495, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2002655117, https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2020.617009
- Lines 58-61 require improvement with related references
- Line 66 "Most of these QTL were detected separately by using 66 different bi-parental genetic populations under various conditions", How can you prove that?
Response
Thank you for the comments. We have added the references in the introduction part.
- Line 72, what you mean with "high light stress"?
Response
High light stress means excessive light stress or high light induced photo-oxidative stress. For clear, “high light stress” has been changed as “high light induced photo-oxidative stress.
2- Methods are presented very well
- Lines 85-86, add pedigree of these cultivars
Response
Thank you for the comments. The pedigrees have been supplied.
3- Results, improve the quality of Figure 1
Response
Thank you for the comments. A PPT file for Figure1 can be provided.
4- Conclusion need to be extended and future perspectives are required at the end of this section.
Response
Thank you for the comments. We revised the conclusion as suggested.
Reviewer 2 Report
The manuscript “Analysis of Genetic Relation between Photosynthesis and Yield Related Traits in Wheat” elucidates the genetic relation between photosynthesis and grain yield related traits in bread wheat. Although numerous investigations aimed to identify QTLs for grain yield and related traits in wheat have been published, the data on the genetic relation between photosynthesis parameters at both canopy and leaf levels and grain yield related traits in wheat still remains unclear. The authors estimated phenotypic variation of 16 physiological and agronomical traits in a subset of 102 recombinant inbred lines derived from crossing a high light tolerant variety Xiaoyan 54 and a high yielding but high light sensitive variety Jing 411, performed comprehensive statistical analysis and identified a total of 57 QTLs associated with investigated traits. They have also revealed QTL clusters co-located with both photosynthesis and grain yield traits. Two genes conferring reduced height, Rht8 and Rht-B1, are considered as key factors for coordinate regulation of photosynthesis and grain yield trait.
The manuscript contains extensive experimental material which is comprehensively treated and discussed.
The research on the whole is well designed, the results will be of particular significance developing strategy of creating wheat varieties combining increased radiation use efficiency and improved productivity.
Comments:
- A brief information available in the literature on the candidate genes or mechanisms of the studied traits should be included in the Introduction section.
- The details of microsatellite analysis should be included in the manuscript.
- Please check the correctness of using the terms “variety” and “cultivar” throughout the text.
- The text requires some stylistic and grammatic editing.
Author Response
Response to Reviewer 2
The manuscript “Analysis of Genetic Relation between Photosynthesis and Yield Related Traits in Wheat” elucidates the genetic relation between photosynthesis and grain yield related traits in bread wheat. Although numerous investigations aimed to identify QTLs for grain yield and related traits in wheat have been published, the data on the genetic relation between photosynthesis parameters at both canopy and leaf levels and grain yield related traits in wheat still remains unclear. The authors estimated phenotypic variation of 16 physiological and agronomical traits in a subset of 102 recombinant inbred lines derived from crossing a high light tolerant variety Xiaoyan 54 and a high yielding but high light sensitive variety Jing 411, performed comprehensive statistical analysis and identified a total of 57 QTLs associated with investigated traits. They have also revealed QTL clusters co-located with both photosynthesis and grain yield traits. Two genes conferring reduced height, Rht8 and Rht-B1, are considered as key factors for coordinate regulation of photosynthesis and grain yield trait.
The manuscript contains extensive experimental material which is comprehensively treated and discussed.
The research on the whole is well designed, the results will be of particular significance developing strategy of creating wheat varieties combining increased radiation use efficiency and improved productivity.
Comments:
- A brief information available in the literature on the candidate genes or mechanisms of the studied traits should be included in the Introduction section.
Response
Thank you for the comments. The literature on the candidate genes have been included in the introduction section.
- The details of microsatellite analysis should be included in the manuscript.
Response
Thank you for the comments. The microsatellite information was included as suggested.
- Please check the correctness of using the terms “variety” and “cultivar” throughout the text.
Response
All ‘cultivars’ has be changed to ‘variety’.
- The text requires some stylistic and grammatic editing.
Response
Thank you for the comments. The text has been edited throughout.
