Vascular Bundle Characteristics of Different Rice Variety Treated with Nitrogen Fertilizers and Its Relation to Stem Assimilates Allocation and Grain Yield

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

In manuscript entitled “ Vascular bundle characteristics of basal internode in relation to translocation of stem assimilates and yield in rice” Guohui Li and co-author investigated the role of the vascular system (stem) in rice grain filling and yield. Researchers obtained very interesting findings. The results included an assessment of yield-related traits and anatomical characteristics of basal internodes in different rice varieties and under different nitrogen conditions. The results presented here are reasonable, well discussed. Below are a few suggestions for improving the presentation of the paper:

• The title is not precise enough. It includes the term "translocation assimilates”. Neither methods nor data on assimilate translocation have been presented. Measuring translocation is a difficult task. In my opinion, the authors rather meant "resource allocation." Why not consider changing the title of the manuscript to “Vascular bundle characteristics of basal internode in relation to assimilates allocation and yield in rice” or even another “…assimilate distribution…” asmore appropriate title.
• I understood, that all experiments were performed once (only during one season). Thus, the results/conclusion (especially in abstract) should not be expressed as an ultimate truth. Additional information in section M@M is required, if more experiments were done. Alternatively, authors should adapt wording in abstract and conclusion (for example, example “results indicated…” could be changed to “… suggested”, “… show”, “… revealed”.
• Discussion would be more engaging if updated (70 % of literature references are over 5 years old). Many current publications are very close thematically, even the information they contain on wheat, rye, and rice basal internodes are in agreement (e.g. Muszynska et al., Plant Biotechnology Journal 2021 (9), pp. 2646–2661).

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

Overall the MS need to improved :

Title : should reflect the whole content of MS,  

Abstract should be written concisely (Main issue or problem, objective, methods, results and conclussion),

Introduction just refine and highlight the novelty of this MS,

Materials and methods : should be improved and follow the authors guidance. Additional data  of soil properties and the performing of experiment, including the arrangement are required

Results, Discussion and  Conclusion  need to refine.

The suggestions see attached file

 

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx