Physical and Chemical Characteristics of Native Maize from the Jalisco Highlands and Their Influence on the Nixtamalization Process
, Luis Miguel Anaya-Esparza 3,* and Víctor Manuel Gómez-Rodríguez 1,*Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
In introduction the authors explain in a very clear manner questions addressed by their research.
English must be improved
i.e.
Line 96
” a protein conversion factor of 6.25 were used (method 46-13) [21]”
Please pay attention to the verb, and use the correct form ”was” instead ”were”.
Line 105
”the method by Salinas and 105 Vázquez [23].”
Suggestion: ”the method of Salinas and 105 Vázquez [23]. ”
Line 156
”The L values of analyzed accessions varied (P ≤ 0.05) from 36.43-72.29 (Table 2).”
Suggestion: ”The L values of analyzed accessions varied (P ≤ 0.05) within 36.43%-72.29% (Table 2).”
The same for line 157
Materials and Methods
Lines 74 – 79, please reconsider the terminology.
We recommend the replacing of the word ”race” with ”variety”. You speak of maize varieties here.
”These accessions correspond to three white maize”
What does it mean ”three white maize” ? Three varieties? Three grains? It has no sense.
Please reformulate
Results and Discussions
Lines 155-185, please use the measure units when referring in text to color brightness (L), angle tone (Hue) values.
i.e. ” Hue (°) values in maize accessions varied (P ≤ 0.05) from 82.7-46.27 (Table 2).”
Suggestion: Hue (°) values in maize accessions varied (P ≤ 0.05) from 82.7°-46.27° (Table 2).”
Lines 285-292.
The Figure 2a shows the projections of variables in the plans of the principal components 1 and 2, from where you may identify the correlations between the variables.
From where result the values of correlation coefficients you mention?
We suggest the authors to present the correlation coefficients together with determination coefficients in a distinct table.
Conclusions
The conclusions are not consistent with the arguments presented in the article.
Considerations concerning the history of native maize from Mexico, have no place in this section. Please reconsider.
The affirmations ”The wide variability reported in the analyzed accessions is due 307 to a possible genetic combination of this free-pollinated native maize with commercial 308 maize and the interaction between the genotype and the environment.”
” All accessions an- 309 analyzed here showed a great potential for its use in breeding programs to improve different 310 variables.”
are not sustained by the content of the article.
You mention that ”this work aimed to evaluate the physical and chemical characteristics of maize grain and dough and tortillas quality produced with three native maize landraces from Jalisco Highlands, Mexico” but you make no reference to the results of evaluation of aimed characteristics.
Author Response
Reviewer #1 comments:
Note: Modifications to the article were indicated in red
In introduction the authors explain in a very clear manner questions addressed by their research.
English must be improved
i.e.
Line 96 Addressed: “were” was changed to “was”
” a protein conversion factor of 6.25 were used (method 46-13) [21]”
Please pay attention to the verb, and use the correct form ”was” instead ”were”.
Line 105 Addressed: “by” was changed to “of”
”the method by Salinas and 105 Vázquez [23].”
Suggestion: ”the method of Salinas and 105 Vázquez [23]. ”
Line 156 Addressed: “from” was changed to “within”
”The L values of analyzed accessions varied (P ≤ 0.05) from 36.43-72.29 (Table 2).”
Suggestion: ”The L values of analyzed accessions varied (P ≤ 0.05) within 36.43%-72.29% (Table 2).”
The same for line 157 Addressed: “from” was changed to “within”
Materials and Methods
Lines 74 – 79, please reconsider the terminology.
We recommend the replacing of the word ”race” with ”variety”. You speak of maize varieties here. Addressed
“Race” is the correct word, due to during the spread of maize cultivation, different maize lineages acquired distinct genetic and morphological characteristics. These sets of plants sharing particular characteristics have been classified into races and members of a race have pronounced similarities not only in morphological phenotype and geographical distribution, but also in genetic, cytological, physiological, and agronomic characteristics.
However, each race can comprise numerous distinct variants in ear shape, grain color and texture, adaptations, and genetic diversity.
Guzzon, F.; Arandia-Rios, L.W.; Caviedes-Cepeda, G.M.; Céspedes-Polo, M.: Chavez-Cabrera, A.; Muriel-Figueroa, J.; & Pixley, K.V. Conservation and use of Latin American maize diversity: Pillar of nutrition security and cultural heritage of humanity. Agronomy. 2021: 11(1), 172.
Vigouroux, Y.; Glaubitz, G.C.; Matsuoka, Y.; Goodman, M.M.; Sánchez-González J.; Doebley, J. Population structure and genetic diversity of new world maize races assessed by DNA microsatellites. Amer. J. Bot. 2008, 95, 1240-1253.
”These accessions correspond to three white maize”
What does it mean ”three white maize” ? Three varieties? Three grains? It has no sense.
Please reformulate Addressed: “grain” was added (lines 74, 76 and 77) to indicate that maize kernel is of such color.
Results and Discussions
Lines 155-185, please use the measure units when referring in text to color brightness (L), angle tone (Hue) values.
i.e. ” Hue (°) values in maize accessions varied (P ≤ 0.05) from 82.7-46.27 (Table 2).”
Suggestion: Hue (°) values in maize accessions varied (P ≤ 0.05) from 82.7°-46.27° (Table 2).”
Addressed: “°” was added in lines 174 and 179 to indicate Hue units and “%” was added in lines 157 and 158 to indicate L units as well as other units were added in all article.
Lines 285-292.
The Figure 2a shows the projections of variables in the plans of the principal components 1 and 2, from where you may identify the correlations between the variables.
From where result the values of correlation coefficients you mention?
We suggest the authors to present the correlation coefficients together with determination coefficients in a distinct table.
Addressed: Table 6 and Table 7 were added to solve this situation. Furthermore, legends in Fig 2. were modified.
Conclusions
The conclusions are not consistent with the arguments presented in the article.
Considerations concerning the history of native maize from Mexico, have no place in this section. Please reconsider. Addressed: the paragraph was completely modified.
The affirmations ”The wide variability reported in the analyzed accessions is due 307 to a possible genetic combination of this free-pollinated native maize with commercial 308 maize and the interaction between the genotype and the environment.”
” All accessions an- 309 analyzed here showed a great potential for its use in breeding programs to improve different 310 variables.”
are not sustained by the content of the article. Addressed: conclusions were improved.
You mention that ”this work aimed to evaluate the physical and chemical characteristics of maize grain and dough and tortillas quality produced with three native maize landraces from Jalisco Highlands, Mexico” but you make no reference to the results of evaluation of aimed characteristics.
Addressed: some variables were included.
Reviewer 2 Report
This article presented the study of physicochemical properties of different native maize as kernels, dough and tortillas. The research is well designed, methodologies used are scientifically sound, results and discussion are well presented and clear. However, I think more discussions comparing the native maize physicochemical properties with main commercialized maize should be added so that the readers can appreciate the commercial potential of these native maize.
Minor spelling mistakes were also detected. Please review.
Author Response
Reviewer #2 comments:
Note: Modifications to the article were indicated in red
This article presented the study of physicochemical properties of different native maize as kernels, dough and tortillas. The research is well designed, methodologies used are scientifically sound, results and discussion are well presented and clear. However, I think more discussions comparing the native maize physicochemical properties with main commercialized maize should be added so that the readers can appreciate the commercial potential of these native maize.
Minor spelling mistakes were also detected. Please review.
The reviewer is right. In the discussion of the results, the comparison with the hybrids was avoided due to the notable difference between both types of maize; for this reason, it was only compared with the native maize of Mexico. That is why it was compared only with the characteristics requested by the Dough-Tortilla Industry (DTI) and Nixtamalized Flour Industry (NFI) as well as the official standard referring to corn used for nixtamalization.
Some spelling mistakes were corrected.
Reviewer 3 Report
Interesting work.
A few suggestions for the improvement of the paper:
Line 42: Do you mean varieties? Please replace with more suitable word.
Line 53: Ca(OH)2
Line 74: Why authors waited so long to report their results?
Accessions were obtained in season 2008/2009
Line 94: Something is wrong in this sentence. Please check it.
The limit of the work could be the experiments in only one year of the study..
Author Response
Reviewer #3 comments:
Note: Modifications to the article were indicated in red
Interesting work.
A few suggestions for the improvement of the paper:
Line 42: Do you mean varieties? Please replace with more suitable word.
Addressed.
“Race” is the correct word, due to during the spread of maize cultivation, different maize lineages acquired distinct genetic and morphological characteristics. These sets of plants sharing particular characteristics have been classified into races and members of a race have pronounced similarities not only in morphological phenotype and geographical distribution, but also in genetic, cytological, physiological, and agronomic characteristics.
However, each race can comprise numerous distinct variants in ear shape, grain color and texture, adaptations, and genetic diversity.
Guzzon, F.; Arandia-Rios, L.W.; Caviedes-Cepeda, G.M.; Céspedes-Polo, M.: Chavez-Cabrera, A.; Muriel-Figueroa, J.; & Pixley, K.V. Conservation and use of Latin American maize diversity: Pillar of nutrition security and cultural heritage of humanity. Agronomy. 2021: 11(1), 172.
Vigouroux, Y.; Glaubitz, G.C.; Matsuoka, Y.; Goodman, M.M.; Sánchez-González J.; Doebley, J. Population structure and genetic diversity of new world maize races assessed by DNA microsatellites. Amer. J. Bot. 2008, 95, 1240-1253.
Line 53: Ca(OH)2 Addressed: Ca(OH)2
Line 74: Why authors waited so long to report their results?
Accessions were obtained in season 2008/2009
This is because a new collection of native materials has been carried out in the region, and since the results of that first collection had not been reported yet. It is interesting to have the published data from this previous work and compare the modifications and/or changes that the new collections present.
Line 94: Something is wrong in this sentence. Please check it. Addressed.
Methods 30-10 and 46-13 were from the American Association of Cereal Chemists (AACC, 2000) as mentioned in reference [21].
The limit of the work could be the experiments in only one year of the study. Addressed.
This is because it was sampled that year in various locations to obtain the different accessions and determine the characteristics at that time. Furthermore, a new collection of native materials has been carried out in the region.
