Reviewing the Adverse Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Measures on Almond Trees (Prunus dulcis)
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
its very good compilation of information on impact of recent climate change scenario on almond crop. but need some improvement under adaptation strategies section. almost all routine strategies are discussed which are relevant for all crops, add some specific form almond crops.
Its well written english but some flaws are there which need to be improved.
Author Response
Response to Reviewer 1
Its very good compilation of information on impact of recent climate change scenario on almond crop, but need some improvement under adaptation strategies section. almost all routine strategies are discussed which are relevant for all crops, add some specific form almond crops.
R: We are thankful to the Reviewer for the comments. In section 4, we already outlined several studies that cover almond tree field research and define crop-specific adaptation strategies. However, in other to enhance our discussion, we have added some more references, which are highlighted in the manuscript in blue font colour. For example:
Lines 452-456: “Planting almond cultivars on drought-tolerant rootstocks (grafting) to reduce the negative consequences of water scarcity [110]. Moreover, rootstocks may also confer resistance to different biotic and abiotic stresses in the soil [111]. Several studies have been conducted to evaluate the potential of rootstock to mitigate climate change im-pacts [111–113].”
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
I read the article titled " Reviewing the Adverse Climate Change Impacts on Almond Trees (Prunus dulcis)" with interest, and I think it is worthy of publication in Agriculture journal after some minor revisions. However, I have concerns about whether the article falls within the scope of the Special Issue on "Recent Advances in Modelling Climate Change Impacts on Cropping Systems".
I have included suggestions for changes and comments in the manuscript (attached), and I leave the final decision on whether to include the article in the Special Issue to the Editors.
Comments for author File: Comments.pdf
Author Response
Response to Reviewer 2
I read the article titled " Reviewing the Adverse Climate Change Impacts on Almond Trees (Prunus dulcis)" with interest, and I think it is worthy of publication in Agriculture journal after some minor revisions. However, I have concerns about whether the article falls within the scope of the Special Issue on "Recent Advances in Modelling Climate Change Impacts on Cropping Systems". I have included suggestions for changes and comments in the manuscript (attached), and I leave the final decision on whether to include the article in the Special Issue to the Editors.
R: We are thankful to the Reviewer for thoroughly reviewing the manuscript and providing constructive comments and valuable suggestions that we believe will significantly enhance our study. Our responses to each comment are presented below, along with the corresponding changes made in the manuscript (blue font colour).
Title: Since the paper also concerns climate change mitigation strategies, the title should be expanded to include this element.
R: We agreed with Reviewer’s comment. We have rewritten the title to: “Reviewing the adverse climate change impacts and adaptation measures on almond trees (Prunus dulcis)”.
This statement is unclear; please revise (t or ha ?)
R: We have corrected the statement to “ha”.
Which part of Figure 1 this sentence refers to (a, b, c) ?
R: This sentence corresponds to Figure 1c. We have corrected the figure citation in the manuscript.
What do you mean by "production context" ?
R: We intend to reinforce that there are other production areas. We have changed the expression to “production areas” (Line 67).
This figure is very interesting, but too small to be readable. The blue gradient also does not help to perceive the range of value variation.
R: Thank you for your comment. We have increased the Figure 1 dimension and changed the gradient colour.
This sentence should be re-phrased. Emphasize the impact of climate change, not the distribution of almond trees.
R: We have re-phrased the sentences.
Lines 115-116: “In the present study, the published literature on the climate change impacts on almond trees are reviewed.”
This passage reads more like a summary than outlining the purpose of the paper.
R: With this passage, we intend to describe the topics covered throughout the article.
This title does not reflect well the content of the section. Please consider the following:
"Prunus dulcis growth and habitat conditions".
In addition, the long chapter may be worth dividing logically, for example, taking into account abiotic and biotic factors.
R: We have agreed with the reviewer and changed the title to: “Prunus dulcis growth and habitat conditions”. If possible, we intend not to split the chapter, keeping the initial structure.
Are these varieties?
R: Yes, these are varieties (Lines 134-135).
Please provive the Author name first. Please check throughout the manuscript for similar omissions.
R: We have provided the author's name in similar omissions cases (Line 174).
Figure too small to be readable.
R: We have increased the Figure 3 dimension.
Please provide full names when using for the first time. Latin names of systematic units should be italicized. Please verify throughout the manuscript.
R: We update the manuscript according to the reviewer's indications.
The notation of the names of systematic units should be standardized everywhere.
R: We have updated the names of systematic units in the manuscript.
This title confuses me. What impact on crops will this chapter discuss: climate change or projections?
R: We have improved the title: “Climate projections and climate change impacts”.
Removed: “As mentioned in previous chapters, climate”
R: We have removed the information.
This sentence is too vague.
R: We have removed the sentence.
Name{s) first
R: Corrected.
Please consider the following: "....the survival of species of plants, animals, and human beings."
R: We have updated the information according to the Reviewer’s comment (Lines 280-281).
I think this part can be omitted.
R: In studies of the climate change occurrence various tools are used, such as climate projections, Global Climate Models (GCMs) and Regional Climate Models (RCMs). We considered that the description of these tools helps to better understand the reading. In this way, if possible, we intend to keep the information.
What do you mean by this expression?
R: We have updated the information:
Lines 289-292: “These projections are based on the analysis of various factors (historical data and real-time information) that influence the climate, such as socioeconomic development pathways and corresponding greenhouse gas emissions.”
Name first
R: Corrected.
Here it should be highlighted more what phenomena are the result of climate change and how they affect crops.
R: We have clarified this point in the manuscript as follows:
Lines 358-361: “Due to climate change, heat waves, droughts, and heavy precipitation events are becoming more frequent and severer [80]. In the Mediterranean-type climate regions, where an important fraction of almond trees grows, the mean annual precipitation tends to decrease, and consequently, the water availability for the crop decreases.”
...by Name [39], ...
R: Corrected
This passage should be expanded.
R: We have expanded the information in the manuscript:
Lines 383-392:” Climate change affects the sustainability of soil by causing erosion, compaction, and reduced fertility, which in turn alters the chemical and physical composition of the soil. This, in turn, affects the production of trees and the viability of crops, thus posing a threat to food security [104,105]. Additionally, climate change can contribute to the spread of pests by expanding their dispersal areas and enabling them to develop resilience to adverse conditions, such as winter weather. It can also diminish the effective-ness of biological control methods and lead to an increase in pest populations [106]. However, heat waves and heavy precipitation can act as limiting factors for pests and diseases, hindering their ability to propagate and reproduce [107].”
Please consider changing the title of this section
R: We have changed the title to “Mitigation policies and adaptation measures”.
Removed: “As discussed in the preceding chapter”
R: We have removed the expression.
....farmers and (?) policymakers...
R: Corrected.
Underlined: “adaptation strategies”
R: Corrected.
Maybe rather: Increase / maintain water availability and use efficiency
R: We have improved the title according to the Reviewer’s comment: “Increase/maintain water availability and use efficiency”.
Name
R: Corrected.
Names
R: Corrected.
Please rephrase this sentence.
R: We have to rephrase the sentence:
Lines 616-617: “Climate change is affecting the growth of almond trees in several ways, such as phenological and physiological modifications.”
The double numbering should be eliminated.
R: We have corrected the enumeration.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
The manuscript, even though it is a revision it is not well structured, started with a general introduction of the almond markets and production without given specific differences in the big markers and by countries, even that some continents are irrelevant. The data are not the best display for showing the importance of the main producers’ countries and continents.
They should show also the rising and the causes of the consumption and/or interest in the crop. They should analyse those topics more carefully.
There are general sentences with not references supported or wrong mention as the paragraph: (Pg3): The variability and suitability of almond production are influenced by both internal (such as genetic characteristics, hormone, and vitamin rates) and external factors (climate conditions, pest and disease occurrences, cultivation practices, and water availability) [17,18].
Specifically, this sentences it is not well explained.
Following the introduction Section 2 describe the almond growing conditions with not structure missing all the conditions, without a detailed review and innovations in plant material concerning the cultivars. The main innovations made in self-compatibility and in late flowering cultivars are relevant for the section. All the aspect concerning chilling hours are general of other stones fruits, more divided in chilling hours. A details revision of the specific data published in this topic is necessary.
They are botanical data mentioned ad with a figure 2 that it is not at all representative of the section.
There is a section describing the pollinators that are not totally necessaries for the production, but important.
Moder orchards are nowadays involved in reduced labour cost with new equipment and pruning system and for that new genetic it is available. All these aspects should be described in the section ‘growth conditions’.
In that section all the data concerning diseases are not well documented and mentioned and frequently missed diseases and pest.
In section 3 Climatic projections change and impacts on crop
There is a description of climatic projections change and extreme weather conditions with a very general paper like 74.
An important part of the almond crops it is the use of rootstock, and several diseases are also affecting the soil conditions, and influenced by global change. The are also responsible for the yield production. Data are not shown.
Lastly, Section 4 theoretically devoted to the adaptation measures, split into two sub-sections: short-term and long-term measures.
Water availability and soil management are totally related to the type of soils and the genetic used for the crop. Those aspect are missing in those sections.
If there is a section devoted to pest and management a well structure a distinction between pest and diseases and particular management should be presented. Often the incidence of the diseases is presented related with abiotic stress associated with drought which it Is not totally true.
Finally, the conclusions are quite general and did not describe the different situation among the Mediterranean and American situation and conditions related with the policy ana regulatory measures.
The manuscript has serious flaws in the structure and topics described.
Author Response
Response to Reviewer 3
The manuscript, even though it is a revision it is not well structured, started with a general introduction of the almond markets and production without given specific differences in the big markers and by countries, even that some continents are irrelevant. The data are not the best display for showing the importance of the main producers’ countries and continents.
R: We are thankful to the Reviewer for reading the manuscript and for the comments made.
Below you can find our point-by-point replies to the comments. In addition, the corresponding changes in the manuscript are indicated in blue font colour. Concerning the comment on almond production in the market, we would like to refer that a description of the production and area of cultivation by country are already provided in the manuscript (Lines 74-80). Furthermore, in Figure 1 we also present a map that helps understand the geographical distribution of the main producers, as well as distribution by continent (pie chart). To complement this information, we now provide additional data on the main almond exporters and importers.
Lines 74-80: “The United States leads in global almond exports, comprising 63% of production in 2021. Spain follows with 13%, while Australia and the United Arab Emirates account for 5% and 4%, respectively. The Netherlands and Germany each embrace 3% of the export market [17]. On the import side, Germany takes the lead with a 12% share, followed by Spain, France, and the United Arab Emirates, each with a 9%, 6%, and 6% share, respectively. Italy, Japan, and China include 6%, 4%, and 4%, respectively, in the import market [18].”
They should show also the rising and the causes of the consumption and/or interest in the crop. They should analyse those topics more carefully.
R: In the introduction, we have shown some points that identify the importance of almond consumption (Lines 37-42). However, the objective of this study is to evaluate the climate change impacts and adaptation measures on almond trees. Therefore, a more in-depth analysis of the socioeconomic aspects of the almond sector, which are also very pertinent, are, however, out of the scope of the present study.
There are general sentences with not references supported or wrong mention as the paragraph: (Pg3): The variability and suitability of almond production are influenced by both internal (such as genetic characteristics, hormone, and vitamin rates) and external factors (climate conditions, pest and disease occurrences, cultivation practices, and water availability) [17,18].
R: We have removed the sentences.
Specifically, this sentences it is not well explained.
R: We have removed the sentences.
Following the introduction Section 2 describe the almond growing conditions with not structure missing all the conditions, without a detailed review and innovations in plant material concerning the cultivars. The main innovations made in self-compatibility and in late flowering cultivars are relevant for the section. All the aspect concerning chilling hours are general of other stones fruits, more divided in chilling hours. A details revision of the specific data published in this topic is necessary.
R: We have added more details/studies on breeding programs to develop self-incompatible varieties and late flowering cultivars and aspects on chill and heat accumulation periods. For example:
Lines 134-145: ” Regarding compatibility, the traditional almond tree is self-incompatible (i.e., “Cristomorto”, “Ferraduel”, “Marcona”), commercial production requires the inter-planting of cross-compatible pollinizer cultivars and insects’ pollinators (e.g., honey-bees) [32,33]. In the breeding programs, self-compatible cultivars have been developed, such as “Antoñeta”, “Guara”, and “Lauranne” [34,35]. Incorporating self-compatibility varieties allows single-cultivar orchards that simplify orchard management and use fewer agrochemical inputs can be planted, reducing the need for pollinators [33]. In comparison with other species, the almond is the first stone fruit (Prunus) to flower in spring [6]. For this reason, late varieties (“Tardona”) have been developed to reduce the impacts of spring frosts, which affect early varieties (i.e., “Desmayo Largueta”) [36,37]. Moreover, the breeding programs are focused on enhancing productivity, im-proving the fruit's quality, and developing tolerance capacities for pests and diseases [38].”
They are botanical data mentioned ad with a figure 2 that it is not at all representative of the section.
R: We have changed the Figure 2 legend and the respective citation.
Moder orchards are nowadays involved in reduced labour cost with new equipment and pruning system and for that new genetic it is available. All these aspects should be described in the section ‘growth conditions’.
R: Thank you for your comment. We have added more information in the manuscript:
Lines 145-155: “The shift from traditional to modern almond orchards has brought about many changes, both in terms of tree density and the maintenance requirements. The traditional system is characterized by less than 350 trees per ha, contrary to this, modern systems may exceed 700 trees per ha [39]. In contrast to traditional almond trees, the modern almond trees require more attention and resources, including increased water availability, optimized harvest mechanization, efficient pruning systems, sustainable management practices, and a higher reliance on pesticides and fertilizers [40]. Moreover, these modern orchards offer others advantages such as reduced labour costs, improved utilization of natural resources, and decreased workloads, all made possible by better management techniques and the adoption of advanced technology [39].”
In that section all the data concerning diseases are not well documented and mentioned and frequently missed diseases and pest.
R: Thank you for your comment. In this section, we already present some of the main diseases and pests that affect the almond tree, though an exhaustive description of all the pests and diseases would require a more dedicated manuscript.
In section 3 Climatic projections change and impacts on crop
There is a description of climatic projections change and extreme weather conditions with a very general paper like 74.
R: We have changed the citation for a more appropriate.
An important part of the almond crops it is the use of rootstock, and several diseases are also affecting the soil conditions, and influenced by global change. The are also responsible for the yield production. Data are not shown.
R: We have added this information in the manuscript about the diseases and soil quality (Lines 383-392). Concerning rootstock, the indication of its benefits has been added in section 4 (Lines 452-456).
Lines 383-392: “Climate change affects the sustainability of soil by causing erosion, compaction, and reduced fertility, which in turn alters the chemical and physical composition of the soil. This, in turn, affects the production of trees and the viability of crops, thus posing a threat to food security [104,105]. Additionally, climate change can contribute to the spread of pests by expanding their dispersal areas and enabling them to develop resilience to adverse conditions, such as winter weather. It can also diminish the effective-ness of biological control methods and lead to an increase in pest populations [106]. However, heat waves and heavy precipitation can act as limiting factors for pests and diseases, hindering their ability to propagate and reproduce [107].”
Lines 452-456: “Planting almond cultivars on drought-tolerant rootstocks (grafting) to reduce the negative consequences of water scarcity [109]. Moreover, rootstocks may also confer resistance to different biotic and abiotic stresses in the soil [110]. Several studies have been conducted to evaluate the potential of rootstock to mitigate the climate change impacts [110–112].”
Lastly, Section 4 theoretically devoted to the adaptation measures, split into two sub-sections: short-term and long-term measures.
Water availability and soil management are totally related to the type of soils and the genetic used for the crop. Those aspect are missing in those sections.
R: We have added this information to the manuscript.
Lines 465-466: “Lastly, water availability is strongly connected to the type of soil and soil management [118].”
Finally, the conclusions are quite general and did not describe the different situation among the Mediterranean and American situation and conditions related with the policy ana regulatory measures.
R: We would like to state that our manuscript is devoted to the likely implications of climate change on almond trees. The socioeconomic aspects of this value chain, although also very important, are not the main focus of this study.
The manuscript has serious flaws in the structure and topics described.
R: We have improved the manuscript according to the reviewer’s suggestions. We believe that the mentioned flaws are overcome in the present version of the manuscript.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 4 Report
Dear Authors,
The manuscript review, pesented here for consideration and a possible publication in Agriculture, is well organized and compiled published literature on climate change and its consequences on almond tree. Some revisions are required, to my opinion, to improve the manuscript. Please find below my comments and suggestions:
1-The entire manuscript must be revised for English. Likewise, there are a lot of typo mistakes that must be corrected,
2-Scientific names msut be in Italic,
3-Some other references can be added: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2023.112014; https://doi.org/10.1080/15538362.2017.1345671,
4-Page 5, almond phenology can be discussed also according to hemisphere variations (southern or northern),
5-In Fig. 3, you menstioned varieties but there are not varieties/cultivas in the figure nor it is in northern or southern hemisphere. Please revise accordingly,
6-Authors can add an additional section in which they highlight impacts of climate change on the main agro-climatic requirements of almonds (chill and heat),
Kind regards.
Moderate English editing is required.
Author Response
Response to Reviewer 4
Dear Authors,
The manuscript review, pesented here for consideration and a possible publication in Agriculture, is well organized and compiled published literature on climate change and its consequences on almond tree. Some revisions are required, to my opinion, to improve the manuscript. Please find below my comments and suggestions:
R: We sincerely appreciate the Reviewer's meticulous reading of the paper and their thoughtful recommendations, which we believe will improve our study. Our responses to the comments are listed below. The blue font colour is used to denote the modifications in the manuscript.
1-The entire manuscript must be revised for English. Likewise, there are a lot of typo mistakes that must be corrected,
R: Thank you for your comment. We have revised in the manuscript.
2-Scientific names msut be in Italic,
R: We have reviewed the scientific names.
3-Some other references can be added: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2023.112014; https://doi.org/10.1080/15538362.2017.1345671,
R: We have added the references suggested.
4-Page 5, almond phenology can be discussed also according to hemisphere variations (southern or northern),
R: We have added an analysis of the phenological cycle considering the northern and southern hemispheres:
Lines 182-187: “The northern (NH) and southern (SH) hemispheres have opposite seasons, which consequently affects the occurrence of the almond tree's phenological cycle [47–49]. In NH, the dormancy starts in October and harvest happens in September. Contrarily, in SH dormancy occurs in May, and the harvest starts in February [48]. However, the contrasting phenological cycles, the climatic conditions necessary for almond growth and orchard sustainability are similar in both hemispheres [49,50].”
5-In Fig. 3, you menstioned varieties but there are not varieties/cultivas in the figure nor it is in northern or southern hemisphere. Please revise accordingly,
R: We have revised the Figure 3 legend.
Line 224: “Prunus dulcis phenology stages according to the extended BBCH general scale, in the northern hemisphere [45,46,55].”
6-Authors can add an additional section in which they highlight impacts of climate change on the main agro-climatic requirements of almonds (chill and heat),
R: We have improved the section about agro-climatic almond requirements, highlighting climate change impacts and introducing new studies. For example:
Lines 338-341: “Moreover, when comparing early and late flowering varieties, early flowering varieties tend to be more vulnerable to spring frosts, while late flowering varieties are more susceptible to a reduction in chill accumulation [20,21,95].”
Lines 347-349: “Furthermore, species with long heat accumulation periods, such as “Marcona”, are not recommended for warmer environments because they are more
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 4 Report
Dear editors and authors,
The manuscript was greatly improved. Therefore I recommend its publication in Agriculture.
Best regards.
Minor editing of English language required.
