The Expression and Sequence Analysis of MdMATE52 in Apple Roots During Activation of Defense Against Pythium ultimum Infection
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsArticle: The expression and sequence analysis of MdMATE52 in apple roots during defense activation to P. ultimum infection.
This work is devoted to the study of molecular regulation of the apple response to infection with the pathogen P. ultimum. The role of the MdMATE52 gene in apple resistance to the pathogen was shown using modern bioinformatics approaches. The work is done at a good level, the results are presented well, but can be improved. The disadvantages of this work include insufficient statistical processing of data and typos in the text.
1. Why do you use one housekeeping gene to normalize RT-qPCR data? This approach may incorrectly reflect the level of gene expression.
2. Chapter 2.1. Line 103. Why do you provide resistant (O3R5 161, 58, 78) and susceptible (O3R5 106, 115, 132) genotypes in this chapter, while in line 388 (Chapter 3.5) the genotypes are already somewhat different?
3. Although this is clear from the text, it is necessary to indicate the name of the gene in the figure and in the caption to Figure 5. It would also be good to show gene expression before inoculation and take this value as a unit. It is also necessary to improve the statistical processing of RT-qPCR data. It is necessary to show a reliable difference in the results of gene expression in different genotypes.
Author Response
We sincerely appreciate your careful review and constructive feedback to improve the quality of this manuscript. Below are our point-to-point response, highlighted in orange color, to each of your comments and suggestions. Thanks.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe article is about an important issue that causes infection in apples. In this respect, it contains serious results in terms of preventing yield losses. The article is written in a good language. There are modern analyzes. The references used are relevant to the subject. But there are some questions and suggestions.
Are abbreviations used in the title??
Why didn't you add the Latin name of the apple to the title?
More information should be given in the introduction section about the production values, plant characteristics, etc. of the apple.
Which apple variety was used?
Where were the plant samples taken from? There are serious deficiencies in these.
It may not be correct to give websites in the article.. It should be given as an anonymous source and added to the bibliography.
There are quite a few abbreviations in the study. Either add a table of abbreviations. Or write the full name where it is first written..
Figure 1 is not clear. Please add larger and clearer images.
Can Figure 2 be created using more contrasting colors in order for the figure to be understandable?
The discussion and conclusion sections are written successfully and fluently. I think the conclusion section should be added under a separate title.
Author Response
We sincerely appreciate your careful review and constructive feedback to improve the quality of this manuscript. Below are our point-to-point response, highlighted in orange color, to each of your comments and suggestions. Thanks.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe manuscript entitled "The expression and sequence analysis of MdMATE52 in apple roots during defense activation to P. ultimum infection" describe the significant studies related to differencial expression of defence related and other genes in response to the infection by P. ultimum. MdMATE52 gene was shown to be differentially expressed between a resistant and a susceptible. The results suggested minimal but clearly identifiable sequence variations may contribute to the genotype-specific expression and function of MdMATE52
Minor comments:
In 2 M&M (L 97-121). You may need expand the number of apple trees (susceptible, intermediate or resistant) were treated and used as controls. Moreover, we need to know the growth conditions for plants. Similarly number of plants or samples used for RNA isolation. It looks like few plants were taken, can you group them into susceptible or resistant?
Author Response
We sincerely appreciate your careful review and constructive feedback to improve the quality of this manuscript. Below are our point-to-point response, highlighted in orange color, to each of your comments and suggestions. Thanks.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThanks to the authors for the answer, it suited me.
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for Authorsms is ready for publication
