Photomorphogenesis and Photosynthetic Trait Changes in Melon Seedlings Responding to Red and Blue Light
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThank you for invinting me to review this scientific article.
I noticed that the purpose of the study was very well presented, except for one reference in the Introduction. The objective is very clear and material and methods are detailed. The results are interesting and they allow to reach the simple and good conclusion.
I made a few comments in the text with the aim of improving the quality of the text. But these are minor issues, which do not detrack from the merit of the manuscript. I think the authors should to proceed to response my comments.
Comments for author File: 
Comments.pdf
Author Response
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Comments 1:melon（m）uppercase
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Response 1: Melon. Thank you for pointing this out. I agree with this comment. Therefore, I have uppercase m.Mention exactly where in the revised manuscript this change can be found – page 1 and line 3. |
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Comments 2:delete different |
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Response 2:Thank you for pointing this out. I agree with this comment. Therefore, I have delete different.Mention exactly where in the revised manuscript this change can be found – page 1 and line 15、16. |
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Comments 3:200 μmol/(m2 · s) |
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Response 2:200 μmol·m−2·s−1.Thank you for pointing this out. I agree with this comment. Therefore, I have Change the same question in the article.You can see this on lines 16, 90, etc |
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Comments 4:Do you want to say:...with the increase of red in the ratios, the morphological... |
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Response 4:The results showed that with the increase of red light ratios.Thank you for pointing this out. I agree with this comment. Therefore, I have Change this sentence.You can see this on lines 17 and 18. |
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Comments 5:Sorry, but respectfully, I disagree. When we say that there is a synergistic effect, we are seeing that the effect was promoted by both factors, in this case, red light and blue light, or better, when one help the expression of the other one. We cannot forget that in other red and blue light ratios we do not observed the same response, and we have the same factor. So, the best result was obtained because it was possible have the "maximum" from good contribution of red light and less "negative" effect from blue light in these characteristics. |
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Response 5: These results indicated that the growth of melon seedlings could be regulated by adjusting the ratio of red to blue light, thus promoting the morphogenesis of melon seedlings. Thank you for pointing this out. I agree with this comment. Therefore, I have modified this sentence..Mention exactly where in the revised manuscript this change can be found lines 20 and 21. |
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Comments 6:They are in the title. The words in the title are also index words. Please add other keywords.Cucumis melo, light spectrum or spectral composition (some possibilities) |
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Response 6:light spectrum composition; photomorphogenesis;Photosynthetic; stomatal properties.Thank you for pointing this out. I agree with this comment. Therefore, I have Change the keywords.You can see this on lines 22 and 23. |
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Comments 7:I'm so sorry, but this study is so far from your study. Algaes and seedlings? I believe you can found better literature to explain what you want to show.. |
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Response 7:Ren et al. [13] found that the combination of red and blue light could regulate the expression of genes related to photosynthesis in rice leaves and affect the activity of Rubisco enzyme, thus affecting the photosynthesis of rice seedlings.Thank you for pointing this out. I agree with this comment. Therefore, I have Change this sentence.You can see this on lines 50-53. |
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Comments 8:Gsw What does it mean?stomatal condutance? write please. |
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Response 8:stomatal conductance.Thank you for pointing this out. I agree with this comment. Therefore, I have Change this word.You can see this on line 57. |
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Comments 9:delete under different R/B ratios |
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Response 9:Thank you for pointing this out. I agree with this comment. Therefore, I have delete this phrases.You can see this on lines 67 and 68. |
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Comments 10:this part of the text is better written in the sequential text. There was a replicated text.;replace with multiplication sign (multiplier mark). I understand that it is unnecessary to put brackets.Did the EC of the nutrient solution reach this value with only 1/4 of the power? I do not think so.I did not understand! Sorry, perhaps a language issue. But "when the cotyledons WERE ABOUT 3 LEAVES..."orwhen plants were with cotyledons, 3 leaves and 1 heart?????
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Response 10:Thank you for pointing this out. I agree with this comment. Therefore, I have Change this paragraph.You can see this on lines 77-84. |
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Comments 11:Light intensity used was 200 μmol/(m2 · s).I think the name of Y axis should be "red and blue proportions" or something seems with this. Actually, this figure is unnecessary. It is perfectly understandble when we read the treatments.Another issue. If you keep the figure, add unit (nm) to wavelength (X axis) |
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Response 11:Delete the fig 1.Thank you for pointing this out. I agree with this comment. Therefore, I have delete the fig 1. |
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Comments 12:I disagree. It is impossible select something at random. If you select, you cannot act with randomly. Therefore, I understand that you "randomly collected" |
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Response 12:randomly collected.Thank you for pointing this out. I agree with this comment. Therefore, I have Change this phrase.You can see this on line 94. |
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Comments 13:Determination |
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Response 13:Determination.Thank you for pointing this out. I agree with this comment. Therefore, I have Change this phrase.You can see this on line 131. |
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Comments 14:Please put table 2 befor item 3 |
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Response 14:Thank you for pointing this out. I agree with this comment. Therefore, I have put table 2 befor item 3.You can see this on line 167. |
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Comments 15:tem;μm2 |
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Response 15:Stem;μm2.Thank you for pointing this out. I agree with this comment. Therefore, I have Change this phrase.You can see this on line 181. |
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Comments 16:Replicated |
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Response 16:Thank you for pointing this out. I agree with this comment. Therefore, I have delete the replicated sentences.You can see this on line 183. |
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Comments 16:Please add footnote to the table:Data in the same column with different letters indi-189 cate significant differences (P<0.05) |
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Response 16:Thank you for pointing this out. I agree with this comment. Therefore, I have add this sentences.You can see this on lines 195、207、217、229、237、249、266. |
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Comments 17:Please, I think it is interesting you show the correspondent acronym. |
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Response 17:Thank you for pointing this out. I agree with this comment. Therefore, I have add these phrases.You can see this on line 211. |
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Comments 18:The authors need to provide this information |
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Response 18:Thank you for pointing this out. I agree with this comment. Therefore, I have add these information.You can see this on lines 379-386. |
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Comments 19:I did not check. But I quickly noticed that there are different formats for presenting references. |
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Response 19: Thank you for pointing this out. I agree with this comment. Therefore, I have modified the format of Reference |
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsReview of horticulturae-3172230-peer-review-v1
An interesting manuscript with some novel results, but as is it isn’t suitable for Horticulturae. The authors must make major corrections before it may be acceptable.
I note [using Turnitin software] that some of the text is taken from a thesis, and would like to be sure that none of the information has been published elsewhere?
I have annotated the manuscript, and all comments must be addressed in any revised format of the manuscript.
Some of the major issues are mentioned below:
The use of light intensity units as μmole m-1 s-1
Lines 16 to 19 are not at all informative. The reader does not know what morphological indices and leaf structural parameters are.
Line 30 and elsewhere, a space between numeral and unit
Lines 32 and 35 mention ‘largest’ so what is the largest?!
Line 51 and elsewhere, always define abbreviations.
Line 61 and 62 are the same
Line 67-68 and elsewhere avoid repetitions..
Line 74 Latin names [including those in the references] must be in italics.
I do not understand lines 85-86.
Units for y axis in Figure 1.
Line 131 what was the spectral composition of the light, and is it sensible to measure it in light spectra other than that of the treatments??!! Discuss this please.
Line 160 and elsewhere, use ‘concentration’, and not ‘content’. Look up their definitions.
Lines 164 166 use past tense.
Table 3 and elsewhere, you need to define the treatments each time they are presented in Tables and Figures.
Lines 204 to 206. This increasing and decreasing is rather weak. So better omit or reduce the significance of your statements. And contrast with lines 312-313!!
Line 225 and elsewhere ‘Effect of what???’ And define axes.
Table 6 define the parameters.
Line 291 what is the definition of ‘fenestrated’? is it appropriate here? Probably you mean ‘pallisade’?
Line 304 what is compound light?
Line 308 define ‘phy’..
Line 304 grammar needs checking.
Line 317 define CBC.
Line 323 only if >1:1.
Some of the Discussion is simply a repeat of the results.line
Lines 375 to 379 are a bit of a repeat, and really don’t help with any understanding of the different effects of the colours of light.
Lines 389-398 details need to be completed.
References.
STANDARDISE.
Use et al if so many authors in reference [1].
A lot of attention to the lack of spaces between words
Line 448 and 457 the same journal but different formats, so standardise.
No capitals in the article title [see line 408].
Line 463 avoid repetition.
Line 471 ??!!
Comments for author File: Comments.pdf
Some parts are not well written, but in the main it is good.
Author Response
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Comments 1:The use of light intensity units as μmole m-1 s-1
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Response 1: 200 μmol·m−2·s−1.Thank you for pointing this out. I agree with this comment. Therefore, I have Change the same question in the article.You can see this on lines 16, 90, etc |
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Comments 2: Lines 16 to 19 are not at all informative. The reader does not know what morphological indices and leaf structural parameters are. |
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Response 2:melon seedling height, stem diameter, total leaf area and stomatal pore size of melon seedlings increased, the upper epidermis、palisade tissue、spongy tissue、leaf thickness and stomatal density showed a decreasing trend. Thank you for pointing this out. I agree with this comment. Therefore, I have Change this sentence .You can see this on lines 17 and 18. |
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Comments 3:Line 30 and elsewhere, a space between numeral and unit |
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Response 3: 300 nm~2600 nm.Thank you for pointing this out. I agree with this comment. Therefore, I have Change the same question in the article.You can see this on lines 30, 37, etc |
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Comments 4:Lines 32 and 35 mention ‘largest’ so what is the largest?! |
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Response 4: Blue light has the largest absorption value at 430-453 nm.Thank you for pointing this out. I agree with this comment. Therefore, I have Change this sentence.You can see this on lines 35 and 36. |
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Comments 5:Line 51 and elsewhere, always define abbreviations. |
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Response 5: Thank you for pointing this out. I agree with this comment. Therefore, I have Change the same question in the article.You can see this on lines 57, 211, etc |
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Comments 6:Line 61 and 62 are the same |
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Response 6: Delete wavelength specificity.Thank you for pointing this out. I agree with this comment. Therefore, I have Change this sentence.You can see this on line 64. |
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Comments 7:Line 67-68 and elsewhere avoid repetitions.. |
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Response 7: This study aimed to provide a theoretical basis for the optimization of the R/B ratio during the cultivation of melon seedlings.Thank you for pointing this out. I agree with this comment. Therefore, I have Change this sentence.You can see this on lines 68-70. |
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Comments 8:Line 74 Latin names [including those in the references] must be in italics. |
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Response 8: Cucumis melo L.Thank you for pointing this out. I agree with this comment. Therefore, I have Change this phrase.You can see this on line 75、391,etc. |
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Comments 9:I do not understand lines 85-86. |
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Response 9: Thank you for pointing this out. I agree with this comment. Therefore, I have Change this paragraph.You can see this on lines 77-84. |
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Comments 10:Units for y axis in Figure 1. |
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Response 10: Delete the fig 1.Thank you for pointing this out. I agree with this comment. Therefore, I have delete the fig 1.You can see this on line 91. |
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Comments 11:Line 131 what was the spectral composition of the light, and is it sensible to measure it in light spectra other than that of the treatments??!! Discuss this please. |
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Response 11: Thank you for pointing this out. R90B10 light source is the optimal light source, based on which the optimal net photosynthetic rate value of plants can be determined to reflect the photosynthetic potential of plants. Our research is to cultivate better seedlings, and this measure is more meaningful.The following researchers have taken the same approach:Wang, T.; Sun, Q.; Zheng, Y.; Xu, Y.; Liu, B.; Li, Q. Effects of Red and Blue Light on the Growth, Photosynthesis, and Subsequent Growth under Fluctuating Light of Cucumber Seedlings. Plants 2024, 13, 1668.The article concludes :9R1B exhibited higher actual net photosynthetic rate.Melon and cucumber belong to cucurbitaceae crops, so R9B1 was used as leaf chamber light source to determine photosynthetic parameters. |
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Comments 12:Line 160 and elsewhere, use ‘concentration’, and not ‘content’. Look up their definitions. |
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Response 12:Thank you for pointing this out. I agree with this comment. Therefore, I have Change the same question in the article.You can see this on lines 149, 150, etc |
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Comments 13Table 3 and elsewhere, you need to define the treatments each time they are presented in Tables and Figures. |
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Response 13: Thank you for pointing this out. I agree with this comment. Therefore, I have defined the treatments in table 1 .You can see this on line 91. |
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Comments 14:Lines 204 to 206. This increasing and decreasing is rather weak. So better omit or reduce the significance of your statements. And contrast with lines 312-313!! |
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Response 14: The upper epidermis, pallisade tissues, spongy tissues and leaf thickness of melon seedlings showed a decreasing trend with the increased ratio of red light.Thank you for pointing this out. I agree with this comment. Therefore, I have modified the sentence .You can see this on lines 197 and 198. |
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Comments 15:Line 225 and elsewhere ‘Effect of what???’ And define axes. |
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Response 15: Thank you for pointing this out. I don’t use “effect of” ,so i don’t know how to modify. |
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Comments 16:Table 6 define the parameters. |
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Response 16:The ΦPSII(PSII actual photochemical quantum yield), ETR(PSII photosynthetic electron transfer rate)and NPQ(Non-photochemical quenching). Thank you for pointing this out. I agree with this comment. Therefore, I have defined the parameters.You can see this on line 219,220,224,225. |
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Comments 17:Line 291 what is the definition of ‘fenestrated’? is it appropriate here? Probably you mean ‘pallisade’? |
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Respons17: Thank you for pointing this out. I agree with this comment. Therefore, I have change the word.You can see this on line 285,290, etc. |
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Comments 18:Line 304 what is compound light? |
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Response 18:responses to the percentage of blue light under red and blue compound light.Thank you for pointing this out. I agree with this comment. Therefore, I have change the phrase.You can see this on line 299. |
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Comments 19:Line 308 define ‘phy’.. |
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Response 19:Phy(phytochrome) molecules absorb red light and convert the inactive Pr(Red light-absorbig from) form into the active Pfr(Far-red light-absorbing form),Thank you for pointing this out. I agree with this comment. Therefore, I have defined the words.You can see this on lines 303 and 304. |
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Comments 20:Line 304 grammar needs checking. |
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Response 20:Thank you for pointing this out. I check grammar and don’t found mistake, i don’t know how to modify. |
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Comments 21:Line 317 define CBC. |
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Response 21:CBC(CONVERGENCE OF BLUE LIGHT AND CO2).Thank you for pointing this out. I agree with this comment. Therefore, I have defined the word.You can see this on lines 312 and 313. |
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Comments 22:Line 323 only if >1:1. |
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Response 22:In this study, we found the stomatal pore area decreased as the blue light percentage decreased.Thank you for pointing this out. I agree with this comment,but I can’t understand this comment means.Therefore, I have change this sentence from my perspective.You can see this on lines 317 and 318. |
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Comments 23:Some of the Discussion is simply a repeat of the results.line |
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Response 23:Jin et al found that The net photosynthetic rate of higher red light was better than that of higher blue light.Thank you for pointing this out. I agree with this comment.Therefore, I have add some contents .You can see this on lines 337 etc. |
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Comments 24:Lines 375 to 379 are a bit of a repeat, and really don’t help with any understanding of the different effects of the colours of light. |
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Response 24:Light quality regulates carbohydrate metabolism in higher plants[42]. Carbohydrate is the end product of photosynthesis and an important indicator of the photosynthetic capacity of plants [43]. The light quality of the combined red and blue ratio contributes to the carbon and nitrogen metabolism of seedlings [44].Some studies have shown that red light is the most effective light source for the accumulation of soluble carbohydrates [45], but the experimental results of melon seedlings in this study showed that increasing the ratio of red light to a certain extent had a promotional effect on the accumulation of soluble proteins and sucrose in seedlings, but too high a ratio of red light treatment appeared to reduce the concentration of carbohydrates (Fig. 3 ), it is presumed that the appropriate ratio of red and blue light to enhance plant photosynthesis. Thank you for pointing this out. I agree with this comment.Therefore, I have change this paragraph.You can see this on lines 361-370. |
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Comments 25:Lines 389-398 details need to be completed. |
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Response 25: Thank you for pointing this out. I agree with this comment.Therefore, I have completed details.You can see this on lines 380-387. |
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Comments 26:References. |
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Response 26: Thank you for pointing this out. I agree with this comment.Therefore, I have standardised references.You can see this on line 391. |
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsReview of horticulturae-3172230-peer-review-v2
This is much improved, and most of the issues I have raised have been addressed.
However, there are still some minor issues to attend to, and I am still not convinced that the photosynthetic rates should be measured with compound light, rather it should be measured with light of the same ratio B:R as in the different treatments.
So, attend to following please [line numbers refer to the track change version I received, and by the way the line numbers referred to by the authors do not always correspond to the line numbers in their revised text! Very annoying!!]:
Line 36 wavelengths
Line 64 what is R4B2?? Define.
Line 70 ??
Line 78 to read ..produce various ratios of R:B light, and evaluate the…
Line 87 L is not in capitals, and likewise elsewhere in the References
Line 170 mention protein in the title too!!
Line 197 to read by ANOVA and means separated by Duncan's Multipole Rage test.
Line 205 include ‘and’ as I indicated in earlier annotated version. And lines 207-210 see the earlier annotated version for better grammar.
Line 340 what is this about ‘opposite side”
Response 13, not complied with. None of the Tables nor relevant Figures define for example what R:B=1:9 means. This must be done for every treatment.
Line 231 and many elsewhere, you MUST leave a space between words or word and bracket. Check especially line 70.
Line 288 you must define in words what a, b, c, and d, present…
Response 15. Not correct. Here is a sample Table title: Table 3. Effects on various ratios of red to blue light on morphological indices of melon seedlings.
Response 16 define these in the Table 6 too.
Response 21 lines 355-356 not capitals.
Line 382 ‘the’, not ‘The’
Response 24 what is the sense in lines 416-420?
In the references, make sure each name of journal titles start with a capital.
Comments on the Quality of English Languagesee above
Author Response
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Comments 1: wavelengths
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Response 1: Thank you for pointing this out. I agree with this comment. Therefore, I have Change the question in the article.You can see this on line 36. |
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Comments 2: what is R4B2?? Define |
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Response 2:red:blue with a 4:1 ratio treatment. Thank you for pointing this out. I agree with this comment. Therefore, I have Change the same question in the article .You can see this on lines 65. |
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Comments 3:Line 70 ?? |
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Response 3: The research has found that when blue light is present alone, the stomatal response to blue light is almost invisible[12]. Thank you for pointing this out. I agree with this comment. Therefore, I have Change the question in the article.You can see this on lines 58-59 |
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Comments 4:Line 78 to read ..produce various ratios of R:B light, and evaluate the… |
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Response 4: to produce various ratios of R/B light, and evaluated the growth .Thank you for pointing this out. I agree with this comment. Therefore, I have Change this sentence.You can see this on lines 82 and 83. |
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Comments 5:Line 87 L is not in capitals, and likewise elsewhere in the References |
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Response 5: Thank you for pointing this out. I agree with this comment. Therefore, I have Change the same question in the article.You can see this on lines 93, etc |
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Comments 6:Line 170 mention protein in the title too!! |
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Response 6: Determination of carbohydrates and soluble protein.Thank you for pointing this out. I agree with this comment. Therefore, I have Change this sentence.You can see this on line 199. |
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Comments 7:Line 197 to read by ANOVA and means separated by Duncan's Multipole Rage test. |
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Response 7: Data were collated by Microsoft office Excel 2020, graphed by Graphpad Pism9.5, to read by ANOVA and means separated by Duncan's Multipole Rage test in IBM SPSS Statistics 25.Thank you for pointing this out. I agree with this comment. Therefore, I have Change this sentence.You can see this on lines 230-232. |
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Comments 8:Line 205 include ‘and’ as I indicated in earlier annotated version. And lines 207-210 see the earlier annotated version for better grammar. |
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Response 8: As shown in Table 3, with the increase of the ratio of red light under a certain range, except for stem thickness, melon seedlings plant height, dry weight, fresh weight and leaf area showed a trend of first increased, then decreased, which reached the maximum under R:B=7:3 treatment. Increase of 87.14%, 45.33%, 72.36%, and 29.09% were achieved, respectively, compared with R:B= 1:9. The stem diameter of R:B=9:1 was the largest, which was significantly increased by 42.51% compared with R:B= 1:9.Thank you for pointing this out. I agree with this comment. Therefore, I have Change this paragrapgh.You can see this on lines 238-244. |
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Comments 9:Line 340 what is this about ‘opposite side” |
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Response 9: which proved that blue light has inhibitory effect on growth.Thank you for pointing this out. I agree with this comment. Therefore, I have Change this paragraph.You can see this on lines 394-395. |
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Comments 10:Response 13, not complied with. None of the Tables nor relevant Figures define for example what R:B=1:9 means. This must be done for every treatment. |
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Response 10:Thank you for pointing this out. I don’t agree with this comment. I have defined every treatments in table 1 .You can see this on line 122. |
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Comments 11:Line 231 and many elsewhere, you MUST leave a space between words or word and bracket. Check especially line 70. |
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Response 11: Thank you for pointing this out. I agree with this comment. Therefore, I have Change the same question in the article.You can see this on lines 268,etc. |
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Comments 12:Line 288 you must define in words what a, b, c, and d, present… |
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Response 12:(a)The soluble sugar concentration; (b) The soluble protein concentration; (c) The starch concentration; (d) The sucrose concentration.Thank you for pointing this out. I agree with this comment. Therefore, I have Change the same question in the article.You can see this on lines292-2594. |
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Comments 13:Response 15. Not correct. Here is a sample Table title: Table 3. Effects on various ratios of red to blue light on morphological indices of melon seedlings. |
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Response 13: Table 3. Effects on various ratios of red to blue light on morphological indices of melon seedlings.Thank you for pointing this out. I agree with this comment. Therefore, I Change the same question in the article .You can see this on lines245, etc. |
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Comments 14:Response 16 define these in the Table 6 too. |
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Response 14:Fv/Fm(The maximum quantum yield of PSII).Thank you for pointing this out. I agree with this comment. Therefore, I have defined these phrases.You can see this on lines 308. |
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Comments 15:Response 21 lines 355-356 not capitals. |
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Response 15:(convergence of blue light and CO2). Thank you for pointing this out. Therefore, I have Change this phrases.You can see this on lines 410-411. |
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Comments 16:Line 382 ‘the’, not ‘The’ |
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Response 16: Thank you for pointing this out. I agree with this comment. Therefore, I have changed this word.You can see this on line 442. |
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Comments 17:Response 24 what is the sense in lines 416-420? |
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Respons17:Some studies have shown that red light is the most effective light source for the accumulation of soluble carbohydrates [46], this study showed that it had a promotional effect on the accumulation of soluble proteins and sucrose in seedlings with increasing the ratio of red light under a certain extent,but too high a ratio of red light treatment appeared to reduce the concentration of carbohydrates (Fig. 3 ). Thank you for pointing this out. I agree with this comment. Therefore, I have change this paragraph.You can see this on line 476-483. |
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Comments 18:In the references, make sure each name of journal titles start with a capital. |
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Response 18:Thank you for pointing this out. I agree with this comment. Therefore, I have change words.You can see this on line 524 etc. |
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
