Indirect Selection for Seed Yield in Sacha-Inchi (Plukenetia volubilis) in Brazil

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Some English usage improvements would help. For instance, lines 50-51 is not a sentence, but would be fine with a comma (...[7-8], thereby attracting...

lines 129-130 are repetitious in describing the type of medium in the plant bags.

line 143: Consider using 'planting' instead of 'plantation'.

Author Response

Dear Review 1#,

The constructive criticisms of referees certainly contributed to the improvement of the manuscript. We attended most of the points raised by the reviewers, modified others and addressed detailed answers to those that we do not agree with them. Therefore, its quality has improved substantially and should be at a standard level of the horticulturae (MDPI).

 

Some English usage improvements would help. For instance, lines 50-51 is not a sentence, but would be fine with a comma (...[7-8], thereby attracting... => In regards to the English language, initially the manuscript was translated by EDITAGE - editorial office. After the reviewers' criticisms and suggestions, we ask EDITAGE for a review (as the translation service is still under warranty), the company carried out a new revision, with new corrections which are presented in this new version in the manuscript. In addition, a native English speaker (Gregory P. Burke) who provided linguistic advice and grammatical corrections in the English language extensive revised the manuscript. Upon thorough revision he has made some major correction to the text, which we believe is now suitable for publication.

 

lines 129-130 are repetitious in describing the type of medium in the plant bags. => Suggestion answered and clarified sentence in the manuscript.

 

line 143: Consider using 'planting' instead of 'plantation'. => Suggestion answered and clarified sentence in the manuscript.

 

Revision certificates and manuscript with marked corrections attached.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Selection of plants requires knowledge of the genetic parameters of their populations and individuals. Genetic variability is a prerequisite for selection. Heritability and transmissibility are parameters whose size must be known at least approximately so that the expected genetic gain can be determined. Heritability is a parameter that can be estimated by having groups of individuals with known relatedness, such as parents and offspring, full siblings or half-siblings.

In the paper the topic of heritability of Plukenetia volubilis in Brazil. The work is interesting, but needs some corrections.

1. I think, the paper should include average results of analyzed traits for progenies.

2. The discussion should be separated from the results.

Minor corrections

line 105/106 and table - correct geographic coordinates

linea 128, 140 - abbreviation "d" - clarify

line 134 - describe fertilization more precisely, e.g., mixed with soil

Author Response

Dear Review 2#,

The constructive criticisms of referees certainly contributed to the improvement of the manuscript. We attended most of the points raised by the reviewers, modified others and addressed detailed answers to those that we do not agree with them. Therefore, its quality has improved substantially and should be at a standard level of the horticulturae (MDPI).

 

Selection of plants requires knowledge of the genetic parameters of their populations and individuals. Genetic variability is a prerequisite for selection. Heritability and transmissibility are parameters whose size must be known at least approximately so that the expected genetic gain can be determined. Heritability is a parameter that can be estimated by having groups of individuals with known relatedness, such as parents and offspring, full siblings, or half-siblings. => We appreciate the compliments for the quality of the work and the interest in our results.

In the paper the topic of heritability of Plukenetia volubilis in Brazil. The work is interesting, but needs some corrections.

1. I think, the paper should include average results of analyzed traits for progenies. => We are grateful for the reviewer's contribution. We accept the suggestion by inserting in table S1.

 

2. The discussion should be separated from the results. => Regarding the suggestion to separate Results and Discussions, we chose to leave it as previously presented. We built a logical sequence, easy to understand and read. We emphasize that form presented is also in accordance with the journal's norm (Instructions for Authors, https://www.mdpi.com/journal/plants/instructions#preparation). In articles recently published in the last volume, we can observe for example: https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/8/10/956/htm and https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/8/10/948 .

 

Minor corrections

 

line 105/106 and table - correct geographic coordinates. => Suggestion answered and clarified sentence in the manuscript.

 

linea 128, 140 - abbreviation "d" – clarify. => Suggestion answered and clarified sentence in the manuscript.

 

line 134 - describe fertilization more precisely, e.g., mixed with soil. => Suggestion answered and clarified sentence in the manuscript.

 

Revision certificates and manuscript with marked corrections attached.

 

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

Dear Editor!

I reviewed the manuscript entitled ‘Indirect Selection for Seed Yield in Sacha-Inchi (Plukenetia volubilis) in Brazil’. Authors tried to estimate gains from indirect selection of seed production in sacha-inchi progenies, aiming to increase the seed production and hence oil production. Introduction part is focused on the paper, methodology is given in detail and results and discussion is satisfactorily. Authors may find some comments below when improving manuscript.

Abstract:

 I suggest authors add very briefly how much new progenies contribute to oil production as compared to standard progenies.

Introduction: I suggest authors add briefly oil production in terms of oil %/100 g seeds and also kg/hectare.

Discussion:

Since oil is the most important product of Sacha-Inchi I suggest authors discuss briefly the importance of new progenies in terms of oil production.

Conclusions:

Regarding future prospects of study like this I suggest to add the study of fatty acid composition that might differ between progenies.

Author Response

Dear Review 3#,

The constructive criticisms of referees certainly contributed to the improvement of the manuscript. We attended most of the points raised by the reviewers, modified others and addressed detailed answers to those that we do not agree with them. Therefore, its quality has improved substantially and should be at a standard level of the horticulturae (MDPI).

I reviewed the manuscript entitled ‘Indirect Selection for Seed Yield in Sacha-Inchi (Plukenetia volubilis) in Brazil’. Authors tried to estimate gains from indirect selection of seed production in sacha-inchi progenies, aiming to increase the seed production and hence oil production. Introduction part is focused on the paper, methodology is given in detail and results and discussion is satisfactorily. Authors may find some comments below when improving manuscript. => We appreciate the compliments for the quality of the work and the interest in our results.

Abstract:

 I suggest authors add very briefly how much new progenies contribute to oil production as compared to standard progenies. => Suggestion answered and clarified sentence in the manuscript.

Introduction: I suggest authors add briefly oil production in terms of oil %/100 g seeds and also kg/hectare. => Suggestion answered and clarified sentence in the manuscript.

Discussion:

Since oil is the most important product of Sacha-Inchi I suggest authors discuss briefly the importance of new progenies in terms of oil production. => Suggestion answered and clarified sentence in the manuscript. We would like to emphasize that we did not include estimates of oil content in seeds, based on our results, in the discussion. We do not assess oil content and it is not possible to estimate oil productivity with good accuracy. Valente et al. (2017) studied 37 sacha-inchi genotypes and found a coefficient of variation of 27% for oil content in dry seeds among progenies. The high coefficient of variation shows that estimates may not be accurate, for further extrapolation of results from other research. But, we added the related suggestions that we believe have enriched the discussion.

 

Conclusions:

Regarding future prospects of study like this I suggest to add the study of fatty acid composition that might differ between progenies. => We are grateful for the reviewer's contribution. We accept the suggestion by inserting in Final of Results and Discussion. 

Revision certificates and manuscript with marked corrections attached.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 2 Report

The suggestions have been taken into account

Author Response

Dear Reviewer 2,

We appreciate the compliments for the quality of the review and the interest in our results.

Best Regards