Hop: An Emerging Crop in Subtropical Areas in Brazil
, Wilian da Silva Ricce 4, Viviani Vieira Marques 5, Nathalia Rodrigues Leles 4 and Sergio Ruffo Roberto 4,*Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
After reviewing the article Hop: an emerging crop in subtropical areas in Brazil.
I have some suggestions for the authors.
- Please make the figures better since they are not very legible.
- Explain in more detail the importance of the use of LED light for hop.
- Attach a section on perspectives on the use of this hop in the future.
Author Response
Dear reviewer, first of all, we would like to thank for your comments and suggestions. Into this new version, we have incorporated all your suggestions. Below you find the response of each of your comments:
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I have some suggestions for the authors.
- Please make the figures better since they are not very legible.
Response: During the proof-reading the figures with high definition will be incorporated.
- Explain in more detail the importance of the use of LED light for hop.
Response: The importance of the use of LED grow light for hop cultivation is explained in L466-512.
- Attach a section on perspectives on the use of this hop in the future.
Response: a new section was added (see L518-531).
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My best regards,
The authors
Author Response File: 
Author Response.docx
Reviewer 2 Report
The contribution is interesting not only for all hop countries in the world. Leaving aside the competition in the international hop trade, it is surprising that other countries want to start growing hops. The increase in the number of microbreweries is accelerating this trend and the local origin of production and national pride play a role, too. However, hops are a plant that is difficult to grow and protect. Climate barriers and age-old approaches (dormancy) seem to be overcome. The experiments in Florida are certainly a great inspiration for you. I look forward to more articles on photoperiod management. In the future, I would also like to know how you manage the hop protection against diseases and pests, whether there are any differences.
Author Response
Dear reviewer, first of all, we would like to thank for your comments and suggestions. Below you find our response to your comments:
__________________
The contribution is interesting not only for all hop countries in the world. Leaving aside the competition in the international hop trade, it is surprising that other countries want to start growing hops. The increase in the number of microbreweries is accelerating this trend and the local origin of production and national pride play a role, too. However, hops are a plant that is difficult to grow and protect. Climate barriers and age-old approaches (dormancy) seem to be overcome. The experiments in Florida are certainly a great inspiration for you. I look forward to more articles on photoperiod management. In the future, I would also like to know how you manage the hop protection against diseases and pests, whether there are any differences.
Response: Indeed, the use of artificial lighting for hops cultivation is an interesting tool to manipulate flowering, and as a result, to promote higher yields. We are pretty sure that in the upcoming seasons we well have more information about photoperiod management, as well hop protection against diseases and pests.
________
My best regards,
The authors
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Reviewer 3 Report
In my opinion, the article deserves publication after minor revision. The work is very well written, it has a natural flow and is easy to read, and above all, it is interesting. English is very good. It is extensive and very informative and brings important information and data contributing significantly to the field, useful as a basis not only for hop/beer research in Brazil, but beyond. It covers the majority of relevant sub-themes, from economic importance, botanic characteristics and cultivars, training systems, climatic requirements, etc.
The description of hop growing in Brazil is also an important chapter, which could, in my opinion be connected with the information about the climatic characteristics in the three highlighted regions, and some "performance" data could be reported. For example, due to climatic differences, are there any distinct differences in beer styles that predominate in a given region? Are cultivars redistributed evenly in the three regions or there are cultivars more adapted and suitable for a specific region? Are there more specificities related to the region in production, training systems, harvest, production, sale, etc? It would be interesting to see more region-specific actual data on hop growing and beer production in these three regions.
Authors should highlight more the novelty and importance of the paper. It is clear why the topic is important in general, but why it is important to publish it should be accentuated (e.g. no such data published up to date, it could serve for..). As well, authors should update the conclusions and say something about the future development of hop growing and beer production in Brazil, more specifically in the three highlighted regions.
Author Response
Dear reviewer, first of all, we would like to thank for your comments and suggestions. Into this new version of our manuscript, all your suggestions were incorporated. Below you find our responses to your comments:
__________________
In my opinion, the article deserves publication after minor revision. The work is very well written, it has a natural flow and is easy to read, and above all, it is interesting. English is very good. It is extensive and very informative and brings important information and data contributing significantly to the field, useful as a basis not only for hop/beer research in Brazil, but beyond. It covers the majority of relevant sub-themes, from economic importance, botanic characteristics and cultivars, training systems, climatic requirements, etc.
Response: Dear reviewer, thanks for your comments!
The description of hop growing in Brazil is also an important chapter, which could, in my opinion be connected with the information about the climatic characteristics in the three highlighted regions, and some "performance" data could be reported. For example, due to climatic differences, are there any distinct differences in beer styles that predominate in a given region? Are cultivars redistributed evenly in the three regions or there are cultivars more adapted and suitable for a specific region? Are there more specificities related to the region in production, training systems, harvest, production, sale, etc? It would be interesting to see more region-specific actual data on hop growing and beer production in these three regions.
Response: The available information was incorporated to the manuscript. See L308-311.
Authors should highlight more the novelty and importance of the paper. It is clear why the topic is important in general, but why it is important to publish it should be accentuated (e.g. no such data published up to date, it could serve for..). As well, authors should update the conclusions and say something about the future development of hop growing and beer production in Brazil, more specifically in the three highlighted regions.
Response: This information was incorporated to the manuscript. See L108-110 and L518-531.
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My best regards,
The authors
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Reviewer 4 Report
The review written by Jastrombek et al. is very interesting for worldwide readers. The production of hop in Brazil is well justified, and described in depth. This review described the history of hop cultivation in Brazil and characterizes the main climatic elements of three emerging subtropical growing regions located at different latitudes, such as air temperature, photoperiod, solar radiation, and water availability, to provide support for the development of new technologies for hop cultivation, including supplemental lighting, irrigation, and mulching.
Author Response
Dear reviewer, we would like to thank for your comments.
__________________
The review written by Jastrombek et al. is very interesting for worldwide readers. The production of hop in Brazil is well justified, and described in depth. This review described the history of hop cultivation in Brazil and characterizes the main climatic elements of three emerging subtropical growing regions located at different latitudes, such as air temperature, photoperiod, solar radiation, and water availability, to provide support for the development of new technologies for hop cultivation, including supplemental lighting, irrigation, and mulching.
Response: Dear reviewer, thanks for your comments.
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My best regards,
The authors
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
The authors adequately made the suggestions.