Walnut Genotypes for High Density Orchards
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The Article review comments and suggestions
It has been the dream of breeding scientists over the years to select walnut varieties that meet the production goals, such as early maturation, high yield, high quality, stress resistance and special use. With the conventional breeding technology and molecular auxiliary breeding technology constantly improve and fusion, the birth of excellent walnut varieties resources, especially special walnut varieties directional breeding success, such as special walnut rootstock varieties, oil walnut varieties, fresh walnut varieties, colored kernel walnut varieties, health art walnut varieties, namely enrich the walnut variety resources, and for the development and utilization of walnut varieties resources laid a good foundation. At the same time, the cultivator in order to obtain higher yield and greater benefits, in the choice of walnut varieties and cultivation mode, put forward more conform to the technical requirements of personal will, such as early walnut garden recovery costs, reduce the production costs, extend the economic life of walnut garden, reduce the production risk, expand the benefits of walnut garden management, etc.Therefore, in order to achieve common interests, walnut breeders and cultivators work together to study and solve the walnut variety breeding, cultivation mode and marketing means that are more in line with the market demand.
The paper for walnut breeders and cultivators concerned about improve the yield and reduce the total cost, from the appropriate establishment of high density walnut garden dwarf stock genotype, respectively introduces its origin, growth potential, result habits, flower bud differentiation characteristics, speculation may induce walnut dwarf stock genotype of several hypotheses. This paper describes the application of plant growth inhibitor treatment to control the plant height, adjust the relationship between vegetative growth and reproductive growth, to improve the plant yield and fruit quality. At the same time expounds the walnut dwarf rootstock genotype compared with ordinary rootstock genotype, with lateral bud results, clonal propagation, precocious characteristics and cold resistance, more conducive to walnut garden early yield and benefits, however, walnut dwarf rootstock genotype also shows early flowering and high sensitivity to bacterial blight.
In order to obtain walnut dwarf genotypes suitable for high-density orchards, the researchers compared the lateral flower bud results, nut quality and sensitivity to low temperature levels of walnut dwarf genotypes from different countries and regions. Different walnut dwarf genotypes were obtained from countries including Iran, France, United States, Hungary, Serbia and Romania. Researchers are working hard to find the most ideal nuts.
This research work is very interesting and valuable, and researchers need to establish a comprehensive scientific experimental design, long-term systematic observation, accumulate rich data, objective and effective evaluation, and deeply reveal the genetic transformation mechanism of walnut dwarf rootstock varieties.Therefore, the data support of this paper is not rich enough, the connotation of high-density walnut orchard is not clear enough, I am very friendly to add the following suggestions:
1. Rich data on walnut dwarfing genotypes.For different countries and regions, especially those rich in walnut dwarf genotypes, such as China, walnut dwarf genotypes are distributed to almost all walnut producing areas, including walnut (Juglan regia), black walnut (J. nigra), interspecific hybrid (J. nigra×J. regia) and (J. sigillata×J. regia).
2. Establish the density standard for walnut high-density orchards.According to different local conditions of different countries and regions, clear high density of low mountains, hills and plains suitable density standard, different management measures of orchard density is different, should establish density standard suitable for mechanized production, small spacing, such as (3-4) m×(8-12) m, not only to ensure the economic benefit of the early orchard, walnut garden operation in the density is not big adjustment, to avoid affecting income. For example, in China, the line spacing of high-density orchards is (2-4) m×(2-6) m, which is adjusted according to the difference of site conditions, and is suitable for small machinery production, such as (3-4) m×(6-8) m.
3. High-density orchards do not necessarily have better economic benefits. In China, walnut orchard is a labor-intensive industry, with high density of orchards, and the management costs of fertilizer, agent and labor invested are getting higher and higher. With the decline of the sales price of walnut and nuts, the net income has decreased year-on-year. Walnut garden 6-8 years later into the full fruit period, walnut garden closed, insufficient nutritional space, yield decline, diseases and insect pests began to occur seriously, need to thinning walnut trees, expand the plant spacing.At this time, the walnut garden has almost no net income.
4. Clearly analyze the genetic transformation mechanism of walnut dwarf genotype. With the completion of the high-quality walnut reference genome, the systematic mechanism of gene expression differentiation after the whole genome duplication was revealed, laying the foundation for the analysis of the genetic transformation mechanism of walnut dwarfing genotypes. Therefore, walnut dwarf genotype as gene purification type, the genetic transformation and gene network regulation mechanism is possible, separation and identification of walnut early traits functional genes, reveal yield, quality, resistance, develop molecular markers of important traits, breakthrough, create walnut whole genome selection technology system, improve the accuracy of walnut dwarf genotype genetic improvement, shorten the breeding process, improve breeding efficiency.
Author Response
Regarding reviewer's 1 comments (R1):
R1: Rich data on walnut dwarfing genotypes. For different countries and regions, especially those rich in walnut dwarf genotypes, such as China, walnut dwarf genotypes are distributed to almost all walnut producing areas, including walnut (Juglan regia), black walnut (J. nigra), interspecific hybrid (J. nigra×J. regia) and (J. sigillata×J. regia).
Authors: Thank you very much for your comment, I agree with you and section 5. Type of dwarf rootstock was added to the article (line 164).
R1: Establish the density standard for walnut high-density orchards. According to different local conditions of different countries and regions, clear high density of low mountains, hills and plains suitable density standard, different management measures of orchard density is different, should establish density standard suitable for mechanized production, small spacing, such as (3-4) m×(8-12) m, not only to ensure the economic benefit of the early orchard, walnut garden operation in the density is not big adjustment, to avoid affecting income. For example, in China, the line spacing of high-density orchards is (2-4) m×(2-6) m, which is adjusted according to the difference of site conditions, and is suitable for small machinery production, such as (3-4) m×(6-8) m.
Authors: Thank you very much for your valuable comment. It is written on line 130.
R1: Clearly analyze the genetic transformation mechanism of walnut dwarf genotype. With the completion of the high-quality walnut reference genome, the systematic mechanism of gene expression differentiation after the whole genome duplication was revealed, laying the foundation for the analysis of the genetic transformation mechanism of walnut dwarfing genotypes. Therefore, walnut dwarf genotype as gene purification type, the genetic transformation and gene network regulation mechanism is possible, separation and identification of walnut early traits functional genes, reveal yield, quality, resistance, develop molecular markers of important traits, breakthrough, create walnut whole genome selection technology system, improve the accuracy of walnut dwarf genotype genetic improvement, shorten the breeding process, improve breeding efficiency.
Authors: Thank you very much for your valuable comment. Explained in lines 242.
Reviewer 2 Report
In general, the review is highly descriptive, lacks depth and integrity. Some key Refs should be cited. In order to increase readability, the authors should compact some significant Figures and Tables in this review. The English in this manuscript also needs to be further improved. In my opinion, the manuscript in this version is not suitable for publication in Horticulturae.
Author Response
Regarding reviewer's 2 comments (R2):
R2: In general, the review is highly descriptive, lacks depth and integrity. Some key Refs should be cited. In order to increase readability, the authors should compact some significant Figures and Tables in this review. The English in this manuscript also needs to be further improved. In my opinion, the manuscript in this version is not suitable for publication in Horticulturae.
Authors: Thank you very much for your valuable comment. English grammar and expression have been also revised. Figures was also added.
Reviewer 3 Report
Devin and Bujdoso's paper analyzes the possibility of planting high-density walnut orchards using dwarfing rootstocks and varieties a lateral fruiting habit. The authors' intent is very interesting not only from a scientific point of view but also from a technical point of view, as it could allow us to make a overview of the real possibility of planting new high-density walnut orchards. For these reasons the work could aspire to be published. However, the manuscript has many deficiencies that do not make it publishable in its current state. It is written in a chaotic and disordered way. Many concepts are repeated (sometimes these are the same phrases that are present in different parts of the manuscript). These repetitions must be eliminated. To facilitate the understanding of the topics, aspects relating to varieties a lateral fruiting habit and dwarfing rootstocks should be treated separately. The abstract only contains generic phrases that do not make the content of the manuscript understand well. This part needs to be completely rewritten. The purpose of the abstract is to briefly illustrate the objective and the salient concepts of the work. The introduction should be limited to illustrating the situation of the current walnut orchards, highlighting their limitations and the advantages that the walnut cultivation could obtain with an increase in planting density. In the last part of this paragraph, the indispensable elements (availability of varieties a lateral fruiting habit, dwarfing rootstocks, etc.) should be indicated in order to planting high-density walnut orchards. Subsequent paragraphs should deal with these elements separately. The manuscript should then be completed with conclusive considerations in which the real possibilities of planting high-density walnut orchards in the coming years and possibly the further knowledge that should be acquired to planting high-density walnut orchards are reported. The form of the English language also needs to be improved.
Author Response
Regarding reviewer's 3 comments (R3):
R3: Devin and Bujdoso's paper analyzes the possibility of planting high-density walnut orchards using dwarfing rootstocks and varieties a lateral fruiting habit. The authors' intent is very interesting not only from a scientific point of view but also from a technical point of view, as it could allow us to make a overview of the real possibility of planting new high-density walnut orchards. For these reasons the work could aspire to be published. However, the manuscript has many deficiencies that do not make it publishable in its current state. It is written in a chaotic and disordered way. Many concepts are repeated (sometimes these are the same phrases that are present in different parts of the manuscript). These repetitions must be eliminated. To facilitate the understanding of the topics, aspects relating to varieties a lateral fruiting habit and dwarfing rootstocks should be treated separately. The abstract only contains generic phrases that do not make the content of the manuscript understand well. This part needs to be completely rewritten. The purpose of the abstract is to briefly illustrate the objective and the salient concepts of the work. The introduction should be limited to illustrating the situation of the current walnut orchards, highlighting their limitations and the advantages that the walnut cultivation could obtain with an increase in planting density. In the last part of this paragraph, the indispensable elements (availability of varieties a lateral fruiting habit, dwarfing rootstocks, etc.) should be indicated in order to planting high-density walnut orchards. Subsequent paragraphs should deal with these elements separately. The manuscript should then be completed with conclusive considerations in which the real possibilities of planting high-density walnut orchards in the coming years and possibly the further knowledge that should be acquired to planting high-density walnut orchards are reported. The form of the English language also needs to be improved.
Authors: Thank you very much for your valuable comment. English grammar and expression have been also revised. The abstract was also rewritten.
Reviewer 4 Report
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Author Response
Regarding reviewer's 4 comments (R4):
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Authors: Thank you very much for your comment. All paragraphs were referenced.
Round 2
Reviewer 3 Report
Devin and Bujdoso in this paper analyze the possibility of using dwarf rootstocks to reduce the vigour of walnut trees, creating the conditions for planting high density walnut orchards. The subject matter is very interesting. In particular, the abstract should be rewritten. It should summarize what is written in the manuscript to allow the reader to quickly understand the content of the discussion. Final considerations should then be added. The form of the English language also needs to be improved.
Author Response
Dear Janie Wang, Assistant Managing Editor of Horticulturae,
We would like our article entitled ‘Walnut genotypes for high density orchards’ to be published in Horticulturae.
Dear review,
We appreciate your clear and detailed review. In the remainder of this letter, we discuss each of your comments individually along with our corresponding responses. To facilitate this discussion, we first retype your comments in bold font and then present our responses to the comments.
Regarding reviewer's 3 comments (R3):
R3: Devin and Bujdoso in this paper analyze the possibility of using dwarf rootstocks to reduce the vigour of walnut trees, creating the conditions for planting high density walnut orchards. The subject matter is very interesting. In particular, the abstract should be rewritten. It should summarize what is written in the manuscript to allow the reader to quickly understand the content of the discussion. Final considerations should then be added. The form of the English language also needs to be improved.
Authors: Thank you very much for your suggestion. We also agree with this proposal. The previous abstract has been changed to the new abstract. Conclusions have also been added to the text. English grammar and expression have been also revised.
The previous abstract was deleted (Abstract: Increasing yields and lowering total costs are one of the breeding objectives of breeders and horticulturists. Limiting juveniles and decreasing tree size are major challenges for breeders to ameliorate most fruits. Early maturity and dwarf varieties are available for some fruit species. Among walnut seedlings, early maturity and low vigor genotypes were found. Reducing the size of walnut trees can increase yield. The longer a tree takes to bear fruit, the longer it takes to recover capital, so walnut growers are thus interested in moving to a high-density walnut planting system. Reducing the size of trees using dwarf rootstocks is an important element, therefore precocious walnuts are considered to be a rare resource in the study of precociousness, juvenile and flowering mechanisms. Also, it plays a potential role in breeding and modifying cultivars by genetic engineering through walnut ameliorating programs.).
New abstract added (Line9-17) (The increasing yields, decreasing tree size, limiting juveniles, and lowering total costs are the most important objectives of breeders and horticulturists. Reducing the size of walnut trees can increase yield. The breeding programs in several countries have led to the production of walnut dwarf rootstocks. For example, in China ‘Daixiang’ and Daihui’, in Iran ‘Alvand’, in France 'Fernette' are the novel bred dwarfing Persian walnut rootstocks. The precocious walnuts are considered to be a rare resource in the study of precociousness, juvenile and flowering mechanisms. Also, it plays a potential role in breeding and modifying cultivars by genetic engineering through walnut ame-liorating programs. The use of CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat) technique is to improve walnuts, which will be used in the near future.)
Authors: We also added a conclusion to the article (Line 295-308).
- Conclusion
Rootstock selection by increasing water and nutrient uptake, improving scion growth, reducing biological and abiotic stresses and adaptation to environmental conditions are effective factors in determining yield. The decrease in plant height should be assessed in the walnut germplasm to promote cultural application in high-density planting. Breeding programs in some countries have led to the production of dwarf walnut root-stocks. Chinese’s walnut breeding program led to the release of dwarf and compact cultivars ‘Daixiang’ and Daihui’. The Iranian walnut breeding program led to the production of the ‘Alvand’ dwarf rootstock. The French walnut breeding program led to the release of 'Fernette'. Also, slow-growing walnut seedlings were obtained at higher doses of 200 Gy gamma rays. Dwarf rootstocks have smaller root systems, so the soil absorbs less water and nutrients. Plant dwarfing is done genetically by different genes involved in this phenomenon. The GAI gene is a candidate gene in walnut dwarfism. In the near future, use CRISPR / Cas9 techniques to improve walnuts.
We deeply appreciate the efforts of the reviewer in the improvement of the manuscript for a future publication.
Yours faithfully,
the authros
