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Peer-Review Record

The Effects of Enhanced Ultraviolet-B Radiation on Leaf Photosynthesis and Submicroscopic Structures in Mangifera indica L. cv. ‘Tainong No 1’

Horticulturae 2023, 9(1), 83; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9010083

by Tiantian Chen^1,2, Junjie Peng^1,2, Minjie Qian^1,2, Xian Shui^1,2, Jingjia Du^1,2, Feng Liu^3,* and Kaibing Zhou^1,2,*

Reviewer 1:

Alexander Smirnov

Reviewer 2:

Muhammad Ali Raza

Horticulturae 2023, 9(1), 83; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9010083

Submission received: 25 November 2022 / Revised: 30 December 2022 / Accepted: 5 January 2023 / Published: 9 January 2023

(This article belongs to the Section Fruit Production Systems)

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The introduction chapter of the manuscript can be improved by inclusion of recent studies related to the research of the ultraviolet radiation effect on photosynthesis. Specify the brand of UV-B lamps used. Specify the brand of the device that measured the UV flux. The relevance of the research topic is questionable, since there are no significant ozone depletions over China, and the effect of the thickness of the ozone layer on UV radiation over populated areas is so small that it is even difficult to detect. There are many self-citations in the list of references, most of the articles are in Chinese.

Additional comments are below:

The manuscript is related to research of the mango plant response to increased doses of UV-B radiation.
The relevance of the research topic is questionable, since there are no significant ozone depletions over China, and the effect of the thickness of the ozone layer on UV radiation over populated areas is so small that it is even difficult to detect. As a reviewer, I consider the relevance of this manuscript to the current level of additional UV radiation and ozone holes debatable. In my opinion, the relevance of the study should be reconsidered.
The reactions of various plants to increased doses of UV-B radiation are well studied, but there are really few works devoted to the study of the specific reactions of Mangifera indica L., so this study provides new data for understanding the protective mechanisms of this plant.
The introduction chapter of the manuscript can be improved by inclusion of recent studies related to the research of the ultraviolet radiation effect on photosynthesis. I don't see the need to correct the methodology.
The conclusion corresponded to the topic, but it is recommended to add directions for further research to the conclusions.
There are many self-citations in the list of references, most of the articles are in Chinese. Some of the references in this area should be changed to other ones, reducing the percentage of self-citations.
Specify the brand of UV-B lamps used. Specify the brand of the device that measured the UV flux. The photos taken from a microscope should be presented in color if possible.

Author Response

First of all, thank you for your guidance!

Indication of the reviewer：The manuscript is related to research of the mango plant response to increased doses of UV-B radiation.

Response 1: Yes.In this study, the physiological parameters of the leaves, electron microscopy and Q-PCR verification confirmed that enhanced UV-B radiation reduced photosynthesis by damaging the leaf structure and inhibiting rbcL expression. At the same time, it induced a passive defence mechanism in the leaves by promoting the accumulation of protective pigments and rbcS expression to minimise the damage to the leaves by enhanced UV-B radiation and thus the inhibition of photosynthesis.

Indication of the reviewer：The relevance of the research topic is questionable, since there are no significant ozone depletions over China, and the effect of the thickness of the ozone layer on UV radiation over populated areas is so small that it is even difficult to detect. As a reviewer, I consider the relevance of this manuscript to the current level of additional UV radiation and ozone holes debatable. In my opinion, the relevance of the study should be reconsidered.

Response 2: Surely, China hasn't this problem at present. We need report to the review experts, that we carry out the research on this topic is prospective. The refrigeration agent is using, and the spacecraft is flying, then all this will lead to the destruction of the ozone layer around the earth, and then the plants will face to the stress of the enhanced UV-B radiation in the future. Additionally, our research is not limited to China, but is global in scope, and our simulation studies can help the world.

Indication of the reviewer：The reactions of various plants to increased doses of UV-B radiation are well studied, but there are really few works devoted to the study of the specific reactions of Mangifera indica L., so this study provides new data for understanding the protective mechanisms of this plant.

Response 3: Yes.Different plants respond differently to enhanced UV-B and there is currently little research on enhanced UV-B radiation in woody plants and almost none in fruit trees. Plant leaves are important sensory organs that respond directly and rapidly to changes in the external environment. Therefore, leaves are the first organ to respond to enhanced UV-B, and photosynthesis is inevitably affected, which in turn affects fruit yield and quality. This study investigates the effect of enhanced UV-B radiation on photosynthesis in order to understand the mechanism of the effect and to provide theoretical guidance for specifying enhanced UV-B radiation cultivation techniques in the future.

Indication of the reviewer：The introduction chapter of the manuscript can be improved by inclusion of recent studies related to the research of the ultraviolet radiation effect on photosynthesis. I don't see the need to correct the methodology.

Response 4: This issue has been fixed. Thank for your guidance!

Indication of the reviewer：The conclusion corresponded to the topic, but it is recommended to add directions for further research to the conclusions.

Response 5: The research reveals the physiological mechanism of high-dose enhanced UV-B radiation inhibition of leaf photosynthesis in 'Tainong No 1' mango leaves and provides a basis for further investigation of the signal transduction process induced by enhanced UV-B radiation and the molecular biology of the altered photosynthesis in leaves.Thank for your guidance!

Indication of the reviewer：There are many self-citations in the list of references, most of the articles are in Chinese. Some of the references in this area should be changed to other ones, reducing the percentage of self-citations.

Response 6: Yes. Self-citations are too many to be unreasonable, but most of the global research on UV-B radiation enhancement has been conducted around herbaceous plants, with very little research on woody plants, especially fruit trees. Our group maybe the only one worldwide that has studied the issue on UV-B radiation stress to mango trees, so there is almost no suitable literature for us to cite.

Indication of the reviewer：Specify the brand of UV-B lamps used. Specify the brand of the device that measured the UV flux. The photos taken from a microscope should be presented in color if possible.

Response 7: The brand of the UV-B lamp is mentioned in the text. Surely we should present color pictures from microscope, but the imaging system that we use instruments can only output black and white photos because of the limitation of our experiment conditions. In view of some literature on SEM and TEM, both domestic and foreign, has black and white images too, so we are forced to use these black and white pictures this time too. Please have pity on us!

At last，thanks again for your guidance!

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments to Editor:

The authors investigated the “The Effects of Enhanced Ultraviolet-B Radiation on Leaf Photosynthesis and Submicroscopic Structures in Mangifera indica L. cv. ‘Tainong No 1.”

· While I consider that the study and findings are potentially interesting, I have minor concerns that must be addressed in revising this manuscript.

· The authors have advised to explain their research question more clearly.

Based on my comments below, I recommend a minor revision of the manuscript.

Specific Comments

Abstract

The abstract needs to be revised (e. g., give details of the main results and link your results systematically and name the methods to achieve the goal/aim described in the background).

Introduction

The introduction does not provide enough information on the research background and gap. Therefore, it is strongly suggested that the authors please add more relevant literature on their research question.

Results

Put an introductory/general statement about your main finding of each result as the first sentence.

Discussion

Authors should rethink what they write in the first paragraph and only summarize the main findings given the research questions.

Conclusion

It is strongly suggested to authors that please revise their conclusion and just give recommendations for future studies with shortcoming of your study.

Author Response

f all, thank you for your guidance!