Phytochemical Profile and Antioxidant Activity of Some Open-Field Ancient-Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) Genotypes and Promising Breeding Lines

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

I evaluated the article. TOMATO is among the important vegetable species produced in the world. Therefore, different studies need to be done on this species. The study is on different tomato genotypes and varieties. Especially genotypes are very important as genetic resources. In order to be used for breeding purposes, all its properties must be known. Biochemical properties including antioxidants are among the important quality parameters in plant breeding. Therefore, this study provides important results. In addition, the study is written in good language and provides reliable results. It is well discussed with other studies in the literature. The study is well constructed and designed. It will provide benefits to breeders in terms of developing new agricultural species and will contribute to genetic pool problems. As with every article, some revisions are needed. To summarize them briefly;

 

For the sake of visibility of the article, add the Latin word for tomato in the title.

 

Add Antioxidant instead of Radical Scavenging in the title.

 

The summary is too long, please shorten it. Also, the method section was mentioned a lot. Add some numerical data from the study results.

 

In the first paragraph of the introduction section, add some topics such as the importance of tomatoes in world production and production value.

 

Also, the introduction is written very briefly. It could be a little more detailed. A paragraph mentioning the importance of genetic resources should be added.

 

Fertilization irrigation programs (30) in the material section were made according to the reference. However, state this in the article in a few sentences.

 

Also give information about some characteristics of the genotypes used in the study. How were these genotypes chosen, etc.?

 

Also add more literature in terms of the features examined in the method section.

 

 

When we look at the results of the study, the data are presented in tables and graphics, and no negative issues that require revision were found. It may be more beneficial in terms of publication format to simply present Table 1 by dividing it into two different tables.

 

Finally, I suggest rewriting the conclusion section to provide more information.

Author Response

Response to Reviewer 1

 

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

• I evaluated the article. TOMATO is among the important vegetable species produced in the world. Therefore, different studies need to be done on this species. The study is on different tomato genotypes and varieties. Especially genotypes are very important as genetic resources. In order to be used for breeding purposes, all its properties must be known. Biochemical properties including antioxidants are among the important quality parameters in plant breeding. Therefore, this study provides important results. In addition, the study is written in good language and provides reliable results. It is well discussed with other studies in the literature. The study is well constructed and designed. It will provide benefits to breeders in terms of developing new agricultural species and will contribute to genetic pool problems. As with every article, some revisions are needed. To summarize them briefly;

 

• For the sake of visibility of the article, add the Latin word for tomato in the title.

 Thanks for the comment, done

• Add Antioxidant instead of Radical Scavenging in the title.

 Thanks for the comment, done

• The summary is too long, please shorten it. Also, the method section was mentioned a lot. Add some numerical data from the study results.

 Thanks for the comment, done

• In the first paragraph of the introduction section, add some topics such as the importance of tomatoes in world production and production value.

 Thanks for the comment, done

• Also, the introduction is written very briefly. It could be a little more detailed. A paragraph mentioning the importance of genetic resources should be added.

 Thanks for the comment, done

• Fertilization irrigation programs (30) in the material section were made according to the reference. However, state this in the article in a few sentences.

 Thanks for the comment, done

• Also give information about some characteristics of the genotypes used in the study. How were these genotypes chosen, etc.?

  Thanks for the comment, done

 

• Also add more literature in terms of the features examined in the method section.

  Thanks for the comment, done

 

 

• When we look at the results of the study, the data are presented in tables and graphics, and no negative issues that require revision were found. It may be more beneficial in terms of publication format to simply present Table 1 by dividing it into two different tables.

 The table was divided in two tables as recommended and sections were corrected accordingly

• Finally, I suggest rewriting the conclusion section to provide more information.

The conclusion was modified as suggested

 

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Tomato is an important vegetable crop and full of nutrition. The specific flavor is attracting increasing consumers. This study assessed the agronomic attributes, physico-chemical properties and functional traits of seven determinate open pollinated cultivars consisting of 2 high varieties and 5 landraces. Most of the genotypes displayed excellent horticultural and processing characters. The study evaluated the ancient ordinary tomato genotypes and high-pigment tomato lines in terms of horticultural performances and fruit quality and proved that tomato is an inexhaustible resource of variability with nutraceutical properties. The study is properly conducted and the manuscript is well organized.

my major concern is the number of the landraces in this study is too less to get enough information for tomato resource assessment.

There are still some minor concerns in the context, please correct it as follows:

L30： ‘2 high varieties’, may be ‘2 high-pigment varieties’

L200：’ppromising’ has extra p

L279: ‘The content of total phenolics and flavonoids contents’. please express well.

L387: ‘Vit C, Lyc, lycopene; β-Car, β-carotene; γ-Car, γ-carotene Vitamin C’.  please organize the sentence well.

L449: ‘highlighte’. Please fix it.

Comments on the Quality of English Language

It is fine.

Author Response

Response to Reviewer 2

 

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Tomato is an important vegetable crop and full of nutrition. The specific flavor is attracting increasing consumers. This study assessed the agronomic attributes, physico-chemical properties and functional traits of seven determinate open pollinated cultivars consisting of 2 high varieties and 5 landraces. Most of the genotypes displayed excellent horticultural and processing characters. The study evaluated the ancient ordinary tomato genotypes and high-pigment tomato lines in terms of horticultural performances and fruit quality and proved that tomato is an inexhaustible resource of variability with nutraceutical properties. The study is properly conducted and the manuscript is well organized.

 

• My major concern is the number of the landraces in this study is too less to get enough information for tomato resource assessment.

 

Thanks for the comment we have highlighted this by inserting a suitable sentence in the conlusion underlying the limited landraces number used.

 

 

There are still some minor concerns in the context, please correct it as follows:

 

• L30： ‘2 high varieties’, may be ‘2 high-pigment varieties’

Thanks, corrected

• L200：’ppromising’ has extra p

Thanks, corrected

 

• L279: ‘The content of total phenolics and flavonoids contents’. please express well.

Thanks, corrected

 

 

• L387: ‘Vit C, Lyc, lycopene; β-Car, β-carotene; γ-Car, γ-carotene Vitamin C’. please organize the sentence well.

Thanks, corrected

 

• L449: ‘highlighte’. Please fix it.

Thanks, corrected

 

 

Comments on the Quality of English Language

It is fine.

 

Thanks

 

 

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The authors examined several tomato varieties for the content of pigments, vitamin C, polyphenols and antioxidant properties. The research is interesting and tailored to research on varieties that tolerate high temperatures, which is very important in the era of climate change. The paper fits the scope of the journal. However, it requires corrections that may improve the quality of the publication. I propose the following corrections to the authors:

lines 144-154 Please describe in detail all parameters of the HPLC analysis, especially since the authors declare that the method has been modified by them. Please provide the reference substances used and the names of the companies from which they were obtained. Please include sample chromatograms and spectra of tomato extracts and chromatograms of standard substances, along with spectra, in the additional materials to confirm the correct identification of the tested compounds.

Lines 179-185 The methodology for quantitative determination of tocopherols is unclear, please specify the methodology and specify the device on which the determinations were carried out. If these were HPLC analyses, please fill in the missing data similarly to carotenoid determinations and present sample chromatograms and spectra.

Conclusion Please edit this part to better emphasize the authors' main achievements and future research directions. This section is too general at this point.

References Please correct references in accordance with the guidelines for authors on the journal's website.

Author Response

Response to Reviewer 3 (The detailed response is attached)

 

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

• The authors examined several tomato varieties for the content of pigments, vitamin C, polyphenols and antioxidant properties. The research is interesting and tailored to research on varieties that tolerate high temperatures, which is very important in the era of climate change. The paper fits the scope of the journal. However, it requires corrections that may improve the quality of the publication.I propose the Following corrections to the authors:

 

• lines 144-154 Please describe in detail all parameters of the HPLC analysis, especially since the authors declare that the method has been modified by them. 

 

Thanks for your comment, it was corrected and details were given

 

• Please provide the reference substances used and the names of the companies from which they were obtained. 

 

Thanks for your comment, it was corrected as suggested in the section of materials and methods

 

 

Regarding the references substances in carotenoid determination we used internal standards of beta carotene and apocarotenal and retention time to determine the different carotenoids all of the details were inserted in materials and methods

 

• Please include sample chromatograms and spectra of tomato extracts and chromatograms of standard substances, along with spectra, in the additional materials to confirm the correct identification of the tested compounds.

 

A sample for both tocopherol and carotenoid separation has been inserted in the manuscript as suggested by the reviewer  and here below is all spectra of different tomato samples and standards showing the differences in their content

 

 

 

• HLT-F82

 

 

 

 

 

• HLT-F81

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• BSP
• Justar

 

 

 

• Rimone

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Rio Grande

 

• Salba

 

 

• Lines 179-185 The methodology for quantitative determination of tocopherols is unclear, please specify the methodology and specify the device on which the determinations were carried out. If these were HPLC analyses, please fill in the missing data similarly to carotenoid determinations and present sample chromatograms and spectra.

 

 

Thanks for your comments, the same thing was made with tocopherol analysis and a suitable sample was inserted in the manuscript as suggested. Here below are the standards peaks

 

 

Regarding the sample, the chromatograms are the followings covering all the elution period given by sample name

 

• BSP

 

• HLT-F81

 

• HLT-F82

 

 

• Justar
• Rimone
• Rio Grande

 

 

 

• Salba

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Conclusion Please edit this part to better emphasize the authors' main achievements and future research directions. This section is too general at this point.

 

Thanks for the comments, corrected as suggested

 

• References Please correct references in accordance with the guidelines for authors on the journal's website.

References were reformatted as suggested

 

 

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf