Identification of Fatty Acid Components and Key Genes for Synthesis during the Development of Pecan Fruit
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsPlease see the attached pdf file for review comments.
Comments for author File: 
Comments.pdf
Please see comments no. 7, 8, 11-13, 15-17, 20, 22-24 in the review report.
Author Response
please see the attachment
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe manuscript titled "Identification of Fatty Acid Components and Key Genes for Synthesis During the Development of Pecan Fruit" presents an interesting study on the fatty acid composition and genetic aspects of pecan fruit development. Here are some comments on the manuscript:
Title and Abstract:
The title is informative but could be more concise. Consider a shorter title that highlights the key focus of the study.
The abstract provides a good overview of the study, but it lacks clarity in the introduction. For instance, the meaning of "seeds oil accumulation is ‘M’-shaped curve" could be explained in simpler terms.
Introduction:
The introduction should provide more context and background about the importance of fatty acids in pecan fruit, and why studying their synthesis is relevant.
Methods:
More details about the methodology and experimental procedures are needed. Describe the sample collection, RNA-seq methods, and GC-MS analysis more comprehensively. This information is essential for readers to understand the study's validity.
Discussion:
The discussion section summarizes the main findings but is very short. However, it would be beneficial to discuss how the findings compare to existing literature. Are the results consistent with prior research on fatty acid synthesis in other plant species? The manuscript mentions SAD and FAD2 genes, but it could explain their roles and functions more explicitly for readers who may not be experts in this field.
Conclusion: Missing.
The conclusion should emphasize the significance of the study's findings and how they contribute to the broader understanding of fatty acid synthesis in pecan fruit.
Language and Grammar:
The manuscript has some grammatical and phrasing issues. It would be beneficial to have a thorough proofreading to improve clarity and readability.
Data Presentation: Good.
Citations: Ensure that all claims and statements are properly cited to give credit to the relevant prior research and to support the study's findings.
Clarity: The manuscript has the potential to be a valuable contribution to the field, but it should be revised for clarity and precision to make it more accessible to a broader audience. Overall, the study is intriguing, but it would benefit from more detailed methods, clearer explanations, and better integration with existing research in the field.
Comments on the Quality of English LanguageModerate editing of English language required
Author Response
Please see the attachment.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe aim of the study is to screen the key genes of fatty acid synthesis in pecan fruit development by transcriptome analysis of its kernels.
The work is sufficiently described and all sections are discussed in detail. The conclusions are consistent with the achieved results.
1. However, a critical discussion of the work and comparisons to existing research works in the field are absent. Authors are invited to underline what improvements their work offers.
2. Furthermore, I suggest to read author instructions available at https://www.mdpi.com/journal/horticulturae/instructions. In fact,
· The figures are not readable. Therefore, it is important to improve their quality and to choose a better position in the text. It's also recommended to submit the related files (300 dpi).
· The references are not consistent with the format of the journal, and, thus, it is necessary to correct them.
Author Response
Please see the attachment.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsPlease see the attached file for review comments.
Comments for author File: Comments.pdf
Please see comments no. 1-6 of the review report.
Author Response
Please see the attachment.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
