Transcriptome Analysis Reveals the Role of Phytohormones in the Distant Hybridization of Peony Embryo Abortion

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The article explores the role of phytohormones in the distant hybridization of peony embryo abortion through transcriptome analysis. The authors identified several phytohormones that regulate embryo development and established a foundation for the metabolic regulation of hybrid embryo abortion. However, further research is needed to determine the exact mechanisms by which hormones regulate embryo development and to explore new methods for improving hybridization success rate. The findings have important implications for the agricultural industry and plant breeding.

 

The results are very interesting, which do not raise any objections of a scientific and substantive nature, they are very interesting and interesting from both a scientific and practical point of view. The work was prepared in a very careful way, it is obvious that you have mastered the scientific technique, which is why I will recommend your works for publication to the editorial office.

 

In general, you can improve the quality of the article by including more relevant and up-to-date information on the subject, clearly explaining the implications of the findings and providing a critical analysis of the presented data.

 

Figures and tables should be clear and well-organized to facilitate readers' understanding.

 

Why did you use only β-tubulin genes as an internal standard for quantitative verification by real-time PCR and expression analysis?

 

Author Response

Dear editor,

Thank you very much for your comments and suggestions. All of those comments are insightful and helpful for revising and improving our paper, as well as providing crucial direction for our research. We carefully considered the feedback and made changes that we hope will be well received. Red highlights denote the paper's revised sections. The primary corrections made to the paper and the responses to the reviewer's criticism are as follows.

Responds to the reviewer’s comments

Review#1:

1. In general, you can improve the quality of the article by including more relevant and up-to-date information on the subject, clearly explaining the implications of the findings and providing a critical analysis of the presented data.

We checked and updated the references cited against the references cited, and there are still references cited to older studies because some of the methods cited, including the relevant research literature, are relatively old. To further analyze the study's findings, we have also made changes to the discussion section.

Review#2:

2. Figures and tables should be clear and well-organized to facilitate readers' understanding.

We have modified the annotations for the figures and tables added to the article. The images are also all in vector format to ensure that the information on the images is clear.

Review#3:

3. Why did you use only β-tubulin genes as an internal standard for quantitative verification by real-time PCR and expression analysis?

According to our group's preliminary research found that β-Tubulin gene was the most stable and suitable gene for peony (Gi, S. Temporal and Spatial Expression of Rooting Gene PsARRO-1 in Tree peony. Master thesis. Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 2013.).

 

Thank you and best regards.

Yours sincerely,

Dan He

E-mail: [email protected].

Reviewer 2 Report

The ultimate success of hybridization is essential for boosting crop yield. Here author showed an excellent effort to unveil the hormonal regulation of embryos abortion in peonies.  Again through functional analysis author showed that enrichment of DEGs genes in addition of transcriptional factors that crucially regulated hormone signal transduction pathways responsible for embryo abortion. Although there are many research question remains unaddressed while the manuscript manuscript is quite interesting, scientifically good and presentation is well. However Author suggested addressing the following issues before considering the acceptance of journal for high standard;

 

1.       In abstract author write a very long sentence from line 29-36, it’s very difficult to follow, so suggested to fragment the sentence for easy understanding by the general reader and throughout the manuscript if any.

2.       Author suggested provide explanation why chose only β-Tubulin genes as  an internal standard for Quantitative real-time PCR verification and expression analysi.

3. In materials and methods section 2.2, author writes the heading ' Determination of the hormone content and the antioxidant enzymes" while in the MS there is missing information about antioxidant  detection techniques. Author suggested providing detailed techniques that were used for the detection of antioxidant activity. Moreover, the author suggested providing the detailed extraction procedures of  hormones.

-   - Although English style seems ok while author suggested checking the typos or grammatical errors and capitalization issues if there is any.

Minor editing of English language required

Author Response

Dear editor,

Thank you very much for your comments and suggestions. All of those comments are insightful and helpful for revising and improving our paper, as well as providing crucial direction for our research. We carefully considered the feedback and made changes that we hope will be well received. Red highlights denote the paper's revised sections. The primary corrections made to the paper and the responses to the reviewer's criticism are as follows.

 

Responds to the reviewer’s comments

Review#1:

1. In abstract author write a very long sentence from line 29-36, it’s very difficult to follow, so suggested to fragment the sentence for easy understanding by the general reader and throughout the manuscript if any.

We have revised the text for long sentences that were difficult to understand and have edited the language.

Review#2:

2. Author suggested provide explanation why chose only β-Tubulin genes as  an internal standard for Quantitative real-time PCR verification and expression analysis.

According to our group's preliminary research found that β-Tubulin gene was the most stable and suitable gene for peony (Gi, S. Temporal and Spatial Expression of Rooting Gene PsARRO-1 in Tree peony. Master thesis. Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 2013.).

Review#3:

3. In materials and methods section 2.2, author writes the heading ' Determination of the hormone content and the antioxidant enzymes" while in the MS there is missing information about antioxidant detection techniques. Author suggested providing detailed techniques that were used for the detection of antioxidant activity. Moreover, the author suggested providing the detailed extraction procedures of hormones.

I am very sorry that no antioxidant enzyme tests were carried out in this article. Due to our error, the wrong words were added. The method for determining the hormone content has been added to the article.

Review#4:

4. Although English style seems ok while author suggested checking the typos or grammatical errors and capitalization issues if there is any.

We have edited the language in the article to correct any spelling and grammatical problems that existed and to make the article look more understandable.

 

Thank you and best regards.

Yours sincerely,

Dan He

E-mail: [email protected].

Reviewer 3 Report

This manuscript is well written and organized.

My only comment to the authors would be to improve the Introduction and Conclusions. Be clear about the innovations and the objectives of your research. The section on Conclusions is very short, I would advice revising and emphasizing the most important findings.

Furthermore, please state how are your research finding going to help the other researchers and scientists.

English phrasing and syntax needs improvement in certain sentences

Author Response

Dear editor,

Thank you very much for your comments and suggestions. All of those comments are insightful and helpful for revising and improving our paper, as well as providing crucial direction for our research. We carefully considered the feedback and made changes that we hope will be well received. Red highlights denote the paper's revised sections. The primary corrections made to the paper and the responses to the reviewer's criticism are as follows.

 

Responds to the reviewer’s comments

Review#1:

1. My only comment to the authors would be to improve the Introduction and Conclusions. Be clear about the innovations and the objectives of your research. The section on Conclusions is very short, I would advice revising and emphasizing the most important findings.

We provide clarification of the innovation and objectives in the introduction. Innovation: Research on the impact of hormones on embryonic abortion is scarce. Objectives: It can encourage superior breeding, raise the oil value of Paeonia suffruticosa 'Fengdanbai', and improve the preservation and utilization of floral germplasm resources. Additionally, an analysis of transcription factor families has been added to the conclusion, along with significant discoveries about transcription factors that are crucial and can be validated later.

Review#2:

2. Furthermore, please state how are your research finding going to help the other researchers and scientists.

This study may provide some potential research mechanisms for hormonal influences on the occurrence of embryonic abortion in peonies during distant crosses. Through the study of key genes of related hormone regulation, embryo rescue, and breeding efficiency can be improved.

 

Thank you and best regards.

Yours sincerely,

Dan He

E-mail: [email protected].