Effects of Organic and Conventional Cultivation on Composition and Characterization of Two Citrus Varieties ‘Navelina’ Orange and ‘Clemenules’ Mandarin Fruits in a Long-Term Study
and MarÃa Dolores Raigón 2,*Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
1. 1. The Introduction chapter is comprehensive, justifying the necessity to implement the experiment. However, there is no clearly defined purpose of the research. The information contained in this paragraph is part of the research methodology.
2. It is advisable to introduce the names of subsections. This will improve the readability of the text.
3. How many orchards were there - those traditional and organic? How many trees (plots?) in the orchard were used?
4. It is useful to provide the GPS location of the research site
5. At least the basic properties of the soil should be described. Did all orchards have soils with similar properties?
6. Provide a description of the most important agrotechnical procedures in the traditional and organic orchard(s?) I would like to remind you that the differences between the two ways of growing trees are the main experimental factor of this experiment
7. 100 kg from one orchard, experimental plot? How many pieces was it? Further in the text, the authors talk about the pieces.
8. Are these fruits from one year or from the whole experimental period? From a single orchard or a whole experimental area?
9. Why the number of fruits used for analysis are different? How many fruits were used for one repetition? In how many repetitions were measurements taken?
10. In how many fruits were the weight and number of seeds measured?
11. Here, there is no information on the number of fruit for analysis, too. Were the color measurements in CIE L*a*b space taken on a single fruit at a single point or at several points on the fruit and averaged?
12. What does it mean? What method was used to determine TSS content?
13. The authors often underline the influence of climatic conditions on fruit quality. However, the manuscript describes the climate rather vaguely.
14. If the difference is not statistically significant then there is no such difference.
15. The Discussion is extensive. Despite this, I think that the chapter should be completed. The authors make no attempt to explain the reasons for the difference in fruit quality from different production methods. They are mainly limited to statements that organic fruit generally has better quality parameters than conventional fruit. But this fact is well-known.
16. Is this the result of zero use of pesticides in an experimental organic orchard?
17. Were these "classification equations" the goal of the study? What is their application? The Discussion chapter does not answer this question.
Author Response
Comments for referees 1.
- The Introduction chapter is comprehensive, justifying the necessity to implement the experiment. However, there is no clearly defined purpose of the research. The information contained in this paragraph is part of the research methodology.
The text related to the methodology has been changed to the corresponding section and the objectives have been redrafted:
“The objective of this study is twofold, on the one hand it reveals the variability of a set of physic-chemical and nutritional quality parameters of two citrus fruits varieties, ‘Navelina’ oranges (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck) and ‘Clemenules’ mandarins (Citrus reticulata Blanco) from organic and conventional production in a long-term study. On the other hand, taking advantage of the large number of results, a model is proposed that allows the successful differentiation of citrus fruits from organic and conventional production.”
- It is advisable to introduce the names of subsections. This will improve the readability of the text.
The following subsections have been introduced in 2. Materials and Methods:
2.1. Experimental Materials
2.2. Experimental Method
2.3. Sampling and Analytical Methodology
2.4. Data Analysis
- How many orchards were there - those traditional and organic? How many trees (plots?) in the orchard were used?
In all cases, five organic orchards and five conventional ones, located in the same production area, were sampled.
Included in the new text. Line 178
- It is useful to provide the GPS location of the research site
As there are several plots involved in the study, it is difficult to give the coordinates. The specific area (La Casella) has been indicated in the text. Line 149
- At least the basic properties of the soil should be described. Did all orchards have soils with similar properties?
A table has been introduced with the main characteristics of the soils and their explanation. Line 155
- Provide a description of the most important agrotechnical procedures in the traditional and organic orchard(s?) I would like to remind you that the differences between the two ways of growing trees are the main experimental factor of this experiment
A text has been included with the main technical differences. Line 177
- 100 kg from one orchard, experimental plot? How many pieces was it? Further in the text, the authors talk about the pieces.
The dimensions of the plots were variable and, on average, the amount of 100 kg of fruits per 1250 m2 for analysis was sampled, which, according to the planting framework, corresponds to 15 sampled trees. The number of pieces depends on the size of the fruit.
Included in the new text. Line 197
- Are these fruits from one year or from the whole experimental period? From a single orchard or a whole experimental area?
Per year and from a whole experimental area.
Included in the new text. Line 196
- Why the number of fruits used for analysis are different? How many fruits were used for one repetition? In how many repetitions were measurements taken?
The number of fruits is different because they depend on the unit weight of the fruit. Each parameter has been performed in triplicate. (Already included in the text. Line 202)
In total, the internal quality parameters were studied in 1457 fruits and the external quality parameters in 2571. The determinations were individual, except for the determination of vitamin C in the juice and the content of essential oils in the rind, which used joint samples of three to five fruits. Data not included in the article so as not to confuse the reader. Given that, in the case of fruit classification, the number is lower because the statistical method uses balanced data.
- In how many fruits were the weight and number of seeds measured?
The weight and number of seeds was determined individually in each fruit.
Included in the new text. Line 210
- Here, there is no information on the number of fruit for analysis, too. Were the color measurements in CIE L*a*b space taken on a single fruit at a single point or at several points on the fruit and averaged?
Peel color measurement in CieLab space was performed at two random points on the citrus skin and averaged the values, and one point in the juice Surface.
Already included in the text. Line 216
- What does it mean? What method was used to determine TSS content?
Has been determined by refractometry.
Included in the new text. Line 226
- The authors often underline the influence of climatic conditions on fruit quality. However, the manuscript describes the climate rather vaguely.
Describing all the climatic data of the seven years is very extensive, for this reason a brief description has been chosen
- If the difference is not statistically significant then there is no such difference.
Statistically significant not.
- The Discussion is extensive. Despite this, I think that the chapter should be completed. The authors make no attempt to explain the reasons for the difference in fruit quality from different production methods. They are mainly limited to statements that organic fruit generally has better quality parameters than conventional fruit. But this fact is well-known.
To the extent possible, the results have been justified. For example line 564
- Is this the result of zero use of pesticides in an experimental organic orchard?
Yes.
- Were these "classification equations" the goal of the study? What is their application? The Discussion chapter does not answer this question.
Modified in the objectives and in the discussion. Included in the new text. Line 588
Author Response File: 
Author Response.docx
Reviewer 2 Report
This study estimated the “Effects of organic and conventional cultivation systems on composition and characterization of Navelina and Clemenules fruits in a long-term study”. Indeed, influence of organic and conventional cultivation systems on composition and characterization of fruits is of special interest. There are some comments that should be taken into account by authors.
The main concern is:
(1) Title: Could be improved.
Effects of organic and conventional cultivation systems on composition and characterization of two citrus varieties ‘Navelina’ orange and ‘Clemenules’ mandarin fruits in a long-term study
(2) Abstract: The presentation of the results in the abstract section should be carefully and completely revised. A further revision of the language is recommended.
(3) Introduction: Authors should expand the state of the art by adding new references. There is a lack of information about what is new.
Moreover, Please illustrate by more details the benefit impacts of using organic cultivation systems on the measured parameters.
(4) Materials and methods: Figure quality should be raised.
(5) At the end of Discussion section, please show how your results fill the gap of previous studies.
(6) Conclusion is to generally, must be restored. Add the significance and future prospect of the study.
(7) References: Please use the newest one.
(8) English should be polished.
Author Response
- Title: Could be improved.
Following reviewer 2's criteria, the title has been changed and improved.
“Effects of organic and conventional cultivation on composition and characterization of two citrus varieties ‘Navelina’ orange and ‘Clemenules’ mandarin fruits in a long-term study”
- Abstract: The presentation of the results in the abstract section should be carefully and completely revised. A further revision of the language is recommended.
Done
- Introduction: Authors should expand the state of the art by adding new references. There is a lack of information about what is new.
Done. Included in the new text. Line 104
- Materials and methods: Figure quality should be raised.
The resolution in Figure 1 may be low, because there is a lot of information included. In the printing tests we will check the resolution
- At the end of Discussion section, please show how your results fill the gap of previous studies.
Done
- Conclusion is to generally, must be restored. Add the significance and future prospect of the study.
Done
- References: Please use the newest one.
Current references have been included
- English should be polished.
Errors have been corrected and the text has been reviewed by a proficient in English specialist in the field
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Reviewer 3 Report
The MS mainly focusing on fruit quality using two citrus species. the result is very interesting.
1. Methods should in section 4. between discussion and conclusion. references could be adjust.
good
Author Response
Comments for referees 3.
- Methods should in section 4. between discussion and conclusion. references could be adjust.
In the “instructions for authors” it is indicated that “Materials and Methods” go behind the introduction.
We prefer to keep this criterion, to understand some acronyms/abbreviations.
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
Most of the comments have been incorporated into the manuscript
Reviewer 2 Report
The comments have been mostly addressed. The manuscript has improved and can be published.
Minor editing of English language required
