Construction of a High-Density Genetic Linkage Map Based on Bin Markers and Mapping of QTLs Associated with Fruit Size in Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.)
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The research provided the construction of high-density molecular linkage maps and identification of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) targeting fruit size in Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.). I find the paper quite good. Listed are some comments regarding the submitted manuscript:
1. The abstract is written to bring out the clarity of statements with the mention of specific significant quantified data and highlighted mainly the important findings bringing out precision and newness.
2. The manuscript is not having sufficient most recent references. The introduction should include the most recent references. A few more references from 2022 would have been better. The references of 2023 will be required as 2023 is extremely near pending the processing of the manuscript as the paper is going to be published in 2023. Moreover, the format of references should be unique, such as Rf1, Rf2, Rf5…What’s the doi of the references?
3. Line 148: “Re-sequencing technology and HighMap software [30] developed independently by the Beijing Bemac Biotechnology Co., Ltd., China”. It is better if the manuscript provides information about HighMap software.
Minor editing of the English language required
Author Response
Dear review experts
Thank you very much for your advice on article Construction of a High-density Genetic Linkage Map Based on Bin-markers and Mapping of QTLs Associated with Fruit Size in Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.), I have been completely modified in accordance with your comments, please review again. At the same time, I will continue to modify my manuscript in accordance with the recommendations of other review experts, thank you for your review !
Have a nice day.
Kind regards,
Guo Tianfa
Tarim University
Author Response File: 
Author Response.docx
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments are given in the attached file
Comments for author File: 
Comments.pdf
Comments are given in the attached file
Author Response
Dear review experts
Thank you very much for your suggestions on article 'Construction of a High-density Genetic Linkage Map Based on Bin-markers and Mapping of QTLs Associated with Fruit Size in Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.)', I have completely modified in accordance with your amendments, please review. At the same time, I will continue to modify my manuscript in accordance with the recommendations of other review experts, thank you for your review !
Have a nice day.
Kind regards,
GUO Tianfa
Tarim University
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Reviewer 3 Report
The manuscript ID 2081211 “Construction of a High-density Genetic Linkage Map Based on Bin-markers and Mapping of QTLs Associated with Fruit Size in Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) presents an interesting topic. The paper is well written, and I have some minor suggestions listed below. However the discussion section need keen revision.
- Line 17: Delete “The” and start the sentence with “Studies……………”
- Lines 20 -21: the sentence is incomplete; why identify single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers?
- The abstract should ideally be structured according to the IMRaD format (Introduction, Methods, Results and Discussion). Provide a structured abstract.
- Lines 95 – 97: it is not clear which crop plant fruit is referred to?
- Lines 98 – 106: Please mention concrete hypothesis to achieve the objective of current study. No clear objectives presented.
- Why didn’t the authors carry out selfing of cultivars with alleles with large-fruit-size?
- Lines 114 – 115: what was the criterion of selecting 30 normal fruits as representatives? Normal fruits refer to what?
- Lines 118 – 126: provide the references for the methodology used.
- Line 165: innthe -> in the
- Figures 1-3 are of low quality. Therefore, please provide higher resolution images.
- Lines 319 – 339: this is not discussion of results and should be either transferred to the introduction section or expunged from the manuscript.
- Several sections in the discussion the authors are unnecessarily re-stating the results, rather than focus on discussing the findings.
- In the discussion section the authors have been emphasizing more on agreement with other studies in different fruits than on the novelty of their own findings. How does your agreeing with others (from different fruit trees) help your jujube breeding program? You are basically confirming what others have already found. This corroboration with a previously study is not that important. Please discuss and focus on what new you have discovered.
Requires minor editing.
Author Response
Dear review experts
Thank you very much for your advice on article Construction of a High-density Genetic Linkage Map Based on Bin-markers and Mapping of QTLs Associated with Fruit Size in Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.), I have been completely modified in accordance with your comments, please review again. At the same time, I will continue to modify my manuscript in accordance with the recommendations of other review experts. Many of the changes will be reflected in the latest version of the manuscript thank you for your review !
Have a nice day.
Kind regards,
Guo Tianfa
Tarim University
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Reviewer 4 Report
The paper written by Guo et al. titled 'Construction of a High-density Genetic Linkage Map Based on Bin-markers and Mapping of QTLs Associated with Fruit Size in Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.)' describes the studies regarding the construction of high-density molecular linkage maps and identification of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) targeting fruit size in jujube. Whole-genome re-sequencing of the jujube cultivars “JMS2” and “Xing16” and their F1 progeny, 167 in number was done to identify single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers.
The following issues are required to address point by point not only in reviewer response but also should be reflected the manuscript.
Lines 56-70: The authors need to start introduction with jujube and its importance. then linkage map, MAS, SNP. Please maintain flow of idea for writing introduction. First paragraph (lines number: 19-51) will move to after these lines.
Lines 109-111 (Materials and methods): F2 is highly segregating population not F1s. Why have the authors used F1s in the study? The F1 plants are genetically homogeneous and heterozygous at every locus, with 50% of their genomes derived from each parent. Since crossing over followed by recombination occurs in prophase of meiosis-I at reproductive stage of F1 plants derived from JMS2” × “Xing16 cross. The authors only observed the dominant traits as they studied in 167 F1 individuals and did not find recessive characters. They need to use highly segregating F2 population for mapping not F1s.
Line 158: E.g should be e.g.
Line 296-297: A total of 113 candidate genes possibly associated with the regulation of fruit size were identified. However, the authors should validate the genes and select and list down the best candidates for regulating fruit size character instead of so many genes (113).
Minor editing of English language is required.
Author Response
Dear review experts
Thank you very much for your advice on article (Construction of a High-density Genetic Linkage Map Based on Bin-markers and Mapping of QTLs Associated with Fruit Size in Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.)), I have been completely modified in accordance with your comments, For your questions and I have explained in the upload attachment, please review again. At the same time, I will continue to modify my manuscript in accordance with the recommendations of other review experts, thank you for your review !
Have a nice day.
Kind regards,
Guo Tianfa
Tarim University
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Round 2
Reviewer 4 Report
The authors did not address my major comment on using F1 segregating population as mapping population. I suggested to use F2 population for mapping. However, the author must cite reference from any crops/plant species where F1 segregating population was used as mapping population.
Minor editing is needed.
Author Response
Dear review experts
Thank you very much for your advice on article (Construction of a High-density Genetic Linkage Map Based on Bin-markers and Mapping of QTLs Associated with Fruit Size in Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.)), I have been completely modified in accordance with your comments, For your questions and I have explained in the upload attachment, please review again.
Have a nice day.
Kind regards,
Guo Tianfa
Tarim University
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Round 3
Reviewer 4 Report
The authors need to add the following statements in the manuscript after line number 104 in materials and methods section including references.
It is difficult to construct F2 population in fruit trees, so the population research on fruit trees is basically using F1 generation population. For example, in apples [1], pears [2,3], grapes [4] and apricots [5], F1 hybrids are used as materials for mapping.
1. Ma, B.; Zhao, S.; Wu, B.; Wang, D.; Penguins, Q.; Owiti, A.; Fang, T.; Liao, L.; Ogutu, C.; Korban, S.S.; et al. Construction of a high density linkage map and its application in the identification of QTLs for soluble sugar and organic acid components in apple. Tree Genetics & Genomes 2015, 12, 1, doi:10.1007/s11295-015-0959-6.
2. Wang, L.; Li, X.; Wang, L.; Xue, H.; Wu, J.; Yin, H.; Zhang, S. Construction of a high-density genetic linkage map in pear (Pyrus communis×Pyrus pyrifolia nakai) using SSRs and SNPs developed by SLAF-seq. Scientia Horticulturae 2017, 218, 198-204, doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2017.02.015.
3. Qin, M.-F.; Li, L.-T.; Singh, J.; Sun, M.-Y.; Bai, B.; Li, S.-W.; Ni, J.-P.; Zhang, J.-Y.; Zhang, X.; Wei, W.-L. Construction of a high-density bin-map and identification of fruit quality-related quantitative trait loci and functional genes in pear. Horticulture research 2022, 9.
4. Jiang, J.; Fan, X.; Zhang, Y.; Tang, X.; Li, X.; Liu, C.; Zhang, Z. Construction of a High-Density Genetic Map and Mapping of Firmness in Grapes (Vitis vinifera L.) Based on Whole-Genome Resequencing. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2020, 21, 797.
5. Zhang, Q.; Liu, J.; Liu, W.; Liu, N.; Zhang, Y.; Xu, M.; Liu, S.; Ma, X.; Zhang, Y. Construction of a High-Density Genetic Map and Identification of Quantitative Trait Loci Linked to Fruit Quality Traits in Apricots Using Specific-Locus Amplified Fragment Sequencing. Front Plant Sci 2022, 13, 798700, doi:10.3389/fpls.2022.798700.
Author Response
Dear review experts
Thank you very much for your suggestion ! I will modify it in the manuscript.
Have a nice day.
Kind regards,
Guo Tianfa
Tarim University
