Fungicidal and Stimulating Effects of Heteroleptic Copper Complex on the Germination and Phytosafety of Plants

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

1. Recommend the corresponding functional groups at the wavenumber marker in Figure 3.

2. How the average germination rate mentioned in Table 1 is calculated and what is the number of soybean seeds raised.

3. Whether the cost of multi-ligand copper complex is not considered, and whether it has the potential for practical application

The English need improvement, the author also need to check the type and grammatical error.

Author Response

Dear editor, we fully agree with your advice and comments. We have corrected all the mistakes. Thank you very much for the opportunity. Below we have answered your questions individually.

All corrections are highlighted in yellow colors in the text of the manuscript.

Question 1. Recommend the corresponding functional groups at the wavenumber marker in Figure 3.

- Dear Editor, We added Figures 1 and 2 based on the suggestions of a third reviewer. therefore, the order of 3 pictures changed to 2.

We have shown the characteristic bonds of the [Cu(succ)(gly)] complex in the FTIR spectrum. Please see the Figure 2.

 

Question 2. How the average germination rate mentioned in Table 1 is calculated and what is the number of soybean seeds raised.

- Dear Editor, each sample was run in 3 parallels. The average value of three parallels was obtained for Viability and the number of Pathogens. Each parallel had 30 soybean seeds.

 

Question 3. Whether the cost of multi-ligand copper complex is not considered, and whether it has the potential for practical application

- Dear Editor, we did not make any real economic calculations. however, it was found that the activity of the complex obtained from low-concentration reagents is good. Therefore, it can be said that it does not need a large amount during practical use.

 

Comments on the Quality of English Language

The English need improvement, the author also need to check the type and grammatical

Error.

-Dear Editor, thank you for your suggestions, we have corrected with native English speaker.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

The article „MULTI-LIGAND COPPER COMPLEX WITH FUNGICIDAL AND STIMULATING EFFECT FOR INCREASING THE GERMINATION AND PHYTOSAFETY OF PLANTS” of authors Sana Kabdrakhmanova, Ainur Kabdrakhmanova, Esbol Shaimardan, Kydyrmolla Akatan, Madiar Beisebekov, Natalia Hryhorchuk, Bagadat S. Selenova, Joshy K.S. and Sabu Thomas describes preparation of Cu complex based on biogenic succinic acid and glycine used in role of ligands and its antifungal activity. The mentioned Cu-complex is characterized by NMR, IR and UV spectroscopies and by powder XRD. These methods are accompanied by SEM images of crystals. This complex was tested for antifungal and stimulating effect during soybeans cultivation.

I mean that this article should be attractive for „Journal of Composites Science“ readers interested in new trends in Cu-complexes preparation and in modern agriculture.

Author Response

Dear editor, we fully agree with your advice and comments. We have corrected all the mistakes. Thank you very much for the opportunity. Below we have answered your questions individually.

All corrections are highlighted in yellow colors in the text of the manuscript.

I mean that this article should be attractive for „Journal of Composites Science“ readers interested in new trends in Cu-complexes preparation and in modern agriculture.

• Dear Editor, Thank you very much for your valuable feedback.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 3 Report

The work presented by Kabdrakhmanova et al. describes the synthesis, characterization and application of [Cu(succ)(gly)] as fungicidal and stimulating agent for the germination and phytosafety of soybean plants. The manuscript needs to be improved as there are many concerns mostly regarding the characterization of the copper complex. I send in attachment the document with highlighted corrections to be made and, in addition, the following questions need to be taken in consideration:

1)   Simplify the title, e.g “Fungicidal and stimulating effect of [Cu(succ)(gly)] on the germination and phytosafety of soybean plants”.

2)   Instead of “mixed ligand complex” use “heteroleptic complex”.

3)   The Introduction needs to be improved because there are some contradictory statements.

4)   In Figure 1, NaNO3 appears in the last step of the synthesis, but it is not mentioned in the Experimental Part.

5)   Remove the scheme of the complex in Figure 1 or replace it by the crystals’ photography shown in Figure 2 because it is superfluous. Complex schemes must be removed because there is not enough data (a single crystal X-ray molecular structure would be perfect) that supports it. In such scheme, the copper must be in the oxidation state +4 that is very unlikely. Furthermore, it is not possible to determine the geometry as it can be tetrahedral, square planar or even octahedral with two water molecules occupying the axial positions. Due to these reasons the copper complex shall be mentioned as [Cu(succ)(gly)].

6)   The synthesis of [Cu(succ)(gly)] was performed using 1 mmol of Cu(NO3)2.3H2O, 1 mmol of sodium succinate and 4 mmol of glycine. Why there is the need to use an excess of glycine?

7)   What was the yield of the synthesis of [Cu(succ)(gly)]? This information must be given.

8)   Elemental analysis of [Cu(succ)(gly)] is required.

9)    The 13C NMR spectrum is fine but 1H spectrum is concerning. The integration between protons b and c should be 4:2 and not 4:1 as observed. What is the peak at 0.97 ppm? It cannot be due to the NH protons because they are not observed in D2O due to proton exchange with deuterium. Why not performing the NMR in DMSO-d6? 

10)    Standard deviation values are missing in Table 1.

 

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

 

Author Response

Dear editor, we fully agree with your advice and comments. We have corrected all the mistakes. Thank you very much for the opportunity. Below we have answered your questions individually.

All corrections are highlighted in yellow colors in the text of the manuscript.

Question 1)   Simplify the title, e.g “Fungicidal and stimulating effect of [Cu(succ)(gly)] on the germination and phytosafety of soybean plants”.

-Dear Editor, Thank you very much for your suggestion, we have modified the title of the manuscript “Fungicidal And Stimulating Of Heteroleptic Copper Complex On The Germination And Phytosafety Of Plants”

Question 2)   Instead of “mixed ligand complex” use “heteroleptic complex”.

-Dear Editor, We have changed all the words “mixed ligand complex” in the text to “heteroleptic complex” in consideration of your suggestions.

Question 3)   The Introduction needs to be improved because there are some contradictory statements.

-Dear Editor, We have modified the introduction section taking into account your comments.

Question 4)   In Figure 1, NaNO3 appears in the last step of the synthesis, but it is not mentioned in the Experimental Part.

-Dear Editors, NaNO3 in Figure 1 was written due to technical errors. therefore, amendments were made. We apologize for the errors.

Question 5)   Remove the scheme of the complex in Figure 1 or replace it by the crystals’ photography shown in Figure 2 because it is superfluous. Complex schemes must be removed because there is not enough data (a single crystal X-ray molecular structure would be perfect) that supports it. In such scheme, the copper must be in the oxidation state +4 that is very unlikely. Furthermore, it is not possible to determine the geometry as it can be tetrahedral, square planar or even octahedral with two water molecules occupying the axial positions. Due to these reasons the copper complex shall be mentioned as [Cu(succ)(gly)

-Dear Editor, Thank you very much for your suggestions and comments. We have made changes to images 1 and 2 based on your suggestions. in addition, we changed the formula of the complex to [Cu(succ)(gly)].

Question 6)   The synthesis of [Cu(succ)(gly)] was performed using 1 mmol of Cu(NO3)2.3H2O, 1 mmol of sodium succinate and 4 mmol of glycine. Why there is the need to use an excess of glycine?

• Dear Editors, it was written due to technical errors. We have corrected it to ‘’1 mmol of glycine’’

Question 7)   What was the yield of the synthesis of [Cu(succ)(gly)]? This information must be given.

- Dear Editors, The yield of the obtained heteroleptic complex was equal to 35%. We have added it in the text of the manuscript.

Question 8)   Elemental analysis of [Cu(succ)(gly)] is required.

• Dear Editor, Unfortunately, we could not perform elemental analysis due to our technical capabilities. for that reason, we apologize.

Question 9)    The 13C NMR spectrum is fine but 1H spectrum is concerning. The integration between protons b and c should be 4:2 and not 4:1 as observed. What is the peak at 0.97 ppm? It cannot be due to the NH protons because they are not observed in D2O due to proton exchange with deuterium. Why not performing the NMR in DMSO-d6? 

Question 9.1)    The integration between protons b and c should be 4:2 and not 4:1 as observed.

Dear Editor, Integrated intensities of b and c protons in the 1H spectrum are automatically set. therefore, their ratio was 4:1. Now, according to your notice, it was determined by recalculation. It was equal to 4.25:1.6. It was approximately 4:2.

Question 9.2) What is the peak at 0.97 ppm? It cannot be due to the NH protons because they are not observed in D2O due to proton exchange with deuterium.

-Dear Editor, about the peak at 0.97 ppm, this is characteristic of the proton signal of the amine group (Cu-NH) coordinatively bonded to the metal. Due to the influence of the metal atom, the shift of the proton in the NH group approaches 0.

 Question 9.3) Why not performing the NMR in DMSO-d6?

• Dear Editor, in the proton spectrum, the DMSO signal appears at 2.5 ppm. DMSO was not used as this may overlap with the signal from protons in the (-CH2)2 group seen at 2.49 ppm and may not provide correct information.

Question 10)    Standard deviation values are missing in Table 1.

-Dear Editor, it were technical errors, We have added standard deviation values. Please see the table 1.

 

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

我毫无疑问。

Reviewer 3 Report

The authors answered all questions raised and revised the manuscript accordingly. So, I would accept it in the current form.

Minor editing of English language required. For example, remove with in the end of the first phrase.