The Utilization of Seed Priming as a Tool to Overcome Salt and Drought Stresses: Is Still a Long Way to Go?

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Seed priming is regarded as an very useful approach to improve seed vigor and stress tolerance. Many researchers have done a lot of work in this area.

1.Although this manuscript is a general review and not a systematic literature review, it is still suggested that the author supplement the time frame and screening criteria for literature search.

2.There are several tables in the manuscript, the author list the relevant literatures one by one by number. It is recommended that the author further summarize and merge them, and supplement the relevant parameters and priming effects.

3. The authors said that the field of seed priming has a long way to go. What are the current problems? What are the suggestions for future research? The last paragraph of the manuscript(from line275-281) should be the answer to this question, but it is too brief. This section should be explored in detail. This manuscript mainly focuses on the review of the mechanism of seed priming, it is suggested to increase the  discussion on seed priming technology.

Author Response

Seed priming is regarded as a very useful approach to improve seed vigor and stress tolerance. Many researchers have done a lot of work in this area.

1.Although this manuscript is a general review and not a systematic literature review, it is still suggested that the author supplement the time frame and screening criteria for literature search.

1. screening criteria for literature search was based on the last ten years, as reported in the legends of the tables

2.There are several tables in the manuscript, the author list the relevant literatures one by one by number. It is recommended that the author further summarize and merge them, and supplement the relevant parameters and priming effects.

1. it is hard to further summarized the 2 tables divided basing on the protocols of priming. We wanted to evidence the constraints/lack of some important data, such as fruit production etc. Adding further details will be too lengthy. The major effects of the priming are reported in the text
2. The authors said that the field of seed priming has a long way to go. What are the current problems? What are the suggestions for future research? The last paragraph of the manuscript (from line 275-281) should be the answer to this question, but it is too brief. This section should be explored in detail. This manuscript mainly focuses on the review of the mechanism of seed priming, it is suggested to increase the  discussion on seed priming technology.
3. revised and rewritten according to the suggestion

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The submitted work for review is characterized by solid theoretical foundations. The authors demonstrate extensive knowledge about seed conditioning and plant responses to abiotic stress. References to numerous scientific studies lend credibility to the presented information. The text has been divided into logically organized sections, which facilitates understanding of the work.

The table presents various priming protocols. It lacks a detailed description, but I am aware that adding it would make the work too lengthy. Overall, however, the text constitutes a valuable source of information regarding seed conditioning in the context of plant responses to abiotic stress.

 

Author Response

The submitted work for review is characterized by solid theoretical foundations. The authors demonstrate extensive knowledge about seed conditioning and plant responses to abiotic stress. References to numerous scientific studies lend credibility to the presented information. The text has been divided into logically organized sections, which facilitates understanding of the work.

The table presents various priming protocols. It lacks a detailed description, but I am aware that adding it would make the work too lengthy. Overall, however, the text constitutes a valuable source of information regarding seed conditioning in the context of plant responses to abiotic stress.

1. we thank the reviewer for having revised the paper

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Seed priming with different agents and biopriming may offer the possibility to improve stress tolerance, even though its beneficial effect depends on crop species, dose, and time of application. This review aims to highlight some current research trends that may ultimately lead to strategies for stress-proofing crop species. Though the topic is interesting but, it demands further improvement.

 

Kindly use some diverse keywords. The keywords should not be similar to the title.

Line 25-34, there is only one citation. Authors need to provide some more suitable reviews here. Here are some suggestions that could be cited in these lines and elsewhere to support the stress-related arguments. DOI: 10.1002/sae2.12061; 10.1080/07388551.2022.2093695; 10.1016/j.tplants.2021.02.011; 10.1111/tpj.15483. Also, consider citing suggested drought and salinity refs with ref number 1-4.

Line 48, “topic of this special issue”. No need to include such words within the article, as this is not an Editorial. You are writing for a broader audience.

Line 49-52, authors should provide some suitable references to support seed priming.

Figure 1, define all the abbreviations in the caption.

Introduction is too long, and it is suggested to keep it concise and to the point. The last parts, mainly about table 1/2, can be adjusted in a new section after the introduction. Please rework the introduction.

Line 99, ref 56, authors can also cite a recent review of NPs mitigating drought and salinity stress. Doi: 10.1002/sae2.12061. Also, provide a little discussion about this study as the authors focus on stress mitigation by NPs application, such as line 258, which is only about salt stress. Likewise, this review can be discussed within the context of NPs.

Section 3 is too short and should be the review's main part.

 

Overall, the content organization demands better flow. 

Author Response

Seed priming with different agents and biopriming may offer the possibility to improve stress tolerance, even though its beneficial effect depends on crop species, dose, and time of application. This review aims to highlight some current research trends that may ultimately lead to strategies for stress-proofing crop species. Though the topic is interesting but, it demands further improvement.

 

Kindly use some diverse keywords. The keywords should not be similar to the title.

1. keywords have been changed

Line 25-34, there is only one citation. Authors need to provide some more suitable reviews here. Here are some suggestions that could be cited in these lines and elsewhere to support the stress-related arguments. DOI: 10.1002/sae2.12061; 10.1080/07388551.2022.2093695; 10.1016/j.tplants.2021.02.011??; 10.1111/tpj.15483. Also, consider citing suggested drought and salinity refs with ref number 1-4.

1. done

Line 48, “topic of this special issue”. No need to include such words within the article, as this is not an Editorial. You are writing for a broader audience.

1. deleted “topic of this special issue”

Line 49-52, authors should provide some suitable references to support seed priming.

Figure 1, define all the abbreviations in the caption.

1. done

Introduction is too long, and it is suggested to keep it concise and to the point. The last parts, mainly about table 1/2, can be adjusted in a new section after the introduction. Please rework the introduction.

1. done

Line 99, ref 56, authors can also cite a recent review of NPs mitigating drought and salinity stress. Doi: 10.1002/sae2.12061. Also, provide a little discussion about this study as the authors focus on stress mitigation by NPs application, such as line 258, which is only about salt stress. Likewise, this review can be discussed within the context of NPs.

1. done

Section 3 is too short and should be the review's main part.

1. rewritten

Overall, the content organization demands better flow. 

R. we have revised the MS according to the suggestions

Round 2

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The revised version can be accepted for publication.