Nettle, a Long-Known Fiber Plant with New Perspectives

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

In the manuscript, materials-1731520 authors address the emerging opportunity for nettle fiber production. The manuscript is well-written. Minor corrections are needed before publication.

Hazards associated with nettle cultivation must also be discussed in a separate SubSection of Section  4. Nettle cultivation, harvest, and fiber processing. Exposure to nettle pollen could cause allergy -  Tiotiu et al. (2016). Urtica dioica pollen allergy: Clinical, biological, and allergomics analysis. Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, 117(5), 527-534. Cultivation on marginal land could be associated with health risks due to the accumulation of potentially toxic elements -  Bărboiu et al. “Potential health risk assessment associated with heavy metal accumulation in native Urtica dioica.” Romanian Reports in Physics 72 (2020): 711.

Paragraph 306-321 could be moved to this new subsection.

Minor comments.

L85-L88 – Please reformulate the paragraph. in the present form, a reader could understand that Figure 1 refers to the ”various possible value chains and uses of nettle.”

SubSection 3.4. Nettle phytochemistry – please include a paragraph about soluble silicon/silica - Sadowska & Świderski (2020). Sources, Bioavailability, and Safety of Silicon Derived from Foods and Other Sources Added for Nutritional Purposes in Food Supplements and Functional Foods. Applied Sciences, 10(18), 6255.

Table 3, last row - please change from Bioenergy to Crop farming. Biostimulant/nettle slurry/nettle macerated extract and green manure are used not only for bioenergy crops but also in various farming practices. Also, please note that reference 189 is related to the effects against plant-parasitic nematodes. Therefore, please add – pest control to the column Use.

Author Response

Please see the attachment

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Review report

Overall, the topic is interesting and covers a wide range of information regarding Urtica dioica L. Nettle. The plagiarism report is also below 19% However, there are some major weaknesses that must have to be addressed. The literature cited is elaborative of research till 2020 as noted in bibliography, Tables, Figures, and text. The authors have claimed at many places in text about current status of corresponding literature regarding Urtica dioica L. . Therefore, it must have to cover atleast 15% of total references from 2021 and 2022.

Another major weak aspect is that the authors do not conclude different sections with novel findings, which is one of the main requirements for any review to be published in 2022. Furthermore, there are many places where the literature references are not cited.

The abstract includes long sentences that lose the interest of the reader. Rewrite or modify the abstract with short sentences.

Rewrite the conclusions.

Following points are also noted for authors to improve,

Introduction

Line 46 to 72 is also linked to Figure 1. It is suggested to cite the Figure in it.

Line 54: natural or biobased fibers [2] Forecasting studies

Punctuation missing

Lines 59-64

Literature References missing

Lines 64-68

Literature References missing

Lines 68-69

Literature References missing

Line 82: that male and female flowers are located on separate plants [9].

The authors explain the neetles in the early introduction followed by first appearance of Urtica dioica L.. in lines 73 to 82. from there on, the authors jumps into review details.

it is suggested to add the reason for selecting the Urtica dioica L. among neetles family after line 82.  

Paragraph 83-91

Make this paragraph a bit more rich in terms of real attraction for future researchers.

Line 121-123

Sentence is not confusing. The brackets are missing.

Line 124:: These clones were re-evaluated in 1993 [18].

What had happened from 1942 to 1993 due to which the research on nettle clones was discontinued?

 

Line 124-128

Literature References missing

 

 

Line 130: tested, ” clone B 13” was

wrong punctuations.

Line 131: experimental field trials [8,18] Francken-

missing punctuations.

Line 135-137

Literature References missing

 

Line 137-138: It can be assumed that the fiber content was de-137 termined by laboratory-based, mechanical decortication.

What is the need of mentioning method of determining fiber content here?

The method of determined fiber content is not being mentioned in early discussion!

either add similar discussion in early text to maintain the uniformity.

Line 152: years and two location trials with selected

Mention the names of two locations here

Line 166: Figure 2 illustrates the development

Figure 2 includes the formation till 2020. This has gone approximately two years old now. There may be some changes in the "refining" and "separation". either modify 2020-present.

or mention clearly that there is no change after 2020 in any of the schematic contents.

Line 182: Figure 2

Mention Line number in Figure as cited in paragraph (218 to 265)

Line 221: Dreyer et al. [?]…

add reference after et al.

Line 224: by Dreyer et al. [?]is …

add reference after et al.

Line 226: work of Dreyer et al.[?], the production…

add reference after et al.

Line 227: implemented semi-industrially [39].

What is meant by semi industrially?

Line 229: in Figure 2, line 6. Cultivated…….

Mention Line number in Figure

Line 235: in Figure 2, lines 5 and 6) coarse….

Mention Line number in Figure

Lines 237-243

Is it your own work or from literature?

Mention the literature reference here

Section 3.1. Biology, ecology and reproduction 253

Divide this section into three subsection of subheading of 3rd level

3.1.1. Biology

3.1.2. Ecology

3.1.3. Reproduction

if possible.

Lines 254-256

Literature References missing

 

Line 277-278: Figure 3. The morphology of the stinging nettle with focuses on (a) roots, (b) stem section, 277 (c) shoots (d) leaf, (e) node, (f) female and, (g) male flowers, (h) leaf covered with stinging 278 hairs, and (i) stinging hairs (arrows) on the stem.

Figure 3i is not clear

Line 329: This reproductive strategy may explain the…………

Why do the authors are not sure to cite reproductive strategies?

Lines 342-345:

Literature References missing

 

Lines 377-379: Figure 4 caption

Literature References missing

Lines 525-532: Figure 5 caption

Missing literature citation

Lines 643-646: Figure 5 caption

Missing literature citation

Lines 659-662

Missing literature citation

Lines 673-674

Missing literature citation

Line 715: other valuable purposes [10].

Explain the valuable purposes here.

Lines 716-725

Missing literature citation

Lines 728-730: Figrue 7 caption

Missing literature citation

Lines 733-739

Missing literature citation

Lines 750-753

Missing literature citation 

Lines 773-771: Theoretically, the methods shown in Figure 8 can be combined in different settings with each other.

Explain settings a bit more

Section 5.1

What is the novel information here?

conclude this section to some novel findings

Section 5.2

What is the novel information here?

conclude this section to some novel findings

Section 5.3

What is the novel information here?

conclude this section to some novel findings

Section 5.4

What is the novel information here?

conclude this section to some novel findings

Conclusion

Rewrite the conclusion. The conclusion seems an introduction rather than consolidation of results or set of novel findings into a concise paragraph. Use more than one paragraph or bullets to highlight the findings. 

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Please see the attachment

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 2 Report

The authors have included all suggested changes and thus recommended for publication.