Pathways and Characteristics of Lead Uptake and Transportation in Rhus chinensis Mill
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The manuscripts looks very intereting and well structured. The only comment I have is about the source for the seeds. All the used seeds were from only one tree? Please clarify and explain why?
Comments for author File: 
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Author Response
Point 1: The only comment I have is about the source for the seeds. All the used seeds were from only one tree? Please clarify and explain why?
Response 1: The seeds were obtained from only one tree. The preliminary test showed that there was no significant difference among different families according to the capacity of lead uptake and accumulation in Rhus chinensis Mill from different regions. Therefore, in this study, the seeds were collected from the same tree of R. chinensis.
The attachment is same with box.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.docx
Reviewer 2 Report
The article is well written. Some minor mistakes/revision is needed in the below listed cases:
Line 9: could uptake. Is this the right verb? For a better understanding use: is able to uptake.
Line 11: here, controlled experiments (without the)
Line 33, a dot remained at the end of the sentence before the references
Line 41: please instead entering soil, use entering in the soil
Line 73-74: please check weather could is properly used
Line 143: please change stained roots images with stained root images
Line 172: please write Black triangle with small caps
Line 215, 231: a space is missing before the parantheses
Author Response
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Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Reviewer 3 Report
The review of the paper by He et al. submitted to Forest MDPI. The main topic of this paper suites the scope of the journal. It is focus on the uptake mechanism and transport of lead within young tree of the Chinese sumac. In my opinion the main idea of this paper is interesting and well planned, however some issues, which need to answered should be stated in the review.
The major once:
L117 & 122 I am a bit confused. You wrote here: “The uptake solution used in the culture was 400 µmol L-1 Pb(NO)3.” But in lines 103/104 you mentioned "the uptake solution containing 2 mM MES-TRIS (pH 5.8), 0.5 mM CaCl2, and various concentrations of Pb(NO)3."
L121-123 Was on ice really 4°C, not 0°C?
L126 I have serious doubt about using chloride salt together with lead ions. Does it not cause participation of PbCl2. The Pb in the form of undissolved salt is not absorb by plants as well as in the form of ion Pb2+.
L317 Did you measure the transpiration rate as you had written here? I did not see the results for it.
L320-321 You have stated: “Low temperatures significantly inhibited Pb uptake by roots, indicating that energy was required for Pb uptake.” In my opinion it is just speculation and need to be confirm. Moreover lower temperature also reduced the water uptake.
L360-364 I am not convinced by you. Firstly, on Fig. 6a where you put the results for the higher concentration of calcium you have higher accumulation of Pb in root, however there is no statistical differences between it and the control, so you cannot discuss it as promoting Pb uptake. Secondly, accumulation just in root does not reflect the uptake of Pb from culture medium, as you should compare the level of Pb in whole plants, as some of the Pb ions are be translocated within the plants from root into shoots and leaves.
The minor once:
L101/102 the formatting between lines need correction
L119 what molecule was used as transpiration inhibitor?
L138 “Seedlings were treated with 100 µmol L-1 for 24 h.” Bur with what molecules/reagent.
L189-191 I do not understand the statement here. I suppose that the nutrient solution was without lead and the lead was just supplemented to 1-year-old plants after one week culture just on water in the form of uptake solution. So why there is lead in plants watered with nutrient solution? Was the lead used for all the plants? What about the control without lead application?
L215-217 It is better to use just one type of units. It is much more easy to compare it.
L335-336 The statement: “indicating that Pb transportation from roots to aboveground parts was an energy-consuming process” for me is too speculative, as it should be verify.
Author Response
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Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Round 2
Reviewer 3 Report
Many thanks to the authors for very detailed response. However I have still just few minor remarks:
You add information about 38% reduction of transpiration in the discussion section. Unfortunatelly I still can not see this results in results section, you also did not cite some of your previous paper.
In the point 1 of the resposne you clarify that the concentration of lead was different depending from aplication. Yes, this I undestood, however when you wrote that uptake solution "was"400 µmol L-1 Pb(NO)3 I undestood it that it was just a water with lead salt without MES-TRIS and CaCl2. Please change the word "was" for contain or some other which would be more precise.
Author Response
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Author Response File: Author Response.docx
