The Synergistic Effects of AMF Inoculation and Boron Deficiency on the Growth and Physiology of Camellia oleifera Seedlings

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The manuscript is very interesting. In my opinion, the work is original; the introduction is precise and actualized. The research design is appropriate but may be improved.

Please correct the following mistakes:

In the Abstract section:

Line 31 and 32: the abbreviations “Phe” and “Tyr” can be deleted. They are not used in the manuscript

Line 33: “B deficiency also reduces the 3-indao acetate (IAA)……” 

IAA is used as an abbreviation for indol acetic acid (IAA). ¿What is reduced by B deficiency?

Line 45: “Alleviate the adverse effects of adversity …….”

-Introduction section

Line 73: write a new sentence related to “C. oleifera is a kind of AMF tree species”

-M&M

Which are the conditions in the greenhouse? Light, temperature, humidity, etc?

I suggest incorporating –AMF – B (control)

What is the number of seedlings used for each determination? Please incorporate N=?

Line 111-113 “The fresh samples were kept in the refrigerator at -80℃ after rinsing with deionized water to determine physiological indicators such as soluble sugars, MDA, SOD, POD, and CAT”. If we use the material at -80ºC without preparing a buffer solution, we can determine enzyme activity. Please add as prepared the sample in this line. Something is mentioned in line 132 “2 ml of crude enzyme solution”, but more information need to be incorporated.

On line 136, please clarify “…spectrophotometer at 600 nm at 532 nm (UV-4802).”

On lines 135, 136, and others change “r﹒min-1 “ by r.p.m.

- Results section

I suggest comparing all the results with respect to control (-AM-B). The results are easier to understand when the authors compared them in the same way.

All the figures and table legends must be improved. This should be self-explanatory.

In the table, please add “different letters indicate significant differences between treatments by column”

Please, add the P value in each Figure.

- Discussion could be improved. I.E. Which is the explication of AMF decrease sugar?

Author Response

Thank you very much for your revision suggestion, which is very important to improve the quality of the paper. We have made some modifications according to your suggestion and reworked the chart. 

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

Dear authors,

This paper studies the role of AMF in the absorption and accumulation of boron in Camellia oleifera seedlings. The metabolism of boron is crucial for plants, and the topic studied by the authors is of great relevance.

The introduction is well written and provides a good overview of the role of boron in plants. The materials and methods are fairly well-written, with some minor errors and typos that I will indicate below. The results are well-written and interesting. The discussion is conducted correctly, addressing the different sections with the appropriate depth and framing them adequately with the known bibliography. I only have some minor suggestions for correction.

 

Majors:

Minors:

*L75:” It has been proved that C. oleifera roots can symbiosis with AMF” Please include the reference

*L75-74: “is?” Please rewrite the sentence; poor syntax

*L91: “. On” Typo

*L92: Indicate the origin of Funneliformis mosseae

*L137: “and 3?”

*L147:” solution was filled to capacity?”

*L161:” guaiacol solution” Please defined

*L168: “of it to a” rewrite poor syntax

*L169: “quartz cup.” Do you mean quartz cuvette?

*L203: “(Figure 1.A-C).” change to (Figure 1.B-D).

*In Fig 1, the scale bar is not clearly visible.

*L226:” treatments 60 days after treatment” Please rewrite the sentence; poor syntax

*L233-L237 and L249-L253 and L263-267: Eliminate the word Note and Include the text within the legend of Fig 3, Fig  4 and Fig 5 respectively.

L355: Indicate the organism in which paper 39 was conducted.

* In Fig 3A-C, the Y-axis label is incorrect; express the boron concentration correctly, Kg of which dry weight? Also Fig. 4.

*L333:” plant resistance” Resistance to what? Please specify.

*L346-L250: The function of CAT and SOD has been indicated. Please provide an explanation of POD.

 

Author Response

Thank you very much for your revision suggestions, which is very important to improve the quality of the paper. We have made some modifications according to your suggestion and reworked the chart. 

Author Response File: Author Response.docx