Quantitative Trait Loci for Resistance to Potato Dry Rot Caused by Fusarium sambucinum

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The article entitled "Quantitative trait loci for resistance to potato dry rot caused by Fusarium sambucinum" is a study to identify major QTLs for resistance to dry rot in two diploid populations. The study has great relevance to develop dry rot resistant cultivars and reduce losses in storage. There are few points which authors should address for more clarity to the readers. 

1. When these diploid populations were developed and what was the purpose to develop them. Were they specifically developed for mapping against dry rot? Please provide the details of these two populations.
2. The genotyping details are missing in the materials and methods. How many markers were used, how the genotyping was done? There is no information in materials and methods. 

Reviewer 2 Report

The authors of this manuscript report a stable QTL for dry rot resistance and a population specific QTL in potato. The authors employ well proven methodologies and present the results in a convincing manner. This manuscript may be considered for publication in Agronomy. However, I would urge the authors to outline the way forward for utilizing these results in applied plant breeding programs. Considering the minor effect of QTLs detected here, reader gets an impression that these QTLs are of academic interest only. In this context it would be appreciable if authors provide a realistic view of the significance of this study in applied plant breeding programs. This in no ways shall affect the consideration of this MS for publication.

Reviewer 3 Report

The data and experiment are full and solid. I suggest it's better to check the QTL effect in natural population or with more cultivars and mine the major genes with big  effect in next work. 

Reviewer 4 Report

This study addresses quantitative trait loci for resistance to dry rot of potato caused by Fusarium sambucinum. It is an important topic for basic and practical research. The data provided here will be helpful for breeding of potato resistant to dry rot in the future.

However, there are few points to be solved or improved.

1. Ln 110, what kinds of PCR markers were used in this study? Please provide clear information about how to to genotyping to be followed. For instance, how did you assure the marker origin (Table 3)?
2. Regarding construction of genetic maps, please give a brief methods to describe the construction. (Ln 111-112)
3. Although QTL responsible for dry rot resistance in potato was identified, no verification was done in different potato cultivars/varieties showing susceptibility/resistance to dry rot. It is important to figure out what QTL alone or together play important roles in dry rot resistance.