Hydroponic Cultivation of Laranja Cherry Tomatoes under Salt Stress and Foliar Application of Hydrogen Peroxide

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Title: Production and Post-Harvest Quality of Hydroponic Cherry 2 Tomato under Salt Stress and Foliar Application of Hydrogen 3 Peroxide

Objective to evaluate the effect of foliar application of H2O2 in mitigating the effects of salt stress on cherry tomatoes cultivated in a Nutrient Film Technique hydroponic system is systematically performed.

Abstract: Overall, this abstract is very good and comprehensive presentation of overall study.

Introduction: Completely covers the information available on impact of salinity and secondary salinization and possible use of brackish water for agriculture production.

Line 58, brackish water on cherry tomato production,

Materials and Methods: Thoroughly explained section.

Line 208, total fruit production per plant

Line 214, experiment and then dried at ambient temperature to remove the excess water on the surface of the fruits.

Line 225-227, These determinations were performed by following the methodology explained elsewhere [32]. Titratable acidity, total sugars, moisture, ash, and fiber were also determined by following the methodology with standards [32] and expressed as a percentage.

Results: Well-presented and no repetition of data presented in table and figures in the text.  

Discussion: Highly focused discussion. This section discusses thoroughly results obtained in this study with available references.  

Suggestion: Why author did not include water control as one of the treatments along with 0µM H2O2. Readers could have understood the effect of EC 2.1 dS m-1, minimum salinity concentration used, compared to water control.

Author Response

Campina Grande, PB

Aug. 18, 2023

Reference: Agriculture - 2562646 - Response to Review Report 1

Dear Editor

The authors are grateful to you and the unanimous Reviewers for the positive and constructive comments and suggestions on our manuscript entitled “Production and Post-Harvest Quality of Hydroponic Cherry Tomato under Salt Stress and Foliar Application of Hydrogen Peroxide”. The authors would like to inform you that a thorough revision of the manuscript was made, incorporating the suggestions and adopting the text according to the comments. Attached is the revised version of the manuscript. All changes in the text are highlighted in red color.

The authors remain at your disposal for any further information and explanation.

The responses/explanations to the issues raised by the Reviewer 1/Editor are presented below:

 

REVIEWER 1

 

1. Abstract: Overall, this abstract is very good and comprehensive presentation of overall study.

Response: We are happy to have been able to meet the reviewer's expectations regarding the preparation of the abstract.

 

2. Introduction: Completely covers the information available on impact of salinity and secondary salinization and possible use of brackish water for agriculture production.

Response: We are happy to have been able to meet the reviewer's expectations regarding the preparation of the introduction.

 

3. Line 58, brackish water on cherry tomato production.

Response: Same sentence as presented in the manuscript.

 

4. Materials and Methods: Thoroughly explained section.

Response: We are happy to have been able to meet the reviewer's expectations regarding the preparation of the Material and Methods.

 

5. Line 208, total fruit production per plant.

Response: The text was reformulated as suggested by the reviewer, as can be seen in line 207 of the revised version of the manuscript.

 

6. Line 214, experiment and then dried at ambient temperature to remove the excess water on the surface of the fruits.

Response: The information was added in the revised version of the manuscript, as can be seen between lines 213 and 214.

 

7. Line 225-227, These determinations were performed by following the methodology explained elsewhere [32]. Titratable acidity, total sugars, moisture, ash, and fiber were also determined by following the methodology with standards [32] and expressed as a percentage.

Response: The excerpt was reformulated in the revised version of the manuscript.

 

8. Results: Well-presented and no repetition of data presented in table and figures in the text.

Response: We are happy to have met the reviewer's expectations.

 

9. Discussion: Highly focused discussion. This section discusses thoroughly results obtained in this study with available references.

Response: We are happy to have met the reviewer's expectations.

 

10. Suggestion: Why author did not include water control as one of the treatments along with 0µM H₂O₂. Readers could have understood the effect of EC 2.1 dS m^-1, minimum salinity concentration used, compared to water control.

Response: We inform that this treatment (0µM H₂O₂) is included in the study and explained in Abstract and Materials and Methods.

 

Yours sincerely,

Geovani Soares de Lima

Corresponding author

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

The work submitted for review explores the problem of salinity and its prevention, which is very important for agriculture. The tomato can be considered a model plant for this type of research due to its morphology and physiology and ease of cultivation. I therefore believe that this type of research is most welcome.
The experiment was planned correctly and the scope of the research could be extended to include morphology and/or biochemistry. The analysis of the results was sufficient.
In my opinion, the work is ready for publication in a scientific journal.

Author Response

Campina Grande, PB

Aug. 18, 2023

Reference: Agriculture - 2562646 - Response to Review Report 2

Dear Editor

The authors are grateful to you and the unanimous Reviewers for the positive and constructive comments and suggestions on our manuscript entitled “Production and Post-Harvest Quality of Hydroponic Cherry Tomato under Salt Stress and Foliar Application of Hydrogen Peroxide”. The authors would like to inform you that a thorough revision of the manuscript was made, incorporating the suggestions and adopting the text according to the comments. Attached is the revised version of the manuscript. All changes in the text are highlighted in red color.

The authors remain at your disposal for any further information and explanation.

The responses/explanations to the issues raised by the Reviewer 2/Editor are presented below:

 

REVIEWER 2

 

The work submitted for review explores the problem of salinity and its prevention, which is very important for agriculture. The tomato can be considered a model plant for this type of research due to its morphology and physiology and ease of cultivation. I therefore believe that this type of research is most welcome.

The experiment was planned correctly and the scope of the research could be extended to include morphology and/or biochemistry. The analysis of the results was sufficient.

In my opinion, the work is ready for publication in a scientific journal.

 

Response:  We thank the reviewer for his words regarding our manuscript and we are happy to have met the expectations. We hope immensely that our article contributes to the use of brackish waters in agriculture, especially in semi-arid regions. Thanks for the suggestion to include morphology and or biochemistry aspects, in the future studies authors will incorporate.

 

Yours sincerely,

Geovani Soares de Lima

Corresponding author

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 3 Report

Dear

Associate Editor

Agriculture

Please find enclosed my revision of the manuscript ID agriculture-2562646

Manuscript Title:

Production and Post-Harvest Quality of Hydroponic Cherry Tomato under Salt Stress and Foliar Application of Hydrogen Peroxide

The paper suffers some drawbacks that may require major revision. I highly encourage the authors to carefully review point by point to clarify some issues and eventually improve the manuscript.

There are some problems with this manuscript

1.    The quality of written English must be revised. Many statements do not make any sense at all.

2.    Please rewrite the abstract and indicate the most outcomes of your research and indicate the conclusion and recommendation of your research

3.    Please did not start any sentence with an abbreviation. Authors should abbreviate at first mention and follow this abbreviation in the entire manuscript.

4.    Please be accurate in using references, please check for example ref 1, 2, 3

5.    Please indicate in more details the experimental layout, like how many plants in each replicate, the size of samples…. Etc

6.    The reasons for selecting the levels of salinity and H2O2

7.    The statistical analysis is one way or two ways??

8.    Be accurate you say the concentration of 22 … 25 µM   but the concentration used 0, 12, 24, 36, 48 µM

9.    Discussion section is very long so please reduced it with a concentration on the mechanism of improving salinity tolerance and fruit quality by H2O2

10.                       In the conclusion section, the authors fail to highlight the importance of this study and what readers could learn from this study that is different from others. The conclusion also not summarized the hypothesis about the major mechanisms. Please make this summarizing, because, the main aim of any scientific manuscript, is not only to describe the effect but also to make suggestions about mechanisms. If we will know the mechanisms, we can improve or reinforce the influences. If we will have no information about the mechanism, we can make mistakes. Please rewrite with concentration indicating the most important finding or recommendation.

 Yours truly

Minor editing of English language required

Author Response

Campina Grande, PB

Aug. 18, 2023

Reference: Agriculture - 2562646 - Response to Review Report 3

Dear Editor

The authors are grateful to you and the unanimous Reviewers for the positive and constructive comments and suggestions on our manuscript entitled “Production and Post-Harvest Quality of Hydroponic Cherry Tomato under Salt Stress and Foliar Application of Hydrogen Peroxide”. The authors would like to inform you that a thorough revision of the manuscript was made, incorporating the suggestions and adopting the text according to the comments. Attached is the revised version of the manuscript. All changes in the text are highlighted in red color.

The authors remain at your disposal for any further information and explanation.

The responses/explanations to the issues raised by the Reviewer 3/Editor are presented below:

 

REVIEWER 3

 

The paper suffers some drawbacks that may require major revision. I highly encourage the authors to carefully review point by point to clarify some issues and eventually improve the manuscript.

There are some problems with this manuscript:

 

1. The quality of written English must be revised. Many statements do not make any sense at all.

Response:  A thorough revision of the manuscript was made correcting English.

 

2. Please rewrite the abstract and indicate the most outcomes of your research and indicate the conclusion and recommendation of your research.

Response:  The abstract was prepared taking into consideration the norms of the journal (the abstract should have a maximum of 200 words). The objective of the study was made clear, we briefly described the methods and/or treatments applied and then highlighted the main conclusions. Thus, it was not possible to add more information to the text.

 

3. Please did not start any sentence with an abbreviation. Authors should abbreviate at first mention and follow this abbreviation in the entire manuscript.

Response:  The manuscript has been thoroughly revised, now in the revised version of the manuscript no sentence starts with an abbreviation.

 

4. Please be accurate in using references, please check for example ref 1, 2, 3.

Response:  According to norms of Agriculture, references must be numbered in order of appearance in the text.  

 

5. Please indicate in more details the experimental layout, like how many plants in each replicate, the size of samples…. Etc.

Response:  As described between lines 131 and 136 of the revised version of the manuscript, the treatments consisted of four salinity levels of the nutrient solution - ECns (2.1, 2.8, 3.5, and 4.2 dS m^-1) and five concentrations of hydrogen peroxide - H₂O₂ (0, 12, 24, 36, and 48 μM), distributed in a completely randomized design in a split-plot scheme, with salinity levels of the nutrient solution considered the plots and H₂O₂ concentrations considered the subplots, with three replications and two plants per plot, totaling 120 experimental units.  

6. The reasons for selecting the levels of salinity and H₂O₂.

Response:   As described between lines 136 and 139 of the revised version of the manuscript, the levels of electrical conductivity of the nutrient solution were based on the study carried out by Silva et al. (2022) with hydroponic mini-watermelon (Citrullus lanatus L.) and the H₂O₂ concentrations were adapted from the study by Dantas et al. (2022) with zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L.). It is noteworthy that there are no studies evaluating the effect of foliar application of H₂O₂ in the hydroponic cultivation of laranja cherry tomatoes.

Silva, A.A.R. da; Sousa, P.F.N.; de Lima, G.S. de; Soares, L.A. dos A.; Gheyi, H.R.; Azevedo, C.A.V. Hydrogen peroxide reduces the effect of salt stress on growth and postharvest quality of hydroponic mini watermelon. Water Air Soil Pollut. 2022, 233, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-022-05669-8

Dantas, M. V.; Lima, G.S. de; Gheyi, H.R.; Pinheiro, F.W.A.; Silva, P.C.C.; Soares, L. A. dos A. Gas exchange and hydroponic production of zucchini under salt stress and H₂O₂ application. Rev. Caatinga. 2022, 35, 436-449. https://doi.org/10.1590/1983-21252022v35n219rc

 

7. The statistical analysis is one way or two ways??

Response: The statistical analysis is bidirectional, considering that two independent variables exist (electrical conductivity of the nutrient solution – ECns and hydrogen peroxide - H₂O₂).    

8. Be accurate you say the concentration of 22 … 25 µM but the concentration used 0, 12, 24, 36, 48 µM.

Response:    The mention of the concentrations of 22 and 25 µM of hydrogen peroxide was based on the regression equations of the response surface figures, as these are sources of quantitative variation, this type of analysis is suitable for better understanding of the results.

9. Discussion section is very long so please reduced it with a concentration on the mechanism of improving salinity tolerance and fruit quality by H₂O₂.

Response: The discussion of the resuls was based on the analyzed variables, as it is a univariate analysis, it is common for the concentration of hydrogen peroxide to be different between the variables. In general, the reduction of this section would have compromised the quality of the manuscript, for this reason, the reduction was not performed.   

10. In the conclusion section, the authors fail to highlight the importance of this study and what readers could learn from this study that is different from others. The conclusion also not summarized the hypothesis about the major mechanisms. Please make this summarizing, because, the main aim of any scientific manuscript, is not only to describe the effect but also to make suggestions about mechanisms. If we will know the mechanisms, we can improve or reinforce the influences. If we will have no information about the mechanism, we can make mistakes. Please rewrite with concentration indicating the most important finding or recommendation.

Response:  The conclusions were reformulated in the revised version of the manuscript, adapting the text according to the reviewers' suggestions.

Yours sincerely,

Geovani Soares de Lima

Corresponding author

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Round 2

Reviewer 3 Report

Dear Editor

Ms. Miguel Zhou

Agriculture

Please find enclosed my revision of the manuscript ID agriculture-2562646

Manuscript title:

Production and Post-Harvest Quality of Hydroponic Cherry Tomato under Salt Stress and Foliar  Application of Hydrogen Peroxide

The results seem to be interesting and may be accepted for publication in our journals with some minor and typos revisions as indicated in the attachment file as well as the authors must be

1-    Be accurate in line 27 and 133 you indicate to plants per plot!!!!!!! Which plot ??? additionally I expected per replicate. So please add a picture for experimental layout please

2-    Please use a suitable reference for example ref 1 is interested with the role of Salicylic on alleviating salt stress on tomato and not suitable for statically data so you must have used FAO Data. The same for ref 2 and 3 so please revise it.

3-    in some places, the author used unsuitable words

4-    the conclusion must be reduced as indicated in revised manuscript

 

Yours truly

 

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Minor editing of English language required

Author Response

Campina Grande, PB

Aug. 20, 2023

Reference: Agriculture - 2562646 - Response to Review Report 3

Dear Editor

The authors are grateful to you and the unanimous Reviewers for the positive and constructive comments and suggestions on our manuscript entitled “Production and Post-Harvest Quality of Hydroponic Cherry Tomato under Salt Stress and Foliar Application of Hydrogen Peroxide”. The authors would like to inform you that a thorough revision of the manuscript was made, incorporating the suggestions and adopting the text according to the comments. Attached is the revised version of the manuscript. All changes in the text are highlighted in red color.

The authors remain at your disposal for any further information and explanation.

The responses/explanations to the issues raised by the Reviewer 3/Editor are presented below:

 

REVIEWER 3

 

The results seem to be interesting and may be accepted for publication in our journals with some minor and typos revisions as indicated in the attachment file as well as the authors must be:

1. Be accurate in line 27 and 133 you indicate to plants per plot!!!!!!! Which plot ??? additionally I expected per replicate. So please add a picture for experimental layout please

Response: As suggested by the reviewer, the image was inserted in item 2.4 of the revised version of the manuscript.

2. Please use a suitable reference for example ref 1 is interested with the role of Salicylic on alleviating salt stress on tomato and not suitable for statically data so you must have used FAO Data. The same for ref 2 and 3 so please revise it.

Response:  Dear reviewer, references 1 to 3 highlight the economic and pharmaceutical importance of the culture. The production data inserted in the introduction were based on the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE).

IBGE – Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística, 2021. Available at: https://www.ibge.gov.br/explica/producao-agropecuaria/tomate/br> Access on: Jun 05 2023.

3. In some places, the author used unsuitable words

Response:  The words were reformulated in the revised version of the manuscript, as suggested.

4. The conclusion must be reduced as indicated in revised manuscript

Response:  The conclusions were reduced in the revised version of the manuscript, as suggested by the reviewer.

Yours sincerely,

Geovani Soares de Lima

Corresponding author

Author Response File: Author Response.docx