Comparison of Nutrient Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Hydroponically Grown Commercial and Traditional Greek Tomato Cultivars
, Dimitrios Fanourakis 3, George Tsaniklidis 4, Costas Delis 2,* and Ioakim K. Spiliopoulos 1,*Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The work entitled "Superior fruit antioxidant and lycopene profiles in five Greek tomato landraces " could be interesting but needs deep revision of the test.
The title is not explanatory of the work. For example, the title refers to 5 landraces but a commercial F1 hybrid was also considered. In addition, it is better to refer to nutritional values and content in antioxidants
The introduction must be revised both as English language and in the content. There are also repetitions for example in lines 33-35 and 51-54.
The English language must be thoroughly reviewed throughout the work
Line 37: remove elevated
Line 38: remove level
Line 46: remove capital letter U to uniform
Line 58 change in tomato consists in a major source
Table 1: Uniform uppercase and lowercase letters
Line 113: full strength? Explain
Line 116: remove and
Line 132: change in sample were extracted with 5 mL
Line 134: Bradford reagent (1:4 v/v) in distilled water?
Line 144: change in 5 ml of water at room
Lines 143, 145, 160, 191, 202, 206: please indicate the speed of centrifugation. Moreover, the model of the centrifuge should also be indicated
Lines 147-151: insert a citation
Lines 156 and 183: 2.000 g 1.000 g ?
Line 172: change in according to Silva et al. [25] with some modifications
Line 179: change in Lycopene was measured according to Rao et al. [26] with some modifications
Line 181 change in The extraction was performed in the dark.
Line 212: change in estimated by DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) assay and FRAP (ferric reduction activity potential) assay
Line 243 P<0.05
Lines 245-247: remove
Line 249: The macronutrients composition of the six tomato varieties is
Line 251: change in These results can probably to be ascribe to unimpeded
Line 261: change in was comparable to that reported for
Line 279: Proteins were determined by Coomassie Brilliant Blue G-250 assay [31]. Must be reported in Materials and Methods
Lines 286-287: The energetic values of the tomatoes were estimated by multiplying the protein, carbohydrates and fat content by 4.00, 3.75 and 9.00 respectively (AOAC, 1984). Must be reported in Materials and Methods
Lines 295-296: change in ascorbic acid, lycopene, total phenols and flavonoids content are presented in Table 3.
Lines 335-337 and 344 and 346 unclear sentences
Line 316: change ingestion in consumption
Line 455: change contends in contents
Line 447: ripe and breaker
Lines 460-461: remove In order to commercialize local cultivars extensive studies on agricultural practices are required.
Throughout the work often the numerical values are attached to the units of measurement to standardize them for example: lines: 130, 158, 160,182, 201
Throughout the text (for example in the lines: 348,371, 381) standardize the citations, i.e. first name followed by et al.
The results do not have a proper discussion. Deepen the discussion
Author Response
1st Reviewer
The work entitled "Superior fruit antioxidant and lycopene profiles in five Greek tomato landraces " could be interesting but needs deep revision of the test.
The title is not explanatory of the work. For example, the title refers to 5 landraces but a commercial F1 hybrid was also considered. In addition, it is better to refer to nutritional values and content in antioxidants
Response: The Title has changed according to reviewers’ suggestion.
The introduction must be revised both as English language and in the content. There are also repetitions for example in lines 33-35 and 51-54.
Response: The repetitions have been excluded and the introduction sections have been improved.
The English language must be thoroughly reviewed throughout the work
Response: The English language improved throughout the text (see the revised version).
Line 37: remove elevated
Response: The text has been changed accordingly
Line 38: remove level
Response: The text has been changed accordingly
Line 46: remove capital letter U to uniform
Response: The text has been changed accordingly
Line 58 change in tomato consists in a major source
Response: The text has been changed accordingly
Table 1: Uniform uppercase and lowercase letters
Response: The text has been changed accordingly
Line 113: full strength? Explain ok
Response: The appropriate explanation for the solution has been added to the text
Line 116: remove and
Response: The text has been changed accordingly
Line 132: change in sample were extracted with 5 mL
Response: The text has been changed accordingly
Line 134: Bradford reagent (1:4 v/v) in distilled water?
Response: the appropriate clarification has been added to the text
Line 144: change in 5 ml of water at room
Response: The text has been changed accordingly
Lines 143, 145, 160, 191, 202, 206: please indicate the speed of centrifugation. Moreover, the model of the centrifuge should also be indicated
Response: The model of the centrifuge and the centrifugation speed and time have been added to the text.
Lines 147-151: insert a citation T
Response: Here is citation [23] in section 2.3.3.1. Preparation of extract
Lines 156 and 183: 2.000 g 1.000 g ?
Response: 2.000 or 1.000 g were extracted depended on the method. It is correctly described in the text
Line 172: change in according to Silva et al. [25] with some modifications
Response: The text has been changed accordingly
Line 179: change in Lycopene was measured according to Rao et al. [26] with some modifications
Response: The text has been changed accordingly
Line 181 change in The extraction was performed in the dark.
Response: The text has been changed accordingly
Line 212: change in estimated by DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) assay and FRAP (ferric reduction activity potential) assay
Response: The text has been changed accordingly
Line 243 P<0.05
Response: The text has been changed accordingly
Lines 245-247: remove
Response: The lines removed from the text
Line 249: The macronutrients composition of the six tomato varieties is
Response: The text has been changed accordingly
Line 251: change in These results can probably to be ascribe to unimpeded
Response: The text has been changed accordingly
Line 261: change in was comparable to that reported for
Response: The text has been changed accordingly
Line 279: Proteins were determined by Coomassie Brilliant Blue G-250 assay [31]. Must be reported in Materials and Methods
Response: The method is reported at 2.3.2 paragraph
Lines 286-287: The energetic values of the tomatoes were estimated by multiplying the protein, carbohydrates and fat content by 4.00, 3.75 and 9.00 respectively (AOAC, 1984). Must be reported in Materials and Methods
Response: This is not an experimental method. Multiplying the protein, carbohydrates and fat content by 4.00, 3.75 and 9.00 results the energetic value.
Lines 295-296: change in ascorbic acid, lycopene, total phenols and flavonoids content are presented in Table 3.
Response: The text has been changed accordingly
Lines 335-337 and 344 and 346 unclear sentences
Response: The sentence improved according to reviewer’s suggestions
Line 316: change ingestion in consumption
Response: The text has been changed accordingly
Line 455: change contends in contents
Response: The text has been changed accordingly
Line 447: ripe and breaker
Response: The text has been changed accordingly
Lines 460-461: remove In order to commercialize local cultivars extensive studies on agricultural practices are required.
Response: The text has been changed accordingly
Throughout the work often the numerical values are attached to the units of measurement to standardize them for example: lines: 130, 158, 160,182, 201
Response: The text has been changed accordingly
Throughout the text (for example in the lines: 348,371, 381) standardize the citations, i.e. first name followed by et al.
Response: The citations has been changed accordingly
The results do not have a proper discussion. Deepen the discussion
Response: The discussion sections improved
Author Response File: 
Author Response.docx
Reviewer 2 Report
In this paper, the authors evaluated the fruit nutritional composition and antioxidant activity of five tomato germplasm varieties, alongside to a commercial F1 hybrid, assessed fat, protein, carbohydrate, total phenol, total flavonoid, lycopene and ascorbic acid contents at two fruit maturity stages, and a comparison is given between varieties. However, there were several key questions should be addressed in a detailed response and revised manuscript. This includes the following points:
Major points:
1. As we all know, some large fruit tomatoes are used for cooking. Are the large fruit tomatoes selected here usually used for fresh eating or cooked eating in Greece? If you eat it after cooking, these antioxidants change after cooking. Have you considered the implications of this research for actual eating patterns? If they were used for fresh eating, why do you choose them? Like because they have a big market share? Can you give some reasons?
2. Tabl e4: The variance of “45.65±11.41” and”47.81±10.91”is a bit large, generally 1/10 of the measured value is appropriate, please check.
3. Antioxidant activity is only a part of consumers' concerns, and just comparing this point cannot convince me very convincingly why consumers prefer local varieties, and what is the purpose of this study?
4. The conclusions too simple, you measure a lot of things and you just say that's part of the reason why consumers prefer local varieties, right? A section of discussion can be added to explain in more detail the correlation between the index measured in the article and consumer preference.
Author Response
2nd Reviewer
In this paper, the authors evaluated the fruit nutritional composition and antioxidant activity of five tomato germplasm varieties, alongside to a commercial F1 hybrid, assessed fat, protein, carbohydrate, total phenol, total flavonoid, lycopene and ascorbic acid contents at two fruit maturity stages, and a comparison is given between varieties. However, there were several key questions should be addressed in a detailed response and revised manuscript. This includes the following points:
Major points:
- As we all know, some large fruit tomatoes are used for cooking. Are the large fruit tomatoes selected here usually used for fresh eating or cooked eating in Greece? If you eat it after cooking, these antioxidants change after cooking. Have you considered the implications of this research for actual eating patterns? If they were used for fresh eating, why do you choose them? Like because they have a big market share? Can you give some reasons?
Response: We consider the nutritional value of fresh tomatoes. In Greece all varieties of tomatoes are widely consumed in fresh salads throughout the year.
- Tabl e4: The variance of “45.65±11.41” and”47.81±10.91”is a bit large, generally 1/10 of the measured value is appropriate, please check.
Response: These variances are a bit large but they corrected.
- Antioxidant activity is only a part of consumers' concerns, and just comparing this point cannot convince me very convincingly why consumers prefer local varieties, and what is the purpose of this study?
Response: Consumers prefer local tomato varieties because they consider them testier and because they grow these varieties in their home gardens. This study showed that local tomato varieties can be efficiently cultivated in greenhouse and in certain case they were superior source of antioxidant and lycopene than commercial hybrid.
- The conclusions too simple, you measure a lot of things and you just say that's part of the reason why consumers prefer local varieties, right? A section of discussion can be added to explain in more detail the correlation between the index measured in the article and consumer preference.
Response: Consumers prefer local tomato varieties because they consider them testier. The study reveals that they have also high nutritional value. The conclusions were changed to support this statement.
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Reviewer 3 Report
The examination of new tomato varieties, breeding lines and parental lines (germplasm) is very important not only from the point of view of productivity, resistance, but also the health-protecting bioactive components found in them.
The authors measured the most important antioxidant components of tomatoes (Vitamin C, lycopene), the antioxidant capacity (FRAP, DPPH assay) and the total polyphenol content of the 6 tested varieties. Although the analytical methods used are not the most modern, they are suitable for comparing varieties.
The examined tomatoes were developed hydroponically in greenhouses, so the effect of environmental factors is less pronounced, but it is worth repeating the measurements in several years.
366-371. row - What does the relatively higher or lower TPC value mean in the literature? Is it roughly the same as the measured values?
371. row- For the references [35] and [42], [46] it is sufficient to write that Kaur et al. This also applies to further references.
404, 447 rows -"και" replace to "and"
I recommend that the results of the correlation analysis be included in the manuscript in a table, this supports the findings between FRAP, DPPH and lycopene content.
Author Response
3rd Reviewer
The examination of new tomato varieties, breeding lines and parental lines (germplasm) is very important not only from the point of view of productivity, resistance, but also the health-protecting bioactive components found in them.
The authors measured the most important antioxidant components of tomatoes (Vitamin C, lycopene), the antioxidant capacity (FRAP, DPPH assay) and the total polyphenol content of the 6 tested varieties. Although the analytical methods used are not the most modern, they are suitable for comparing varieties.
The examined tomatoes were developed hydroponically in greenhouses, so the effect of environmental factors is less pronounced, but it is worth repeating the measurements in several years.
366-371. row - What does the relatively higher or lower TPC value mean in the literature? Is it roughly the same as the measured values?
Response: TPC (total phenolic compound) values are the experimental values of total phenols (sse table 3)
- row- For the references [35] and [42], [46] it is sufficient to write that Kaur et al. This also applies to further references.
Response: The text has been changed accordingly
404, 447 rows -"και" replace to "and"
Response: The text has been changed accordingly
I recommend that the results of the correlation analysis be included in the manuscript in a table, this supports the findings between FRAP, DPPH and lycopene content.
Response: This analysis contains only two correlations thus it is not suitable for Table presentation
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
