Dynamics of Bacterial Community Structure in the Rhizosphere and Root Nodule of Soybean: Impacts of Growth Stages and Varieties

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Bacterial communities in rhizosphere and root nodules have significant contributions to the growth and yielding of soybean. Authors analyzed the physiological properties and dynamics of bacterial community structure in rhizosphere and root nodules at different growth stages using BioLog EcoPlate and high-throughput sequencing technology. The researchers showed that bacterial community in the rhizosphere and root nodules changed according to both the variety and growth stages of soybean.

In general terms the topic of the reviewed article is interesting. The  manuscript was prepared with care and its content contains a lot of valuable information. The work does not raise any scientific or substantive reservations.

The manuscript is well structured, the methodology is explicitly presented and the results reported are interesting. The statistical calculation methods used in the research make the obtained results reliable and provide a basis for drawing correct conclusions.

All tables and figure are clear, understandable and necessary. The references are sufficient and necessary.

The paper needs some editorial corrections.

Some comments and recommendations have been included in the text.

I recommend the publication of this manuscript in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences after minor corrections.

Author Response

General comments: Bacterial communities in rhizosphere and root nodules have significant contributions to the growth and yielding of soybean. Authors analyzed the physiological properties and dynamics of bacterial community structure in rhizosphere and root nodules at different growth stages using BioLog EcoPlate and high-throughput sequencing technology. The researchers showed that bacterial community in the rhizosphere and root nodules changed according to both the variety and growth stages of soybean.
In general terms the topic of the reviewed article is interesting. The manuscript was prepared with care and its content contains a lot of valuable information. The work does not raise any scientific or substantive reservations.
The manuscript is well structured, the methodology is explicitly presented and the results reported are interesting. The statistical calculation methods used in the research make the obtained results reliable and provide a basis for drawing correct conclusions.
All tables and figure are clear, understandable and necessary. The references are sufficient and necessary.
The paper needs some editorial corrections.
Some comments and recommendations have been included in the text.
I recommend the publication of this manuscript in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences after minor corrections.
Response: We have modified all the editorial corrections suggested by the reviewer and were track changed in the manuscript. Kindly refer the manuscript file with track changes.

Point 1: Modify the Glycine max L. to Glycine max (L.) Merr.
Response 1: Modified. Please refer Line. 20, 39, 106.

Point 2: Figure 6. Title font should be changed.
Response 2: Modified. Please refer Figure 6. Line. 41 

Point 3: Discussion. Line 148, 149, 158, 172, and 224. Italicize phylum names. Add sp. in necessary places.
Response 3: Italicized the phylum names and modified. Please refer Line. 149, 150, 159, 160, 173, 185, 225

Point 4: References need to be typeset in several places.
Response 4: References were edited in several places as suggested by reviewer. Please refer Line. 292, 295, 308, 321, 324, 342, 362, 368, 382, 396, 406, 415, 431, 436-437, 443, 454, 459.

Reviewer 2 Report

Hi,

This manuscript is very interesting. Please see the corrections for the improvements.

Line 43: Delete "s" after results.

Line 44: Delete "the" before global.

Line 72: Delete "," after since

Line 74: Add "-" between high resolution.

Line 87: Delete "," after well known.

Line 94: Add "," before and.

Line 116: Add "the" before rhizosphere.

Line 27: Delete "e' and add "a" in a supernatant.

Line 77: Delete "s" after contain.

Figure 2: The x-axis of figure 2 needs to be changed. Add treatments list in an x-axis, not the numerical numbers.

Figure 7: It needs to improve with a description.

Thanks,

Author Response

Point 1: Line 43: Delete "s" after results.
Response 1: Deleted. Please refer Line 43.

Point 2: Line 44: Delete "the" before global.
Response 2: Deleted. Please refer Line 44.

Point 3: Line 72: Delete "," after since
Response 3: Deleted. Please refer Line 72.

Point 4: Line 74: Add "-" between high resolution.
Response 4: Added. Please refer Line 74.

Point 5: Line 87: Delete "," after well known.
Response 5: Deleted. Please refer Line 87.

Point 6: Line 94: Add "," before and.
Response 6: Added. Please refer Line 93.

Point 7: Line 116: Add "the" before rhizosphere.
Response 7: Added. Please refer Line 116.

Point 8: Line 27: Delete "e' and add "a" in a supernatant.
Response 8: Deleted. Please refer Line 27.

Point 9: Line 77: Delete "s" after contain.
Response 9: Deleted. Please refer Line 78.

Point 10: Figure 2: The x-axis of figure 2 needs to be changed. Add treatments list in an x-axis, not the numerical numbers.
Response 10: Complied. The numerical numbers are reflecting the time period (Days). We have included the axis title in the figure. Kindly refer Figure 2.

Point 11: Figure 7: It needs to improve with a description.
Response 11: Complied. We have improved the description. Kindly refer Figure 7.