Speed Breeding Scheme of Hot Pepper through Light Environment Modification
, Rui He 1, Xinyang He 1, Jiehui Tan 1, Yongkang Chen 1, Yamin Li 1, Rongyun Liu 2, Yanwu Huang 2,* and Houcheng Liu 1,*
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The authors used a speed breeding approach by using suitable environmental conditions. They could reduce developing time to produce generations. Generally, this work is so practical and necessary in breeding procedures. However, the manuscript has some concerns before acceptance of the article for publication. The concerns were presented as comments in the reviewed MS. Please find the attached file.
Comments for author File: 
Comments.pdf
Author Response
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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
Manuscript presents the application of speed breeding by optimizing the growth conditions that can result in earlier flowering time and 35 to 70 days earlier completion of life cycle of two hot peppers (Capsicum sp.) lines Xiangyan55 and Xiangla712. Speed breeding is an important tool to reduce the time required to develop new cultivars and thus the research presented is this manuscript is important and has potential to be published in Sustainability. However, there is a great need for moderate to high English grammar and sentence structure corrections and there are few data concerns to be addressed first before the results and conclusions are fully acceptable.
1. Authors state that they evaluated two lines Xiangyan55 and Xiangla712 in different photoperiod and lighting conditions. Authors concluded that 12-hour photoperiod can enhance the plant growth and maturity with a decent germination viability but What is the control experiment in these? that resembles the natural photoperiod and light intensity?
2. Why only two lines were evaluated for this project and why not more?
3. Why there are no results for 12h photoperiod in figure 2?
4. Before concluding, there is a need for a paragraph in results section to compare and present why 12 h photoperiod was the best and therefore chosen over other photoperiods.
Author Response
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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
Too long generations have limited the conventional breeding. The present study focusing on the speed breeding has provided a modification of light environment could accelerate hot pepper growth and development, reduce breeding cycles, up to four generations per year. If this method could be read and used by more breeders, it could be a meaningful thing. Thus, I reviewed this study more quickly. The belowing question should be answered before publication.
1. why select these two varieties ‘Xiangyan 55’ and ‘Xiangla 712’? what is difference between them?
2. light intensity was set from 240 to 420, and we could find that 420 achieved the earliest in Xiangla712, while in Xiangyan55, 300 to 360 got the earliest. In Xiangla712, the study had not achieved the inflection point, whether the higher light intensity than 420 could achieve earlier red ripened stage? And do these results indicate that the conclusion of 420 is not universal ?
3. authors should revise the whole manuscript under journal standard.
Author Response
Please see the attachment
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
Most of the concerns have improved. A few minor items remain.
Comments for author File: Comments.pdf
Author Response
Thank you so much for your valuable and helpful suggestions. We have revised it.
