Review Reports - Causes and Conditions for Reduced Cultivation and Consumption of Underutilized Crops: Is There a Solution?

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

This review is interesting. The authors have done review with title “Causes and conditions for altered or eliminated cultivation and consumption of beneficial crops. Is there a solution?”. Improvements like sentence structure and short sentences would make the manuscript more effective. The article dataset certainly contains constructive information for the scientific community.

The following points may be addressed by the Authors to enhance the worth of the paper. After the addition of these suggestions, I will recommend for further process. I will never recommend to publish this review in the current write-up.

Abstract

The abstract part looks good, properly describing the review. Author needs to give some conclusion of review in last lines of abstract.

Authors also needs to mention, which are the neglected or orphan crops in the abstract.

Introduction

The write up of the introduction part is well. Author needs to provide data about problems that were limiting the production of orphan crops in past and how much yields were reduced due to these factors with proper supporting studies. Also mention that in future, how much yields are expected as compared to past.

Are the government policies are now supporting the cultivation of orphan crops???????

Is there high yielding varieties are available now for these underutilized crops re-introduction into the cropping system…..? If available, then also mention their names….!

Author have only enlisted the potential solutions for their re-introduction…Please also explain about these solutions that how much time they will take to complete, their processes and findings.

Author has only enlisted the summary of major findings. He should gave the detail of problems that were causing yield reduction in underutilized crops in past. And also mention, if there is any solution available to these past problems for the successful production of the orphan crops in future?????

Specific Comments

Line 46-49- Author should cite proper reference.

Line-61-62- Is this sentence correct???? Kindly review this “There are about 30.000 edible plant species discovered worldwide, of which more 61 than 7.000 are cultivated for food”.

Line-108-111- No reference cited

Author Response

Thank you. Some of the sentences are shortened or divided as suggested! Thanks!

Abstract

The abstract part looks good, properly describing the review. Author needs to give some conclusion of review in last lines of abstract.

A concluding sentence was added to the abstract, lines 28-32. Thank you.

Authors also needs to mention, which are the neglected or orphan crops in the abstract.

This information was added, in lines 24-26. Thank you.

Introduction

Problems limiting the cultivation and consumption of underutilized crops are presented in section 2 of the manuscript. The yield-related factors are explained for individual crops but also additionally described and supported by suitable studies, lines 103-113.

The future efforts and examples for increased yields that could be expected in the future with the appropriate application of suggested strategies are discussed within the new section 5, lines 461-494.

Are the government policies are now supporting the cultivation of orphan crops???????

The influence of government policies and strategies is briefly described, please see the text within lines 478-494. Thank you.

Is there high yielding varieties are available now for these underutilized crops re-introduction into the cropping system…..? If available, then also mention their names….!

Thank you for this comment. Certain examples of improved yields on underutilized crops are presented, in lines 459-475.

Author have only enlisted the potential solutions for their re-introduction…Please also explain about these solutions that how much time they will take to complete, their processes and findings.

A new section was added, section 5, lines 459-475, and a new paragraph is included at the end of section 6, lines 546-558.

To address this question adequately a new section and a paragraph were included. Potential solutions, recommendations, and government policies that should encourage the reintroduction of underutilized crops into the food system are discussed. Factors related to reduced cultivation and production of NUS are covered in section 2 of the Manuscript (Causes and conditions for reduced cultivation of certain plants). Potential solutions and recommendations for the successful reintroduction of underutilized crops are presented in sections 5 and 6. Thank you.

Specific Comments

Line 46-49- Author should cite proper reference.

An appropriate citation is added, thanks!

Line-61-62- Is this sentence correct???? Kindly review this “There are about 30.000 edible plant species discovered worldwide, of which more 61 than 7.000 are cultivated for food”.

Please see lines 70 and 71, relevant citations are included. Thank you.

Line-108-111- No reference cited

References are added to additionally support the statement, lines 131 and 135, thank you.

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments are within the manuscript.

1. the title could be changed to replaces altered and eliminated with reduced. There is not evidence provided that any neglect3d crops have been eliminated from cultivation and consumption, rather that both have reduced.

2. What was the basis for selection of the neglected and under utilized crops to be included as case studies?

3. How were the publications reviewed selected? it is not clear how extensive the literature review was an no indication is given of how the publications were selected. In many instances, only one publication is cited for statements that require a lot more.

4. there are instances of repetitions in several sections. check the manuscript for details.

5. there is need for clarify on the use of terms... is it neglected and under utilized crops, orphan crops etc? sometimes the term ' beneficial crops' is used. This is potentially misleading as not all beneficial crops are neglected and under utilized. The authors need to state which terms they adopted for their manuscript and use it consistently.

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Comments are within the manuscript.

All comments and suggestions have been accepted and requested changes have been made. Please check the revised version of the Manuscript for details. Thank you!

1.the title could be changed to replaces altered and eliminated with reduced. There is not evidence provided that any neglect3d crops have been eliminated from cultivation and consumption, rather that both have reduced.

Thank you for this comment. We agree with this statement, and the word ‘eliminated’ has been replaced with the term ‘reduced’, or ‘decreased’ as appropriate.

What was the basis for selection of the neglected and under utilized crops to be included as case studies?

Selected crops, and plants of interest, represent various types of crops - cereals, grain legumes, fruits, vegetables, and wild crops. For example, buckwheat was taken as an example of a cereal with reduced cultivation practices in certain countries, but the general results for the reduced production of this plant could be applied to all other plants in the cereal category (proso millet, quinoa, sorghum, etc). Lines 147-153. Thank you!

How were the publications reviewed selected? it is not clear how extensive the literature review was an no indication is given of how the publications were selected. In many instances, only one publication is cited for statements that require a lot more.

The search protocol was not included as this is a narrative rather than a systematic review paper. However, additional references have been added to support certain statements. Most recent references have been included and the discussion section has been expanded. Thank you.

there are instances of repetitions in several sections. check the manuscript for details.

Thanks, we deleted repetitive parts, and the sections were rewritten, lines 166-186 and lines 222-244.

there is need for clarify on the use of terms... is it neglected and under utilized crops, orphan crops etc? sometimes the term ' beneficial crops' is used. This is potentially misleading as not all beneficial crops are neglected and under utilized. The authors need to state which terms they adopted for their manuscript and use it consistently.

Thank you for pointing this out. Terms ‘underutilized’, ‘neglected’, and ‘orphan’ have been used interchangeably, as synonyms, to avoid repeating the same word many times throughout the manuscript.
This is further explained by the sentence in lines 77-84. As stated, ‘underutilized crops (also termed neglected, promising, orphan, minor, or little-used) are usually semi-domesticated, wild species tailored to local environments’.

However, the term ‘beneficial crop’ has been deleted to avoid potential misunderstanding. Although many underutilized crops have certain beneficial effects on human health it is probably incorrect to classify all underutilized crops as exclusively beneficial. Thank you for pointing this out. The term ‘beneficial’ in the title has been replaced with ‘underutilized’.

Reviewer 3 Report

It is a well written article, but I would prefer more recent references for the review. In fact, there are a few relevant references that are missing and they should be added, in order to regard this article as a review one.

The conclusions are slightly poor. I'd recommend at least one more paragraph.

Correct also a few minor spelling errors.

Author Response

Thank you.
We have updated our manuscript with more recent references, please check the revised reference list. There is a significant number of papers cited published in the last three years.

The conclusions are slightly poor. I'd recommend at least one more paragraph.

The conclusion section is modified, and additional information is provided as suggested, lines 560-579. Thanks!

Correct also a few minor spelling errors.

The paper was carefully reviewed, and all spelling and grammatical errors are corrected. Thank you.

Round 2

Reviewer 2 Report

I am satisfied with how my earlier comments have been addressed