Exploration of Bambara Groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.), an Underutilized Crop, to Aid Global Food Security: Varietal Improvement, Genetic Diversity and Processing

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

I agree with the authors that under utilized crops need to be brought to the forefront to meet our global food needs. This manuscript is a nice summary of the work done to date on bambara nut and it's potential application as a global food crop. The manuscript in general should be edited for english style and clarity as well as general organization. For example, the authors discuss germplasm assets of Bambara nut without first explaining what bambara nut is and why the reader should care. Fig 1 is poor resolution, and is not adequately discussed in the text. I spent several minutes trying to understand what the various relationships were trying to convey and was unable to do so. There is a page of discussion about genetic diversity and structure of bambara nut. Figures illustrating this would be helpful. The same is true for morphological characteristics of bambara nut. Figure 2 photos are poor resolution. The title is misleading as only a small part of the paper is about the genetic diversity. Perhaps a better title would be "Exploration of bambara nut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc, an underutilized crop, to aid global food security: varietal improvement, genetic diversity and processing" or something along those lines.    

Author Response

Reviewer 1

Reviewer comment	Authors response	Page
ü  The manuscript in general should be edited for English style and clarity as well as general organization. ü  For example, the authors discuss germplasm assets of Bambara nut without first explaining what Bambara nut is and why the reader should care.	ü  Rephrased: The entire manuscript have been edited for English style and clarity as well as punctuations. Also the entire manuscript have been re-organized for clear and better flow of the information ü  Corrected: A clear description, comprising of origin, domestication and distribution of Bambara groundnut was given including potentials it holds and why readers should be interested	Line all             Line 57-90
ü  Fig 1 is poor resolution, and is not adequately discussed in the text. I spent several minutes trying to understand what the various relationships were trying to convey and was unable to do so.	Corrected: As a result of re-organization of the manuscript for easy and better flow we have consider deleting Fig. 1 due to lack of clear information	Previously Line 95-97
ü  There is a page of discussion about genetic diversity and structure of Bambara nut. Figures illustrating this would be helpful. The same is true for morphological characteristics of Bambara nut.	Corrected: Figures illustrating the genetic diversity on Bambara groundnut were included	Line 290-311
ü  Figure 2 photos are poor resolution. The title is misleading as only a small part of the paper is about the genetic diversity.                     ü  Perhaps a better title would be "Exploration of Bambara nut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc, an underutilized crop, to aid global food security: varietal improvement, genetic diversity and processing"	Corrected: Some of the photos that are poor in resolution were deleted and replaced with one that is clearer. A more detailed information about the genetic diversity have been added: comprising geographical; molecular and morphological diversities.     Title have been changed to: "Exploration of Bambara nut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc, an underutilized crop, to aid global food security: varietal improvement, genetic diversity and processing"	Line 143-149       Line 203-508         Line 2-5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

Genetic Diversity of Bambara Groundnut (Vigna Subterranea (L.) Verdc) as an Underutilized Crop Species: Roles in Varietal Improvement, Food Security and Potentials

 

This review contains much interesting and useful information on Bambara groundnut, a currently underutilised crop whose further promotion could diversify food systems to support human nutrition and food system resilience.

 

At the moment, the document is too long and is not well structured.

 

My suggestion would be to decrease the number of sections and reorganise them as follows:

 

1. Introduction: include the background/history of the crop (where from, how distributed more widely, how use has changed) (part of current section 3). Merge into the Introduction current section 2 on what an underutilised crop is. Include also here current section 8 on ‘available [use] potentials’.

 

2. Constraints to Bambara groundnut use: the features of the crop that limit its use, e.g., the hard-to-cook challenge. In this section, bring in the relevant material from current section 4 and current section 9 (production and yield potential, which talks about low yields, etc.).

 

3. Genetic diversity in Bambara groundnut: merge current section 3 (the part on germplasm assets), current section 5 (molecular level diversity), current section 6 (phenotypic level diversity).

 

This should where possible focus on what is known about genetic diversity with reference to the constraints to use listed in new section 2 that have a genetic solution.

 

4. Research to date: merge current section 7 (molecular tools), section 10 (evaluation of resilience traits), section 11 (genetic improvement).

 

This should focus on research done to address specific constraints identified in new section 2.

 

5. Future developments: merge current sections 12, 13 and 14.

 

Again, this should specifically relate to earlier identified constraints, but could also be wider.

 

6. Conclusions: current section 14 [sic] (should be 15).

 

There are a couple of interesting new references on the genetics of orphan crops that the authors could benefit from reading. Both talk about specific constraints of importance for breeding (in terms of traits for breeding and in terms of the breeding process itself):

 

Dawson IK, Powell W, Hendre P, Bančič J, Hickey JM, Kindt R, Hoad S, Hale I, Jamnadass R (2019) The role of genetics in mainstreaming the production of new and orphan crops to diversify food systems and support human nutrition. New Phytologist, 224, 37-54. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.15895

 

Jamnadass R, Mumm RH, Hale I, Hendre P, Muchugi A, Dawson IK, Powell W, Graudal L, Yana-Shapiro H, Simons AJ, Van Deynze A (2020) Enhancing African orphan crops with genomics. Nature Genetics, 52, 356-360. https://rdcu.be/b3bOg

Author Response

Reviewer 2

Reviewer comment	Authors response	Page
1.      Introduction: include the background/history of the crop (where from, how distributed more widely, how use has changed) (part of current section 3). Merge into the Introduction current section 2 on what an underutilized crop is. Include also here current section 8 on ‘available [use] potentials’.	Corrected: The background history of the crop have been included comprising of origin, domestication and distribution. Previous section 3 was merged into the Introduction also previous section 2 on what an underutilized crop. Here also included previous section 8 on ‘available [use] potentials’.	Line 57-142
2.      Constraints to Bambara groundnut use: the features of the crop that limit its use, e.g., the hard-to-cook challenge. In this section, bring in the relevant material from current section 4 and current section 9 (production and yield potential, which talks about low yields, etc.).	Corrected: relevant materials were brought from the previous section 4 and 9	Line 153-202
3.      Genetic diversity in Bambara groundnut: merge current section 3 (the part on germplasm assets), current section 5 (molecular level diversity), current section 6 (phenotypic level diversity). This should where possible focus on what is known about genetic diversity with reference to the constraints to use listed in new section 2 that have a genetic solution.	Corrected: Previous section 3 aspect on germplasm assets, section 5 on molecular level diversity, section 6 on phenotypic level diversity were all merged together. Here emphasis was laid on what is known about genetic diversity with reference to the constraints to use listed in new section 2 that have a genetic solution.	Line 203-345
4.      Research to date: merge current section 7 (molecular tools), section 10 (evaluation of resilience traits), section 11 (genetic improvement). This should focus on research done to address specific constraints identified in new section 2.	Corrected: previous section 7 on molecular tools, section 10 evaluation of resilience traits, section 11 genetic improvement were all merged together, with focus on research done to address specific constraints identified in new section 2.	Line 346-508
5.      Future developments: merge current sections 12, 13 and 14. Again, this should specifically relate to earlier identified constraints, but could also be wider.	Corrected: current sections 12, 13 and 14 were merge. With specific relevance to the earlier identified constraints	Line 509-541
6.      Conclusions: current section 14 [sic] (should be 15).	Corrected: Previous section 14 was corrected as 15 and finally section 6	Line 542-565
There are a couple of interesting new references on the genetics of orphan crops that the authors could benefit from reading. Both talk about specific constraints of importance for breeding (in terms of traits for breeding and in terms of the breeding process itself):	Corrected: the new interesting references: Dawson et al., 2019 and Jamnadass et al. 2020 were dully consulted and aspect that discuss about constraints of importance were incorporated in the manuscript.	Line 105-113, 166-168

 

 

 

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

I appreciate the effort that the authors have made to reorganize the article and add images, where appropriate. It is quite improved from the previous version that had been submitted. However, editing for English style and grammar tense is still needed. Specific examples include: 

 

Pg 1. Ln 62. "The global agricultural system is presently focused on a limited number of crop species, which is an indication of a threat to food security and supply especially with the predicted weather conditions amidst climate change challenges." This sentence is unwieldy and would convey the same information if it was changed to "Global agriculture is focused on a limited number of crop species, which presents a threat to food security and supply amidst climate change challenges."

 

Pg 2. Ln 220. "Unanimously it was extensively reported that Africa is the geographical origin of Bambara groundnut [8-10]." It would be more appropriate to say "It is widely accepted that Africa is the geographical origin of Bambara groundnut [8-10].

These are just two examples, but these types of changes are required throughout the paper.

 

Author Response

Please find attached our response to the comments 

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

Revised version

The authors have done good work in reordering the manuscript into a more logical structure.

Within each section, however, there does still need to be a more logical ordering and some condensing of material. More thought needs to be given to why content is included. Everything should be there for a reason, all pointing to the key points the authors wish to communicate.

As far as possible, sections 2, 3 and 4 should flow from each other (3 [genetic diversity] should address points in 2 [constraints - that is, what genetic diversity is there to address constraints?], as should 4 [research; that is, what research is being done to address constraints identified in 2, making use of the diversity identified in 3])

In terms of ordering, for example: in the Introduction, it would be better if the order was to introduce orphan crops in general and then move on the specifics of Bambara groundnut, not as now where the order is from the specific to the general.

In terms of conciseness, for example: in the Introduction, too much detail is given on some points compared to others (that is, the level of content is not uniform). This applies for the text on domestication history/origins and information on nutritional value (both too detailed compared to other information, can condense).

The document overall really needs a good language edit. I know this can be really difficult for authors and I hope a solution can be found.

Author Response

Please find attached our response to the comments

Author Response File: Author Response.docx