Genetic Mapping of Quantitative Trait Loci Associated with Plant Height and Yield Component Traits in a Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Doubled Haploid Population Derived from Tugela-DN × Elands

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Dear the authors,

The Manuscript ID agronomy-1874495 entitled Genetic mapping of quantitative trait loci associated with plant height and yield component traits (YCT) in a wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) doubled haploid population derived from Tugela-DN × Elands. The authors performed a QTL analysis for PH and YCT in the Tugela-DN × Elands doubled haploid (DH) population using the DArT array. Field trials were conducted under five environments in the Free State Province, of South Africa during the 2017–2018 and 2018–2019 cropping seasons. Fifty-nine putative QTL were identified on 19 chromosomes. Of these, nine stable QTL for PH, SL, GNS, GWPS, GL, and GW were detected within six genomic regions on chromosomes 2A, 3B, 4D, 6A, 7A, and 7B. These results will contribute to our understanding of the genetic basis of yield component traits, and could be used to improve grain yield in wheat through marker-assisted selection breeding.

Overall, the study was well conducted, and the conclusions reached are supported by the data presented. The manuscript is well written and should be accepted following some revisions in the attachment.

Thanks again and best regards.

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

The overall objective of the manuscript is to validate previously identified QTL for PH and GYC.  A few queries have arisen while reviewing the manuscript.

Comment and suggestion

-          Pl insert line numbers on each page.

Introduction:

-          What is the Novelty of the study? There are number of studies conducted by many researchers on those traits from 2004 to 2020. Kindly mention the hypothesis of the experiment and its objective.

MM Section:

-          How the DH was developed in wheat.

-          Why Tugela and Elands cultivars were selected to study the PH and GY component through DH population? Whether both the parents are in contrast in YCT and PH. In table S1, the yield of both the parent are at par i.e.  2.9 and 3.1 t/ha, and no data of PH. To dissect the genomic region, the contrasting parent should be a must.

-          Reduce the heritability formula and sentences to a few sentences.

Results:

-          Most of the traits seem skewed toward the left (-ve) rather than forming normal distribution in frequency distribution figure 1.

-          What does different color indicate? Indicate in the legend at bottom of table 3.

-          Kindly re writes the result. Table S2 and S3 are the major table of manuscript. Try to fix  it in main text than on supplementary.

Discussion:

-          Kindly delete the controversial statement that was under the line in the pdf,

-          Scientific reason is missing in the discussion.  Suggest to re-write a discussion with scientific sound reason to validate your finding,

-          Other comments are mentioned in the manuscript itself.

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Please see the attachment. 

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

The manuscript entitled “Genetic mapping of quantitative trait loci associated with plant height and yield component traits (YCT) in a wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) doubled haploid population derived from Tugela-DN × Elands” revealed 59 QTL associated with wheat plant height and yield component traits. The markers from GBS method may provide new information for the investigated traits. My major concerns are as follows: 

1. Because many similar studies has been carried out, the authors should described the novelty of this study. 

2. The structure in the result parts should be rebuilded. For example, from my opinion Figure 1 should be deleted or illustrated as supplemental file as the major information has been shown in Table 1. 

3. Table S3 should be given in the result part as it is the major result of this study. 

4. The figure of QTLs distributed on linkage map should also be provided in the result part. 

5. Table S3 the notes for superscript should be given.

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Dear the authors,

Overall, the study was well conducted, and the conclusions reached are supported by the data presented. The manuscript is well reversed and should be accepted. 

Author Response

Thank you for your recommendation.

Reviewer 2 Report

Dear Authors,

The manuscript has been improved much. I appreciate your efforts. A few comments arose while reviewing the revised version.  The comments are added as re-comment. Pl address the re-comment. Thanks

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Please see the attached document.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

After careful review, I think this manuscript can be improved further. Most of my concerns are shown in the accessory file.

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Please see the attachmet.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf