Reproductive Biology of Solanum orbiculatum ssp. orbiculatum, an Australian Endemic Bush Tomato

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This research focuses on the Flowering Biology and Hybridization Techniques of a Wild Tomato Species in Australia. Since tomatoes are crucial agricultural crops, intera-species hybridization can greatly benefit breeding programs. Therefore, I strongly recommend the publication of this paper.

The research work has an appropriate volume and includes various experiments. However, regrettably, there is a specific lack of clarity in the paper, making it somewhat challenging to understand the experiments conducted. Despite the excellent images provided in the experiments, there is a significant absence of statistical information in the self-incompatibility experiments and floral structure report, which is a notable drawback of this research. The presentation of more than six chemical experiments for pollen viability, while not directly relevant to the paper's topic, could be condensed to one superior experiment. Additionally, there are issues with repetitive tables and graphs, an overly lengthy abstract, and an insufficient literature review, all of which should be addressed for the paper's acceptance and subsequent publication.

Some minor comments:

Abstract: The abstract is overly lengthy and lacks the necessary conciseness. The term "protogymus" is not commonly used; it would be more appropriate to use "protogyny," which is a type of protandry. Please provide the full name for "BK." The concluding sentences in the abstract should be revised, It is advisable for the conclusion to be closely related to the conducted research.

Introduction: The literature review regarding the biology of flower development in Solanum orbiculatum or similar species is absent. It is crucial to explore whether seed set occurs naturally and what previous botanists have reported.

 The objective statement lacks relevance to the research conducted. It primarily focuses on tomato breeding usage, while the paper mainly emphasizes biological aspects.

Materials and Methods: the study conducted ten years ago(2013) is confusing and should be clarified.

Lines 116-119: The sentence, "Pollinations performed using Solanum orbiculatum as the male parent were carried out with pollen harvested from flowers next morning after anthesis as pollens could not be easily released from anthers (through the opening at its distal end) within a few hours after anthesis," is unclear and needs rephrasing for better comprehension.

Line 120-125: These sentences need to be rewritten as their meaning is unclear.

Results and Discussion:

Line 338: Regarding pollen storage, the moisture level is a crucial factor, but the method of pollen storage is not specified in the Materials and Methods section. If long-term pollen storage was performed, it should have been clarified whether it must be done at freezing temperatures or in liquid nitrogen rather than at four degrees Celsius in the refrigerator.

Lines 352-355 and 357-361: Statistical information is necessary for this section. Please provide details on the number of flowers used for each experiment, type of style %,  and the corresponding statistical data.

Line 404: In the "Self and cross-compatibility" section, statistical information is needed. The mean number of flowers pollinated and  fruit set, seed set% in each species should be included.

Conclusions: The "Conclusions" section needs a comprehensive summary and should contrast with the abstract. It should provide a clear and concise overview of the research findings.

 

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Comments on the Quality of English Language

Need minor editing.

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Added a table or a figure for results of seed set, fruit set and … in controlled pollination experiment in compatibility study which including your four treatments in four study species of tomato.

Author Response

1. A figure (figure 9) illustrating the results of the controlled pollinations in the compatibility study has been added to the manuscript. 
2. The conclusions have been revised according to the suggestions.

Many thanks for the constructive comments and suggestions.