The Relationship Between Cover Crop Species and Soil Fungal Communities in Irrigated Vineyards in the Okanagan Valley, Canada
, Daniel Rosa 1,2, Mehdi Sharifi 3, Michael J. Noonan 1,2,4 and Miranda Hart 1,2,*Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsSubmission ID: agronomy-3315959
Title of the manuscript: "The relationship between cover crop species and soil fungal communities in irrigated vineyards in the Okanagan Valley, Canada".
This study evaluated the impact of cover crop species and soil fungal communities in irrigated vineyards. The subject is very interesting, and the methodology used is adequate for the objectives of the study. The results are of interest and support the conclusions. The manuscript is fill of work, however, there are still some issues that need to be addressed.
Specific comments
L21-27: The authors should present the key data of the measured indicators, and p- values. This is important to provide concise results.
L41: Please arrange the keywords in alphabetical order.
L64-66: Not clear. Please explain how the impact on AMF?
L67: Not all crops. The family Brassicaceae includes plants that are non-host for arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Please revise?
L67-69: This is far from the current knowledge. Please extend AMF role in enhancing resistance to biotic and a biotic stress. This paper will help you https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12061123
L86-88: Please try to bring the novelty of your study, you may refer some lack in the previous study regarding some aspects.
L96: Add the coordinates.
L122: Please follow the journal notation in citing references.
L419: symbiosis.
L429-542: Although I think the discussion is nicely written, I would advise the authors to cite tables and figures to help the readers be in contact with their findings.
L433: Sometimes authors use AM and in other part use AMF, please use one form in the whole manuscript.
L544-560: In conclusion, the author should try to give a clear recommendation from the practical side aspects. Please try to focus on (the novelty of the study-how this study could add benefits to sustainable agriculture-future prospects).
Regards.
Author Response
Response to Reviewers’ Comments
The authors greatly appreciate the reviewers’ comments and have carefully addressed each one. Responses are provided below where necessary. We believe these comments have significantly improved the quality of the manuscript.
Reviewer 1:
Title of the manuscript: "The relationship between cover crop species and soil fungal communities in irrigated vineyards in the Okanagan Valley, Canada".
This study evaluated the impact of cover crop species and soil fungal communities in irrigated vineyards. The subject is very interesting, and the methodology used is adequate for the objectives of the study. The results are of interest and support the conclusions. The manuscript is fill of work, however, there are still some issues that need to be addressed.
Specific comments
L21-27: The authors should present the key data of the measured indicators, and p- values. This is important to provide concise results.
Response: The key data of the measured indicators, and their p- values were added to abstract (new L 21-17). This addition bring the word count in the abstract to 305.
L41: Please arrange the keywords in alphabetical order.
Response: Keywords were arranged in alphabetical order.
L64-66: Not clear. Please explain how the impact on AMF?
Response: While this is an important topic, the study’s objectives did not include examining the effects of cover crops on AMF. In the Introduction, we simply mentioned that if a cover crop negatively affects fungal communities in the soil, it may also inhibit AMF in the roots. Therefore, no changes were made in response to this comment.
L67: Not all crops. The family Brassicaceae includes plants that are non-host for arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Please revise?
Response: Correct. We changed „almost all“ to „several“.
L67-69: This is far from the current knowledge. Please extend AMF role in enhancing resistance to biotic and a biotic stress. This paper will help you https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12061123
Response: As mentioned above disscussion of AMF effects is beyond the scope of this study. Thank you for the suggested paper. The references are now cited for this sentence.
L86-88: Please try to bring the novelty of your study, you may refer some lack in the previous study regarding some aspects.
Response: A sentence is added to highlight this point (new L 94-95).
L96: Add the coordinates.
Response: The cordinates for the vineyards are added.
L122: Please follow the journal notation in citing references.
Response: the citation is corrected (New L 134).
L419: symbiosis.
Response: corrected (new L431)
L429-542: Although I think the discussion is nicely written, I would advise the authors to cite tables and figures to help the readers be in contact with their findings.
Response: The journal’s instructions recommend avoiding references to tables and figures in the discussion section.
L433: Sometimes authors use AM and in other part use AMF, please use one form in the whole manuscript.
Response: Revised throughout the manuscript.
L544-560: In conclusion, the author should try to give a clear recommendation from the practical side aspects. Please try to focus on (the novelty of the study-how this study could add benefits to sustainable agriculture-future prospects).
Response: The conclusion section was revised to highlight the practical aspects and benefits for sustainable agriculture and future prospects.
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsIn the manuscript entitled with “The relationship between cover crop species and soil fungal communities in irrigated vineyards in the Okanagan Valley, Canada”, authors investigated relationship between cover crop species and soil fungal communities in irrigated vineyards in the Okanagan Valley, Canada, based on Meta-barcoding method. And results showed that, within sites, soil fungal communities did not vary greatly in composition and structure. On the other hand, soil fungal communities changed significantly across sites. The results highlighted that both groundcover species and site-specific conditions were important for the formation of soil microbial community structure in BC vineyards. This manuscript is of significance for sustainable development of local vineyards.
Here are my comments and suggestion.
1. In Line 45, delete the Subtitle " 1.1. Cover cropping and Disease".
2. In Table 2 (Line 303), the decimals of numbers in " %C" column were not consistent.
3. Generally speaking, in the "Discussion" section (especially in 4.1 and 4.2), the author needs to explain significance of their findings, based on comparison with the results of previous or similar researches. Therefore, citing previous literature is essential in this section.
4. In general, the section of "conclusion" should state the author's own viewpoints or conclusions and should not cite references.
5. In section of "References", both the full name and abbreviated name of journals happened among literature items. This format should be consistent.
Author Response
Response to Reviewers’ Comments
The authors greatly appreciate the reviewers’ comments and have carefully addressed each one. Responses are provided below where necessary. We believe these comments have significantly improved the quality of the manuscript.
Reviewer 2.
In the manuscript entitled with “The relationship between cover crop species and soil fungal communities in irrigated vineyards in the Okanagan Valley, Canada”, authors investigated relationship between cover crop species and soil fungal communities in irrigated vineyards in the Okanagan Valley, Canada, based on Meta-barcoding method. And results showed that, within sites, soil fungal communities did not vary greatly in composition and structure. On the other hand, soil fungal communities changed significantly across sites. The results highlighted that both groundcover species and site-specific conditions were important for the formation of soil microbial community structure in BC vineyards. This manuscript is of significance for sustainable development of local vineyards.
Here are my comments and suggestion.
- In Line 45, delete the Subtitle " 1.1. Cover cropping and Disease".
Response: Deleted.
- In Table 2 (Line 303), the decimals of numbers in " %C" column were not consistent.
Response: Revised.
- Generally speaking, in the "Discussion" section (especially in 4.1 and 4.2), the author needs to explain significance of their findings, based on comparison with the results of previous or similar researches. Therefore, citing previous literature is essential in this section.
Response: Citation were included in the discution sections 4.1 and 4.2 to support the project’s findings.
- In general, the section of "conclusion" should state the author's own viewpoints or conclusions and should not cite references.
Response: Conclusions section was rewriten.
- In section of "References", both the full name and abbreviated name of journals happened among literature items. This format should be consistent.
Response: Reference section is revised to be consistent.
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThis is the second time I have evaluated this manuscript. The authors addressed all my comments, and the manuscript has been noticeably improved. Many thanks for their contribution.
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe revised version read good, and the issues I concerned with were resolved well. I will suggest accept it for publication in the journal.
