Optimising the Vase Life of Cut Hydrangeas: A Review of the Impact of Various Treatments
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsGlad to see this manuscript on hydrangea - focused review on an important cut flower. One issue is that the Hydrangea is not defined in the manuscript. At the beginning the authors state "Hydrangea spp.", but the review appears to focus on Hydrangea macrophylla. Either broaden the review to include the other cut flower hydrangeas, such as H. paniculata (becoming more important than H. macrophylla in some areas), H. arborescens (minor cut flower species), and H. quercifolia (only occasionally grown for cut use) or state clearly the review is on H. macrophylla.
Regardless, there are a couple of references on H. paniculata that would be good to include as the inform the discussion and are more relevant than those of roses, etc. that have been included.
8-HQS is a favored germicide of researchers but is increasingly being avoided in commercial floral preservatives due to health concerns. Based on your review, can you suggest alternatives?
I made a number of edits and suggestions directly on the manuscript. Please see attached file.
Comments for author File: 
Comments.pdf
Overall good, but there are some unusual phrases and word choices in a few places.
Author Response
Comments 1: Glad to see this manuscript on hydrangea - focused review on an important cut flower. One issue is that the Hydrangea is not defined in the manuscript. At the beginning the authors state "Hydrangea spp.", but the review appears to focus on Hydrangea macrophylla. Either broaden the review to include the other cut flower hydrangeas, such as H. paniculata (becoming more important than H. macrophylla in some areas), H. arborescens (minor cut flower species), and H. quercifolia (only occasionally grown for cut use) or state clearly the review is on H. macrophylla.
Response 1: Thank you for pointing this out. We agree with this comment. Therefore, we have revised and added some suggested information to the manuscript. The review is mainly about Hydrangea macrophylla, therefore the abstract has been changed:
Abstract: The vase life of cut hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla) flowers is a critical quality parameter, influencing their marketability and consumer satisfaction. This review examines the influence of various treatments on prolonging the postharvest lifespan of cut hydrangea blooms.
Nevertheless, the introduction also mentions other (suggested by the reviewer) species:
Introduction: H. macrophylla is the most popular and extensively cultivated among Hydrangea species, such as H. paniculata, H. serrata, and H. arborescens [3, 6]. Hydrangea inflorescences are divided into two categories—hortensia and lace caps—determined by how their showy, sterile flowers and smaller, fertile flowers are arranged [6].
Comments 2: Regardless, there are a couple of references on H. paniculata that would be good to include as the inform the discussion and are more relevant than those of roses, etc. that have been included.
Response 2: Thank you for this valuable suggestion. We appreciate your recommendation to include more relevant references specific to Hydrangea paniculata. We have reviewed the kinds of literature. We agree that including species-specific literature significantly improves the relevance and scientific grounding of our work. Unfortunately, we found that most references on H. paniculata mentioned preharvest treatments. Therefore, we added the references elaborating on post-harvest treatments of cut flowers other than hydrangea.
Comments 3: 8-HQS is a favored germicide of researchers but is increasingly being avoided in commercial floral preservatives due to health concerns. Based on your review, can you suggest alternatives?
Response 3: The suggestion has been added to the manuscript in the conclusion part:
In addition, floral preservatives are moving toward safer, eco-friendly alternatives to 8-HQS. Using a mix of nano silver, citric acid, and essential oils helps control microbes and keep flowers hydrated, while being better for both the flowers and the environment.
Comments 4: I made a number of edits and suggestions directly on the manuscript. Please see attached file..]
Response 4: The suggestions have been included in the manuscripts. We added some information based on the proposed articles by the reviewer as follows:
Part 3.1.
Water shortage is the primary factor influencing the postharvest longevity of cut H. macrophylla, with transpiration playing the central role in maintaining water balance. Variations in stomatal density and the rate at which stomata open are the main reasons for differences in vase life among various cultivars of cut H. macrophylla [35]. In addition, Ahmad et al. [36] reported the impact of water quality on the postharvest longevity and condition of cut H. macrophylla flowers. A lower solution pH (2.9–3.3), higher electrical conductivity (up to 2.5 dS m-¹), and the application of floral preservatives were found to extend the vase life of hydrangeas from 7.3 to 15.4 days.
The role of microbial communities in vase solutions and their interactions with stem tissues remains largely unexplored but could be critical for improving water uptake and preventing blockages. Future research should focus on microbiome-targeted strategies, such as beneficial microorganisms or precision biocides.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for Authors- Grammatical errors exist: For instance, in Section 4.2, “the flowers vases’ lives” and “the vase life of cut flower”.
- Issues with concise expression: The sentence “The vase life of cut flower is related to senescence signalling the final stage of a flower’s development” requires simplification for better clarity.
- Inconsistent reference formatting: Some references lack DOI numbers, and there are insufficient citations from the past five years, which affects the timeliness of this review.
- Content completeness needs improvement: In Section 5 (Conclusions), please address the limitations of 1% sucrose + 8-HQ, particularly noting that 8-HQ may cause environmental pollution, and propose potential improvements. For future research directions, expand discussions on eco-friendly preservation technologies such as biological preservatives (chitosan), plant extracts, and microbial preservation agents.
Author Response
Comments 1: Grammatical errors exist: For instance, in Section 4.2, “the flowers vases’ lives” and “the vase life of cut flower”.
Response 1: Thank you for your review. We agree, and the phrases have been altered: “the longevity of the cut flowers” and “the vase life of cut flowers”
Comments 2: Issues with concise expression: The sentence “The vase life of cut flower is related to senescence signalling the final stage of a flower’s development” requires simplification for better clarity.
Response 2: Agree. The phrases have been simplified: The vase life of cut flowers is linked to senescence, the final stage of their development.
Comments 3: Inconsistent reference formatting: Some references lack DOI numbers, and there are insufficient citations from the past five years, which affects the timeliness of this review.
Response 3: Thank you for your feedback. We have reviewed the references and updated the formatting to ensure consistency. Regarding the missing DOI numbers, some of the journals or sources cited do not assign DOIs, particularly for older publications or certain types of content (e.g., conference proceedings, reports). For articles without DOIs, we followed the guidelines. We have also revised the reference list to include more recent studies published within the past five years to improve the timeliness and relevance of the review.
Comments 4: Content completeness needs improvement: In Section 5 (Conclusions), please address the limitations of 1% sucrose + 8-HQ, particularly noting that 8-HQ may cause environmental pollution, and propose potential improvements. For future research directions, expand discussions on eco-friendly preservation technologies such as biological preservatives (chitosan), plant extracts, and microbial preservation agents.
Response 4: Agree. The part of the conclusion has been altered as follows:
Specific treatments like sucrose, biocides, and essential oils are shown to enhance vase life by improving water absorption, reducing microbial growth, and delaying senescence. Such treatments effectively extended the vase life of cut flowers from 3.6 to 12.3 days. The most effective to significantly extend the vase life of cut hydrangea flowers ('Magical Jewel') to 12.3 days was 1% sucrose combined with 8-HQS.
In addition, floral preservatives are moving toward safer, eco-friendly alternatives to 8-HQS. Using of biological preservatives (chitosan), a mix of nano silver, citric acid, and essential oils or plant extracts helps control microbes and keep flowers hydrated, while being better for both the flowers and the environment.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe manuscript is comprehensive and deepens in the postharvest of cut Hydrangea. But some issues should be solved in order to improve the quality of the manuscript.
Line 144 : increase, not increases
L 153-154: the phrase repeats what was written in 151-152
L 240: The title of this section should be modified to "Effect of sugars..." or " Effect of sucrose and glucose.." since you mentioned not only sucrose effects but also glucose.
L 243-244: rephrase sentence; it is not clear
L 248: "...to prolong the vase life of flowers": it should be deleted, is redundant
L 269-271 Rewrite sentence; it is not clear
L 271 In this line you should add some information of how microorganisms can deteriorate the postharvest flower quality. Then, continue to explain the effect of different chemicals to avoid it (as you already mentioned in the text)
L 282 delete "...one of the germicides"
L 291 "glycolic acid"? (GA)
L 328-329 "..This indicates 328 that ABA treatments may improve postharvest flower quality. These cut flowers had vase 329 life of 12 and 18 days." Delete the punctuation; it must be only one phrase
L 330-331 delete this sentence and join it with the previous sentence
L 337 "...alone or mixed with sucrose"
L 348-349 move this sentence to the beginning of the section (to line 337)
L 354 you may add some information of the composition (active ingredients) of the commercial preservatives described in this section. It could serve to discern which ingredient or ingredients are the responsible of the improve in the conservation
L 370 Conclusions and perspectives section. Try to focus only on what conclusions you obtain from the analyzed bibliography, and then continue with the future perspectives. For example, lines 371-374 are too descriptive and are not a conclusion. The same for the lines 379-381. It is also expected that this section should be short.
Author Response
Comments 1: Line 144: increase, not increases
Response 1: Thank you for your detailed reviews. We agree, and we have revised to an increase.
Comments 2: L 153-154: the phrase repeats what was written in 151-152
Response 2: Agree. The phrase has been deleted.
Comments 3: L 240: The title of this section should be modified to "Effect of sugars..." or " Effect of sucrose and glucose.." since you mentioned not only sucrose effects but also glucose.
Response 3: Agree. The title has been changed: Effect of sugars on Vase Life of Cut Hydrangea Flowers.
Comments 4: L 243-244: rephrase sentence; it is not clear
Response 4: Agree. The sentence has been rephrased: Besides osmolytes, the role of sugars in extending vase life is also influenced by respiratory substrates and synthetic compounds.
Comments 5: L 248: "...to prolong the vase life of flowers": it should be deleted, is redundant
Response 5: Agree. We have deleted such a phrase.
Comments 6: L 269-271 Rewrite sentence; it is not clear
Response 6: Agree. The sentence has been modified: Solutions containing biocides suppress bacterial growth and extend the longevity of the cut flowers.
Comments 7: L 271 In this line you should add some information of how microorganisms can deteriorate the postharvest flower quality. Then, continue to explain the effect of different chemicals to avoid it (as you already mentioned in the text)
Response 7: Agree. Some information was added regarding how microorganisms can deteriorate the postharvest flower quality:
Microbial growth in vase water or on the dipped portion of the stem causes vascular blockage of xylem vessels, increasing stem resistance to water flow and decreasing vase life [64]. Solutions containing biocides suppress bacterial growth and extend the longevity of the cut flowers [62].
Comments 8: L 282 delete "...one of the germicides"
Response 8: Agree. The phrase has been deleted.
Comments 9: L 291 "glycolic acid"? (GA)
Response 9: Agree. Yes, glycolic acid, the words have been changed into glycolic acid.
Comments 10: L 328-329 "..This indicates 328 that ABA treatments may improve postharvest flower quality. These cut flowers had vase 329 life of 12 and 18 days." Delete the punctuation; it must be only one phrase
Response 10: Agree. The sentences have been joined into one phrase: This indicates that ABA treatments may improve postharvest flower quality, as evidenced by the extended vase life of 12 to 18, which were significantly longer than the control blooms.
Comments 11: L 330-331 delete this sentence and join it with the previous sentence
Response 11: Agree. The sentences have been removed and joined with the previous sentence: This indicates that ABA treatments may improve postharvest flower quality, as evidenced by the extended vase life of 12 to 18, which were significantly longer than the control blooms.
Comments 12: L 337 "...alone or mixed with sucrose"
Response 12: Agree. The sentence has been altered: Some essential oil compounds such as thymol and carvacrol alone or mixed with sucrose can effectively extend the vase life of cut hydrangea flowers.
Comments 13: L 348-349 move this sentence to the beginning of the section (to line 337)
Response 13: Agree. The sentence has been moved to the beginning of the section: The environmental and health concerns associated with synthetic preservatives and chemical biocides highlight the need for natural, biodegradable alternatives. Some essential oil compounds such as thymol and carvacrol alone or mixed with sucrose can effectively extend the vase life of cut hydrangea flowers.
Comments 14: L 354 you may add some information of the composition (active ingredients) of the commercial preservatives described in this section. It could serve to discern which ingredient or ingredients are the responsible of the improve in the conservation
Response 14: The formula of commercial products is unknown and seemingly secret. We can only assume it. We have added information on the effects of the individual products in the text:
This is a universal product by Chrysal, which stimulates water uptake because of an antibacterial compound.
Chrysal RVB is recommended for woody cut flowers to prevent blockages of the vascular bundles and thus wilting. Floralife Quick Dip helps maximise solution uptake and provides flowers with a quick hydration boost. It is designed to reduce bent neck and droopy stems.
Comments 15: L 370 Conclusions and perspectives section. Try to focus only on what conclusions you obtain from the analyzed bibliography, and then continue with the future perspectives. For example, lines 371-374 are too descriptive and are not a conclusion. The same for the lines 379-381. It is also expected that this section should be short.
Response 15: Agree. lines 371-374 have been deleted. lines 379-381 have been simplified: The analysis highlights recent advances, offers practical postharvest tips, and identifies research gaps to improve the sustainability and quality of cut hydrangeas.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 4 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsDear authors,
Hydrangeas are prized for their relatively long vase life, which is a key quality parameter in the floriculture industry. However, the senescence of cut flowers involves complex changes across various levels, including morphological (macro indicators such as petal extension, flower diameter, and flower longevity, as well as microscopic structures like cells, organelles, and cell membranes), physiological and biochemical factors (such as flower color, water balance, accumulation of reactive oxygen species, antioxidant enzyme activity, lipid peroxidation of membranes, and plant hormones), and molecular changes (including the expression of senescence-related genes). Researchers often measure these indicators to provide a theoretical basis for different treatments and evaluate their effects. However, the current paper provides limited discussion on how treatments impact these indicators, primarily focusing on flower longevity as a proxy for treatment effectiveness. This approach is insufficient for adequately assessing the quality of the treatments and lacks scientific rigor. Therefore, it is recommended that the author consider the following suggestions.
- In part 2 and 3 of the article (Vase Life of Cut Hydrangea Flowers and Postharvest Factors Influencing the Vase Life of Cut Flowers), please increasing the description of physiological, biochemical, and molecular mechanisms related to flower senescence.
- In part 4 of the article (Effect of Some Treatments on the Vase Life of Cut Hydrangea Flowers), please include a description of how these treatments affect the physiological, biochemical, and molecular mechanisms during the senescence process of Hydrangeas cut flowers.
- In part 4.3, the effects of ABA should be classified in plant hormones rather than organic acids.
Thank you for considering these suggestions.
April 4, 2025
Author Response
Comments 1: Hydrangeas are prized for their relatively long vase life, which is a key quality parameter in the floriculture industry. However, the senescence of cut flowers involves complex changes across various levels, including morphological (macro indicators such as petal extension, flower diameter, and flower longevity, as well as microscopic structures like cells, organelles, and cell membranes), physiological and biochemical factors (such as flower color, water balance, accumulation of reactive oxygen species, antioxidant enzyme activity, lipid peroxidation of membranes, and plant hormones), and molecular changes (including the expression of senescence-related genes). Researchers often measure these indicators to provide a theoretical basis for different treatments and evaluate their effects. However, the current paper provides limited discussion on how treatments impact these indicators, primarily focusing on flower longevity as a proxy for treatment effectiveness. This approach is insufficient for adequately assessing the quality of the treatments and lacks scientific rigor. Therefore, it is recommended that the author consider the following suggestions.
In part 2 and 3 of the article (Vase Life of Cut Hydrangea Flowers and Postharvest Factors Influencing the Vase Life of Cut Flowers), please increasing the description of physiological, biochemical, and molecular mechanisms related to flower senescence.
Response 1: Thank you for your reviews. We agree, and have elaborated on such topics in the manuscript:
Part 2: Vase Life of Cut Hydrangea Flowers
In ornamental plants, flowers are essential organs whose developmental stages directly influence their commercial value. The culmination of petal development coincides with flower senescence—an irreversible, genetically regulated process driven by PCD. Premature senescence in cut flowers frequently leads to severe quality decline and significant economic losses during post-harvest storage and transportation [16]. As petals age, their cells undergo structural changes tied to PCD, such as tonoplast rupture followed by swift cytoplasmic breakdown. Morphologically, this PCD is categorized as either vacuolar cell death or autolytic PCD. Key features observed during petal cell PCD include an autophagy-like mechanism, chromatin condensation, and nuclear fragmentation, all hallmark traits of this regulated cellular degradation process [17]. Regardless of the plant organ studied, various cytological, physiological, and molecular changes due to PCD drive cellular breakdown through phytohormone fluctuations and activation of genetic pathways [18].
Most cut flowers reach the end of their vase life due in part to wilting, which results from reduced water absorption, elevated transpiration rates, and a limited ability of flower tissues to retain moisture [19]. During petal wilting, the breakdown of membrane fatty acids occurs, a process likely driven by non-enzymatic oxidative mechanisms [20]. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), produced both internally by floral tissues and externally from the environment, have been shown to influence floral aging [21]. While antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase and ascorbate peroxidase participate in the senescence process, their specific functions vary significantly across plant species [22].
In fresh-stage cut hydrangea flowers, treatments such as defoliation, reduction of decorative florets, and covering of the inflorescence have been shown to effectively extend vase life, likely through the suppression of transpiration [23]. Additionally, the regulation of vase life at this stage is influenced by transpiration from non-decorative floral organs [26].
On the other hand, in antique-stage cut Hydrangea flowers, an increase in stomatal conductance in decorative sepals has been reported across multiple cultivars [27] [6], indicating that reduced transpiration is not a major factor contributing to their prolonged vase life [4].
Part 3:
3.2. Carbohydrates Deterioration:
Reducing sugars dominate mature petals’ sugar pool. Starch is vital in woody plants, including hydrangeas. Flower respiration peaks at bloom, declines with age, briefly spikes during wilting, then drops—mirroring climacteric fruit respiration. As carbohydrates influence vase life, adding sugars to vase solutions post-harvest enhances longevity [46].
3.3. Ethylene Sensitivity:
Ethylene, a key plant hormone, plays a crucial role in regulating flower senescence. Although many types of flowers respond to ethylene, their sensitivity to it differs depending on the species or cultivar [51]. The primary determinants of vase life duration are closely linked to a flower's sensitivity to ethylene. In ethylene-sensitive cultivars, vase life was directly correlated with specific transcript levels triggered by ethylene exposure [52].
Comments 2: In part 4 of the article (Effect of Some Treatments on the Vase Life of Cut Hydrangea Flowers), please include a description of how these treatments affect the physiological, biochemical, and molecular mechanisms during the senescence process of Hydrangeas cut flowers.
Response 2: Agree. We have elaborated on such topics in the manuscript:
4.1. Effect of sugars on Vase Life of Cut Hydrangea Flowers:
Exogenous sucrose or glucose treatments extend vase life by maintaining cell turgor, membrane integrity, and water balance. Sugars act as osmotic agents and energy substrates, counteracting carbohydrate depletion postharvest [39]. Glucose exhibited distinct daily solution uptake dynamics compared to other sugars. When mannitol was absent, glucose effectively enhanced both daily and total solution absorption in cut hydrangea flowers. Even when combined with otherwise ineffective mannitol or other sugars, glucose further increased daily uptake. This elevated absorption may be attributed to reduced xylem blockage. Moreover, glucose slowed the decline in relative fresh weight, while mannitol accelerated it, indicating a clear correlation with extended vase life [59].
4.2. Effect of Biocides on Vase Life of Cut Hydrangea Flowers
A study specifically investigating H. macrophylla observed that the combination of biocides and sugars in preservative solutions significantly enhanced vase life, maintained petal turgor, and preserved biochemical integrity by minimizing oxidative stress and microbial contamination [7]. Biocides such as nanosilver have shown efficacy in suppressing microbial growth and thereby delaying senescence markers such as ROS accumulation, membrane leakage, and chlorophyll degradation [62].
Cut hydrangea flowers are highly vulnerable to water stress, which leads to a negative water balance in the calyx under insufficient water conditions. This stress is primarily caused by disrupted water flow and vascular blockage at the stem’s end [3]. Like most cut flowers, hydrangeas initially absorb water rapidly, but uptake declines as microbial growth and air embolisms obstruct vascular systems [63].
Certain germicides are recommended to inhibit microbial overgrowth [63] while organic acids enhance water absorption by lowering water pH [68]. In cut hydrangeas, sucrose and 8-HQS treatments had the most significant effects on fresh weight and solution absorption [66].
4.3. Effect of Abcisic Acid (ABA) on Vase Life of Cut Hydrangea Flowers
ABA, a critical plant hormone, regulates water loss in plants by promoting stomatal closure during water stress conditions [19], uptake of water and ions, and leaf abscission and senescence that represent key physiological processes influencing plant development [69]. Exogenous ABA deactivates quickly due to light-induced isomerization and metabolism, limiting its use. In contrast, ABA analogs (chemically similar to natural ABA) with slight structural changes offer greater stability and uptake, enhancing their effectiveness [70].
4.4. Effect of Essential Oil Compounds on Vase Life of Cut Hydrangea Flowers
According to Crocoll [77], essential oils, as natural, safe, and environmentally sustainable substances, demonstrate potent antimicrobial activity against pathogens due to their monoterpenoid phenol content.
Thymol and carvacrol, known for their antimicrobial properties [78], improve relative fresh weight by reducing xylem blockage and enhancing water uptake [61]. The maximum total solution uptake among the treatments during vase life and fresh weight of cut hydrangea flowers was obtained at the combination of thymol and sucrose [30, 61].
4.5. Effect of commercial preservative solutions on Vase Life of Cut Hydrangea Flowers
Treatments with Chrysal RVB and Floralife Quick Dip increased total water absorption, prolonged maintenance of water balance, and enhanced relative fresh weight in cut hydrangeas. These results underscore the vital role of pretreatment methods and preservative solutions, demonstrating that appropriate floral preservatives and pretreatment protocols can markedly improve the marketability and longevity of hydrangea cut flowers [25].
This is a universal product by Chrysal, which stimulate water uptake because of antibacterial compound.
Chrysal RVB is recommended for woody cut flowers to prevent blockages of the vascular bundles and thus wilting. Floralife Quick Dip helps maximize solution uptake and provides flowers with a quick hydration boost. It is designed to reduce bent neck and droopy stems.
Comments 3: In part 4.3, the effects of ABA should be classified in plant hormones rather than organic acids.
Response 3: Agree. The title of part 4.3 has been changed to Effect of Abscisic Acid on Vase Life of Cut Hydrangea Flowers. This section has been rearranged, and the part about organic acids has been moved into section 4.2. Effect of Biocides on Vase Life of Cut Hydrangea Flowers
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 5 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThis review summarizes the post-harvest handling of cut hydrangea flowers. It is well-organized and is worthy of publication in agronomy. However, I am concerned about whether the description of commercial preservatives (lines 364 to 369) alone is worthy of publication. The ingredients of commercial preservatives are not disclosed, and their ingredients may be changed secretly. Therefore, I think that it is inappropriate to include descriptions of commercial preservatives in academic journals.
Author Response
Comments: This review summarizes the post-harvest handling of cut hydrangea flowers. It is well-organized and is worthy of publication in agronomy. However, I am concerned about whether the description of commercial preservatives (lines 364 to 369) alone is worthy of publication. The ingredients of commercial preservatives are not disclosed, and their ingredients may be changed secretly. Therefore, I think that it is inappropriate to include descriptions of commercial preservatives in academic journals.
Response: Thank you for your appreciation and review. We know that the use of commercial preservatives in research is controversial and often unjustified, due to the lack of information about the composition of these preservatives and thus the inability to compare them. The presented article is in the form of a review of available scientific articles related to cut hydrangea flowers. Therefore, it refers to various works on the subject, including those in which the effect of commercial preservatives on the longevity of hydrangea flowers was determined. The authors considered deleting this short subsection in the paper but ultimately decided to leave it, as it can be a source material for both researchers and producers of cut hydrangea flowers seeking confirmed information on postharvest treatment of these flowers.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 6 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsJournal Name: Agronomy (MDPI)
Manuscript Title: Optimizing Vase Life of Cut Hydrangeas: A Review of The Impact of Various Treatments
Major issues
- I recommend the authors to make their manuscript edited by native English speaker before submission (see below for the details). Note that this is not a minor issue: to judge whether the manuscript is technically sound or not, a proper word usage is a prerequisite for a peer-review process.
- The manuscript can be restructured. For example, In L174- and L241-, they talk about carbohydrates. These can be unified into a single subsection.
Specific issues
L21 Spell out 8-HQS in full here.
L33 What do they mean by “small trees” vs “shrub”?
Shrubs are usually defined as short-stature woody species, while trees are defined as tall ones.
L47 What is the do they mean by “fading” of blossoms exactly? What is the difference between flower “wilting” and “fading”?
L95 The word “antique-stage flowers” sounds very strange in the field of plant physiology. Do they mean “senesced stage”? I now found that this word is used in Kitamura et al.’s papers. However, I do not think that “antique” is a correct word here in English. Perhaps, Kitamura et al. have chosen a wrong word. Please ask native English speakers, and find a better word. Similarly, (L214) The word “classic stage” sounds very strange to me.
L114 Add “transpiration” here.
L128 “This finding is corroborated by research on various postharvest treatments [5]”: This line contains no information. Explain details of the reference [5] here.
L163- “There are some strategies to enhance water balance”: The authors misuse the word “water balance” here. “The role of microbes” is a different story from “plant water balance”.
L177 Do the authors use “Structural support” to refer cell wall materials? Are there any evidence that carbohydrates in vase solution is used as a material for new cell wall produced during vase life stages? I think they are only used as energy sources.
L195 “light and temperature management can enhance carbohydrate accumulation, serving as a buffer against water stress.”: I wonder why and how carbohydrate supplementation can become a buffer against “water stress”? Carbohydrate shortage and water stress are completely different types of stresses, though they are physiologically related.
Comments on the Quality of English LanguageSee above.
Author Response
Comments 1: Major issues:
- I recommend the authors to make their manuscript edited by native English speaker before submission (see below for the details). Note that this is not a minor issue: to judge whether the manuscript is technically sound or not, a proper word usage is a prerequisite for a peer-review process.
Response 1: Thank you for your detailed reviews. The article was checked and if necessary corrected by native English speaker.
Comments 2: Major issues:
- The manuscript can be restructured. For example, In L174- and L241-, they talk about carbohydrates. These can be unified into a single subsection.
Response 2: We decided not to combine these two sections. Section 3.2 is more general and describes the carbohydrate changes during the senescence process in cut flowers. Section 4.1 is more focused on detailed information about sugars postharvest treatment, especially in cut hydrangea flowers. Section 3.2 should be seen as an introduction and as a minor part of the whole chapter about senescence processes, containing crucial points like the water balance, carbohydrate status and ethylene impact.
Comments 3: Specific issues: L21 Spell out 8-HQS in full here.
Response 3: Agree. It has been written in the abstract: The most effective solution for significantly extending the vase life of cut hydrangea flowers ('Magical Jewel') by 12.3 days was the combination of 1% sucrose and 8-HQS (8-hydroxyquinoline sulphate).
Comments 4: L33 What do they mean by “small trees” vs “shrub”? Shrubs are usually defined as short-stature woody species, while trees are defined as tall ones.
Response 4: Agree. The mean “small trees” and “shrub” is similar, there is no big difference between them, so we decided to live with only one: shrub, which in our opinion is more suitable. So, the sentence has been changed: The genus Hydrangea (Hydrangeaceae family) comprises approximately 80 species of flowering plants and is indigenous to southern and eastern Asia, as well as North, Central, and South America. This type of plant is included in shrubs and lianas that are 1-3 m (meter) [1-3].
Comments 5: L47 What is the do they mean by “fading” of blossoms exactly? What is the difference between flower “wilting” and “fading”?
Response 5: Wilting is a loss of turgor pressure (water pressure inside plant cells), causing the flower or leaves to droop or collapse due to water loss, but fading is a loss of colour and brightness in petals due to pigment breakdown.
Comments 6: L95 The word “antique-stage flowers” sounds very strange in the field of plant physiology. Do they mean “senesced stage”? I now found that this word is used in Kitamura et al.’s papers. However, I do not think that “antique” is a correct word here in English. Perhaps, Kitamura et al. have chosen a wrong word. Please ask native English speakers, and find a better word. Similarly, (L214) The word “classic stage” sounds very strange to me.
Response 6: Cut hydrangea flowers are available in two distinct forms: fresh-stage flowers, harvested just before or during flowering when the ornamental sepals are fully coloured, and antique-stage flowers, collected post-flowering when the decorative sepals change to green and/or red hues.
These differences are visible not only in the colour of the flowers but also in their structure. This term, which is used in many articles such as Kitamura et al. and Yang et al. is also the term used by hydrangea breeders and growers for cut flowers. This is related to the development of hydrangea flowers during the growing season. At the beginning of the season, the flowers are only in the fresh, appropriately mature stage. As the season progresses, the flowers change colour but also lignify, become stiffer and move into the classic/antique stage. These terms may seem more commercial, but they help to clearly distinguish these developmental stages in hydrangea flowers, crucial for their vase life.
Comments 7: L114 Add “transpiration” here.
Response 7: Agree. It has been added to the sentence: Temperature significantly affects the vase life of cut hydrangea flowers by affecting hydration, respiration, transpiration, and overall floral quality.
Comments 8: L128 “This finding is corroborated by research on various postharvest treatments [5]”: This line contains no information. Explain details of the reference [5] here.
Response 8: Agree. The sentence has been elaborated: This finding is corroborated by research on various postharvest treatments (tap water, 1% Chrysal professional â…¢, 2% sucrose + 250 mg/L 8-hydroxquinoline + 100 mg/L citric acid) on cut Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Verena’ tested at room temperature.
Comments 9: L163- “There are some strategies to enhance water balance”: The authors misuse the word “water balance” here. “The role of microbes” is a different story from “plant water balance”.
Response 9: Agree. The sentence has been altered: There are some strategies to enhance plant water balance such as chemical treatments, environmental controls and stem treatments.
Comments 10: L177 Do the authors use “Structural support” to refer cell wall materials? Are there any evidence that carbohydrates in vase solution are used as a material for new cell wall produced during vase life stages? I think they are only used as energy sources.
Response 10: Agree. The sentence has been altered: Carbohydrates, as the primary source of energy, play a critical role in maintaining flower quality.
Comments 11: L195 “light and temperature management can enhance carbohydrate accumulation, serving as a buffer against water stress.”: I wonder why and how carbohydrate supplementation can become a buffer against “water stress”? Carbohydrate shortage and water stress are completely different types of stresses, though they are physiologically related.
Response 11: Agree. The sentence has been changed: Marissen [43] also emphasized that preharvest light and temperature management can enhance carbohydrate accumulation.
Comments 12: Comments on the Quality of English Language
Thank you for your thoughtful review and valuable feedback on our manuscript. We sincerely appreciate your comment regarding the quality of the English language.
In response, we have thoroughly revised the manuscript to address grammatical inaccuracies, improve sentence structure, and enhance overall clarity. The text has been carefully proofread by a professional English speaker to ensure it meets the journal's standards. We believe these revisions have significantly strengthened the readability and precision of the work
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 3 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe suggestions for the improvement of the manuscript have been taken into account, and I consider now the manuscript can be published
