Review Reports

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

This work has two main purposes: i) to isolate, identify and characterize salt stress tolerant nitrogen-fixing bacteria ii) to shed light on the molecular mechanisms at the basis of salt stress tolerance using a proteomic approach.

In introduction line 47-51, 60-62 name of microorganisms must be with italics.

Citation in the text must be in format [1,2].

Material and methods: Name of plants line 95 etc. must be with italics.

By the instruction for the author change ml as mL.

It is not described how many plants were used for isolation of bacteria.

Full name, producers, country, place of agar and chemicals is necessary.

Line 170, 108, 8 must be the upper index.

Discussions need more detailed facts from other authors.

Conclusion is very general.

I miss the novelty of the manuscript.

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

In this study, researchers were able to isolate non-Rhizobal endophytic  bacteria from nodules of pea and faba bean plants. The proteome of two selected isolates grown under optimal and salt stressed conditions were analyzed and compared to understand the mechanisms that bacteria use in response to salt stress. The results evidenced the up regulation of proteins involved in response to abiotic stress, while proteins involved in metabolism and flagellum structure were down regulated.  

 In my opinion, this manuscript is valuable and provides a good presentation of the results, its discussion and interpretation clearly, and therefore it deserves publication. But does the soil in which the host plants are grown suffer from salinity or other types of stress?

The data in Table 2 indicate no growth at 42°C, explain in line 319

There is also some typo errors mentioned below;

Line 52; "Sulla coronaria" write in italic

Line 54; "Rhizobium sullae" write in italic

Line 67;" Phaseolus vulgaris" write in italic

Line 76' correct "phos-phate" to "phosphate"

Line 95; "Vicia faba L.", "Pisum sativum L" write in italic

Line 109; correct "hypochloride" to "hypochlorite"

Line 121; correct "Deserption" to "Desorption"

Line 208; correct "TBS medium"  to "TSB medium"

Line 208; "DF", write the full name for this acronym

Line 401' correct " an number" to " a number"

Line 688; "Tistlia Consotensis" write in italic

Add reference to section "2.5. Salt tolerance and growth curve"

Table (2); in the first raw and column number 9, delete the sign " §"

 

 

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

By the instruction for the authors units has been as cfu/mL.

Author Response

The Authors thank the reviewer for her/his accurate revision of the manuscript.