Mode of Action of the Natural Product Allicin in a Plant Model: Influence on the Cytoskeleton and Subsequent Shift in Auxin Localization
and Martin C. H. Gruhlke 1,2,*
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Following your request to review this manuscript, this is my report which contains some remarks. In this paper entitled ” Mode of action of the natural product allicin in a plant model: 2 influence on the cytoskeleton and subsequent shift in auxin lo- 3 calization.”
The study is so innovative; many experiments were carried out highlighting interesting findings, however here are some remarks.
- The abstract should be well structured
- Were the protocols of this study already used in other similar works? If yes, you should cite the reference
- Kindly add a conclusion section wherein you highlight the important results
- It would be more interesting to discuss and compare your findings to other studies in the literature
- Authors reported that “Statistical analyses were carried out using the program SigmaStat. Data were tested 130 for statistical significance using a multivariate data analysis (ANOVA) with a significance 131 level p<0.05. >”. . Did authors check for normality of distributions?. Did the authors check for homogeneity of variances ?.
- Prior to the use of parametric statistical procedures, normality of distributions needs to be checked by use of an apprppiate test, for example, the Shapiro–Wilks test and the assumption of homogeneity of variance should be also evaluated by use of an appropriate test like the Levene’s test . For concentration data that are not normally distributed, the data can be transformed using the natural log (ln) of (x + 1) and then parametric statistics applied or you can apply the appropriate non-parametric statistics.
- Please update references to be within the last ten years as much as possible
Author Response
Following your request to review this manuscript, this is my report which contains some remarks. In this paper entitled ” Mode of action of the natural product allicin in a plant model: 2 influence on the cytoskeleton and subsequent shift in auxin lo- 3 calization.”
The study is so innovative; many experiments were carried out highlighting interesting findings, however here are some remarks.
- The abstract should be well structured
We thank you for the comment. We have reorganized the abstract in the hope that it is now better structured.
- Were the protocols of this study already used in other similar works? If yes, you should cite the reference
In the way we use these protocols, they have not yet been published to our knowledge. In any case, we have not drawn on existing literature, apart from that cited, in the design of the respective experiments. However, we thank you for asking.
- Kindly add a conclusion section wherein you highlight the important results
To summarize the results again is without a doubt a good idea, which we are happy to implement. This suggestion will certainly lead to an improvement of the manuscript, for which we are very grateful.
- It would be more interesting to discuss and compare your findings to other studies in the literature
In fact, it is difficult to find literature describing the cause of shortened roots in the wake of oxidative stress in plants. Accordingly, it is almost impossible to discuss this in the light of the current literature. We have added some literature rather helpfully. We hope that this will once again highlight the innovative nature of the present study.
- Authors reported that “Statistical analyses were carried out using the program SigmaStat. Data were tested 130 for statistical significance using a multivariate data analysis (ANOVA) with a significance 131 level p<0.05. >”. . Did authors check for normality of distributions?. Did the authors check for homogeneity of variances ?.
We thank you for your attentive review of the statistical analysis. Since we are aware that the use of an ANOVA may not be applicable in the case of non-normally distributed data and distribution of the data, we have performed these tests beforehand. You are correct that this is not clear from the description, we have added a sentence to that effect.
- Prior to the use of parametric statistical procedures, normality of distributions needs to be checked by use of an apprppiate test, for example, the Shapiro–Wilks test and the assumption of homogeneity of variance should be also evaluated by use of an appropriate test like the Levene’s test . For concentration data that are not normally distributed, the data can be transformed using the natural log (ln) of (x + 1) and then parametric statistics applied or you can apply the appropriate non-parametric statistics.
See above
- Please update references to be within the last ten years as much as possible
Since apparently little has been published in this particular area in recent years - at least in what we could discern from our literature searches - we can unfortunately - although we see the advantage and actually the necessity - supplement the literature with more current primary literature to which we would prefer to refer. We have added a few appropriate literature passages from the last ten years.
Reviewer 2 Report
Dear Authors,
The manuscript presents a theme of significant scientific relevance. However, I have some comments.
1. I suggest a unique descriptive day condition (16 h dark, 8 h light - line 120 OR 16 h light/8 h dark - line 125);
2. Insert the correct botanical terminology (Arabidopsis thaliana and Arabidopsis sp) during the manuscript.
Author Response
- I suggest a unique descriptive day condition (16 h dark, 8 h light - line 120 OR 16 h light/8 h dark - line 125);
Thanks for the spotting this. Indeed, it is an error. We have corrected it.
- Insert the correct botanical terminology (Arabidopsis thaliana and Arabidopsis sp) during the manuscript.
Although in our experience many publications simply write "Arabidopsis", formally you are correct from a botanical point of view, so we have implemented your suggestion and consistently written Arabidopsis thaliana.
