Salt Stress Tolerance-Promoting Proteins and Metabolites under Plant-Bacteria-Salt Stress Tripartite Interactions

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The research article entitled “Salt stress tolerance-promoting proteins and metabolites under plant-bacteria-salt stress tripartite interactions” reports a very interesting review focused on recent findings on metabolites produced by bacteria and plants during plant-microbe interactions for salt stress mitigation. 

The article is sufficiently clear. English is good and comprehensible. The subject of this work is interesting, the methods used in the study are acceptable and the results analysis and discussions are reasonable. But I suggest that authors to must consider the following points to make it publishable in the journal of Applied Sciences.

1. Title can be improve to easily readable/understandable.
2. The overall abstract need to improve, the abstract is confusing for readers, whats the purpose of study, what’s the significance in study, what’s the suggestion/conclusion in your study, and what’s your future perspectives?
3. The authors mentioned many sentences without references

Line 48-51. Reference?

Line 68-79. “conventional breeding,  genetic engineering to create halotolerant transgenic plants, and chemical treatments are applied”

This all methods were applied by reference 3, is there no others research’s?

Line 96-99. Add references.

Line 137-141. Add references

Check all references carefully and correct it manually according to the journal format. Such as reference number 83 font’s format is different.

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

This Review gives an overview of soil salinization and effects of salt stress in plant then discusses bacteria-derived or bacteria-mediated protein and metabolite synthesis under plant-bacteria-salt stress interactions. The discussion of specific proteins and metabolites are important as these are critical mechanisms for improved salt tolerance in plants, however, overall discussion and delivery can still be improved.

Abstract

Proteins were not mentioned in the abstract. Add one or two sentences to present proteins in the abstract. It is also suggested to modify some sentences (Lines 32-33, 36-37, 37-39) in the abstract for greater clarity. For example, Lines 32-33: Many substances such as proteins and metabolites synthesized by bacteria and plants mediate communication and stress reduction.

Lines 33-34 seem to be more appropriate in the ‘Introduction’ section somewhere in Lines 79-85 or in Section 3 or 4.

Please add the aim of the Review.

Introduction

Figure 1.

• Under ‘Antioxidant’: to reduces the à to reduce the
• Under ‘Hormone Regulation’: reduce transpiration loss à reduce transpiration from leaf
• Please include the meanings of all the acronyms used in the Figure 1 caption.

Lines 79 – 80: variety of proteins and metabolites

Lines 83 - 84: on metabolites and proteins

Please include proteins in the discussions where necessary.

Line 94: 85 percent is affected by

Line 99: Technically, the USSR no long exists. Please give specific countries under former USSR instead.

Line 103: plant metabolites and proteins

Lines 122 – 124: Italicize all the genus names of bacteria.

Line 135: Bacterial proteins and metabolites

Line 239: is given à are given

Table 1. Please check the writing of scientific name of Arthrobacter endophyticus

Lines 263-269 – These sentences are discussions of bacteria-synthesized phytohormones which should be under Section 4.1.3. Bacteria-derived photohormones. Consider transferring the lines to their proper discussion section.

Lines 277-278 – Enzymes are produced through protein synthesis and not through secondary metabolic processes. You might be referring to non-enzymatic antioxidants. Please double-check your statement.

Lines 278-280 – Double-check the sentence. CAT and APX enzymes detoxify hydrogen peroxide, not the effects, and not hydrogen peroxidase.

Line 294 – change ‘up to thrice’ to ‘up to three times’

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

The Authors improved the manuscript significantly according to my suggestion and comments.  So i suggest accepting it.