Application of Microbial Antagonists in Combination with Sodium Bicarbonate to Control Post-Harvest Diseases of Sweet Cherry (Prunus avium L.) and Plums (Prunus salicina Lindl.)
, Javier Rocha-Pimienta 2, Sara Martillanes 2, Almudena Galván 1, Nuria Izaguirre-Pérez 2 and Jonathan Delgado-Adámez 1,2,*
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsApplication of microbial antagonists in combination with sodium bicarbonate to control post-harvest diseases of sweet 3 cherry (Prunus avium L.) and plums (Prunus salicina Lindl.)
General Comments: The topic is very useful regarding the post-harvest disease control of Cherry and Plums through bio-control techniques. Here sodium bicarbonate is also used for synergistic effect. The objective is to develop eco-friendly techniques for fruit preservation. The results show promising effect. There are some corrections in the manuscript, mention below in detail. I suggest minor revisions.
Line No Remarks
27 Arrange alphabetically
65-68 Use simple sentence for easy understanding
69-73 Re-write the sentences. Use simple sentence for easy understanding
109 "3" used as subscript
118 Remove it and placed after cv. Sweethearts)
121, 123 Use chemical formula within the bracket
129, 130, 172, 331 Check it
143, 144 Remove spacebar
150, 155 Insert spacebar
Figure 2 Check the Y-axis legend
203-204 Italicized
232 Check it, mention abbreviation
Figure 3, Figure 4 Symbol for each experimental set up is not clearly understood
303 "2" use subscript
365, 382, 415, 477 Check it
Comments for author File: 
Comments.pdf
Author Response
Comments: The topic is very useful regarding the post-harvest disease control of Cherry and Plums through bio-control techniques. Here sodium bicarbonate is also used for synergistic effect. The objective is to develop eco-friendly techniques for fruit preservation. The results show promising effect. There are some corrections in the manuscript, mention below in detail. I suggest minor revisions.
Line No Remarks
27 Arrange alphabetically
65-68 Use simple sentence for easy understanding
69-73 Re-write the sentences. Use simple sentence for easy understanding
109 "3" used as subscript
118 Remove it and placed after cv. Sweethearts)
121, 123 Use chemical formula within the bracket
129, 130, 172, 331 Check it
143, 144 Remove spacebar
150, 155 Insert spacebar
Figure 2 Check the Y-axis legend
203-204 Italicized
232 Check it, mention abbreviation
Figure 3, Figure 4 Symbol for each experimental set up is not clearly understood
303 "2" use subscript
365, 382, 415, 477 Check it
Response: Thank you for your comments and suggestions. The suggested corrections have been made.
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for Authors
Comments
1) I have gone through the manuscript titled “Application of microbial antagonists in combination with sodium bicarbonate to control post-harvest diseases of sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) and plums (Prunus salicina Lindl.)” by Navajas-Preciado. This is a preliminary study that does not contain new results that significantly advance the research field. There is several research studies in the public domain, highlighting the antagonists in combination with sodium bicarbonate for various fruits. I believe that the manuscript is not sufficiently competitive to be considered for publication in the Applied Sciences.
2) The identical research entitled “Application of microbial antagonists in combination with sodium bicarbonate to control postharvest diseases of sweet cherries Acta Hortic. 1161. ISHS 2017. DOI 10.17660/ActaHortic.2017.1161.84 Proc. VII International Cherry Symposium Eds.: M.J. Serradilla et al. was published from the same institute where the first author belongs, and they failed to cite the article in the present research. Both studies look at replicas (such as fruit, microbes used, storage temperature, etc.), except the present study includes plums as well.
3) Authors needs to extend knowledge, like molecular changes occurring in fruits, especially in skin, due to application of microbial antagonists in combination with sodium bicarbonate.
Author Response
Comment 1) I have gone through a manuscript titled “Application of microbial antagonists in combination with sodium bicarbonate to control post-harvest diseases of sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) and plums (Prunus salicina Lindl.)” by Navajas-Preciado. This preliminary study does not contain new results that significantly advance the research field. Several studies have been conducted in the public domain, highlighting antagonists in combination with sodium bicarbonate in various fruits. I believe that this manuscript is not sufficiently competitive to be considered for publication in Applied Sciences.
Response 1: The synergistic effect of antagonistic microorganisms and sodium bicarbonate has not been sufficiently studied in the distribution and commercialisation phases of genus Prunus. This phase is of particular interest because of the high volume of fruits affected by the distribution chains. Validation of the solutions is essential to complete the transfer to this sector.
Comment 2) Identical research entitled “Application of microbial antagonists in combination with sodium bicarbonate to control postharvest diseases of sweet cherries Acta Hortic. 1161. ISHS 2017. DOI 10.17660/ActaHortic.2017.1161.84 Proc. VII International cherry symposium edges: M.J. Serradilla et al. were published from the same institute to which the first author belongs, and they failed to cite the article in the present research. Both studies looked at replicas (such as fruit, microbes used, storage temperature, etc.), except the present study, which included plums as well.
Response 2: The problem with this quotation has been corrected and, where appropriate, it has been mentioned where it belongs. Regarding similarity, the present article completes the preliminary results presented at Congress and is included in the abstract you mention. The present study has been extended to the distribution and commercialisation conditions of two species of the genus Prunus, given the marked agronomic interest in the region of Extremadura.
In the present article, the research team does not intend to extend basic research by studying which cellular targets are affected by the different microorganisms involved. In this case, the team focused on studying the practicality of biological control in synergy with NaHCO3 as an innovative transfer element for the fruit sector in the Extremadura region.
Comment 3) The authors need to extend their knowledge, such as molecular changes occurring in fruits, especially in the skin, due to the application of microbial antagonists in combination with sodium bicarbonate.
Response 3: The scientific bases documented in the literature that support the use of a mixed solution based on antagonistic microorganisms and sodium bicarbonate have been included in the discussion.
Summarizing:
Sodium bicarbonate provides a hyperosmotic environment that forces post-harvest fungi to release water to adapt to the environment, thus decreasing the turgor of the cells that make up their hyphae. This structural modification makes it difficult for fungal hyphae to penetrate plant tissue and cause damage to the fruit post-harvest.
However, the hyperosmotic environment offered by sodium bicarbonate is not sufficient to limit the development of antagonistic microorganisms, offering a synergy that allows post-harvest control. In addition, there is no evidence that at the dose applied, fruit cells suffer damage that would imply organoleptic losses or acceleration of metabolic processes related to ripening.
Reviewer 3 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe manuscript is well contextualized and has a clear objective. However, I suggest that the authors review the discussion and the conclusion. In the discussion, it is necessary to address the applicability of the results obtained, as it currently takes the form of a literature review. The same issue is observed in the conclusion - the first paragraph is still a review, and the rest is a contextualization of a study. The conclusion needs to respond to the objective clearly and concisely. I suggest discussing the practical implications based on the results and, in the conclusion, addressing whether it is possible to use antagonistic and synergistic interactions between yeasts and bacteria together with sodium bicarbonate (SB) for the post-harvest treatment of sweet cherries and plums, and what the implications are.
Author Response
Comments: The manuscript is well contextualized and has a clear objective. However, I suggest that the authors review the discussion and the conclusion. In the discussion, it is necessary to address the applicability of the results obtained, as it currently takes the form of a literature review. The same issue is observed in the conclusion - the first paragraph is still a review, and the rest is a contextualization of a study. The conclusion needs to respond to the objective clearly and concisely. I suggest discussing the practical implications based on the results and, in the conclusion, addressing whether it is possible to use antagonistic and synergistic interactions between yeasts and bacteria together with sodium bicarbonate (SB) for the post-harvest treatment of sweet cherries and plums, and what the implications are.
Response: Thank you for your review and suggestion. Both parts have been rewritten and completed, considering the points mentioned.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsNow the manuscript can be accepted for publication.
