The Effect of Myco-Biocontrol Based Formulates on Yield, Physiology and Secondary Products of Organically Grown Basil

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Manuscript ID: agriculture-1111492

Title: The effect of myco-biocontrol based formulates on yield, physiology and secondary products of organically grown basil

Authors: Gabriel-Ciprian Teliban , Marian Burducea , Valtcho Zheljazkov, Ivayla Dincheva, Ilian Badjakov , Neculai Munteanu , Gabriela Mihalache , Alexandru Cojocaru , Lorena Diana Popa , Vasile Stoleru 

General comments:

Scientific merits of manuscript are good. When assessing the importance of the plant under this study, as a popular herb, basil is very important plant for human, used as a medicinal and aromatic plant for centuries and their importance is still increasing globally. Likewise, the system of organic farming is growing in importance in the world since last decades. Its role is to provide quality and pesticide-free food while protecting the environment. Presented by authors data provide very important information in agriculture production explaining the effects of biocontrol products on basil (Ocimum basilicum) cultivars cultivated in an ecological system. Therefore, the subject matter of this work is consistent with the profile of  the Journal   Agriculture interests.                                                                                                                    

The work is well structured and presented. However, the manuscript contains some ambiguities which should be eliminated before its publication.

Abstract: I have no comments about its content and structure, apart from the remark that it is a bit too long and requires shortening in accordance with the editorial office's requirements  (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/agronomy/instructions).

Introduction and Materials and methods are well done.  However, in my opinion we should write the names of plant cultivar names using apostrophes; for instance Ocimum basilicum L. cultivars: ‘Aromat de Buzau,’ ‘Serafim’, ‘Macedon’ and Cuisoare. What statistic test was used to assess normality, there is lack of this information in the material and methods section?

Results

The presentation of the results is good, but there are some details to be explained, incomprehensible to me. My doubts concern table 2, and the part concerning the application of biocontrol products. The table 2 as well as the description of the results do not indicate on which plant/cultivar biocontrol products were tested. In my opinion, table 2 should be divided into two separate or it should include the name of the plant, I understand that the application of biocontrol products refers to basil (O. basilicum) grown in open field? This information should be added about plant species in Materials and Methods sections for instance in the sentence: ...... 'experimental unit covered a 4.05 m² surface area that included 60 individual basil (O. basilicum) plants (line 129).                                                               

Disscusion

       Line 248: the sentence…. Rutin, known also rutin…./is it correct? Maybe you can use the name rutoside? It is the other name of this flavonoid.

Line 353: …..on the microorganism’ specie; should be: …. on the microorganism’ species  

Author Response

Reviewer 1

Comment: General comments: Scientific merits of manuscript are good. When assessing the importance of the plant under this study, as a popular herb, basil is very important plant for human, used as a medicinal and aromatic plant for centuries and their importance is still increasing globally. Likewise, the system of organic farming is growing in importance in the world since last decades. Its role is to provide quality and pesticide-free food while protecting the environment. Presented by authors data provide very important information in agriculture production explaining the effects of biocontrol products on basil (Ocimum basilicum) cultivars cultivated in an ecological system. Therefore, the subject matter of this work is consistent with the profile of the Journal   Agriculture interests. The work is well structured and presented. However, the manuscript contains some ambiguities which should be eliminated before its publication.

Comment: Abstract: I have no comments about its content and structure, apart from the remark that it is a bit too long and requires shortening in accordance with the editorial office's requirements  (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/agronomy/instructions).

Response: Abstract was reduced.

Comment: Introduction and Materials and methods are well done.  However, in my opinion we should write the names of plant cultivar names using apostrophes; for instance Ocimum basilicum L. cultivars: ‘Aromat de Buzau,’ ‘Serafim’, ‘Macedon’ and Cuisoare. What statistic test was used to assess normality, there is lack of this information in the material and methods section?

Response: cultivar names were written with apostrophes. Statistical tests were performed in SPSS, for normality we performed Descriptive statistic and then test of normality Shapiro-Wilk. The information was added in the text to Statistical Analysis section.

Comment: Results. The presentation of the results is good, but there are some details to be explained, incomprehensible to me. My doubts concern table 2, and the part concerning the application of biocontrol products. The table 2 as well as the description of the results do not indicate on which plant/cultivar biocontrol products were tested. In my opinion, table 2 should be divided into two separate or it should include the name of the plant, I understand that the application of biocontrol products refers to basil (O. basilicum) grown in open field? This information should be added about plant species in Materials and Methods sections for instance in the sentence: ...... 'experimental unit covered a 4.05 m² surface area that included 60 individual basil (O. basilicum) plants (line 129).

Response: Table 2 shows the influence of cultivar (rows 3-6) and myco-biocontrol formulates (rows 8-11) on fresh yield, essential oil (EO) content, assimilatory pigments and photosynthesis rate of basil, whereas the influences of combined factors cultivar x myco-biocontrol formulates are presented in figures 1-4.

The information regarding the open field is presented in the text (L118)

Comment: Disscusion  Line 248: the sentence…. Rutin, known also rutin…./is it correct? Maybe you can use the name rutoside? It is the other name of this flavonoid.

Response: we applied the correction and changed rutin with rutoside.

Comment: Line 353: …..on the microorganism’ specie; should be: …. on the microorganism’ species  

Response: we applied the correction (on the microorganism’ species)

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments to Authors

The manuscript untitled ‘The effect of myco-biocontrol based formulates on yield, physiology and secondary products of organically grown basil’ is an interesting work. However, there are some weaknesses in the manuscript that should be taken under consideration before publication.

1. The full Latin name of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) should be added here.
2. Abstract, line 23. Cultivars or variates? Please, decide. It should be unified through the whole manuscript.
3. Introduction, line 40-42. Just two sentences on basil is not enought, since this is the object of the study. Please, present the species better, especially in the area of its cultivation and chemical composition, with adequate references.
4. Material and Methods, line 116. The suggestion for future investigations: basil should be harvested before or at the beginning of flowering, when the quality of the herb is regarded as the highest.
5. Table 1. July instead of Julie
6. Subchapters 2.6 and 2.7. ‘Phenolic Compound/ Essential Oil Extraction and Characterization’ is too general. It is suggested to change these titles into, e.g ‘Phenolic Compound/ Essential Oil Extraction and Chromatographic Separation’
7. Line 190. Add proper references.
8. Results, table 2. ‘Essential oil content (%)’ instead of ‘Essential oil yield (%)’.
9. Tables 4-7. Retention (Kovats) indices should be shown next to each compound. In order to compare, it is suggested to present both experimental RIs and these from literature.
10. Tables 4-7. When given presentation of GC results, it is used to group essential oils compounds into several main groups (monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes etc.). Please, complete this at the bottom of tables.
11. Discussion, line 348. ‘Rutin, known also as rutin…’ – please clarify.

Author Response

Reviewer 2

Comment: The manuscript untitled ‘The effect of myco-biocontrol based formulates on yield, physiology and secondary products of organically grown basil’ is an interesting work. However, there are some weaknesses in the manuscript that should be taken under consideration before publication.

Comment:  The full Latin name of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) should be added here.

Response: we added the Latin name Ocimum basilicum L. in the text, also we added “L.” where necessary. We do not consider as necessary to add it also in the title, taking into account that it is already mentioned among the keywords.

Comment: Abstract, line 23. Cultivars or variates? Please, decide. It should be unified through the whole manuscript.

Response: cultivar was used through whole manuscript

Comment: Introduction, line 40-42. Just two sentences on basil is not enough, since this is the object of the study. Please, present the species better, especially in the area of its cultivation and chemical composition, with adequate references.

Response: we introduced a paragraph on basil cultivation and chemical composition (line 45-54)

Comment: Material and Methods, line 116. The suggestion for future investigations: basil should be harvested before or at the beginning of flowering, when the quality of the herb is regarded as the highest.

Response: Thank you for your suggestion! We will keep in mind for the future investigation.

Comment: Table 1. July instead of Julie

Response: we applied the correction

Comment: Subchapters 2.6 and 2.7. ‘Phenolic Compound/ Essential Oil Extraction and Characterization’ is too general. It is suggested to change these titles into, e.g ‘Phenolic Compound/ Essential Oil Extraction and Chromatographic Separation’

Response: we applied the suggestion

Comment: Line 190. Add proper references.

Response: we added the references

Comment: Results, table 2. ‘Essential oil content (%)’ instead of ‘Essential oil yield (%)’.

Response: we applied the correction

Comment: Tables 4-7. Retention (Kovats) indices should be shown next to each compound. In order to compare, it is suggested to present both experimental RIs and these from literature.

Response: RIs were added

Comment: Tables 4-7. When given presentation of GC results, it is used to group essential oils compounds into several main groups (monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes etc.). Please, complete this at the bottom of tables.

Response: we completed this information at the bottom of the tables

Comment: Discussion, line 348. ‘Rutin, known also as rutin…’ – please clarify.

Response: we changed rutin with its synonym rutoside

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 3 Report

I don't have comments and suggestions. I think the manuscript is good. I did not find any mistakes. 

Author Response

Reviewer 3

Comment: Comments and Suggestions for Authors I don't have comments and suggestions. I think the manuscript is good. I did not find any mistakes.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx