Challenges and Strategies in the Industrial Application of Dendrobium officinale

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The presented manuscript systematically and thoroughly highlights most of the recent findings regarding the phytochemistry and propagation of Dendrobium officinale, both in industry and in lab settings. The information is presented in an informative and nonrepetitive way, and one can easily find all of the relevant information, so I think this manuscript makes a significant contribution to the field and represents a nice overview of the most recent advances. There are, however, several issues that need to be addressed first.

1. There is a significant taxonomical issue with this species, so it would be informative to include all of the synonyms by which it can be found to facilitate further literature search. Please consult IPNI or POWO databases for synonyms.
2. References 7-9, 10, 11, 13-16, 19, 20, 22-27, 29, 34, 37-42, 44-50, 52, 53, 88, 90-94, 98, and 99 are not available in English and cannot be found through google search. They appear to be transliterations and translations of manuscripts published in Chinese journals written in Chinese, so an addition of DOI numbers in these references would significantly improve the verifiability of the presented data. Several references could be found, though also available only in Chinese (refs. 18, 33, and 87).
3. Page 6, last paragraph. References 54 and 55 are misrepresented. These references show change in the total content of specialized metabolites due to varying environmental parameters, but they do not show a “marked influence on its chemical profile”. The formulation is somewhat misleading.
4. Not all references from literature were used, for example Chen, Y., Wang, X., Li, L., & Ao, C. (2021). The formation of integuments, megasporogenesis and megagametogenesis in Dendrobium catenatum, with special discussions on embryo sac types and section techniques. Botanica Serbica, 45(2), 177-184. could be used in the discussion of the results, since it has implications on cultivation of this species.

Author Response

"Please see the attachment."

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Summary

The review article, "Challenges and Strategies in the Industrial Application of Dendrobium officinale," analyses the prospects of this traditional Chinese medicinal herb, which has been gaining enormous interest based on its pharmacological functionalities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immunity-modulating potential. It is promising in healthcare and wellness, but this plant has encountered difficulties during industrial application because of deficiency of wild resources, its long reproductive period and the absence of industry standards. Artificial propagation and selective breeding have overcome some hurdles, and relatively modern advancements have especially been able to enhance its application relevance to pharmaceuticals, supplements as well as cosmetics. The challenges of the poor quality and conservation of germplasm still persist, as well as lacking an unifying national standards for production. The review highlights this traditional herb’s diverse benefits, such as cardiovascular protection, anti-tumor properties, and glycemic control. Despite these advantages, large-scale cultivation continues to struggle with inconsistent seedling quality and propagation difficulties. The article advocates for improved conservation, better product standards, and expanded cultivation to meet Idemand, while also emphasizing the need for clinical research and national guidelines to support the plant's industrial growth.

 

General concept comments

1.     Figure 1 and its related content do not clearly explain how the proposed strategies, such as "breeding of new varieties," address the challenges faced. The practical application of these strategies, including how breeding can be beneficial, should be better articulated.

2.     Figure 2 would be clearer if presented as a table with more detailed information, allowing for a more structured and comprehensive presentation of the data.

3.     Section 2.2.2 lacks discussion on "wild cultivation." If this is not considered an important aspect of the topic, the authors should provide a justification for its exclusion to ensure a more complete and balanced overview.

4.     Section 2.3, which discusses the medicinal importance, might be more effective if moved earlier in the manuscript to highlight the significance of the plant in addressing health-related challenges.

 

Specific comments 

1.     The following statements require supporting references from research studies or statistic reports to strengthen their validity:

• “However, the industrial application of D. officinale faces many problems such as the scarcity of wild resources, low natural reproduction rate, and slow growth rate.”
• “The industrial development of D. officinale in the southern regions of China, including Guangxi, Yunnan, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guizhou, and Jiangxi, has progressed rapidly, establishing a comprehensive and sizable industrial chain ranging from raw material cultivation to the manufacturing of healthcare products. In recent years, a favorable market trend for D. officinale has been observed, with a noticeable rise in the prices of seedlings in bottles and fresh products.”
• “The D. officinale industry in China has undergone rapid development in recent years, leading to the establishment of an extensive industrial network.”
• “To conserve wild D. officinale resources while keeping up with the growing market demands, China has notably advanced the D. officinale cultivation industry in recent years.”
• “Since the late 20th century, China has achieved significant advancements in the rapid propagation techniques of D. officinale.”

2.     The statement “Recent advancements in cross-breeding, induced mutation breeding, genetic engineering, and molecular markers have opened avenues for genetic enhancements in D. officinale, potentially accelerating the plant's development speed [29] and facilitating rapid identification and authentication of its germplasm [30]” should be supported by original research articles rather than citing previous reviews to provide more robust and specific evidence.

Author Response

"Please see the attachment."

Author Response File: Author Response.docx