Alternative Effects Yeast-Based Biostimulants Against Downy Mildew in Vitis vinifera cv Cabernet Sauvignon

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

In this manuscript, Sergio Puccioni and colleagues evaluated the efficacy of two yeast-based biostimulants (YE1 and YE2) in mitigating Plasmopara viticola infections in Vitis vinifera cv Cabernet Sauvignon under open field conditions. I have following comments:

1, For the title, I suggested to employ “Effects of two yeast-based biostimulants on controlling downy mildew in Vitis vinifera cv Cabernet Sauvignon”.

2, For the Abstract, authors should clarify the difference in the compositions of YE1 and YE2. P. viticola should be in italics.

3, For the key words, bioproducts should be included.

4, For the introduction, the last two paragraphs should be combined into one paragraph.

5, For the materials and methods, genotypes of grape vine and downy mildew examined in this study should be described, and growth conditions like temperature and humidity should be included.

6, For the results, pictures to show the grape vine and downy mildew should be exhibited. Abbreviations like Tr appeared in the figures should be explained in the legend.

7, For the discussion, the discussion section should be divided into several subsections and each subsection should be entitled.

8, For the conclusion, Authors should consider to combine these four paragraphs into one concise paragraph.

Author Response

To the editorial board of the Special issue “Novel Insights into Sustainable Viticulture” Journal “Horticulturae”

Subject: Revision of Manuscript Titled “Alternative effects yeast-based biostimulants against downy mildew in cv Cabernet Sauvignon” 3468750

Dear Editor-in-Chief,

We are pleased to submit the revised version of our manuscript, titled “Alternative effects yeast-based biostimulants against downy mildew in cv Cabernet Sauvignon”, ID 3468750, for your consideration in the Special issue “Novel Insights into Sustainable Viticulture”, Journal “Horticulturae”. We sincerely appreciate the constructive comments and valuable suggestions provided by the reviewers and the editorial team. Their insights have significantly contributed to improving the quality and clarity of our work.

We have carefully addressed all the comments and suggestions in the revised manuscript. Detailed point-by-point responses to each comment of each reviewer have been included to highlight the modifications made. We believe these revisions have strengthened our manuscript and enhanced the overall contribution to the field.

Once again, we extend our gratitude to the reviewers and the editorial team for their time and effort in evaluating our work. We look forward to your positive consideration of our revised submission.

Please do not hesitate to contact me should you require any further information.

Sincerely,
Chiara Biselli, PhD

CREA-Forestry and Wood

Viale Santa Margherita 80

52100

Arezzo

Italy

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

A simple experiment using two biostimulants obtained from yeast, only on one grapevine variety. The experiment was set up correctly with the appropriate number of plants and repetitions. The abstract should include the values ​​of changes in metabolites compared to the control. In the introduction, determine the volume of grapevine production in Italy and provide the current use of yeast in the cultivation of perennial, not annual, plants. The methodology should briefly describe the climatic conditions in the years of research, the amount of precipitation and the average temperature in the months of the experiment. Characterize plant care, dates and doses of chemicals and biostimulants administered, provide information on fertilization, pruning and irrigation. In the discussion, provide examples of the use of yeast in the cultivation of perennial, not annual, plants. For other authors, provide the results obtained by them. Take into account the influence of climatic conditions on the content of metabolites.

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

To the editorial board of the Special issue “Novel Insights into Sustainable Viticulture” Journal “Horticulturae”

Subject: Revision of Manuscript Titled “Alternative effects yeast-based biostimulants against downy mildew in cv Cabernet Sauvignon” 3468750

Dear Editor-in-Chief,

We are pleased to submit the revised version of our manuscript, titled “Alternative effects yeast-based biostimulants against downy mildew in cv Cabernet Sauvignon”, ID 3468750, for your consideration in the Special issue “Novel Insights into Sustainable Viticulture”, Journal “Horticulturae”. We sincerely appreciate the constructive comments and valuable suggestions provided by the reviewers and the editorial team. Their insights have significantly contributed to improving the quality and clarity of our work.

We have carefully addressed all the comments and suggestions in the revised manuscript. Detailed point-by-point responses to each comment of each reviewer have been included to highlight the modifications made. We believe these revisions have strengthened our manuscript and enhanced the overall contribution to the field.

Once again, we extend our gratitude to the reviewers and the editorial team for their time and effort in evaluating our work. We look forward to your positive consideration of our revised submission.

Please do not hesitate to contact me should you require any further information.

Sincerely,
Chiara Biselli, PhD

CREA-Forestry and Wood

Viale Santa Margherita 80

52100

Arezzo

Italy

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Da diversi anni il mondo della ricerca ha indirizzato parte della propria attività all'individuazione di valide alternative all'uso del rame in campo fitoiatrico. È noto che il rame è un metallo pesante che tende ad accumularsi nei suoli a causa della sua scarsa mobilità con effetti negativi sia sulla salute che sulla biodiversità dei suoli. Il lavoro di ricerca ha solide basi scientifiche ed è stato presentato dagli autori in modo chiaro, dettagliato e ben strutturato soprattutto la parte relativa al protocollo adottato. Il disegno sperimentale appare idoneo alla sperimentazione condotta. I dati sono esposti in modo chiaro e validati da adeguate analisi statistiche. La parte conclusiva è una chiara dimostrazione di come si stia procedendo nella giusta direzione per intercettare soluzioni valide e soprattutto sostenibili all'uso del rame in uno dei settori dell'agricoltura, quello della viticoltura, che ha un grande impatto sull'ambiente. Sarebbe interessante comprendere gli effetti di questi biostimolanti sulla fisiologia di base della vite e la qualità del prodotto finale di questi biostimolanti in una fase storica in cui la viticoltura e la produzione vinicola sono minacciate dai cambiamenti climatici. Ritengo che l'opera possa essere pubblicata nella forma attuale. 

Author Response

To the editorial board of the Special issue “Novel Insights into Sustainable Viticulture” Journal “Horticulturae”

Subject: Revision of Manuscript Titled “Alternative effects yeast-based biostimulants against downy mildew in cv Cabernet Sauvignon” 3468750

Dear Editor-in-Chief,

We are pleased to submit the revised version of our manuscript, titled “Alternative effects yeast-based biostimulants against downy mildew in cv Cabernet Sauvignon”, ID 3468750, for your consideration in the Special issue “Novel Insights into Sustainable Viticulture”, Journal “Horticulturae”. We sincerely appreciate the constructive comments and valuable suggestions provided by the reviewers and the editorial team. Their insights have significantly contributed to improving the quality and clarity of our work.

We have carefully addressed all the comments and suggestions in the revised manuscript. Detailed point-by-point responses to each comment of each reviewer have been included to highlight the modifications made. We believe these revisions have strengthened our manuscript and enhanced the overall contribution to the field.

Once again, we extend our gratitude to the reviewers and the editorial team for their time and effort in evaluating our work. We look forward to your positive consideration of our revised submission.

Please do not hesitate to contact me should you require any further information.

Sincerely,
Chiara Biselli, PhD

CREA-Forestry and Wood

Viale Santa Margherita 80

52100

Arezzo

Italy

Please do not consider the attached file becuase a mistake occurred during the upload.

Thank you very much.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 4 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Following the review of the manuscript, I consider it suitable for publication pending minor revisions. The manuscript is a well-written and well-structured scientific work, featuring a comprehensive introduction, a clear and detailed materials and methods section, and generally well-presented results along with a thoughtful discussion. Please find attached a set of comments with suggestions for improvements and corrections to enhance the manuscript further.

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

To the editorial board of the Special issue “Novel Insights into Sustainable Viticulture” Journal “Horticulturae”

Subject: Revision of Manuscript Titled “Alternative effects yeast-based biostimulants against downy mildew in cv Cabernet Sauvignon” 3468750

Dear Editor-in-Chief,

We are pleased to submit the revised version of our manuscript, titled “Alternative effects yeast-based biostimulants against downy mildew in cv Cabernet Sauvignon”, ID 3468750, for your consideration in the Special issue “Novel Insights into Sustainable Viticulture”, Journal “Horticulturae”. We sincerely appreciate the constructive comments and valuable suggestions provided by the reviewers and the editorial team. Their insights have significantly contributed to improving the quality and clarity of our work.

We have carefully addressed all the comments and suggestions in the revised manuscript. Detailed point-by-point responses to each comment of each reviewer have been included to highlight the modifications made. We believe these revisions have strengthened our manuscript and enhanced the overall contribution to the field.

Once again, we extend our gratitude to the reviewers and the editorial team for their time and effort in evaluating our work. We look forward to your positive consideration of our revised submission.

Please do not hesitate to contact me should you require any further information.

Sincerely,
Chiara Biselli, PhD

CREA-Forestry and Wood

Viale Santa Margherita 80

52100

Arezzo

Italy

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Authors have revised the manuscript in a satisfactory way.

Author Response

We would like to thank the reviewer for the excellent work in reviewing our manuscript.

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The authors made small changes and additions mainly to the methodology and clarifications in the description of the results. They did not enter the values ​​of the results obtained in the abstract. Also in the discussion, they did not include the results of the use of yeast by other authors in the cultivation of horticultural plants (post harvest disease of apple and strawberry etc.). In their response to the reviewer, they did not provide reasons for not responding to the above-mentioned comments.

Author Response

Authors would like to thank the reviewer for the valuable feedback and thoughtful suggestions, which have helped us improving the quality of our manuscript.

We apologize for not including the values of the obtained results in the abstract earlier. These values have now been added (lines 24-32, 35-38, and 39-43).

The results requested by the reviewer in the first round of the revision process have been previously  incorporated into the Discussion:

• Lines 418-422: The results are consistent with the effects of Cerevisane© in reducing the symptoms of artificially inoculated downy mildew on cv Italia in controlled conditions, where the percentage of infected leaves decreased significantly following Cerevisane treatments, from 23.3% to 3.7% at 7 days post-inoculation and from 38.5% to 9.4% at 11 days post-inoculation [23].
• Lines 450-456: This is consistent with findings in other grapevine varieties for which these compounds are stimulated under pathogen attacks: cv Alvarinho challenged by esca disease, for which healthy leaves could be distinguished from infected ones on the base of the concentration of phenolic compounds like Trans-caffeoyltartaric acid, trans-coumaroyl-tartaric acid, quercetin-3-O-glucoside, quercetin-3-O-galactoside, kaempferol-3-glucoside and myricetin [43], and the resistant cvs Terold and Bianca that showed a significant higher accumulation of caftaric acid at 48 hours after E. nectator inoculation, in comparison to the susceptible cv Teroldego [44].

Unfortunately, as mentioned in our previous responses to reviewer's comments, reference [43], which was included in the first version of the manuscript, is no longer available and has been replaced. The results associated with this new reference have been added to the Discussion accordingly (lines 450-456).

Regarding the results on post-harvest applications for apples and strawberries, since in our experiment the product was applied to the leaves before harvesting, we believe that such research falls beyond the scope of the present paper.

We hope that our responses are now complete and satisfactorily address reviewer's requests.

Sincerely