A Point Mutation of the Alpha-Tubulin Gene ClTUA Causes Dominant Dwarf Phenotype in Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus)

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

I reviewed the manuscript entitled “A Point Mutation of the alpha-tubulin Gene ClTUA Causes Dominant Dwarf Phenotype in Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) ”. The following aspects were taken into consideration: Originality, technical quality, clarity of presentation and potential significance.

 

The study is very comprehensive and well-executed. It advances our understanding on the regulation of plant height in watermelon. The derived dwarf mutants will serve as foundation germplasm for breeding of short-vine watermelons for open and protected cultivation. The manuscript is well-written. The tables and figures captions are well-designed and elaborated.

 

I have very few and minor comments detailed below:

 

Abstract

 

Comment 1: Vine length is a crucial plant architecture trait in watermelon. Please expand further, an important trait for doing what?

Comment 2: Expand EMS at first use?

Comment 3: Expand LC-MS/MS at first use?

 

Introduction

Comment 4: Line 45. I suggest to add a statement stating emphasise on the importance of plant height in watermelon? Are cultivated varieties longer/short in terms of vines/plant height? How these effects flowering rates and yield?  before the sentence “Mutants provide valuable” or in line 54

Comment 5: Line 67, Expand SBA?

Comment 6: Please revise the sentence, not well-spelled, consider “ This study fills the gap by identifying dominant gene inheritance of the dwarf plant architecture in watermelon and provide new mutant germplasm materials and gene resources for research and breeding of vine architecture/length in watermelon”.

 

Materials and methods

Line 92. State city and country, also supply GPS coordinates.

Materials are well-described, check and consider the following minor issues:

Line 93: Please talk more about the inbred line G42? Attributes, is it long vined, it seems it’s a diploid variety? Also, Figure 1. Tried to show the difference in plant height, but these are still at vegetative stage, so the mutant can actually attains, longer plants at maturity. So, are these photographs to show vine lengths at maturity? Also, please data for internode lengths between the two varieties.

Results

The section is well-written. Just a few minor corrections/suggestions:

Figure 3. Fine mapping of the gene. The caption should be self-explanatory. Please improve further.

Discussion

Well-written.

Conclusions

Well-articulated summarizing key findings of the study.

 

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Please see the attachment

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

In this article, the authors identified a dominant dwarf mutant through EMS mutagenesis. They characterized the mutant using molecular marker mapping, revealing that it displayed incomplete dominance. Fewer internodal cells, shorter internodes, and reduced vine length characterized this. Gene mapping identified the target gene, ClTUA, which encodes α-tubulin. The mutation affects auxin synthesis, leading to dwarfing in the plants. I found the article very interesting and useful regarding the genetics of watermelon. I have some issues to address.

Abstract: Avoid using abbreviations without meaning. Follow a structured format that includes an introduction, objectives, materials and methods, results, and conclusion.

Line 52: Clearly describe the names of the genes that you mention and that are abbreviated as mutants.

 Line 91: In the abstract, you emphasize that you use EMS mutants, but in the methodology section, you do not explain the origin of these mutants or how they were created. Also, you emphasize this in the conclusion.

 Line 113: Define the meaning of CTAB and describe all abbreviations throughout the text.

 Line 194: At the beginning of the results section, provide context about what “G42” refers to.

 Figure 1: I suggest that in panels d, e, and f, you label the names above the N+/+, D+/-, and D+/+ sections. It is difficult to understand why there is less or more representation of these three plants.

Improve the image caption “(l) Length measurements of the 3rd to 8th internodes for N+/+, D+/-, and D+/+ plants, respectively. (m) Height measurements of N+/+, D+/-, and D+/+ plants at different days after treatment.” Instead of stating "statistical analysis," specify that these are the lengths of internodes and plant heights. Additionally, the image must clearly indicate the specific lengths being measured.

Figure 3: Enhance the figure caption for clarity. What should I observe?

Figure 4: Improve the image quality; the names are difficult to read.

Figure 5: Revise the figure caption to include the housekeeping gene used.

Conclusion. Please conclude about the point mutation that you found in CITUA

Comments on the Quality of English Language

Minor issues are required 

Author Response

Please see the attachment

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf