Exogenous 24-Epibrassinolide Alleviated Selenium Stress in Peach Seedling
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe manuscript Exogenous 24-epibrassinolide alleviated selenium stress in peach seedling reveals interesting information on how to alleviate Selenium stress in peach seedlings by applying a type of brassinosteroid. The paper is well written and developed, and can potentially be published in the Journal. However, several elements need to be improved.
Line 12: write down the studied doses of epibrassinolide.
Line 15: Note the doses studied to promote Se stress in parentheses.
Line 19: genes should be in italics ...(Sultr1;2, SAT3;2, NFS2, and oas-tls)...
Line 21: Do not use the same words as title, deleted: peach, and selenium stress.
Line 36: specify how much is “high selenium content”.
Lines 50-59: it is suggested that the authors note some work on the use of this compound in the mitigation of stress by some ions. Alternatively, specify the information gap associated with its use.
Line 66: Delete 24-epibrassinolide; use only its previously defined abbreviation.
Line 79: Enter the pH and electrical conductivity at which the Hoagland solution was handled.
Line 79: ideally, note the contribution of mEq of the Hoagland solution.
Line 85: It is suggested that the authors note the citation and/or background of why they used a dose of sodium selenite (0.1 mg/L).
Line 87: Authors are suggested to note the citation and/or background as to why they used a dose of 24-EBL (2.0 mg/L).
Lines 119 and 128: v/w in italics.
Line 138: Note the names of the studied genes.
Line 141: the authors are strongly advised to note the µL of cDNA, fluorophore, DNTPs, and nuclease-free water used in the reaction.
Line 141: Note the reaction conditions in the thermocycler.
Line 156: document, format: justified text.
Line 164: Figure 1 verifies and corrects the y-axis title.
Lines 165, 179, 191, 196, 215, and 227: It is recommended that the titles of Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 be rewritten for accuracy and clarity.
Line 168: document, format: justified text.
Line 191: figure 3 check and correct y-axis title, should be: Se content (mg·kg-1).
Line 191: figure 3 checks and corrects the x-axis title; it is incomplete.
Line 215: figure 5 verifies and corrects the y-axis title, should be Se content (mg·kg-1).
Line 215: figure 5 verifies and corrects the title of the x-axis, which is incomplete.
Lines 220-222: note whether the expression or suppression is significant.
Line 261: note the low-high concentration value.
Line 296: what are the optimal levels, note.
Line 314: NFS2 in italics.
Line 317: Please note the possible limitations of this study.
Line 342: authors are suggested to check the references.
Author Response
- Line 12: write down the studied doses of epibrassinolide.
Response: we added the studied doses of epibrassinolide.
- Line 15: Note the doses studied to promote Se stress in parentheses.
Response: we added the studied doses of epibrassinolide.
- Line 19: genes should be in italics ...(Sultr1;2, SAT3;2, NFS2, and oas-tls)...
Response: We made these words to be italics.
- Line 21: Do not use the same words as title, deleted: peach, and selenium stress.
Response: We deleted these words.
- Line 36: specify how much is “high selenium content”.
Response: We have supplemented the literature on Se concentrations in the revised text.
- Lines 50-59: it is suggested that the authors note some work on the use of this compound in the mitigation of stress by some ions. Alternatively, specify the information gap associated with its use.
Response: We have rewritten this section as requested by the reviewers.
- Line 66: Delete 24-epibrassinolide; use only its previously defined abbreviation.
Response: We deleted the full name of 24-epibrassinolide.
- Line 79: Enter the pH and electrical conductivity at which the Hoagland solution was handled.
Response: We added pH and EC in the revised text.
- Line 79: ideally, note the contribution of mEq of the Hoagland solution.
Response: The main nutrient elements (mEg) in the Hoagland solution are added in the revised text.
- Line 85: It is suggested that the authors note the citation and/or background of why they used a dose of sodium selenite (0.1 mg/L).
Response: This concentration was determined by our research group in previous work. Here we have added a reference in the revised text.
- Line 87: Authors are suggested to note the citation and/or background as to why they used a dose of 24-EBL (2.0 mg/L).
Response: This concentration was determined by our research group in previous work. Here we have added a reference in the revised text.
- Lines 119 and 128: v/w in italics.
Response: It is now italicized.
- Line 138: Note the names of the studied genes.
Response: Genes are noted in the revised text.
- Line 141: the authors are strongly advised to note the µL of cDNA, fluorophore, DNTPs, and nuclease-free waterused in the reaction.
Response: The reagents in the reaction solution have been added to the revised text.
- Line 141: Note the reaction conditions in the thermocycler.
Response: The reaction conditions have been added in the revised text.
- Line 156: document, format: justified text.
Response: The text has been fixed to be justified text.
- Line 164: Figure 1 verifies and corrects the y-axis title.
Response: The y-axis title has been verified in the revised text.
- Lines 165, 179, 191, 196, 215, and 227: It is recommended that the titles of Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 be rewritten for accuracy and clarity.
Response: The titles have been rewritten.
- Line 168: document, format: justified text.
Response: The text has been fixed to be justified text.
- Line 191: figure 3 check and correct y-axis title, should be: Se content (mg·kg-1).
Response: The y-axis title has been corrected.
- Line 191: figure 3 checks and corrects the x-axis title; it is incomplete.
Response: The x-axis title has been corrected.
- Line 215: figure 5 verifies and corrects the y-axis title, should be Se content (mg·kg-1).
Response: The y-axis title has been corrected.
- Line 215: figure 5 verifies and corrects the title of the x-axis, which is incomplete.
Response: The x-axis title has been corrected.
- Lines 220-222: note whether the expression or suppression is significant.
Response: We have noted significance in the revised text.
- Line 261: note the low-high concentration value.
Response: We have rewritten this part. The appropriate concentration of Se was described in the introduction section, please refer it.
- Line 296: what are the optimal levels, note.
Response: We have rewritten this part. The appropriate concentration of Se was described in the introduction section, please refer it.
- Line 314: NFS2 in italics.
Response: It is now italicized.
- Line 317: Please note the possible limitations of this study.
Response: We have added some possible limitations in the end of Conclusion section.
- Line 342: authors are suggested to check the references.
Response: The references have been amended.
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe manuscript entitled “Exogenous 24-epibrassinolide alleviated selenium stress in peach seedlings” is not suitable for publication.
A similar study has already been published (https://doi.org/10.1002/ep.14615), which investigated the effects of 24-epibrassinolide in combination with melatonin.
The Abstract should include more specific details, including key results and numerical data.
The authors should explain why selenium stress is important and its relevance to peach cultivation or broader agricultural systems.
As 24-epibrassinolide is an expensive compound, its practicality for large-scale application should be discussed.
The experimental design should be clearly described, including the number of seedlings per replicate.
Figure 1 (Biomass) needs correction for unit.
The Discussion section is too general; it should be revised to focus more directly on the findings of this study.
Please add DOIs for all references.
Author Response
- A similar study has already been published (https://doi.org/10.1002/ep.14615), which investigated the effects of 24-epibrassinolide in combination with melatonin.
Response: The article that reviewer questioned is the previously published work of our group. In that article, it demonstrated the alleviating effect of 24-epibrassinolide on selenium toxicity by measuring the indicators, such as plant carotenoid content, chlorophyll content, and root biomass. In contrast, the present study elucidates the mechanisms underlying the alleviation of selenium toxicity by 24-epibrassinolide by examining the chemical forms of Se, subcellular distribution patterns, and the expressions of Se metabolism-related genes. The present work an extension of the earlier study.
- The Abstract should include more specific details, including key results and numerical data.
Response: The Abstract has been rewritten.
- The authors should explain why selenium stress is important and its relevance to peach cultivation or broader agricultural systems.
Response: For related information about this question, we have mentioned relevant explanation in the first paragraph of the Introduction section. Please refer it.
- As 24-epibrassinolide is an expensive compound, its practicality for large-scale application should be discussed.
Response: Although 24-EBL is currently expensive, its usage concentration is relatively low. The use of 24-EBL in the experiment is to provide theoretical basis for future production. With the update of 24-EBL production technology in the future, the price may be reduced
- The experimental design should be clearly described, including the number of seedlings per replicate.
Response: The experimental design has been amended.
- Figure 1 (Biomass) needs correction for unit.
Response: The unit has been corrected in the revised text.
- The Discussion section is too general; it should be revised to focus more directly on the findings of this study.
Response: The Discussion has been rewritten.
- Please add DOIs for all references.
Response: The references have been amended.
Round 2
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsAccept in present form.
Author Response
Thanks for the comments
