Effect of Foliar Supplied PGRs on Flower Growth and Antioxidant Activity of African Marigold (Tagetes erecta L.)

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The manuscript has been improved but the conclusions still need small correction. Please, see below:

In the conclusion section, the following sentence is too long, therefore it should be either deleted or modified: „In the present study, foliar application with different concentrations (0, 100, 150, 250, 300 and 800 mg·L-1) of ABA, NAD, GA3, SA, IBA and OA proved to be successful for enhancing flowering and antiox- idant activity of two cultivars of African marigold, as evidenced from improved diameter, fresh weight, dry weight, phenolics, flavonoids, DPPH free radical scavenging activity and reducing power ability of flowers as the doses were increased to a certain extent, after which a detrimental effect, although not lethal, was registered.”

Author Response

Dear Reviewer,

please find attached the file for the response

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

After reviewing the manuscript I have some questions and recommendations:

Abstract: authors used the word doses and at line 106 the word used was levels. I think the better choice is "doses";

Introduction: the second paragraph (lines 55-76) is too long. In my opinion the explanation about mechanisms (physiological and biochemical) of PGRs  are more suitable in the discussion.

Figure 1 - the period of evaluations are missing : July 16 to November 15, 2020.

Experimental design: the authors described a bi-factorial scheme with two cultivars and six types of PGRs. Reading the results, In my opinion each PGR was analyzed separately . Therefore, the factorial scheme is Cultivars and doses of PGRs: 2 x 5 +1 (control), with 3 replications and ten plants.

The authors mentioned the use of ten pots and one plant per pot. How many seeds were sown in each pot?

Both cultivars reached the blooming at the same time?

How many days were necessary for each cultivar to present more than three flowers?

How many times each cultivar was sprayed during the whole experiment?

Which equipment was used to apply the PGRs solutions?

How much volume of solution each plant received during the spraying?

The statistical analyses have shown significant interaction among cultivars and doses?

Results: repetitive. The same information in the figures are described in the results. In my opinion this is not appropriate, the reader is capable of checking the data in the figures. The authors must highlight and pay attention to the most valuable results.

The discussion: once again the authors repeated the data of results in this section. A more deeper discussion is missing, specially for biochemical and physiological effects of PGRs and association with floral attributes and phenolic contents.The authors must discuss guiding for the better PGR, considering the costs of PGRs, doses and longevity of blooming.

Author Response

Dear Reviewer,

please find attached the file for the response

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Round 2

Reviewer 2 Report

The manuscript has improved significantly. No additional comments.