Effects of 1-Methylcyclopropene Treatment on the Quality and Malic Acid Metabolism of ‘Xiangjiao’ Plum under Low-Temperature Storage

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

In the manuscript entitled 'Effects of treatment with 1 methylcyclopropene on the quality and malic acid metabolism of the plum ‘Xiangjiao’ (Prunus salicina Lindl.) under low temperature storage', аccording to the authors, it was to investigate the effects of treatment with 1 methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) and ethylene absorbent (EA) on the quality and metabolism of malic acid of ‘Xiangjiao’ plum during storage at 4°C. Based on the present results, the authors concluded that treatment with 1-MCP can significantly reduce CI index and weight loss rate, increase fruit firmness, SSC and titratable acid content, inhibit respiratory peak, relative electrical conductivity and MDA accumulation and maintain SOD, POD and CAT activity. Moreover, the fruits treated with 1-MCP were fuller and tastier, suggesting that 1-MCP is an effective way to maintain the keeping quality of the fruit and extend the storage time.

The problem of the study is actual and the obtained results are interesting. The experimental setup is well designed. In the Materials and Methods section, the methods are explained in detail. In the Results section, the analyzed parameters are presented using graphs, which are commented in detail in the Discussion section based on the relevant literature

Some corrections are necessary and they are marked in the text using the ‘Comment’ tool. In my opinion, the objectives of this work are interesting and acceptable.

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

REVIEW REPORT

 

ABSTRACT section

 

 

INTRODUCTION section

 

Line 34: „...beauty“??? I think that the term „beauty“ can be interpreted differently...

Line 53: „Acidity...“  Maybe it is better to start the sentence with "Adequate acidity level..."

Line 55: „(EC 8.4.1.1.31)“ should be replaced with „(EC 4.1.1.31)“

Fig.1: „PECP“ on the top of Figure should be replaced with „PEPC“. You should also check the direction of the arrows in the part that represents the metabolism of malic acid in the cytoplasm. In the part of the Figure 1. showing the metabolic pathways in mitochondria, TCA should be written instead of TAC.

 

MATERIALS AND METHODS section

 

Line 79: Can you explain what is meaning„...(70% ripe...“ You should give an explanation similar to that given for the CI determination in the text below (see lines 93-101).

Line 83: „newspapers“?????

Line 84: „...field heat“????

Line 84: „...fumigate...“ Is it correct term?

Line 86: „..purity is 10%...“???

Lines 88-91: These sentences are not clear enough and they should be reformulated.

Line 117: This sentence is not clear enough and need to be reformulated.

Line 128. The sentences are not clear enough and they should be reformulated. What are the wavelenghts for the absorbance measuring?

Lines 135-139: These sentences are not clear enough and they should be reformulated.

Lines 140-143: These sentences are not clear enough and they should be reformulated.

Also, equation (5) should be more precisely marked with the number (5).

            Lines 148-149: Equation (6) should be more precisely marked with the number (6).

            In general, it is necessary that the entire Materials and Methods section undergo a complete revision in terms of the English language.

 

RESULTS section

 

Lines 204: “... treatment was...“ should be replaced with „...treatments were...“

Lines 216-217: „...superior sensory quality.“???

Line 227: „...treated with the CK...“????

Fig. 7C and Line 327: „PECP“ should be replaced with „PEPC“.

 

Results in this section are very interesting. However, the English language should be better.

 

DISCUSSION section

 

This section is interesting and well written.

 

            CONCLUSIONS section

 

Line 379: „fuller“ should be replaced with better term.

Line 380: „preservation“ should be deleted.

Line 385: add term „pleasant“ before „sour taste“???

In general, it is necessary that the entire Materials and Methods section undergo a complete revision in terms of the English language.

However, the English language in Results section should be better.

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 3 Report

Dear Authors,

The manuscript has a well-defined concrete aim and questions and the authors applied several methods to answer the effectiveness of 1-MCP. The aims, methods and results and conclusions are adequate. However, in order to be more accurate, some modifications are needed that I recommend below:

In the abstract, line 17 please specify that ‘Xiangjiao’ is a variety that belongs to P. salicina. Please make the sentences in line 18-19 more accurate – e.g. fruit quality and stored at 4^oC.

In Introduction, line 32 please modify the sentence as follows: “‘Xiangjiao’ plum is a favored variety of cinnabar plum (Prunus salicina Lindl.)…”  Also, add that 40 years of cultivation refers to China.

The Introduction part has to be developed citing more relevant papers from Europe. Also, regarding the usage of 1-MCP.

Before mentioning Figure 1 in the text, a reference numbered with 10 is mentioned. However, it is about blueberries. Where did you get Figure 1?  - please cite reference.

Line 79: mistyping (plum plums). Line 88-90: please check sentence constructions/repetitions.

Line 93-98: re-write sentences without starting with “And”, not using future tense. Pleas clarify whether you scored only on the basis of spots on the skin or also fruit flesh browning? How did you score the latter?

Line 113: please don’t use direct speech (“Take …”). The same occurs for Line 132.

Line 174: DNase I is not an RNA extraction kit.

Line 178: please site reference on the homology of peach and plum genome. Line 187: cite reference.

Title of Table 1 has to be more concrete – at least put that these primers were designed by you.

Line 194: please indicate for what reasons have you used statistical analyses? Comparing the applications, on CI, …?

Line 204: markedly lower means significantly differed?

Title of Fig 5: write HPLC profile.

Line 307: please correct to Fig 7B. How can you explain the high levels, e.g. on CK, on day 15?

Some minor improvements are needed, as marked above

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 4 Report

Wu et al. submitted the original article to Journal Horticulturae entitled Effects of 1-methylcyclopropene treatment on Quality and malic 2 acid metabolism of ‘Xiangjiao’ plum (Prunus salicina Lindl.) 3 under low-temperature storage. This article has good scope in a journal but some changes have been required before the publishing of an MS.

Please reduce the title word and make it catchy 

Abstract Please provide the treatment details of treatment provide the value of concerned results

Introduction- remove the figure from the introduction 

If possible please add some data in tabular form instead of Figures

Methodology is appropriate 

Results: provide some data in tabular form

Conclusion is appropriate 

References all the references are present in the MS as per the journal guidelines

 

 

 

Minor editing of the English language required: some typographical

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx