Tackling Threats from Emerging Fungal Pathogens: Tech-Driven Approaches for Surveillance and Diagnostics
, Mahabuba Mostafa 2, Humayra Ferdus 2, Nur Ausraf 2 and Md. Motaher Hossain 2,*
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThis manuscript provides a comprehensive knowledge about the methods and technologies used in surveillance and diagnostics of plant pathogens. The following comments and suggestions are provided for consideration.
- The text is too lengthy. It needs to cut short dramatically. The contents in the section 1 to 4 can be much condensed, and integrated in one section (Introduction), which can make this review focus on recent advances in systems and technologies used in surveillance and diagnostics of emerging fungal pathogens.
- Topics in section 5 are not clearly or appropriately categorized, resulting in repeats in some contents. The section 5 can be divided in following sub-sections: remote sensing technologies, lab-based detection methods (PCR-based, microarray, HTS), field-applicable / portal diagnostic tools (sensor-based tech, LAMP, RCA, …), data mining/big data analysis/metagenomics. For each technology, summarize its principle, pros and cons, application case(s). Section 6 can be integrated in Section 5 for the application cases.
- The authors may consider including information about plant disease biovigilance system and its application in dealing with emerging fungal pathogens in this review manuscript.
The writing is fluent in general but the authors may pay attention to the long sentences that may cause confusing or in-correct grammar. For example, line 350-354.
When introducing a term acronym at first time, include its full term in the front. For example, line 71, change "IoT-based" to "Internet of Things (IoT) - based"; Line 291, change to "Nucleic acid sequence-based amplification (NASBA)".
Author Response
We thankfully acknowledge your overall positive comment on our manuscript. We are very glad that the Reviewer provided constructive comments and valuable suggestions that have helped us further improve the quality of our manuscript. We have incorporated all of your suggested corrections inserted in the manuscript, which are marked in red inked fonts in the manuscript. We hope that the Reviewer would be satisfied with our responses and endorse the revised manuscript for publication. Please find our specific responses below to your comments.
Comment 1: [The text is too lengthy. It needs to cut short dramatically. The contents in the section 1 to 4 can be much condensed, and integrated in one section (Introduction), which can make this review focus on recent advances in systems and technologies used in surveillance and diagnostics of emerging fungal pathogens.]
Response 1: [We thank the Reviewer for making this suggestion. Following your suggestion, we have condensed, and integrated section 1 to 4 into one section (P 1-3).]
Comment 2: [Topics in section 5 are not clearly or appropriately categorized, resulting in repeats in some contents. The section 5 can be divided in following sub-sections: remote sensing technologies, lab-based detection methods (PCR-based, microarray, HTS), field-applicable / portal diagnostic tools (sensor-based tech, LAMP, RCA, …), data mining/big data analysis/metagenomics. For each technology, summarize its principle, pros and cons, application case(s). Section 6 can be integrated in Section 5 for the application cases.]
Response 2: [We thank the Reviewer for the valuable suggestion. In response, we have categorized the section 5 and divided it into sub-sections. Additionally, we have integrated Section 6 into Section 5 (P 3-21).]
Comment 3: [The authors may consider including information about plant disease biovigilance system and its application in dealing with emerging fungal pathogens in this review manuscript.]
Response 3: [We truly appreciate the reviewer’s insights and suggestions. Following your suggestion, we included a section on plant disease biovigilance system (P 21-23).]
Comment 4: [The writing is fluent in general but the authors may pay attention to the long sentences that may cause confusing or in-correct grammar. For example, line 350-354.]
Response 4: [Following your suggestion, we have amended this in the manuscript.]
Comment 5: [When introducing a term acronym at first time, include its full term in the front. For example, line 71, change "IoT-based" to "Internet of Things (IoT) - based"; Line 291, change to "Nucleic acid sequence-based amplification (NASBA)".]
Response 5: [Following your suggestion, we have provided the full form of all acronyms in the manuscript when introducing.]
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThis paper provides a comprehensive and timely review of emerging fungal plant pathogens, highlighting recent technological advancements, socioeconomic impacts, and the urgent need for global surveillance and accessible diagnostic solutions.
Abstract
The abstract is comprehensive, but consider tightening the language to reduce redundancy and improve clarity.
Including a brief example or case study could enhance the practical relevance of the review.
- Introduction
The introduction provides a strong rationale for the review and integrates global food security concerns with pathogen emergence. However, consider streamlining the section by avoiding repetition particularly where drivers of pathogen emergence are discussed.
Clarify distinctions between detection, surveillance, and prediction tools for better technical clarity.
- Socioeconomic and Historical Impacts of Emerging Fungal Pathogens
This section offers strong historical and global context, but consider condensing some case studies to avoid redundancy and improve readability.
The inclusion of smallholder challenges is valuable adding a clearer link to policy or intervention strategies could enhance the practical relevance.
- Drivers Contributing to the Emergence of Fungal Plant Pathogens
The section is thorough and well-structured; however, some subsections could be more concise to improve readability without losing detail.
Consider summarizing key drivers in a brief concluding paragraph to reinforce their interconnections and overall impact.
- The Need for a Global Surveillance System for Emerging Fungal Diseases
The section effectively highlights the urgency of global coordination; however, consider specifying key stakeholders or frameworks that could facilitate system implementation.
The discussion on reporting bias is important strengthening this with suggestions to support under-resourced regions would enhance its practical value.
- Recent advances in surveillance, monitoring, and detection
The section is impressively comprehensive; consider summarizing key technologies and their comparative strengths in a concluding paragraph to improve reader retention.
While cost-effectiveness is well-addressed, additional discussion on accessibility and training requirements in low-resource settings would strengthen the practical applicability.
- Practical Applications of Different Detection Technologies
The case studies effectively demonstrate real-world relevance however, a summary table comparing key outcomes across technologies would enhance clarity and accessibility.
Consider briefly discussing the scalability and limitations of each method to support broader adoption, especially in resource-constrained settings.
- Cost and Feasibility of Advanced Detection Tools in Low-Resource
Consider briefly discussing the role of open-source tools and local manufacturing to further improve feasibility and sustainability.
- Advisory Services for Fungal Disease Management: A Strategic Response Framework
Including barriers to PPP implementation (e.g., funding, governance) would offer a more balanced view and support actionable recommendations.
- Key Issues and Challenges in the Adoption of Tech-Driven Approaches
The section outlines technical limitations well adding brief solutions or research priorities for overcoming these hurdles would strengthen its practical value.
Consider summarizing cost and access challenges with a call for coordinated global investment to reinforce the urgency of equitable technology adoption.
- Conclusion and Future Perspective
Please consider briefly emphasizing the urgency of scalable, low-cost solutions for smallholder farmers.
A stronger final statement linking global cooperation to tangible food security outcomes would leave a more impactful closing message.
Author Response
We thankfully acknowledge your overall positive comment on our manuscript. We are very glad that the Reviewer provided constructive comments and valuable suggestions that have helped us further improve the quality of our manuscript. We have incorporated all of your suggested corrections inserted in the manuscript, which are marked in red inked fonts in the manuscript. We hope that the Reviewer would be satisfied with our responses and endorse the revised manuscript for publication. Please find our specific responses below to your comments.
Comment 1: [Abstract
The abstract is comprehensive, but consider tightening the language to reduce redundancy and improve clarity. Including a brief example or case study could enhance the practical relevance of the review.]
Response 1: [We thank the Reviewer for making this suggestion. Following your suggestion, we have amended the abstract (P 1).]
Comment 2: [Introduction
The introduction provides a strong rationale for the review and integrates global food security concerns with pathogen emergence. However, consider streamlining the section by avoiding repetition particularly where drivers of pathogen emergence are discussed. Clarify distinctions between detection, surveillance, and prediction tools for better technical clarity.]
Response 2: [We thank the Reviewer for making this suggestion. Following your suggestion, we have amended the Introduction (P 1-3).]
Comment 3: [Socioeconomic and Historical Impacts of Emerging Fungal Pathogens
This section offers strong historical and global context, but consider condensing some case studies to avoid redundancy and improve readability. The inclusion of smallholder challenges is valuable adding a clearer link to policy or intervention strategies could enhance the practical relevance.]
Response 3: [We respectfully thank the Reviewer for making this suggestion. However, another reviewer suggests us to merge section 1-4. We have amended this section in the manuscript.]
Comment 4: [Drivers Contributing to the Emergence of Fungal Plant Pathogens
The section is thorough and well-structured; however, some subsections could be more concise to improve readability without losing detail. Consider summarizing key drivers in a brief concluding paragraph to reinforce their interconnections and overall impact.]
Response 4: [We respectfully thank the Reviewer for making this suggestion. However, another reviewer suggests us to merge section 1-4. We have amended this section in the manuscript.]
Comment 5: [The Need for a Global Surveillance System for Emerging Fungal Diseases
The section effectively highlights the urgency of global coordination; however, consider specifying key stakeholders or frameworks that could facilitate system implementation. The discussion on reporting bias is important strengthening this with suggestions to support under-resourced regions would enhance its practical value.]
Response 5: [We respectfully thank the Reviewer for making this suggestion. However, another reviewer suggests us to merge section 1-4. We have amended this section in the manuscript.]
Comment 6: [Recent advances in surveillance, monitoring, and detection
The section is impressively comprehensive; consider summarizing key technologies and their comparative strengths in a concluding paragraph to improve reader retention. While cost-effectiveness is well-addressed, additional discussion on accessibility and training requirements in low-resource settings would strengthen the practical applicability.]
Response 6: [We respectfully thank the Reviewer for making this suggestion. Following your suggestion, we revised this section (P 3-21).]
Comment 7: [Practical Applications of Different Detection Technologies
The case studies effectively demonstrate real-world relevance however, a summary table comparing key outcomes across technologies would enhance clarity and accessibility. Consider briefly discussing the scalability and limitations of each method to support broader adoption, especially in resource-constrained settings.]
Response 7: [We respectfully thank the Reviewer for making this suggestion. However, another Reviewer recommended that we should merge this section with the section 5. Recent Advances in Surveillance, Monitoring, and Detection. Accordingly, we have revised the manuscript to reflect this change (P 3-21).]
Comment 8: [Cost and Feasibility of Advanced Detection Tools in Low-Resource
Consider briefly discussing the role of open-source tools and local manufacturing to further improve feasibility and sustainability.]
Response 8: [Following your suggestion, we have amended this in the manuscript (P 23-24).]
Comment 9: [Advisory Services for Fungal Disease Management: A Strategic Response Framework. Including barriers to PPP implementation (e.g., funding, governance) would offer a more balanced view and support actionable recommendations.]
Response 9: [We respectfully thank the Reviewer for making this suggestion. Following your suggestion, we have amended this in the manuscript (P 23-24).]
Comment 10: [Key Issues and Challenges in the Adoption of Tech-Driven Approaches
The section outlines technical limitations well adding brief solutions or research priorities for overcoming these hurdles would strengthen its practical value. Consider summarizing cost and access challenges with a call for coordinated global investment to reinforce the urgency of equitable technology adoption.]
Response 10: [We respectfully thank the Reviewer for making this suggestion. Following your suggestion, we have incorporated this in the manuscript (P 26-27).]
Comment 11: [Conclusion and Future Perspective
Please consider briefly emphasizing the urgency of scalable, low-cost solutions for smallholder farmers. A stronger final statement linking global cooperation to tangible food security outcomes would leave a more impactful closing message.]
Response 11: [We respectfully thank the Reviewer for making this suggestion. Following your suggestion, we have amended this in the manuscript (P 27-28).]
Reviewer 3 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThis manuscript offers a comprehensive and timely review of emerging fungal plant pathogens, integrating historical, socioeconomic, and technological perspectives. It is highly valuable for experts in plant pathology, biotechnology, and agriculture. The authors effectively address topics from pathogen emergence to the feasibility of deploying diagnostic tools in low-resource settings. While the paper is well-researched and impactful, minor revisions are needed for formatting, consistency, and improved transitions.
Minor Revisions Suggested
- Italicize all Latin binomials consistently (e.g., Phakopsora pachyrhizi, Fusarium culmorum).
- Improve transitions between Sections 2 and 3 for smoother narrative flow.
- Break long paragraphs into sub-sections for clarity and ease of reading.
- Define acronyms (e.g., RCA, NASBA, NGS, LAMP, FISH) on first use in each section.
- Replace "clinical pathogen identification" with "field-level" or "agricultural diagnostics."
- Replace awkward or unclear phrases:
- “enfolds excellent promise” → “holds excellent promise”
- “supplication of drone-mounted…” → “application of drone-mounted…”
- “its reaction process is intricate and unpredictable” (LAMP) → “requires careful optimization and skilled handling”
- Add real-world models (e.g., PlantVillage Nuru, Plantix) to ground Section 7.
- Briefly highlight climate-policy integration in Section 10.
- Include comparative cost-benefit analysis across key technologies.
Questions for Authors
- How feasible are your recommended diagnostic technologies in LMICs, especially in areas with poor infrastructure?
- What efforts exist to integrate traditional agricultural knowledge with digital tools in smallholder systems?
- Could predictive models that combine climate change and pathogen emergence be scaled up globally?
- Are there platforms integrating AI, drones, and molecular diagnostics into one decision-support system?
Author Response
We thankfully acknowledge your overall positive comment on our manuscript. We are very glad that the Reviewer provided constructive comments and valuable suggestions that have helped us further improve the quality of our manuscript. We have incorporated all of your suggested corrections inserted in the manuscript, which are marked in red inked fonts in the manuscript. We hope that the Reviewer would be satisfied with our responses and endorse the revised manuscript for publication. Please find our specific responses below to your comments.
Comment 1: [Italicize all Latin binomials consistently (e.g., Phakopsora pachyrhizi, Fusarium culmorum).]
Response 1: [We thank the Reviewer for making this suggestion. Following your suggestion, we have done italicize for all the latin binomials consistently in the manuscript.]
Comment 2: [Improve transitions between Sections 2 and 3 for smoother narrative flow.]
Response 2: [We respectfully thank the Reviewer for making this suggestion. However, another reviewer suggests us to merge section 1-4.]
Comment 3: [Break long paragraphs into sub-sections for clarity and ease of reading.]
Response 3: [We thank the Reviewer for making this suggestion. Following your suggestion, we have amended this in the manuscript.]
Comment 4: [Define acronyms (e.g., RCA, NASBA, NGS, LAMP, FISH) on first use in each section.]
Response 4: [Following your suggestion, we have provided the definition of all acronyms in the manuscript when introducing.]
Comment 5: [Replace "clinical pathogen identification" with "field-level" or "agricultural diagnostics."]
Response 5: [We thank the Reviewer for making this suggestion. Following your suggestion, we have amended this in the manuscript (P 26; L 928).]
Comment 6: [Replace awkward or unclear phrases:
- “enfolds excellent promise” → “holds excellent promise” (P 19; L 621)
- “supplication of drone-mounted…” → “application of drone-mounted…”(P 7; L 211)
- “its reaction process is intricate and unpredictable” (LAMP) → “requires careful optimization and skilled handling”(P 26; L 938)]
Response 6: [Following your suggestion, we have amended this in the manuscript (P 7,19 26; L 211, 621, 938).]
Comment 7: [Add real-world models (e.g., PlantVillage Nuru, Plantix) to ground Section 7.]
Response 7: [We thank the Reviewer for making this suggestion. Following your suggestion, we have added this in the manuscript (P 23).]
Comment 8: [Briefly highlight climate-policy integration in Section 10.]
Response 8: [We thank the Reviewer for making this suggestion. Following your suggestion, we have incorporated the climate policy in the manuscript (P 21).]
Comment 9: [Include comparative cost-benefit analysis across key technologies.]
Response 9: [We thank the Reviewer for making this suggestion. Following your suggestion, we have included this in the manuscript (P 23).]
Comment 10: [How feasible are your recommended diagnostic technologies in LMICs, especially in areas with poor infrastructure?]
Response 10: [Following your suggestion, we have amended this in the manuscript ( P 23).]
Comment 11: [What efforts exist to integrate traditional agricultural knowledge with digital tools in smallholder systems?]
Response 11: [We thank the Reviewer for making this suggestion. Following your suggestion, we have amended this in the manuscript (P 23).]
Comment 12: [Could predictive models that combine climate change and pathogen emergence be scaled up globally?]
Response 12: [We thank the Reviewer for making this suggestion. Following your suggestion, we have amended this in the manuscript (P 21-23).]
Comment 13: [Are there platforms integrating AI, drones, and molecular diagnostics into one decision-support system?]
Response 13: [We thank the Reviewer for making this suggestion. Following your suggestion, we have amended this in the manuscript (P 21-23).]
Round 2
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsI appreciate the authors' diligent efforts in addressing my comments and revising the manuscript with great care.
