PONE-D-20-26606

Flower and pod development, grain-setting characteristics and grain yield in Chinese milk vetch (Astragalus sinicus L.) in response to pre-anthesis foliar application of paclobutrazol

PLOS ONE

Dear Dr. Liu,

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Vijay Gahlaut, Ph.D.

Academic Editor

PLOS ONE

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Reviewers' comments:

Reviewer's Responses to Questions

Comments to the Author

1. Is the manuscript technically sound, and do the data support the conclusions?

The manuscript must describe a technically sound piece of scientific research with data that supports the conclusions. Experiments must have been conducted rigorously, with appropriate controls, replication, and sample sizes. The conclusions must be drawn appropriately based on the data presented.

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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2. Has the statistical analysis been performed appropriately and rigorously?

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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3. Have the authors made all data underlying the findings in their manuscript fully available?

The PLOS Data policy requires authors to make all data underlying the findings described in their manuscript fully available without restriction, with rare exception (please refer to the Data Availability Statement in the manuscript PDF file). The data should be provided as part of the manuscript or its supporting information, or deposited to a public repository. For example, in addition to summary statistics, the data points behind means, medians and variance measures should be available. If there are restrictions on publicly sharing data—e.g. participant privacy or use of data from a third party—those must be specified.

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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4. Is the manuscript presented in an intelligible fashion and written in standard English?

PLOS ONE does not copyedit accepted manuscripts, so the language in submitted articles must be clear, correct, and unambiguous. Any typographical or grammatical errors should be corrected at revision, so please note any specific errors here.

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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5. Review Comments to the Author

Please use the space provided to explain your answers to the questions above. You may also include additional comments for the author, including concerns about dual publication, research ethics, or publication ethics. (Please upload your review as an attachment if it exceeds 20,000 characters)

Reviewer #1: Please check the reviewer's attachment.

Technical comments:

1. Methods of application, selection of statistical design and growth parameters studies are appropriate.

2. Mention the purity of Paclobutrazol, company name and whether it is commercial or plant cell culture tested reagent? Also mention which surfactant at what concentration was used for foliar application?

3. Since the plant is mainly used as green manure, study or data related to residual analysis of Paclobutrazol should be included. There are reports of negative effects of Paclobutrazol on soil microflora and next crop to be cultivated. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0929139302001105?via%3Dihub; https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11356-019-05947-9)

General comments:

1. Please mention one format of unit i.e. /L or l-1 for all the unit types.

2. Sub-heading 3.3 should be corrected as other sub-headings.

Reviewer #2: The manuscript showing basic research. But representation of data and conduction of experiment is technically good. Statistical analysis is also performed appropriately. Language of manuscript is also clear and correct.

I have one query regarding to use of single cultivar with different levels of Paclobutrazol. How we can recommend the promising treatment on the basis of single cultivar?

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Reviewer #1: No

Reviewer #2: No

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Attachments

Attachment

Submitted filename: Comments.pdf

Flower and pod development, grain-setting characteristics and grain yield in Chinese milk vetch (Astragalus sinicus L.) in response to pre-anthesis foliar application of paclobutrazol

PONE-D-20-26606R1

Dear Dr. Liu

We’re pleased to inform you that your manuscript has been judged scientifically suitable for publication and will be formally accepted for publication once it meets all outstanding technical requirements.

Within one week, you’ll receive an e-mail detailing the required amendments. When these have been addressed, you’ll receive a formal acceptance letter and your manuscript will be scheduled for publication.

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Kind regards,

Vijay Gahlaut, Ph.D.

Academic Editor

PLOS ONE

Additional Editor Comments (optional): NIL

Reviewers' comments:

Reviewer's Responses to Questions

Comments to the Author

1. If the authors have adequately addressed your comments raised in a previous round of review and you feel that this manuscript is now acceptable for publication, you may indicate that here to bypass the “Comments to the Author” section, enter your conflict of interest statement in the “Confidential to Editor” section, and submit your "Accept" recommendation.

Reviewer #1: All comments have been addressed

Reviewer #2: All comments have been addressed

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2. Is the manuscript technically sound, and do the data support the conclusions?

The manuscript must describe a technically sound piece of scientific research with data that supports the conclusions. Experiments must have been conducted rigorously, with appropriate controls, replication, and sample sizes. The conclusions must be drawn appropriately based on the data presented.

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

**********

3. Has the statistical analysis been performed appropriately and rigorously?

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

**********

4. Have the authors made all data underlying the findings in their manuscript fully available?

The PLOS Data policy requires authors to make all data underlying the findings described in their manuscript fully available without restriction, with rare exception (please refer to the Data Availability Statement in the manuscript PDF file). The data should be provided as part of the manuscript or its supporting information, or deposited to a public repository. For example, in addition to summary statistics, the data points behind means, medians and variance measures should be available. If there are restrictions on publicly sharing data—e.g. participant privacy or use of data from a third party—those must be specified.

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

**********

5. Is the manuscript presented in an intelligible fashion and written in standard English?

PLOS ONE does not copyedit accepted manuscripts, so the language in submitted articles must be clear, correct, and unambiguous. Any typographical or grammatical errors should be corrected at revision, so please note any specific errors here.

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

**********

6. Review Comments to the Author

Please use the space provided to explain your answers to the questions above. You may also include additional comments for the author, including concerns about dual publication, research ethics, or publication ethics. (Please upload your review as an attachment if it exceeds 20,000 characters)

Reviewer #1: No further modifications are required. Manuscript is well-written and the research has wider scopes in agriculture industry.

Reviewer #2: (No Response)

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7. PLOS authors have the option to publish the peer review history of their article (what does this mean?). If published, this will include your full peer review and any attached files.

If you choose “no”, your identity will remain anonymous but your review may still be made public.

Do you want your identity to be public for this peer review? For information about this choice, including consent withdrawal, please see our Privacy Policy.

Reviewer #1: Yes: Arpan Modi

Reviewer #2: No