Dear Dr. Ron Garrido,

Thank you for submitting your manuscript to PLOS ONE. After careful consideration, we feel that it has merit but does not fully meet PLOS ONE’s publication criteria as it currently stands. Therefore, we invite you to submit a revised version of the manuscript that addresses the points raised during the review process.

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We look forward to receiving your revised manuscript.

Kind regards,

Ying Ma, 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?

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

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: No

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

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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Reviewer #1: The article has been significatly improved after revition and all my previous concern has been addres to my satisfaction, hence i recomed it for publication. i recomended a english revition, and is pisivilit to nitrogenace activity medition

Reviewer #2: Manuscript contains very good wedge of research in order to characterize and understand the diversity of Rhizobium symbionts of the Ecuadorian region and its role in sustainable agriculture. The method used for the study multilocous sequence analysis (MLSA) use three house housekeeping genes is extremely suitable for these kind of studies. Though every care was taken in drafting the manuscript but at some pint it need to refined/corrected:

1. Figure 2 is not readable the quality of the figure need to be enhanced for the better understanding and interpretation of the results.

2. Figure 4 is also blurred and non readable, it quite tough to make any interpretation out of it . its visibility need to enhanced as it is mentioned several time in the results and created lots of hindrance in understanding and making any clear outcome of the pictures.

3. The table mentioned in the line number 345 & 347, i.e., Table No 4 is missing , make sure it is uploaded with the manuscript to know the variation in number of nodules due to different isolates.

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what does this mean? ). If published, this will include your full peer review and any attached files.

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Reviewer #1: Yes:  Alfonso Leija Salas

Reviewer #2: Yes:  Rajesh Kumar Singh

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While revising your submission, please upload your figure files to the Preflight Analysis and Conversion Engine (PACE) digital diagnostic tool, https://pacev2.apexcovantage.com/ . PACE helps ensure that figures meet PLOS requirements. To use PACE, you must first register as a user. Registration is free. Then, login and navigate to the UPLOAD tab, where you will find detailed instructions on how to use the tool. If you encounter any issues or have any questions when using PACE, please email PLOS at figures@plos.org

Updating the description of Rhizobium diversity associated with common bean cultivars in the Ecuadorian Andes: a phylogenetic and functional perspective.

PONE-D-25-33605R1

Dear Dr. Garrido,

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,

Ying Ma, Ph.D.

Academic Editor

PLOS One

Additional Editor Comments (optional):

Reviewers' comments: