Effects of Different Levels of Nitrogen Supply on Key Enzyme Activities of Nitrogen Metabolism and Growth Stimulation of Endive (Cichorium endivia L.)
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
1)English needs improvement in the text to address grammatical errors.
2)Abbreviations (NR, NiR, GS and GDH i) need to be described at the beginning (in the Abstract) to the reader.
3)The importance of this work in sustainability should be explained in Introduction section.
4)Table 2: The content of other ingredients/elements other than nitrogen also changes. Therefore, nitrogen is not the only variable. How authors concluded that changes in the dependent variables such as enzymes is because of nitrogen content?
5)Model and manufacture of the instruments/equipment are not indicated in the text?
6)L142,143, etc: Nitrogen symbol should be the same throughout the text (Nr or N). The second one is more common and universal.
7)In Figures titles: A-D should be a-d for ranking results.
8)Which test was used for statistical ranking of the results? Should be indicated under figures.
9)Values for coefficient of determination (R2) should be limited to 3 digits all over the text.
10)Why nitrate content is important in the leaves? Not indicated in the text.
11)Equations 2, 3, 4,… (especially right side) should be on the line.
12)L235: It should be ‘was nitric acid’ or ‘was in the form of nitric acid’?
13)Table 3: Units should be included for growth.
Author Response
Dear Reviewer:
Thank you very much for your comments on our paper entitled " Effects of Different Levels of Nitrogen Supply on Key Enzyme Activities of Nitrogen Metabolism and Growth Stimulation of Endive (Cichorium endivia L.)" (ID: sustainability-2001249). These comments are very helpful for the revision and improvement of our paper, and they are also an important guide for our research. We have carefully studied these comments and made corrections, and we hope to receive your approval. The main corrections to the paper and the responses to your comments are as follows:
1）English needs improvement in the text to address grammatical errors.
Response: We appreciate the reviewer for this recommendation. As suggested by the reviewer, We have fixed the grammatical problems in each sentence, and the changes are marked in blue in the article. If there are any errors, please write to us to inform us so that we can correct them.
2）Abbreviations(NR, NiR, GS, and GDH) need to be described at the beginning(in the Abstract) to the reader.
Response: Many thanks to the reviewers for their questions, We have given a complete description of NR, NiR, GS, and GDH in the abstract. Please see the purple part in the abstract. If there is any mistake, please inform us by mail so that we can correct it.
3）The importance of this work in sustainability should be explained in the introduction section.
Response: Thank you very much for your question about the sustainability of the study, which is addressed in the introduction, lines 39-43 and 53-54. If there are any errors, please write to us to inform us so that we can correct them.
4）Table 2: The content of other ingredients/elements other than nitrogen also changes. Therefore, nitrogen is not the only variable. How authors concluded that changes in the dependent variables such as enzymes are because of nitrogen content?
Response: Thank you very much for your question. As for the test design, we prepared the nutrient solution by using the nutrient solution formula of leafy vegetable B from South China Agricultural University, and the mass concentration of other elements was set at the same level according to the nutrient solution formula. In addition, the experimental design of other studies was similar to that of this study, for example, Lichun Wang et al published an article in the Journal of Irrigation and Drainage entitled "Simulation Study on the effect of Nitrogen Supply Concentration on Nutrient Solution Consumption of Hydroponic lettuce"; Sakineh Pourranjbari Saghaiesh et al published an article in Journal of Plant Nutrition entitled "Characterization of nutrients uptake and enzymes activity in Khatouni melon (Cucumis melo var. indoors) seedlings under different concentrations of nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus of nutrient solution". We also set 15 nitrogen gradients (1mmol·L-1~15mmol·L-1) at the concentration gradient interval of 1mmol·L-1. It was found that on the 4th day of hydroponics, the seedlings of endive began to turn yellow under the nutrient solution formula of 15mmol·L-1, and on the 10th day, the seedlings of endive seedlings wilted and died under this concentration. Under the nutrient solution formula of 14mmol·L-1, there was a yellow phenomenon, but no wilting. Therefore, we set the nitrogen concentration of 2mmol·L-1, 5mmol·L-1, 8mmol·L-1, 11mmol·L-1, 14mmol·L-1 for endive seedlings. Our research group is also working on the effects of other elements on nitrogen metabolism and yield in endive. If there are any errors, please write to us to inform us so that we can correct them.
5）Model and manufacture of the instruments/equipment not indicated in the text?
Response: Many thanks to the reviewers for their questions. We have inserted the purity/storage method/model number, etc. after the test drug/instrument we used. See Lines 76, 110, 113, and 119. If there are any errors, please write to us to inform us so that we can correct them.
6）L142,143, etc: The nitrogen symbol should be the same throughout the text (Nr or N). The second one is more common and universal.
Response: Thank you very much for pointing out the problem, we have deleted the nitrogen symbols in lines 142-143 and rewritten them as full nitrogen names, see lines 126-130. If there are any errors, please write to us to inform us so that we can correct them.
7）In Figures titles: A-D should be a-d for ranking results.
Response: Thank you very much for your suggestion, and we have revised the title of Figure 1, as shown in lines 179-181. If there are any errors, please write to us to inform us so that we can correct them.
8）Which test was used for the statistical ranking of the results? Should be indicated under figures.
Response: Thank you very much for pointing out the problem. Regarding the statistical methods we use, we have pointed out in 2.5. For statistical analysis, see specifically lines 153-158. If there are any errors, please write to us to inform us so that we can correct them.
9）Values for the coefficient of determination (R2) should be limited to 3 digits all over the text.
Response: Thank you very much for your question. We have modified the values for the coefficient of determination (R2) as shown in the purple-labeled section of the article. If there are any errors, please write to us to inform us so that we can correct them.
10) Why nitrate content is important in the leaves? Not indicated in the text.
Response: Thank you very much for your question about the role of nitrate in the leaves of the endive, which is explained in the introduction, in lines 37-39. If there are any errors, please write to us to inform us so that we can correct them.
11) Equations 2, 3, 4,… (especially the right side) should be on the line.
Response: Thank you very much for pointing out the problem, we have aligned equations 2,3,4 on the same line, as shown in the green-marked part of the article. If there are any errors, please write to us to inform us so that we can correct them.
12）L235: It should be ‘was nitric acid’ or ‘was in the form of nitric acid’?
Response: Thank you very much for your question. In line 235 of the unmodified version of the article, it refers to nitrate, not the form of nitrate. If there are any errors, please write to us to inform us so that we can correct them.
13）Table 3: Units should be included for growth.
Response: Thank you very much for your question, this issue has been changed, see the red-marked part in Table 3. If there are any errors, please write to us to inform us so that we can correct them.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.docx
Reviewer 2 Report
The article sustainability-2001249 presents the effects of different nitrogen supply levels on the changes of nitrogen-metabolizing70 enzymes in leaves of endive. The way the article is presented presents a few problems that must be corrected to be considered for publication in Sustainability:
- Insert the brand/purity/model of all equipment and/or reagents used in the article;
- In section 2.1, no bibliographic references were observed. Was all methodology developed by the authors of the work? Clarify this in the new version of the article to be submitted for review/
-The experimental assays were developed in the year of 2015, correct? Did the authors make any other harvest, in addition to 2015, to validate the results?
- The patent mentioned by the authors in Section 6 could not be found in a basic Google patent search. Was this patent filed by the authors of the article? Please check that the patent code presented is correct.
Author Response
ar Reviewer:
Thank you very much for your comments on our paper entitled " Effects of Different Levels of Nitrogen Supply on Key Enzyme Activities of Nitrogen Metabolism and Growth Stimulation of Endive (Cichorium endivia L.)" (ID: sustainability-2001249). These comments are very helpful for the revision and improvement of our paper, and they are also an important guide for our research. We have carefully studied these comments and made corrections, and we hope to receive your approval. The main corrections to the paper and the responses to your comments are as follows:
- Insert the brand/purity/model of all equipment and/or reagents used in the article;
Response: Many thanks to the reviewers for their questions. We have inserted the purity/storage method/model number, etc. after the test drug/instrument we used. See Lines 76, 110, 113, and 119. If there are any errors, please write to us to inform us so that we can correct them.
- In section 2.1, no bibliographic references were observed. Was all methodology developed by the authors of the work? Clarify this in the new version of the article to be submitted for review/
Response: Many thanks to the reviewers for their suggestions, and we have added references in the appropriate places. See References [10]. If there are any errors, please write to us to inform us so that we can correct them.
- The experimental assays were developed in the year of 2015, correct? Did the authors make any other harvest, in addition to 2015, to validate the results?
Response: Thank you very much for your question. The work in this aspect was carried out in 2015, and a small part of the verification was also done in the later period, which is consistent with the results of 2015. In addition, this research group has also conducted similar verification on other crops, such as the Study on "Optimal Fertilization Effect of Processed Tomatoes Based on Critical Nitrogen Concentration" published by Bo Jing et al in China Soil and Fertilizer in 2020. If there are any errors, please write to us to inform us so that we can correct them.
- The patent mentioned by the authors in Section 6 could not be found in a basic Google patent search. Was this patent filed by the authors of the article? Please check that the patent code presented is correct.
Response: We are very sorry for the trouble we caused you due to our mistake. We have revised the patent number, see Lines 463-465. If there are any errors, please write to us to inform us so that we can correct them.
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Reviewer 3 Report
In this article the authors are trying to analyze different nitrogen supply levels on the enzyme that can metabolize nitrogen in endive. The work done is satisfactory but the author needs to represent their work as it needed to be. The article needs a highly language improvement and most of the phrases did not make any sense.
Rewrite the abstract, introduction and conclusion section, it is confusing and the wording some where does not make any sense.
Legends on figures and tables need to be more descriptive.
Add references where ever is necessary.
Line 16: Put space after full stop and relook throughout the article to use ‘space’ where ever is necessary.
Line 39: “Its young leaves are eaten fresh….” Rewrite the sentence.
Iine 119: “Enzyme activity assay:” Either make it a separate heading or elaborate it without a context in the same heading.
Author Response
Dear Reviewer:
Thank you very much for your comments on our paper entitled " Effects of Different Levels of Nitrogen Supply on Key Enzyme Activities of Nitrogen Metabolism and Growth Stimulation of Endive (Cichorium endivia L.)" (ID: sustainability-2001249). These comments are very helpful for the revision and improvement of our paper, and they are also an important guide for our research. We have carefully studied these comments and made corrections, and we hope to receive your approval. The main corrections to the paper and the responses to your comments are as follows:
1）Rewrite the abstract, introduction, and conclusion section, it is confusing and the wording somewhere does not make any sense.
Response: Thank you very much for your suggestions. The abstract, introduction, and conclusion have been rewritten. If there are any errors, please write to us to inform us so that we can correct them.
2）Legends on figures and tables need to be more descriptive.
Response: Thank you very much for your suggestions, we have revised the titles of some of the figures and tables. See Lines 179-181，221, 262, and 272-273. If there are any errors, please write to us to inform us so that we can correct them.
3）Add references where ever is necessary.
Response: Many thanks to the reviewers for their suggestions, and we have added references in the appropriate places. See references in red. If there are any errors, please write to us to inform us so that we can correct them.
4）Line 16: Put space after a full stop and relook throughout the article to use ‘space’ where ever is necessary.
Response: Thank you very much for your question, we have added a space in line 16 in the corresponding position and have checked and corrected the whole text. If there are any errors, please write to us to inform us so that we can correct them.
5）Line 39: “Its young leaves are eaten fresh….” Rewrite the sentence.
Response: Thank you very much for pointing out the error to us, and we have corrected the sentence, as shown in line 30. If there are any errors, please write to us to inform us so that we can correct them.
6）Line 119: “Enzyme activity assay:” Either make it a separate heading or elaborate it without a context in the same heading.
Response: Thank you very much for your suggestion, we have made changes to this section as shown in lines 105-120. If there are any errors, please write to us to inform us so that we can correct them.
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
Almost all comments have been addressed well. Only comment 11 needs to be addressed carefully. In each equation, the fraction lines on the right side of the equation needs to be aligned with the equal sign.
Author Response
Dear Reviewer:
Thank you again for your second comment on our article entitled "Effects of Different Levels of Nitrogen Supply on Key Enzyme Activities of Nitrogen Metabolism and Growth Stimulation of Endive(Cichorium endivia L.)" (ID: sustainability-2001249). We have revised the question you raised and the modified part is marked in red on the paper. Major corrections to the paper and responses to the reviewer's comments are as follows:
Almost all comments have been addressed well. Only comment 11 needs to be addressed carefully. In each equation, the fraction lines on the right side must be aligned with the equal sign.
Response: We are very sorry that we failed to change comment 11 for the first time due to our mistake. Thank you again for your question about our article, which has been modified, please see the part marked in red in Section 2.3 for details. If there are any errors, please write to us to inform us so that we can correct them.
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Reviewer 2 Report
The authors of Manuscript ID sustainability-2001249 made the corrections requested by the reviewers. Therefore, my opinion is that this article can be considered for publication in Sustainability.
Author Response
Dear Reviewer：
Thank you very much for your valuable comments and recognition of our articles. I wish you good health and smooth work!
Reviewer 3 Report
The Autor has tried to address the comments mentioned earlier however a little issue should be addressed. However, the data representation was improved.
Line 12-13: Rewrite the sentences in the abstract. first, introduce the subject of your work in one or two lines and then justify your work.
Line 29-31: Justify the need to use commas after root conical. Rewrite the sentence like, “Root conical extending vertically with many fibrous roots and its young leaves are edible for human consumption with antibacterial, antipyretic, eyes inflammatory and anti-inflammatory with high nutritional value” Then add the references where necessary.
*Authors must write the sentence in an above-described manner throughout the paper to make complete sense of what he/she needs to address.
Author Response
Dear Reviewer:
Thank you again for your second comment on our article entitled "Effects of Different Levels of Nitrogen Supply on Key Enzyme Activities of Nitrogen Metabolism and Growth Stimulation of Endive(Cichorium endivia L.)" (ID: sustainability-2001249). We have revised the question you raised and the modified part is marked in red on the paper. Major corrections to the paper and responses to the reviewer's comments are as follows:
Line 12-13: Rewrite the sentences in the abstract. first, introduce the subject of your work in one or two lines and then justify your work.
Response: Thank you again for your comments on our article. In the abstract, we have added the themes of our work, as described in lines 12-14. If there are any errors, please write to us to inform us so that we can correct them.
Line 29-31: Justify the need to use commas after root conical. Rewrite the sentence like, “Root conical extending vertically with many fibrous roots and its young leaves are edible for human consumption with antibacterial, antipyretic, eyes inflammatory and anti-inflammatory with high nutritional value” Then add the references where necessary.
Response: Thank you again for your suggestion. We have rewritten this part of the content according to your opinions, with references as theoretical support. See lines 31-34 for details.
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
