POC Conf. Call 4-26-11

POC meeting, Webex Conference Call; Date: Tuesday Apr 26th, 2011 10am (PDT)

In attendance:

POC members:

Absent:

Collaborators:

Acceptance of the minutes from the POC_Conf._Call_4-19-11?

Issues arising from last week's meeting:

gametophytic phase and sporophytic phase

sporophytic phase (PO:0028002)

Current definition: A plant life cycle phase that is the product of fertilization. [source: POC:rw]

Comment: During the sporophtyic phase, a plant may produce meiospores by meiosis.

Proposed definition: A plant life cycle phase (or a whole plant growth stage) that begins with fertilization or the division of a non-fertilized embryogenic cell.

Comment: During the sporophtyic phase, a plant may produce meiospores by meiosis. A whole plant in the sporophytic phase usually has twice the chromosome complement of a plant in the gametophytic phase, but not in the case of apogamy or in vitro culture of haploid embryos.

gametophytic phase (PO:0028003)

Current definition: A plant life cycle phase that arises through meiosis. [source: POC:rw]

Comment: During the gametophytic phase, a plant may produce gametes by mitosis.

Proposed definition: A plant life cycle phase (or a whole plant growth stage) that begins with meiosis.

Comment: During the gametophytic phase, a plant may produce gametes by mitosis. In bryophytes and pteridophytes, a gametophytic phase may begin without meiosis by apospory. This usually occurs when damage to a plant in the sporophytic phase leads directly to the growth of a plant that is in the gametophytic phase but bears the chromosome complement that would normally be found in the sporophytic phase. A whole plant in the gametophytic phase usually has half the chromosome complement of a plant in the sporophytic phase, but not in the case of apospory.

embryonic plant structures

Definition of embryonic plant structure:

embryonic plant structure (PO:0025099): A plant structure that is part of an embryo.

Comment: Includes organs, tissues and cell types that are unique to embryos, not plant structures that can occur in both embryos and mature plant structures.

Changed definition from "proper part of" to "part of", so it would be consistent with the intersection of term. Think part_of is better anyway, because technically an embryo is an embryonic plant structure.

We discussed how to deal with structures that are part of an embryo when the plant is in the embryonic phase but are also part of a plant after it passes out of the embryonic phase, like hypocotyl root junction or coleorhiza.

Ideally, we would define embryonic plant structure as "A plant structure that is part of an embryo when a plant is in the embryonic phase," but we don't have a mechanism whereby the reasoner could infer that. Humans may know that a radicle is part of an embryo when the plant is an embryo and part of a seedling when a plant is a seedling, but the reasoner could only infer it after an annotation is made, and only if the user specified the phase that the structure was taken from. Since we can't count on that, and we don't yet have embryonic phase and seedling phase, it is not a practical solution for now.

An alternative solution is to specify sibling terms like embryonic radicle and seedling radicle, with the correct part_of or participates_in relations. We will try this, because there are only 5-10 terms where this should be necessary. We should add appropriate develops from relations (e.g., seedling radicle develops_from embyronic radicle).

Some terms were left as is_a children of embryonic plant structure:

embryo proper (PO:0000001): An embryonic plant structure that is the body of a developing embryo attached to the maternal tissue in an ovule by a suspensor.

scutellum (PO:0020110): An embryonic plant structure that is a more or less shield-shaped and absorptive portion of an embryo of Poaceae.

suspensor (PO:0020108): An embryonic plant structure at the base of an embryo that develops from a basal cell and connects an embryo proper to the wall of a megagametophyte.

New definitions for embryonic plant cells and tissues

Both now have cross-product definitions, and no asserted is_a children

embryonic plant cell (PO:0025028): A plant cell that is part of an embryo.

is_a embryonic plant structure, intersection_of: is_a plant cell, intersection_of: part_of embryo

Made apical cell (PO:0004000, now embryonic apical cell) is_a apical cell part_of embryo (still dev_from zygote). Should probably obsolete and replace with new term to avoid confusion

Made basal cell (PO:0002002, now embryonic basal cell) is_a plant cell, part of embryo (still dev_from zygote)

Made hypophysis (PO:0020109, now embryonic hypophysis) is_a plant cell, part_of embryo.

(portion of) embryonic plant tissue (PO:0025233): A portion of plant tissue that is part of an embryo.

is_a embryonic plant structure, intersection_of: is_a portion of plant tissue, intersection_of: part_of embryo

Should we add the portion of prefix to the name?

coleorhiza (PO:0020034), embryo cortex (PO:0005014), embryo epidermis (PO:0005015), embryonic shoot apical meristem (PO:0006362), epiblast (PO:0020036), scutellar epithelium (PO:0008048), and scutellum epidermis (PO:0006049) are now inferred children of embryonic plant tissue.

Technically, we could get rid of the is_a embryonic plant structure relation for both, because it would be inferred, but is makes it easier to work with the reasoner off when the relations are there.

Here is a picture of some plant tissues, to show how it works:

Proposed changes/questions for structures that were is_a embryonic plant structure:

coleoptile (PO:0020033): A tubular (embryonic) plant structure developed at the junction of the cotyledonary sheath with the seedling axis, and surrounding the plumule of a monocot embryo or seedling. [APWeb:Glossary]

We do not have the term cotyledonary sheath in the PO, and, according to Beentje (the Kew Plant Glossary), the coleoptile is the cotyledonary sheath. Also, the coleoptile persists after germination, so it is not an embryonic plant structure. According to Esau, the coleoptile has stomata, which means it has an epidermis, and this consists of two or more tissue types. This makes it a plant organ, even though many authors casually refer to it as a tissue.

Proposed definition: A plant organ (phyllome?) that surrounds the plumule of an embryo or the emerging shoot apex of a seedling. [ISBN:9781842464229, ISBN: 0471244554]

Comment: Found in grasses. Develops at the first node above the scutellum, and thus is often thought to be the first leaf. Protects the emerging shoot system as it grows through the soil.

coleorhiza (PO:0020034): A portion of plant tissue surrounding the radicle in the embryo or seedling of some monocots. [APWeb:Glossary]

Currently part_of embryo, but it is also part of the seedling. It develops in the embryo, but persists after germination to protect the embryonic root. Suggest removing part_of plant embryo relation. The coleorhiza, like the coleoptile, has an epidermis (and root hairs), and thus should be classified as a plant organ, even though many authors casually refer to it as a tissue.

Proposed definition: A plant organ that surrounds the radicle in the embryo and seedling.

Comment: Found in grasses and some other monocots. Protects the emerging embryonic root.

hypocotyl (PO:0020100): The part of the stem below the cotyledonary node and transitional to a root, found in a young sporophyte. [APWeb:Glossary]

currently is_a cardinal organ part, propose is_a stem internode (we didn't have this term before but do now)

Proposed definition: A stem internode that is the part of a stem below the cotyledonary node and transitional to a root.

is_a stem internode

epicotyl (PO:0020035): The first internode of a stem above the hypocotyl. In literature also used for the entire embryonic axis, consisting of several internodes, above the cotyledonary node. [APWeb:Glossary]

currently is_a embryonic plant structure, propose is_a stem internode (PO:0005005). Also, the second part of the current definition only adds ambiguity. Need to define it more precisely.

Proposed definition: The first stem internode above a hypocotyl. [Esau]

Comment: The epicotyl is the first internode of a stem above the cotyledons.

mesocotyl (PO:0020037): The internode between the cotyledon or cotyledons and the leaf or leaves at the next node of a young sporophyte.

This definition sounds like the same thing as an epicotyl. Esau says the mesocotyl is the plant axis between the scutellum and the coleoptile and that in grasses, the scutellum is generally thought to represent the cotyledon and the coleoptile to represent the first leaf. In that case, the mesocotyl (as the axis between the scutellum and the coleoptile), is analogous (or homologous) to the epicotyl in dicots and other monocots. In grasses, the hypocotyl is not visible, except perhaps as the scutellar node.

For a picture, see http://www.agry.purdue.edu/ext/corn/news/timeless/GerminationEvents.html

Proposed definition: A shoot internode that is the part of an embryo axis or the stem of a seedling above the scutellum and below the coleoptile. [Easu]

Comment: Occurs in grasses. In grasses, the hypocotyl and cotyledon may not be visible and may be represented by the scutellar node and scutellum, making the mesocotyl similar to the epicotyl in other taxa. Elongation of the mesocotyl during seedling growth pushes the coleoptile above the soil surface.

hypocotyl-root junction PO:0004724: A cardinal organ part that is the part of an embryonic axis where the radicle joins the hypocotyl.

Moved to is_a cardinal organ part. Will automatically be is_a embryonic plant structure b/c it is part of embryonic axis. May want to remove this relation. The hypocotyl-root junction remains after germination. Or, perhaps we should keep it, because this structure is really only referred to during the embryonic phase.

Proposed definition: A cardinal organ part that is the part of a plant axis (or embryonic axis) where the radicle joins the hypocotyl.

Proposed synonym: transition zone (Bell and Bryan 2008, and others)

plumule(PO:0020032): A somewhat differentiated terminal bud in several embryo types above the cotyledonary node, in which one or more internodes and leaves or scales can be discerned in a primordial stage.

made is_a terminal bud, part_of embryo

scutellar node (PO:0004708): The region in of an embryo axis between the primary root (enclosed in the coleorhiza) and the plumule (enclosed in the coleoptile) to which the scutellum is attached. [MaizeGDB:lv]

Sounds like it should be is_a stem node. Also, the region between the primary root and the plumule contains the mesocotyl as well as the scutellar node.

Proposed definition: A stem node that is the part of an embryo axis directly above the radicle where the scutellum is attached.

Comment: Found in grasses, where no hypocotyl is present. The scutellar node may represent a reduced hopocotyl and cotelydonary node.

is_a stem node, part_of embryo axis

embryonic root (PO:0000045): An embryonic plant structure that is a root that is initiated in a developing embryo. [TAIR:ki]

Propose that this should be is_a root instead of is_a embryonic plant structure, b/c it is not necessarily part of an embryo.

Proposed definition: A root that is initiated in a developing embryo.

radicle (PO:0020031): The radicle is the basal continuation of the hypocotyl in an embryo and gives rise to the root system of the adult plant; sometimes more or less abortive. is_a embryonic root [APWeb:Glossary]

Proposed definition: An embryonic root that is the basal continuation of a hypocotyl in an embryo and may develop into the root system of an adult plant.

Comment: Sometimes abortive.

remove part_of embryo axis, because it persists after germination.

embryonic leaf (PO:0006338): One of the first few leaves to develop from the embryonic shoot apical meristem [GR:pj].

Is this an embryonic plant structure, that is, is it always part of the embryo?

Proposed definition: A vascular leaf that is one of the first few leaves to develop from the embryonic shoot apical meristem and is part of an embryo.

is_a vascular leaf,

Should this really be part_of embryo? Do these leaves persist after germination?

New terms for Physcomitrella and related taxa (continued)

Collective plant structures:

vascular and non-vascular shoot systems

The Moss Ontology did not request these terms, but we may want to add them in order to classify shoot systems.

non-vascular shoot system (PO:0030017): A shoot system that does not have as part vascular tissue.

comment: Does not have any xylem of phloem, but may have other conducting cells, such hydroids or leptoids. Can occur in both the gametophytic and sporophytic phases of non-vascular plants.

subset for bryophytes

Could we use the relation "lacks_part"? Then we could define this class using intersection_of relations, which would be better. CL has used this (lack_plasma_membrane_part). Works better in OWL; translates into something like has_part exactly 0 (some Y).

Child of non-vascular shoot system will be gametophore (see below). A moss sporophyte could also be called a non-vascular shoot system. If we used the lacks_part relation and intersection_of relations, we could make gameotophore a child of shoot system, and the reasoner would infer it was a non-vascular shoot system.

Can't use participates_in gametophytic phase, because the sporophyte of a bryophyte might also be considered a non-vascular shoot system.

vascular shoot system (PO:0030016): A shoot system that has as part vascular tissue.

comment: Has xylem and/or phloem. Occurs only in the sporophytic phase of vascular plants.

participates_in sporophytic phase, has_part vascular system

If we accept these terms, suggest changing definitions of vascular leaf (PO:0009025) and non-vascular leaf (PO:0025075) to "A leaf that is part of a vascular/non-vascular shoot system. This would be better than the current definitions which reference their taxonomy (part of a vascular or non-vascular plant) and would help with reasoning.

root-bourne shoot system (PO:0004544) should be is_a vascular shoot system

gametophore (PO:0030018)

Definition supplied by Moss Ontology: The leafy moss plant. The gametophore is the adult form of the moss gametophyte and bearer of the sex organs (gametangia). Ref: Reski (1998): Development, genetics and molecular biology of mosses. Botanica Acta 111, 1-15.

Suggest is_a shoot system.

Proposed def.: A non-vascular shoot system that consists of the shoot axes and non-vascular leaves of a plant in the gametophytic phase.

participates_in gametophytic phase, develops_from gametophore bud

Comment: A gametophore is the leafy part of the gametophyte of mosses and leafy liverworts, excluding the protonema. Develop from buds that form on the protonema. Antheridia and archegonia arise on the gametophore.

subset for bryophytes

gametophore bud (PO:0030026)

The term "bud" has been requested: Def'n supplied by Moss Ontology: A structure produced by a caulonema and able to develop into a gametophore or a stem that includes an apical cell able to develop into a gametophore. The earliest recognizable stage of gametophore development. Ref: Bill and Nancy Malcolm (2006): Mosses and other Bryophytes, an illustrated glossary, second edition and altered by David Cove

Suggest a new term gametophore bud. This could be a child of bud (PO:0000055: An undeveloped shoot system).

Proposed def'n: A vegetative bud that develops into a gametophore.

Comment: Occurs in mosses and leafy liverworts. Develops from a caulonema cell in mosses.

participates_in gametophytic phase, has_part gametophore apical cell

synonym: brown bud

thallus (PO:0030027)

From Parihar: A simple vegetative plant body not differentiated into root, stem and leaf, and lacking vascular tissues.

From Schofeld: A flattened gametophore in which no leaf-like organs dominate the structure.

Saying a thallus is a gametophore implies that it is a shoot system and therefore a collective plant structure (CPS). As a CPS, it must have more that one organ. This is not true for a thallus (sometime they branch, so you could say they have multiple axes, but it is a stretch. Maybe better to classify it as a whole plant.

proposed def: A whole plant in the gametophytic phase that has a flat growth form and no distinct organs.

Comment: A thallus is a gametophyte of liverworts and pteridophytes and develops from a short-lived protonema. Roughly two dimensional growth results from division of a single apical cell. Thalli may be ribbon or heart shaped or almost filamentous. Although there are no distinct organs, there may be tissue differentiation and dichotomous branching.

Add prothallium as a broad synonym of thallus and as a narrow synonym of whole plant.

Other gametophyte terms

We need to keep in mind terms for other types of gametophytes, such as the subterranean, heterotrophic gametophytes of some ferns. RW, DWS, and MAG will maintain a list of terms that we don't need to add yet, but may want to add as time allows or need demands. Can use this list, for example, for writing a renewal of things that still need to be done.

apical cell

Moss Ontology has requested the term apical cell. Apical growth in byrophytes is via division of a single cell at the tip of the shoot apical meristem. They also requested shoot apical cell and phyllid apical cell.

Non-seed vascular plants can also have an apical cell, that is, a single dividing cell at the apex of a root or shoot.

We already have the term apical cell (PO:0004000), which is an embryonic cell: "An embryonic plant cell that is the uppermost cell formed after the first division of the zygote." The embryonic apical cell can also be found in non-angiosperms. Suggest obsoleting PO:0004000 and replacing it with the new termembryonic apical cell for clarity, and using the name apical cell for the general class of apical cells described below.

Definition of apical cell from Esau: The single initial cell in an apical meristem of root or shoot. Characteristic of many lower vascular plants.

Definition of apical cell from Crum: A single cell at the tip of a stem, leaf, leaf or other structure that divides repeatedly to form new cells; also known as an apical intial.

Is apical cell more consistent with meristematic cell (A cell synthesizing protoplasm and producing new cells by division and with only a primary cell wall) or with initial cell (A meristematic cell that by division gives rise to two cells, one of which remains meristematic, while the other is added to the plant body)? Probably meristematic cell, because the apical cell can give rise to more than two cells (because it can have three or four cutting faces).

Proposed def. of apical cell (PO:0030007): A single meristematic cell at the tip of a shoot axis apex, leaf apex, root apex, or thallus apex.

Comment: Occurs in bryophytes and some pteridophytes, where apical growth results from division of a single meristematic cell located at the tip of an apical meristem or plant organ, rather than from a population of meristematic cells located at the tip of an apical meristem. May be tetrahedral shaped, with three (in shoots) or four (in roots) cutting faces, or wedge shaped with two cutting faces (in non-vascular leaves or thalli). An apical cell maybe established upon germination of a spore or upon the first cell division of an embryo or later.

-note: the last sentence of the comment allows us to classify an embryonic apical cell as an apical cell.

Suggested ontology structure for the children of apical cell:

The dotted lines represent relations inferred by the reasoner.

Includes two ways of classifying: by structure and by gametophyte/sporophyte. Structural relations are asserted as is_a relations. The relations to gametophyte or sporophyte are inferred by the intersection_of terms.

New terms and definitions for apical cells

gametophytic apical cell (PO:0030014): An apical cell that is part of a whole plant in the gametophytic phase.

Comment: Occurs bryophytes and pteridophytes.

intersection_of: is_a apical cell, intersection_of: participates_in gametophytic phase

sporophytic apical cell (PO:0030015): An apical cell that is part of a whole plant in the sporophytic phase.

Comment: Occurs in pteridophytes and the sporophyte of bryophytes.

intersection_of: is_a apical cell, intersection_of: participates_in sporophytic phase

thallus apical cell (PO:0030025): An apical cell that is part of a thallus.

part_of thallus

root apical cell (PO:0030008): A sporophytic apical cell that is part of a root apical meristem.

comment: Occurs in the sporophytic phase of pteridophytes.

part_of root apical meristem

shoot apical cell (PO:0030009): An apical cell that is part of a shoot system.

comment: May occur in shoot axes or leaves of bryophytes or ferns.

part_of shoot system

gametophore apical cell (PO:0030019): A shoot apical cell that is part of a gametophore.

comment: Occurs in the non-vascular shoot system of the gametophyte of mosses.

intersection_of: is_a shoot apical cell, intersection_of: part_of gametophore

leaf apical cell (PO:0030011): A shoot apical cell that is part of a leaf apex.

comment: Occurs in the non-vascular leaves of bryophytes and the vascular leaves of some ferns. Only in plants where leaf growth is apical.

part_of leaf

non-vascular leaf apical cell (PO:0030013): A leaf apical cell that is part of a leaf apex of a non-vascular leaf.

comment: Occurs in the non-vascular leaves of bryophytes, which grow by division of a single, wedge-shaped apical cell with two cutting faces.

part_of non-vasucular leaf; synonym: phyllid apical cell

vascular leaf apical cell (PO:0030012): A leaf apical cell that is part of the leaf apex of a vascular leaf.

comment: Occurs in vascular leaves of some ferns in their sporophytic phase.

part_of vascular leaf

shoot axis apical cell (PO:0030010): An apical cell at the tip of a shoot apical meristem.

Comment: Divides to produces leaf initial cells and other stem tissues.

part_of shoot apical meristem

gametophore axis apical cell (PO:0030023): A shoot axis apical cell at the tip of a gametophore axis.

Comment: Occurs at the tips of the stems and branches of bryophytes.

part_of gametophore axis; synonym: cauloid apical cell, non-vascular shoot axis apical cell

vascular shoot axis apical cell (PO:0030024): A shoot axis apical cell at the tip of a shoot apical meristem in a vascular shoot system.

Comment: Occurs in some ferns in their sporophytic phase.

part_of vascular_shoot system; synonym: fern shoot axis apical cell

Also:

embryonic apical cell (PO:0025284, replaces PO:0004000): An apical cell that is part of an embryo and is the uppermost cell formed after the first division of a zygote.

Comment: For plants that grow via an apical cell in their sporophytic phase, the embryonic apical cell may remain meristematic throughout the plant's life.

Plant organs:

cauloid

- This is the term used for the gametophore stem or axis.

Suggest using gametophore axis (PO:0030020) as primary name, cauloid as synonym.

Proposed def'n: A shoot axis that is part of a gametophore.

Synonyms: cauloid, gametophyte axis, non-vascular shoot axis (broad, because it can also apply to the seta); participates_in gametophytic phase.

intersection_of: is_a plant axis, intersection_of: part_of gametophore

Add caulome as synonym of shoot axis

-Also suggest adding terms for gametophore stem and gametophore branch.

gametophore stem (PO:0030022): A stem that is part of a gametophore.

is_a stem, part_of gametophore

gametophore branch (PO:0030021): A branch that is part of a gametophore.

is_a branch, part_of gametophore

-If the intersection_of relations are asserted in the end user's version (e.g. Amigo), users will see dual parentage (is_a gametophore axis and is_a stem or branch).

perigonial bract (PO:0030028)

- The specialized phyllids surrounding the antheridia.

Ref: Bill and Nancy Malcolm (2006): Mosses and other Bryophytes, an illustrated glossary, second edition (MO definition)

A bract (PO:0009055) is defined as: A phyllome, usually different in form from the foliage leaves, subtending a reproductive structure. [source: POC:curators] Comment: Often used to refer to what is called here floral bract.

Proposed def'n: A bract that subtends an antheridium.

part_of gametophore, participates in gametophytic phase

Comment: When an antheridium occurs on a specialized lateral branch of the gametophore, all of the phyllomes on that branch are usually perigonial bracts. If an antheridium occurs on a main axis of the gametophore, usually only the terminal phyllomes are perigonial bracts.

foot

Moss Ontology definition: The base of the sporophytes in mosses

Proposed name and def.: sporophyte foot (PO:0030029): A plant organ that is the base of a whole plant in the sporophytic phase and attaches it to the gametophore. (ref: Schofeld)

Comment: Found in bryophytes and some pteridophytes. In mosses, the foot is located below the seta. In ferns, the foot is formed from the upper hypobasal quandrant of the embryo. The sporophyte foot serves for both attachment and absorption. The outer portion of the foot is composed of absorptive transfer cells. (ref: Crum)

participates_in sporophytic phase, has_part transfer cell

Additional organ related moss terms:

These were not requested by the Physcomitrella group, but they are related to the terms above and are commonly used to describe mosses, so we should add them now.

perichaetal bract (PO:0030030)

Proposed def.: A bract that subtends an archegonium. part_of gametophore

Comment: When an archegonium occurs on a specialized lateral branch of the gametophore, all of the phyllomes on that branch are usually parichaetal bracts. If an archegonium occurs on a main axis of the gametophore, only the terminal phyllomes are usually parichaetal bracts. The two or three terminal-most perichaetal bracts may fuse to form a gametophytic perianth.

gametophytic perianth (PO:0030031)

Proposed def.: A collective phyllome structure that consists of two or more of the most distal perichaetal bracts on a gametophore axis and surround a capsule.

-has_part parachaetal bract, part_of gametophore, disjoint_from perianth (PO:0009058)

Comment: The perichaetal bracts may fuse laterally in the gametophytic perianth. The gametophytic perianth is not the same structure as a perianth (PO:0009058) in angiosperms.

seta (PO:0030032)

-The stalk of a moss sporophyte.

Proposed def.: A plant axis that holds up a spore capsule. participates_in sporophytic phase

Comment: Found in some bryophytes, especially mosses.

antheridiophore and archegoniophore

These are stalks that hold up the antheridia or archegonia in Marchantiales (liverworts)

Proposed definitions:

antheridiophore (PO:0030033): A plant axis that bears two or more antheridia.

participates_in gametophytic phase

Comment: Antheridia are borne on a disk-shaped archegonial head. Found in Marchantiales.

archegoniophore (PO:0030034): A plant axis that bears two or more archegonia.

participates_in gametophytic phase

Comment: Archegonia are borne on an umbrella-shaped archegonial head. Found in Marchantiales.

Will also add terms for antheridium stalk (PO:0030035) and archegonium stalk (PO:0030036):

A stalk that the basal part of an antheridium/archegonium. part_of antheridium or archegonium.

Comment: Raises the antheridium/venter above the rest of the gametophyte.

Cardinal organ parts

Terms requested by MO:

• calyptra

Moss Ontology definition: A membranous or hairy cap or hood that forms from the wall of the archegonium and protects the embryonic sporophyte. It is formed from the archegonium by mitotic divisions, and hence it is haploid. Bill and Nancy Malcolm (2006): Mosses and other Bryophytes, an illustrated glossary, second edition and altered from David Cove.

We also have a request (from PJ) for calyptra, which encloses the fruit in Eucalyptus. That term should be named perianth calyptra (see below under operculum), and this term should be named spore capsule calyptra, to distinguish them.

Proposed name and def.: spore capsule calyptra (PO:0030037): A cardinal organ part that develops from the wall of an archegonium and surrounds a sporangium.

Comment: Found in bryophytes and pteridophytes. The calyptra is a membranous or hairy cap or hood composed of gametophytic tissue that protects the embryonic sporophyte within the archegonium. In some species, the calyptra may persist after the sporophyte develops and gets carried upward as the seta elongates.

participates_in gametophytic phase, develops_from archegonium

subsets for bryophytes, pteridophytes

• venter (PO:0030038)

This term was not suggested by Moss Ontology, but perhaps we should add it.

proposed def.: A cardinal organ part that is the enlarged basal part of an archegonium and has an egg cell located in it.

part_of archegonium

subsets for bryophytes, pteridophytes, gymnosperms

• archegonium neck(PO:0030039)

This term was not suggested by Moss Ontology, but perhaps we should add it.

proposed def.: A cardinal organ part that is the elongated apical part of an archegonium.

Comment: Early in development, the neck is occluded by a single row of neck canal cells. At maturity, the neck canal cells disintegrate, creating a canal for the sperm to enter the archegonium.

part_of archegonium

(can also add term for neck canal cell when we deal with cells)

subsets for bryophytes, pteridophytes, gymnosperms

• base

Proposed name and def.: sporangium base (PO:0030040): A cardinal organ part that is the basal part of a sporangium.

Comment: Term used in mosses and other bryophytes (what about pteridophytes?). The sporangium base is the sterile part of the sporangium below the theca. If swollen and distinct from the rest of the sporangium, it is called an apophysis or hypophysis. (ref: Bill and Nancy Malcolm (2006): Mosses and other Bryophytes, an illustrated glossary, second edition)

part_of sporangium; Synonyms: sporangium neck, apophysis, hypophysis

subsets for bryophytes

• theca

Moss Ontology definition: The main body (urn) of a sporangium. Altered from Bill and Nancy Malcolm (2006): Mosses and other Bryophytes, an illustrated glossary, second edition

We already have the term theca (PO:0009069) to describe paired microsporangia in angiosperms. Maybe we should call that anther theca and call this term sporangium theca:.

Proposed name and def.: sporangium theca (PO:0030041): A cardinal organ part that is the main body of a sporangium and has spores located in it.

Comment: Term used for bryophytes and pteridophytes.

part_of sporangium

subsets for bryophytes, pteridophytes

• peristome (PO:0030042)

Moss Ontology definition: A single or double circle of teeth inside the mouth of a moss sporangium. Bill and Nancy Malcolm (2006): Mosses and other Bryophytes, an illustrated glossary, second edition

proposed definition: A cardinal organ part that is a single or double circle of teeth inside a spore capsule mouth.

Comment: The peristome is located under the operculum, if an operculum is present. Upon maturity of a capsule, the teeth of the peristome open to release the spores.

part_of sporangium

subsets for bryophytes

• peristome tooth (PO:0030043)

Not requested by Moss Ontology, but should add it.

Proposed def: A cardinal organ part that is a single lobe or tooth of a peristome.

Comment: Peristome teeth may be simple or compound, and may be attached by their tips to the epiphragm.

part_of peristome

subsets for bryophytes

• Add term for peristome cell? Are they dead at maturity? What kind of cells are they?

• lid/operculum

Moss Ontology definition: Either the lid that blocks the capsule mouth or the apical portion of a sporangium that opens during dehiscence. Bill and Nancy Malcolm (2006): Mosses and other Bryophytes, an illustrated glossary, second edition.

We also have a request (from PJ) for operculum, which is part of the fruit in Eucalyptus. That term should be named fruit operculum, and this term should be named spore capsule operculum, to distinguish them.

Proposed name and def.: spore capsule operculum (PO:0030044): A cardinal organ part that is the apical part of a spore capsule that separates from the rest of the capsule during dehiscence.

Comment: Found in mosses. May remain partly attached to the rest of the capsule.

Synonym: sporangium lid

part_of sporangium

subsets for bryophytes

Also add these terms for angiosperms:

fruit operculum: A collective organ part structure that is the apical part of a circumsesile capsular fruit that separates from the rest of the capsule during dehiscence.

Comment: Develops from the apical portion of a gynoecium. Found in Eucalyptus and other Myrtaceae.

part_of fruit

Is is a cardinal organ part (formed from a single carpel) or collective organ part structure (formed from parts of multiple carpels)?

perianth calyptra: A perianth that is composed of fused perianth parts and located on tops of a gynoecium that contains an inferior ovary.

Comment: May be composed of fused petals, sepals or tepals, but is generally formed from fused petals in Eucalyptus and other Myrtaceae. May separate from the plant at maturity, exposing the capsular fruit and fruit operculum. Sometimes erroneously referred to as part of a fruit.

Other related terms for mosses, not from Moss Ontology

• spore capsule mouth

Proposed definition: A plant anatomical space that is the opening on the apical end of a spore capsule.

Comment: The mouth is formed when the operculum separates from the capsule. The mouth may be covered by a peristome.

part_of sporangium

subsets for bryophytes

• epiphragm

Schofeld says it is a "membranelike expansion of the columella covering most of the mouth of the sporangium in Polytrichidae (hair cap mosses)."

From Crum: "A circular membrane at the tip of the columella to which the peristome teeth of the prolytrichaceae are attached."

Proposed definition: A portion of parenchyma tissue that forms a circular membrane extending from a spore capsule collumella and attached to the ends of the peristome teeth that covers a spore capsule mouth.

Comment: Present in some moss species of the family Polytrichaceae.

Synonym: tympanum, epiphram

subsets for bryophytes

• pseudopodium

From Crum: "An elongation of the gametophytic axis on which the capsule is borne in Sphagnum and Andreaea."

From Schofeld: "An elongated mass of leafless gametophore tissue that pushes the sporophyte beyond the perichaetial leaves (in Andreaea and Sphagnum)."

Proposed definition: A plant axis that is a leafless extension of a gametophore axis on which a sporophyte is borne.

Comment: Raises the sporophyte above the perichaetial bracts. Found in Sphagnum and Andreaea.

participates_in gametophytic phase

subsets for bryophytes

Sporangium

We currently have the class sporangium (PO:0025094), which is a cardinal organ part.

Current def: A hollow cardinal organ part in which spores are produced. [source: ISBN:0716710072]

Comment: May be multicellular or unicellular. In bryophytes, particularly in mosses, a sporangium is referred to as a capsule

In bryophytes, the sporangium is a plant organ. In seed plants, it is a cardinal organ part (part of a sporophyll). In ferns, it grows on the surface of a leaf and in other pteridophytes is grows on the surface of a sporophyll. Would it be legitimate to say that in seed plants, the sporangium is a reduced organ that is located in another organ? If so, could change the parent to plant organ.

Is it really hollow? It is full of sporocytes or spores.

Proposed definition: A plant organ in which spores are produced.

Comment: In bryophytes, particularly in mosses, a sporangium is referred to as a capsule. In seed plants, a sporangium is located in a sporophyll. In pteridophytes, a sporangium is located on the surface of a sporophyll or fertile leaf or borne on a sporangiophore. May unicellular in some algae.

We also have:

megasporangium (PO:0025201): A sporangium in which megaspores are produced. [source: ISBN:0716710072]

microsporangium (PO:0025202): A sporangium in which microspores are produced. [source: ISBN:0716710072]

nucellus (PO:0020020): A megasporangium in a seed plant, composed of fleshy subepidermal tissue inside an ovule and surrounding a megasporocyte. [source: POC:rw]

Comment: In seed plants, the megaspores and megagametophyte are retained within the nucellus.

pollen sac (PO:0025277): A microsporangium that is part of a sporophyll where the pollen grains developed and are contained after they develop. [source: POC:curators]

Comment: A pollen sac is a microsporangium in seed plants. In angiosperms, a single, unfused pollen sac may contain an anther locule or several pollen sacs may fuse so they contain a single anther locule.

The only differences below are substituting located in for other words.

Proposed def. nucellus: A megasporangium in a seed plant, composed of fleshy subepidermal tissue located in an ovule and surrounding a megasporocyte.

Proposed def. pollen sac: A microsporangium that is located in a sporophyll and where the pollen grains developed and are located after they develop. [source: POC:curators]

(comments stay the same)

We could continue to use the more general part_of relation for located_in, if we don't want to add a new relation.

Plant Cells

Terms requested by Moss Ontology:

archesporial cell

We have the terms:

female archesporial cell (PO:0006015): In the majority of flowering plants including Arabidopsis, the female archesporial cell elongates and polarizes longitudinally, and directly differentiates into the megasporocyte or megaspore mother cell (MMC). In some flowering plants, it undergoes a periclinal division, and subsequently the inner cell differentiates into the megasporocyte. [source: PMID:10465788]

male archesporial cell (PO:0006014): It undergoes periclinal divisions, giving rise to an inner primary sporogenous cell (PSC) layer and an outer primary parietal cell (PPC). [source: GR:pj, PMID:10465788]

Suggest new term for archesporial cell (for homosporous plants), plus revised definitions of male and female archesporial cell.

Proposed definitions:

archesporial cell A plant cell that divides to gives rise to a sporocyte and is part of a sporangium.

Comment: May also give rise to sterile cells such as elators (in liverworts) or tapetal cells. In most species outside seed plants, multiple archesporial cells are part of an archesporium or sporogenous tissue.

synonym: sporogenous cell

female archesporial cell (PO:0006015): A plant cell that is part of a megasporangium and divides to give rise to a megasporocyte.

Comment: Found in heterosporous ferns and seed plants. May also give rise to sterile cells. In the majority of flowering plants, including Arabidopsis, the female archesporial cell elongates and polarizes longitudinally, and directly differentiates into the megasporocyte or megaspore mother cell (MMC). In some flowering plants, it undergoes a periclinal division, and subsequently the inner cell differentiates into the megasporocyte. [source: PMID:10465788]

male archesporial cell (PO:0006014): A plant cell that is part of a microsporangium and divides to gives rise to a microsporocyte.

Comment: Found in heterosporous ferns and seed plants. May also give rise to sterile cells. In seed plants, a male archesporial cell undergoes periclinal division, giving rise to an inner primary sporogenous cell (PSC) layer and an outer primary parietal cell (PPC). [source: PMID:10465788]

alar cell

Moss Ontology definition: Specialized cells at both basal corners of a moss leaf that differ from the other leaf cells in ther size, shape, color or thickness and ornamentation of their walls. Bill and Nancy Malcolm (2006): Mosses and other Bryophytes, an illustrated glossary, second edition

Proposed def.: A plant cell located at the base of a non-vascular leaf adjacent to where the leaf attaches to the stem.

Comment: Found in mosses. Alar cells occur in an area at the base of a leaf that may be triangular, ovate or rectangular, and is sometimes called the alar region. They are different in size, shape, color, thickness or ornamentation form other cells in the leaf.

is_a plant cell, part_of non-vascular leaf, part_of leaf base

other refs: Schofeld, Crum, Lars Hedenas The Bryologist 100(1), pp. 65-88.

Blurry image of alar cells at the base of a moss leaf

brachycyte

Moss Ontology definition: Drought-tolerant cell with thick cell wall developed in protonemata under stress (also called brood cells). A type of gemma. Celia Knight,Pierre-François Perroud,David Cove (2009): The moss Physcomitrella patens. The Annual Plant Review 36, Glossary

Proposed def.: A plant cell that develops from a cell in a protonema and has a thick cell wall.

Comment: Found in mosses. A brachycyte is a drought tolerant cell that can act as a gemma and may give rise to a new plant. Cells of a protonema may develop into brachycytes under stress. May form a chain or be separated by tmema cells.

Synonym: brood cell (from Crum)

chloronema cell (PO:0030001) and caulonema cell (PO:0030002)

Already added at the POC_Conf._Call_3-8-11.

tmema cell

Moss Ontology definition: An abscission cell at the base of a gemma (vegetative propagule). Bill and Nancy Malcolm (2006): Mosses and other Bryophytes, an illustrated glossary, second edition

From Crum: An abscission cell at the base of a gemma or brood cell, see also brachytmema and dlichotmema

Proposed def.: A plant cell at the base of a gemma or adjacent to a brachycyte that breaks down to allow abscission of the gemma or brachycyte.

jacket layer cell

Moss Ontology definition: From the unistratose wall of an antheridium. Bill and Nancy Malcolm (2006): Mosses and other Bryophytes, an illustrated glossary, second edition

We can address the definition of jacket layer (aka sporangium wall) when we deal with the parts of a sporangium but assuming that the sporangium wall exists, we can add this cell term now.

Proposed def. for sporangium wall cell:A plant cell that is part of a sporangium wall.

Comment: The sporangium wall is also known as the jacket layer.

Synonym: sporangium jacket layer cell

axillary hair cells

See below, under portions of tissue, for definition of axillary hair.

• axillary hair terminal cell

Moss Ontology definition: A long terminal cell in an axil filament atop a basal stalk. Bill and Nancy Malcolm (2006): Mosses and other Bryophytes, an illustrated glossary, second edition

Proposed def.: A trichome cell that is the long terminal cell of an axillary hair.

part_of axillary hair

• axillary hair base cell

Moss Ontology definition: Basal stalk of an axil filament consisting of two to a dozen cells. Bill and Nancy Malcolm (2006): Mosses and other Bryophytes, an illustrated glossary, second edition

This actually defines the base of an axillary hair, not a cell. Suggest adding two terms:

Proposed def., axillary hair base: A portion of plant tissue that is the basal part of an axillary hair, below the axillary hair terminal cell.

Comment: Consists of two to a dozen cells.

part_of axillary hair

Proposed def., axillary hair basal cell: A trichome cell that is part of an axillary hair base.

part_of axillary hair base

Lars Hedenas The Bryologist 100(1), pp. 65-88.

neck canal cell

Moss Ontology definition: Cells in the neck of an immature archegonium neck (also called canal cells)

From Crum: The axial row of cells in the neck of an archegonium

Proposed def.: A plant cell that is one of the axial row of cells in an immature archegonium neck.

Comment: As the archegonium matures, the neck canal cells dissintegrate to form the neck canal

part_of archegonium neck, synonym: canal cell

Also suggest adding term for neck canal: A canal that in the center of an archegonium neck.

part_of archegonium neck.

side branch initial

Moss Ontology definition: A single cell produced by the division of sub-apical cells of protonemata. Side branch initials may develop into chloronemata, caulonemata, buds and hence gametophores, or may not divide further. David Cove

Proposed def.: An initial cell that is produced by division of a sub-apical cell of a protonema.

Comment: May give rise to a chloronema, a caulonema, a gametophore buse, or may not divide further.

part_of protonema

Other cell types, not requested by MO:

• rhizoid initial

Proposed def.: An epidermal initial cell that gives rise to a rhizoid. [PMID: 12917289]

part_of gametophore epidermis

• hydroids and leptoids

See separate agenda for [POC_Conf._Call_4-28-11#Conductive_cells_and_tissues conductive cells and tissues]