Changes to the TO- Spring 2012

Changes to root term:

root term: plant trait (TO:0000387)

need to fix definition of plant trait to include cellular components and biochemical traits etc

current def'n: A measurable or observable characteristic of a plant anatomical entity (PO:0000003) and/or a plant structure development stage (PO:0009012).

new proposed def'n: A measurable or observable characteristic of a cellular component (GO:0005575), biological process (GO:0008150) or molecular function (GO:0003674) that is part of, or has participant a plant anatomical entity (PO:0000003)and or a plant structure development stage (PO:0009012).

Comment: This includes physiological, molecular and biochemical traits as well.

background on the GO classes:

• cellular component (GO:0005575): The part of a cell or its extracellular environment in which a gene product is located.

Includes cells and parts of cells like membranes, organelles, symplast, apoplast, plant extracellular matrix (The matrix external to the plant plasma membrane, composed of the cell wall and middle lamella), parts of the pollen wall (exine (including sexine), intine), pollen coat,

• biological process (GO:0008150): Any process specifically pertinent to the functioning of integrated living units: cells, tissues, organs, and organisms. A process is a collection of molecular events with a defined beginning and end.

Includes: Processes important to plants such as: growth, development, reproduction, senescence, respiration, photosynthesis, metabolism, signaling, response to abiotic (e.g. cold acclimation, vernalization, heat, flooding, drought, response to herbicide, wounding, inorganic substance) and biotic stress (responses to bacteria, fungi, herbivores, insects, viruses, symbionts, defense response, detection of stress, incompatible and compatible responses), rhythmic process (e.g. circadian rhythm > circadian regulation of gene expression), seed development and germination, phloem transport, etc etc..... nitrogen fixation .

• molecular function (GO:0003674): Elemental activities, such as catalysis or binding, describing the actions of a gene product at the molecular level.

Includes all the enzyme activities such as catalysis of a biochemical reaction, regulation, binding, nucleic acid binding (transcription factor), receptor activity, transporter activity,etc