Abstract Detail

Time to dig: the importance of underground storage organs in plant evolution

Howard, Cody Coyotee [1], Tribble, Carrie [2], Martinez-Gomez, Jesus [3], Males, Jamie [4], Sosa, Victoria [5], Sessa, Emily [6], Specht, Chelsea [3], Cellinese, Nico [7].

Ontologies as a framework to clarify Geophyte Terminology.

Collectively geophytes represent a diverse array of specialized morphologies. These complex morphological and anatomical modifications to plant organ systems are located below ground and underlie the geophytic habit. Perhaps due to their hidden nature, the descriptive terminology of these structures and processes remains ambiguous and inconsistent. Here, we provide an overview of the morphological diversity and developmental patterns of geophytes in order to highlight both their complexity and the inconsistencies in terminology of both pattern and process that are riddled throughout the literature. We then introduce ontologies as a framework to address problems associated with geophyte-associated terminology and evolution. Ontologies provide standardized terminology that allows both humans and machine to understand the logical relationships between terms. In this way, knowledge of structure (morphology and anatomy) and process (development), which is often distributed across the literature in many forms (e.g., words, images), can be represented in a single computable database. This formalization of knowledge makes phenotypic information easily accessible to researchers, and allows easier integration of this information into other large scale ontological datasets, ultimately leading to a more holistic understanding of the complexities that exist between form and function.

Related Links:
Geophytic Organisms Ontology and Phylogeny

1 - University of Florida, Florida Museum of Natural History, 1659 Museum Rd., Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
2 - University Of California, Berkeley, Rothfels Lab, UC Jepson Herbarium, 1001 Valley Life Sciences Building, Berkeley, CA, 94720, United States
3 - Cornell University, Plant Biology, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
4 - University of Cambridge, Department of Plant Science, Downing Street, Cambridge, UK
5 - Instituto De Ecologia AC, Biologia Evolutiva, Carretera Antigua A Coatepec 351, El Haya, Xalapa, 91070, Mexico
6 - University Of Florida, Biology, Box 118525, 521A Bartram Hall, Gainesville, FL, 32611, United States
7 - University Of Florida, FLORIDA MUSEUM OF NAT. HISTORY, 1659 Museum Rd., 354 Dickinson Hall, Gainesville, FL, 32611, United States

Keywords:
geophytes
Ontologies.

Presentation Type: Colloquium Presentations
Session: CO07, Time to Dig: the importance of underground organs in plant evolution.
Location: Tucson J/Starr Pass
Date: Tuesday, July 30th, 2019
Time: 11:15 AM
Number: CO07010
Abstract ID:537
Candidate for Awards:None