Agriculture and food terminology · MLC-0114

Agriculture and food terms: P (649)

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• pachytene stageThe stage in the first meiotic prophase, following zygotene stage, when crossing over between homologous...
• Pacific IslandersPeople who identify themselves as having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or...
• Pacific RimThe coastal regions bordering the Pacific Ocean.
• paeonolPaeonol is a volatile, low molecular weight (166.18) and pharmacological-active phenolic compound obtained...
• painAn unpleasant sensation induced by noxious stimuli which are detected by nerve endings of nociceptive neurons.
• pain assessmentScales, questionnaires, tests, and other methods used to assess pain severity and duration in patients or...
• pain managementA form of therapy that employs a coordinated and interdisciplinary approach for easing the suffering and...
• pain testsTests or techniques used for measuring pain sensitivity.
• paintsAny pigmented liquid, liquifiable, or mastic composition designed for application to a substrate in a thin...
• palaeogeographyHistorical study of geography.
• paleoanthropologyThe study of fossil hominids (Hominidae) or human ancestors.
• paleobiogeographyThe scientific study of the geographic distribution of fossils.
• paleobotanyBranch of paleontology concerned with the study of fossil plants and plant life in the geologic past.
• paleoceanographyThe study of the history of the oceans with regard to circulation, sedimentation, chemistry, geology and...
• paleoclimatologyThe study of climates in the geologic past, involving fossil, glacial, isotropic, or other data.
• paleontologyThe study of prehistoric life through fossil remains.
• palletsA low wood or metal platform on which material can be stacked to facilitate mechanical handling, moving, and...
• palm kernel oilThe oil from the kernel or "nut" of the palm. Compare with palm oils.
• palm oilsOils pressed from the pulp of the fruit of various palms (Arecaceae). The African palm (Elaeis guineensis) is...
• palmitic acidA common saturated fatty acid found in fats and waxes including olive oil, palm oil, and body lipids.
• palmitic acidsA group of 16-carbon fatty acids that contain no double bonds.
• palmitoylationCovalent attachment of fatty acids or lipids to other molecules.
• palynologyThe branch of science in studying spores and pollen.
• Pampas regionAn extensive, flat and fertile grassland of temperate South America east of the Andes and mostly in Argentina...
• Panama Canal ZoneThe area across the Isthmus of Panama formerly administered by the United States from 1903 to 1979 for the...
• pancreatic hormonesPeptide hormones secreted into the blood by cells in the islets of Langerhans of the pancreas. The alpha...
• pancreatic insulitisAn inflammation in the islets of Langerhans characterized by edema and the lymphocytic infiltration.
• pancreatic polypeptideA 36-amino acid pancreatic hormone that is secreted mainly by endocrine cells found at the periphery of the...
• pancreatinA mammalian pancreatic extract composed of proteinase, amylase, and lipase activities.
• pandemicWidespread outbreak of a disease, throughout a country or population.
• paneerA fresh soft white cheese, orginating from India, which is used in Indian, Afghan and Iranian cookery
• paniclesA branched or compound raceme that usually grows at the tip of a shoot. Secondary branches are often racemose...
• p-anisidine valueA measurement of the aldehyde content in a fat or oil. As aldehydes are secondary oxidation products produced...
• PantanalAn immense freshwater wetland system of South America situated along the Paraguay River and its tributaries.
• paper chromatographyAn analytical technique for resolution of a chemical mixture into its component compounds. Compounds are...
• paperboardThe distinction between paper and paperboard is not sharp, but broadly speaking, the thicker (greater than...
• papillomaA circumscribed benign epithelial tumor projecting from the surrounding surface; more precisely, a benign...
• paracrine signalingCellular signaling in which a factor secreted by a cell affects other cells in the local environment. This...
• paragonimiasisInfection with Trematoda of the genus Paragonimus.
• parallel evolutionThe development of similar characteristics in species that are not closely related due to adaptation to...
• parameter uncertaintyUncertainty in a parameter due to lack of reasonable knowledge of its relationship, or due to lack of...
• paramphistomosisParasitic diseases or infestations found in ruminants caused by species of the family Paramphistomidae.
• paraphylyThe phylogenetic relationship grouping organisms that include some but not all descendants of their most...
• parasexual cycleGenetic recombination in some fungi other than by typical sexual reproduction.
• parasite loadMeasure of the number of the parasites present in a host organism.
• parasitemiaThe presence of parasites (especially malarial parasites) in the blood.
• parasitesInvertebrate organisms that live on or in another organism (the host), and benefit at the expense of the...
• parasitosesParasitic diseases or infestations.
• parasympatholyticsAgents that inhibit the activity of the parasympathetic nervous system.
• parasympathomimeticsDrugs that mimic the effects of parasympathetic nervous system activity. Included here are drugs that...
• paratenic hostsAn intermediate host in which no development of the parasite occurs.
• paratransgenesisA method to control vector-borne diseases by genetic manipulation of endosymbiotic microorganisms of insects...
• parenchyma (plant tissue)Short cells having simple pits and functioning primarily in the metabolism and storage of plant food...
• parent educationInstructions, trainings or services offered to parents on effective parenting.
• parent rockThe rock from which the parent materials of soils are formed.
• parentageThe kinship relation between an offspring and its parents.
• parenteral feedingThe administering of nutrients for assimilation and utilization by a patient who cannot maintain adequate...
• parenthood educationAn organized program that teaches children or teenagers about child care and development, and the role of...
• parity (economics)A level for agricultural commodity prices maintained by governmental support and intended to give farmers the...
• parity (reproduction)The number of times a female has given birth.
• parkland agroforestry systemsA type of agroforestry system in which large canopy trees are widely spaced in croplands or grasslands. The...
• parrJuvenile salmonid fish which have dispersed from the freshwater spawning site and are characterized by...
• parthenocarpyThe development of fruit without viable seed. It may be induced artificially, as by some foreign pollen, or...
• parthenogenesisReproduction in which young are produced by unfertilized females.
• partial pressureThe pressure exerted by a designated component or components of a gaseous mixture.
• participatory managementA management practice in which employees participate in management decision making within an organization.
• particleboardsStructural panel products made of wood fragments, such as chips or shavings, that are mechanically pressed...
• parturitionThe process of giving birth to one or more offspring.
• pasteurellosisInfections with bacteria of the genus Pasteurella.
• pasteurizationProcess of heating milk or other liquids to destroy microorganisms that can cause disease or spoilage while...
• pastoralismA way of life based on the raising and herding of livestock, such as sheep, goats, or horses.
• pasture managementThe application of practices to keep pasture plants growing actively over as long a period as possible so...
• pasturesAn area devoted to the production of forage (introduced or native) and harvested by grazing.
• patch burningA method of prescribed burning where patches of trees and vegetation are burnt to form a barrier to...
• patch cuttingA clearcutting system variation in which the logging operation removes all merchantable timber in patches of...
• patch-clamp techniqueAn electrophysiologic technique for studying cells, cell membranes, and occasionally isolated organelles. All...
• paternityThe kinship relation between an offspring and its male parent.
• pathogen characterizationA step in exposure characterization that examines the characteristics of a pathogen which affects its...
• pathogen occurrenceA step in exposure characterization describing the frequency of appearance of a pathogen in the environment.
• pathogen survivalA population statistic used in an epidemiological context that refers to the number of pathogenic...
• pathogen-associated molecular patternsPathogens' molecules with specific sequence patterns that are recognized by pattern recognition receptors...
• pathogenesisThe development of a disease or disease process.
• pathogenesis-related proteinsA group of plant proteins induced in pathological or stress related situations. They are mostly acidic, of...
• pathogenicityAbility of infectious agents (i.e., viruses, bacteria, fungi), parasitic nematodes, protozoa or helminths to...
• pathogenicity islandsClusters of genetic elements in an organism's genome encoding genes conferring virulence.
• pathogensMicroorganisms, viruses and parasites that can cause disease.
• pathotypesPopulations of the same species which differ by their pathogenic capability.
• patientsA person or animal receiving medical care due to illness, injury or health-related concern.
• paucibacillary leprosyA form of leprosy classified by the World Health Organization for the purpose of treatment, based on clinical...
• pea proteinDietary proteins that are present in or isolated from the seeds of Pisum sativum.
• peatPartially decomposed organic matter of a vegetative nature formed under wet conditions.
• peat soilsSoil type derived from dead organic matter in a wet area. The reduced available oxygen results in slower...
• peatlandsPeatland is a generic term for an extensive tract of wetland where peat has formed. They develop more...
• pecan husksThe green fleshy tissue that covers and encases the developing pecan nut.
• pectoralis muscleA network of tubules and sacs in the cytoplasm of skeletal muscle fibers that assist with muscle contraction...
• pedicelIn an inflorescence consisting of more than one flower, the foot- stalk or stem of an individual flower or...
• pedigreeThe record of descent or ancestry, particularly of a particular condition or trait, indicating individual...
• peduncleA stalk bearing a flower, flower cluster, or a fructification.
• pelagic fishFish living in the open ocean near the surface, as opposed to coastal areas or the ocean floor.
• pelvic bonesBones that constitute each half of the pelvic girdle in vertebrates, formed by fusion of the ilium; ischium...
• penetranceThe percent frequency with which a dominant or homozygous recessive gene or gene combination manifests itself...
• penicillamine3-Mercapto-D-valine. The most characteristic degradation product of the penicillin antibiotics. It is used as...
• penicillanic acidA building block of penicillin, devoid of significant antibacterial activity.
• penicillic acidA mycotoxin with antibiotic and carcinogenic activity produced by various strains of Penicillium and...
• penicillin VA broad-spectrum penicillin antibiotic used orally in the treatment of mild to moderate infections by...
• penicillinsA group of antibiotics that contain 6-aminopenicillanic acid with a side chain attached to the 6-amino group...
• pentagastrinA synthetic polypeptide that has effects like gastrin when given parenterally. It stimulates the secretion of...
• pentaneFive-carbon saturated hydrocarbon group of the methane series. Include isomers and derivatives.
• pentaploidyA cell, tissue, or organism having five sets of chromosomes.
• pentobarbitalA drug used to slow the activity of the brain and nervous system (i.e. a sedative) and can be used to treat...
• people with disabilitiesPeople who have a disability or impairment of any type that interferes with their daily usual activities and...
• people with special needsPeople who are identified as needing special assistance, special physical environment, special training...
• peptaibolsA group of peptides characterized by length of 1-2 dozen residues with a high proportion of them being...
• peptic ulcersUlcers occurring in those portions of the digestive tract that come into contact with gastric juice...
• peptide antibioticsAntibiotics whose structure contains two or more moieties derived from amino acids.
• peptide elongation factorsProtein factors uniquely required during the elongation phase of protein synthesis.
• peptide hormonesHormones synthesized from amino acids. They are distinguished from intercellular signaling peptides and...
• peptide librariesA collection of cloned peptides, or chemically synthesized peptides, frequently consisting of all possible...
• peptide mappingAnalysis of peptides that are generated from the digestion or fragmentation of a protein or mixture of...
• peptidesCompounds composed of two or more amino acids joined together by peptide (amide) bonds between adjacent amino...
• peptidoglycan glycosyltransferaseA hexosyltransferase involved in the transfer of disaccharide molecules to the peptidoglycan structure of the...
• peptidomicsPeptidomics focuses on qualitative and quantitative analysis of peptide contents (peptidome) present in a...
• peptidyltransferaseAcyltransferases that use amino acyl tRNA as the amino acid donor in formation of a peptide bond. There are...
• peptonesDerived proteins or mixtures of cleavage products produced by the partial hydrolysis of a native protein...
• percentage ingredient labelingQuantitative declarations of ingredients that appear on products.
• perched water tableThe upper surface of a local zone of soil water saturation held above the main body of groundwater by an...
• perennial allergic rhinitisInflammation of the mucous membrane of the nose similar to that found in hay fever except that symptoms...
• perianthA collective term for the floral envelopes, usually the combined calyx and corolla, or tepals of a flower.
• pericarpA wall of a fruit, developed from the ovary or carpel wall.
• periodicityThe tendency of a phenomenon to recur at regular intervals; in biological systems, the recurrence of certain...
• periodontal diseasesPathological processes involving the periodontium including the gum (gingiva), the alveolar bone (alveolar...
• periodontitisInflammation and loss of connective tissues supporting or surrounding the teeth. This may involve any part of...
• perioperative careInterventions to provide care prior to, during, and immediately after surgery.
• periparturient diseases and disordersDiseases, disorders and complications that occur shortly before, during, or after birth.
• peripheral nervesThe nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord, including the autonomic, cranial, and spinal nerves...
• peripheral nervous system diseasesDiseases of the peripheral nerves external to the brain and spinal cord, which includes diseases of the nerve...
• periphytonUnderwater plants and animals that are firmly attached to solid surfaces such as rocks, logs, pilings, leaves...
• perishable foodsFoods that are subject to loss of quality, usually by destruction, decay or spoilage.
• peritoneumA membrane of squamous epithelial cells, the mesothelial cells, covered by apical microvilli that allow rapid...
• peritonitisInflammation of the peritoneum.
• permacultureA system that develops agricultural systems modeled from natural ecosystems.
• permafrostPermanently frozen ground; generally refers to a layer at some depth below the soil surface. Any layer above...
• permanent grasslandsLand used for five years or longer to grow grasses or herbaceous forage, either naturally or through...
• permeametersA laboratory instrument for determining permeability by measuring the discharge through a sample of the...
• permissible exposure limitOccupational Safety and Health Administration's permissible exposure limit expressed as a time-weighted...
• peroxidesChemical compounds containing a peroxy group in which two oxygen atoms are bound to each other by a single...
• peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alphaA nuclear transcription factor. Heterodimerization with retinoid X receptor gamma is important to metabolism...
• peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gammaA nuclear transcription factor. Heterodimerization with retinoid X receptor alpha is important in regulation...
• peroxisome proliferator-activated receptorsTranscription factors that are activated by ligands and heterodimerize with retinoid X receptors and bind to...
• Persian Gulf StatesA term commonly applied to a number of states on the east coast of the Arabian Pennisula.
• personalityBehavior-response patterns that characterize the individual.
• persuasionA mode of communication concerned with inducing or urging the adoption of certain beliefs, theories, or lines...
• pertussis toxinOne of the virulence factors produced by Bordetella pertussis. It is a multimeric protein composed of five...
• pervaporationPervaporation is a process in which a liquid stream containing two or more components is placed in contact...
• pesco-vegetarian dietA vegetarian diet but including fish and sea-food. Pesco-vegetarians avoid meat and poultry.
• pest resistanceResistance or tolerance of a host to a pest.
• pest vectorsPests which transmit infective organisms from one host or an inanimate reservoir to an animate host.
• peste des petits ruminantsA highly fatal contagious disease of goats and sheep caused by Peste des petits ruminants virus. The disease...
• pesticide lawLaws, legislation and regulations governing the manufacture, transport, distribution, sale, labeling...
• pesticide residuesA film of pesticide left on the plant, soil, container, equipment, handler, etc. after application of the...
• pesticidesA pesticide is any substance or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling, or...
• pestsA general term for organisms which may cause illness or damage to humans or to crops, livestock, or materials...
• petiolesA leafstalk, whereby the blade of a leaf is attached to the plant stem.
• petrochemicalsChemicals derived from petroleum (crude oil) or from natural gas.
• petrolatumA colloidal system of semisolid hydrocarbons obtained from petroleum. It is used as an ointment base, topical...
• petroleumNaturally occurring complex liquid hydrocarbons which, after distillation, yield combustible fuels...
• Peyer's patchesLymphoid tissue on the mucosa of the small intestine.
• pHA measure of the hydrogen-ion activity in solution, expressed on a scale 0 (highly acid) to 14 (highly...
• phage therapyThe therapeutic use of specific phages to treat certain bacterial, eubacterial or archaeal infections.
• phagocytosisThe engulfing and degradation of microorganisms; other cells that are dead, dying, or pathogenic; and foreign...
• phagosomesMembrane-bound cytoplasmic vesicles formed by invagination of phagocytized material. They fuse with lysosomes...
• Phakopsora pachyrhiziFungal causal agent of soybean rust disease in Glycine max.
• phalangesThe bones of the fingers or toes.
• phalloidineVery toxic polypeptide isolated mainly from Amanita phalloides (Agaricaceae) or death cup; causes fatal...
• phanerophytesOne of Raunkiaer's life-form categories, being a plant whose perennating buds are borne on branches that are...
• Phanerozoic eonAn eon of visible life that began 570 million years ago and continues today.
• pharmaceutical industryThat segment of commercial enterprise devoted to the design, development, and manufacture of chemical...
• pharmacogenomicsA branch of genetics which deals with the genetic variability in individual responses to drugs and drug...
• pharmacognosyThe science of drugs prepared from natural sources, including plants, minerals, animals and other organisms.
• pharmacokineticsDynamic and kinetic mechanisms of exogenous chemical and drug absorption; biological transport; tissue...
• pharmacometricsPharmacometrics is an emerging science defined as the science that quantifies drug, disease, and trial...
• pharyngeal neoplasmsCancer or tumours of the pharynx.
• pharyngitisInflammation of the pharynx usually caused by allergens, irritants or infections.
• phaseolotoxinBacterial toxin formed by Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola, the causal agent of halo blight in beans...
• phenologyThe study of periodic biological phenomena with relation to climate, particularly seasonal changes. These...
• phenomicsThe use of large scale approaches to study how genetic instructions from a single gene or the whole genome...
• phenotypeThe outward appearance of the individual. It is the product of interactions between genes, and between the...
• phenotypic plasticityThe capacity of an organism of a given genotype to change its phenotype in response to changes in the...
• phenotypic variationChanges in the outward appearance of an individual.
• phenylpropanolamineA sympathomimetic that acts mainly by causing release of norepinephrine but also has direct agonist activity...
• philopatryBehavior manifested by an individual returning to, or remaining in, its birthplace or home area.
• phlebitisInflammation of a vein, often a vein in the leg. Phlebitis associated with a blood clot is called...
• phloemThe tissues of the inner bark, characterized by the presence of sieve tubes and serving for the transport of...
• phoresyA commensal relationship in which one organism is transported by a larger organism of another species.
• phosphatidate phosphataseA phosphomonoesterase involved in the synthesis of triacylglycerols. It catalyzes the hydrolysis of...
• phosphatidic acidsFatty acid derivatives of glycerophosphates. They are composed of glycerol bound in ester linkage with 1 mole...
• phosphatidylethanolaminesDerivatives of phosphatidic acids in which the phosphoric acid is bound in ester linkage to an ethanolamine...
• phosphoglycerate dehydrogenaseAn enzyme that catalyzes the oxidation of 3-phosphoglycerate to 3-phosphohydroxypyruvate. It takes part in...
• phospholipasesA class of enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of phosphoglycerides or glycerophosphatidates. EC 3.1.-.
• phosphoproteomeThe total number of phosphorylation sites present in a cell's proteome.
• phosphoric monoester hydrolasesA group of hydrolases which catalyze the hydrolysis of monophosphoric esters with the production of one mole...
• phosphoric triester hydrolasesA class of enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of one of the three ester bonds in a...
• phosphorylation inhibitionPhosphorylation Inhibition involves interference with, or restraint of, the enzymatic creation of a phosphate...
• photoaffinity labelingA labeling technique that uses photoactive molecules in order to identify binding sites on proteins.
• photoagingPhysiological aging resulting from chronic exposure to ultraviolet radiation, especially to sunlight. In...
• Photobacterium damselae subsp. piscicidaBacterial causal agent of fish pasteurellosis.
• photobiologyThe branch of biology that deals with the effects of light on living organisms.
• photobioreactorsA closed system of plastic or glass containers which allows for the input of light, nutrients, and carbon...
• photobleachingLight-induced change in the chemical group that gives rise to color in a molecule, resulting in the loss of...
• photocatalysisThe acceleration of a photochemical reaction in the presence of a catalyst.
• photocatalystsA catalyst that enhances photochemical reaction.
• photochemistryThe study of the effects of light on chemical reactions.
• photochemotherapyTherapy using oral or topical photosensitizing agents with subsequent exposure to light.
• photogrammetryThe science of deducing precise measurements from photographs.
• photographyA process for recording visual images by exposing a light-sensitive substance to radiation such as visible...
• photoheterotrophsOrganisms that depend on light for energy and complex organic matter for carbon.
• photoinhibitionThe reduction in photosynthesis rate at high light intensities when the light energy exceeds the saturation...
• photoluminescenceLuminescence produced by the absorption of radiant flux, distinguished from ordinary reflection by a time...
• photolysisChemical bond cleavage reactions resulting from absorption of radiant energy.
• photometryScience of measurement of different properties of light.
• photomorphogenesisBiological development, growth and differentiation which is regulated by light.
• photonicsThe science and technology involved with the generation, detection, transmission and manipulation of photons...
• photonsDiscrete concentrations of energy, apparently massless elementary particles, that move at the speed of light...
• photoperiodismThe physiological and behavioral response of an organism to the relative duration of light and darkness.
• photophosphorylationATP formation from ADP and phosphate in chloroplasts using light energy during photosynthesis.
• photorespirationThe consumption of oxygen, due to the oxidation of carbohydrates, and the output of carbon dioxide during...
• photosensitivityCharacterized by sensitivity or responsiveness to light or other radiant energy.
• photosensitivity disordersAbnormal responses to sunlight or artificial light due to extreme reactivity of light-absorbing molecules in...
• photosensitizing agentsDrugs that are pharmacologically inactive but when exposed to ultraviolet radiation or sunlight are converted...
• photostabilityThe ability of a chemical, material or product to withstand exposure to light without adverse effects.
• photosynthatesThe resulting chemical products of photosynthesis.
• photosynthesisThe synthesis of carbohydrates from carbon dioxide and water by chlorophyll using light as energy and...
• photosynthetic reaction centersA protein complex which receives the light energy trapped by chlorophyll, bacteriochlorophyll and accessory...
• photosynthetically active radiationThat portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that is the energy source utilized for photosynthesis and...
• phototherapyTreatment of a disease or a disorder by exposure to light.
• phototoxicityThe adverse condition due to overexposure to light.
• phototoxinsPhotosensitive agents, chemical substances that cause extreme skin sensitivity to the ultraviolet rays of the...
• phototropinsBlue-light receptors that regulate a range of physiological responses in plants. Examples include...
• phototropismThe directional growth of organisms in response to light. In plants, aerial shoots usually grow towards...
• photovoltaic cellsAn electronic device consisting of layers of semiconductor materials fabricated to form a junction (adjacent...
• photoyellowingDiscoloration of products due to light.
• phreatophytesDeep-rooted plants whose roots extend into or below the capillary zone to obtain water from the water table.
• phycobilinA water-soluble proteinaceous pigment that aids photosynthesis and is found in red algae and cyanobacteria.
• phycobiliproteinWater-soluble, light harvesting proteins present in phycobilisomes of certain cyanobacteria and algae.
• phycobilisomeA small, spherical light-harvesting structure in red algae and cyanobacteria composed mainly of phycobilin...
• phycocyaninThe metal-free blue phycobilin pigment in a conjugated chromoprotein of blue-green algae. It functions as...
• phycoerythrinThe metal-free red phycobilin pigment in a conjugated chromoprotein of red algae. It functions as a...
• phyllodyAbnormal development of floral parts into leaf-like structures.
• phylloplaneThe microenvironment on the surface of a leaf.
• phyllosphereThe three-dimensional microenvironment surrounding a leaf.
• phyllotaxyThe arrangement of leaves on a stem.
• phylogenyThe relationships of groups of organisms as reflected by their genetic makeup.
• phylogeographyThe study of the evolutionary spatial distribution of organisms based on genotype.
• physical chromosome mappingMapping of the linear order and distance of genes on a chromosome using methods other than genetic...
• physical controlThe management, eradication or exclusion of pests by nonchemical, abiotic methods or physical barriers.
• physical enrichmentModification to the physical elements within an animal's environment, including enclosure complexity or...
• physical healthThe general condition of one's body.
• physiological transportThe movement of materials (including biochemical substances and drugs) across cell membranes and epithelial...
• physiologically based pharmacokinetic models (PBPK)A computer model that describes what happens to a chemical in the body. This model describes how the chemical...
• physiology based pharmacodynamic models (PBPD)A method that integrates drug (substance) and system (physiology) data into a mathematical modeling framework...
• phytobiomeAll organisms (insects, plants, animals, microbes, etc.) living in, on and around plants in an environment...
• phytochromeA bluish conjugated plant pigment protein that exists in two forms, Pr and Pfr, that absorbs red light and...
• phytodesalinationThe cultivation of salt-resistant plants on salt-affected soil to improve the productivity of soil and...
• phytonutrientsBioactive plant-derived chemicals that are associated with beneficial health effects.
• phytopharmaceuticalsAny non-mineral, non-vitaminic, bioactive plant constituent that researchers regard as possibly useful in...
• phytoplanktonFree-floating, mainly microscopic, photosynthetic organisms, such as algae, dinoflagellates, and diatoms, in...
• phytoremediationThe use of plants to uptake, store, degrade, immobilize, transform, or volatilize harmful substances in order...
• phytosiderophoresChelating compounds in plants, common in grasses, that sequester iron.
• phytosociologyThe branch of plant ecology concerning the composition, distribution, characteristics and interrelationships...
• phytosterolsGeneral term for the sterols found in plants.
• phytotherapyUse of plants or herbs to treat diseases or to alleviate pain.
• pica (eating disorder)The persistent eating of nonfood items.
• picklingA method of preserving and flavoring foods by soaking them in brine or vinegar, often spiced.
• picky eatingEating a limited variety of foods and rejection of both familiar or new foods, despite the ability to eat...
• PicornaviridaeA family of small RNA viruses comprising some important pathogens of humans and animals. Transmission usually...
• Picornaviridae infectionsVirus diseases or infections caused by the family Picornaviridae.
• piedmontLand area at or near the base of a mountain or mountain range.
• pilocarpineA slowly hydrolyzed muscarinic agonist with no nicotinic effects. Pilocarpine is used as a miotic and in the...
• pilot studiesA preliminary or small-scale study conducted to determine the viability of the research and to potentially...
• pineal bodyA light-sensitive neuroendocrine organ attached to the roof of the third ventricle of the brain. The pineal...
• pinealectomyThe surgical removal of the pineal gland.
• pinnate leavesA compound leaf with opposite leaflets attached along an elongated petiole called a rachis, as in peavines.
• pioneer speciesThe first members of a population to arrive in a new area, usually a bare, barren, uncolonized or disturbed...
• piperacillinSemisynthetic, broad-spectrum, ampicillin derived ureidopenicillin antibiotic proposed for Pseudomonas...
• pirlimycinA clindamycin derivative.
• piscivoresAn organism that mainly feeds on fish.
• pistilThe female organs of a flower comprising the ovary, stigma and style.
• pithThe small, soft core occurring near the center of a tree trunk, branch, twig, or log.
• pith flecksA narrow streak, resembling pith on the surface of a piece; usually brownish, up to several centimeters long...
• PitheciidaeA family of New World monkeys belonging to the order Primates. Pithecids are small to medium-sized monkeys...
• pituitary glandA small, unpaired gland situated in the sella turcica tissue. It is connected to the hypothalamus by a short...
• pituitary hormone-releasing hormonesPeptides, natural or synthetic, that stimulate the release of pituitary hormones.
• placebosAny dummy medication or treatment. Although placebos originally were medicinal preparations having no...
• placental growth factorAn angiogenic protein belonging to the Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor family of growth factors originally...
• placental hormonesHormones produced in the placenta during pregnancy.
• plagueAn acute infectious disease caused by Yersinia pestis that affects humans, wild rodents, and their...
• planktonCommunity of tiny aquatic plants and animals, and photosynthetic bacteria, that are either free-floating or...
• planningThe determination of the objectives or goals of an enterprise and the selection, through a systematic...
• plant available waterThe portion of water in a soil that can be absorbed by plant roots, that is, water held at a tension of less...
• plant communitiesThe various plant populations (species) that live in the same habitat or environment, typically with one or...
• plant competitionThe simultaneous demand of two or more plant individuals or species for a necessary resource in their...
• plant disease resistanceThe ability of a plant species to defend against and/or overcome a pathological process that is caused by a...
• plant gumsA comprehensive term for nonvolatile viscous plant exudates, which either dissolve or swell up in contact...
• plant hormonesAny of the chemical substances produced in a plant in minute quantities which affect physiological processes...
• plant litterThe accumulation of leaves, twigs, bark, needles, stems, fruits, branches and other plant parts on the...
• plant micronutrientsMineral nutrients required in minute quantities by plants.
• plant morphologyThe form, shape and 3D spatial relationships (structure) of plant parts and whole plants.
• plant nutritionThe nutritional elements, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur, essential for...
• plant pestsOrganisms that may directly or indirectly cause disease, spoilage, or damage to plants, plant parts or...
• plant poisoningPoisoning by the ingestion of plants or its leaves, berries, roots or stalks. The manifestations in both...
• plant proteinsProteins originating from plant materials.
• plant source proteinDietary proteins originating from plant material.
• plant strataThe vertical structure of plant communities.
• plant virusesViruses that infect plant hosts.
• plantationsAgricultural land, usually of large size, in which one or more major crop(s) or stand of plants (such as...
• plant-based foodsFoods originating from plant sources.
• plantibodiesRecombinant antibodies produced in transgenic plants. The plants serve as bioreactors to produce the...
• plant-incorporated protectantsPesticidal substances derived from exogenous genetic materials which are synthesized by transgenic plants.
• plantletsYoung plants or small plants, usually vegetatively produced from a parent.
• plasma cellsSpecialized forms of antibody-producing B-lymphocytes. They synthesize and secrete immunoglobulin. They are...
• plasmid curingThe treatment of cells with a substance that interferes with plasmid replication.
• plasmidsExtrachromosomal, usually circular DNA molecules that are self-replicating and transferable from one organism...
• plasminogen activator inhibitorsImportant modulators of the activity of plasminogen activators. The inhibitors belong to the serpin family of...
• plasmodesmataCytoplasmic bridges between neighboring cells in plant tissues.
• plasmolysisShrinkage or contraction of the cytoplasm away from the wall of a living plant or bacterial cell, due to...
• plasticizersSmall, often volatile molecules that are added to hard, stiff plastics to make them softer and more flexible.
• plasticsNon-metallic chemoreactive compounds molded into rigid or pliable construction materials, fabrics, etc.
• plasticultureThe use of plastics in crop production and cultivation protection, including plastic film mulches, row...
• plastid genomeThe genetic complement of plastids as represented in their DNA.
• plastidsAny of various cytoplasmic, membrane-bound organelles of plant and algal cells and certain protists, that...
• plastinationPlastination is a technique used to preserve cadavers and tissues and can be used as a teaching tool rather...
• plastoquinonesPolyunsaturated side-chain quinone derivative which is an important link in the electron transport chain of...
• Platanus acerifoliaA probable interspecific hybrid between Platanus orientalis × Platanus occidentalis.
• plate countThe number of bacterial or fungal colonies that develop in culture media in a petri dish with a known amount...
• plate wasteFood that is uneaten, left remaining on the consumer's plate after a meal, and usually discarded.
• plateausA plateau is a topographical feature consisting of a relatively level, elevated area of land.
• platelet activationA series of progressive, overlapping events, triggered by exposure of the platelets to subendothelial tissue...
• platelet aggregationThe attachment of platelets to one another. This clumping together can be induced by a number of agents...
• platelet-derived growth factor receptor alphaA PDGF receptor that binds specifically to both PDGF-A chains and PDGF-B chains. It contains a...
• platelet-derived growth factor receptor betaA PDGF receptor that binds specifically to the PDGF-B chain. It contains a protein-tyrosine kinase activity...
• platelet-derived growth factor receptorsSpecific receptors on cell membranes that react with platelet-derived growth factor, its analogs, or...
• pleckstrinA protein found in blood platelets having a molecular weight of 47 kD and which acts as a substrate for...
• pleiotropyPhenomenon whereby a particular gene affects multiple traits.
• plethysmographyRecording of change in the size of a part as modified by the circulation in it.
• pleurisyInflammation of pleura, the lining of the lung. When parietal pleura is involved, there is pleuritic chest...
• pleuropneumoniaInflammation of the lung parenchyma that is associated with pleurisy, inflammation of the pleura.
• ploidyThe degree of replication of the chromosome set in the karyotype.
• plus treesA tree which in its outward appearance (phenotype) is superior to the average tree of the same species grown...
• plywoodA glued wood panel made up of relatively thin layers of veneer with the grain of adjacent layers at right...
• pneumatophoresA specialized structure developed from the root in certain plants that grow upward and function as the site...
• pneumocytesEpithelial cells that line the pulmonary alveoli.
• pneumoniaInflammation of any part, segment or lobe, of the lung parenchyma.
• pneumonic pasteurellosisBovine respiratory disease found in animals that have been shipped or exposed to cattle recently transported...
• podophyllotoxinA lignan (lignans) found in podophyllin resin from the roots of Podophyllum plants. It is a potent spindle...
• point mutationA mutation caused by the substitution of one nucleotide for another. This results in the DNA molecule having...
• point source pollutionPoint source pollution refers to the pollution that comes from a specific, identifiable source, such as a...
• point-of-care systemsLaboratory and other services provided to patients at the bedside. These include diagnostic and laboratory...
• point-of-care testingAllows patient diagnoses in the physician’s office, in other ambulatory setting or at bedside. The results of...
• poisoningA condition or physical state produced by the ingestion, injection or inhalation of, or exposure to a...
• Poisson distributionA distribution function used to describe the occurrence of rare events or to describe the sampling...
• polarimetryAn analytical method used to measure and interpret polarizing electromagnetic waves (such as radio or light...
• polarized light microscopyMicroscopy using polarized light in which phenomena due to the preferential orientation of optical properties...
• polarographyAn electrochemical technique for measuring the current that flows in solution as a function of an applied...
• poldersAn area of lowland reclaimed from a body of water.
• pole and collar techniqueA transfer technique used in laboratories to move nonhuman primates safely from their home cage to a...
• politicsActivities concerned with governmental policies, functions, etc.
• polled traitcharacteristic of those animals, especially cattle, that normally do not develop horns.
• pollenThe fertilizing element of plants that contains the male gametophytes.
• pollen flowNatural movement of pollen from one place, or an organism to another.
• pollen germinationPlant pollen grain changes from hydration until the appearance of the pollen tube.
• pollen rainThe fall of pollen grains and spores on to a particular area.
• pollen tubesA growth from a pollen grain down into the flower style which allows two sperm to pass, one to the ovum...
• pollenkittPollen coating consisting of sticky substances, which enables pollen adhesion to insect bodies and pollen...
• pollinationThe transfer of pollen grains (male gametes) to the plant ovule (female gamete).
• pollutantsAny substance introduced into environment that has adverse effects on biological systems or organisms.
• polluted soilsRefers to the introduction of micro-organisms, chemicals, toxic substances, wastes, or wastewater into soil...
• polluter pays principleThe requirement that the cost of environmental damage, pollution control or remediation be borne by the...
• pollutionThe presence in the environment of one or more contaminants, nuisances, and the like in sufficient quantities...
• pollution loadThe quantity of pollutants present in an environment.
• polyacrylamide gel electrophoresisElectrophoresis in which a polyacrylamide gel is used as the diffusion medium.
• polyamidesAny polymer in which the repeating units in the molecular chain are held together by amide groups.
• polyculture (aquaculture)The rearing or cultivation of two or more types of aquatic species in the same physical space at the same...
• polycyclic compoundsCompounds consisting of two or more fused ring structures.
• polycystic kidney diseasesHereditary diseases that are characterized by the progressive expansion of a large number of tightly packed...
• polycystic ovary syndromeA complex disorder characterized by infertility, hirsutism; obesity; and various menstrual disturbances such...
• polycythemiaAn increase in the total red cell mass of the blood.
• PolydnaviridaeA family of insect viruses isolated from endoparasitic hymenopteran insects belonging to the families...
• polyembryonyDevelopment of more than one embryo from a single ovule or seed.
• polyenesHydrocarbons with more than one double bond. They are a reduced form of polyynes.
• polyestersPolymers of organic acids and alcohols, with ester linkages, usually polyethylene terephthalate; can be cured...
• polyethismdivision of labor among members of an insect colony.
• polyethylene filmPlastic film made from polyethylene.
• polyethylene terephthalatesPolyester polymers formed from terephthalic acid or its esters and ethylene glycol. They can be formed into...
• polyethyleneimineStrongly cationic polymer that binds to certain proteins; used as a marker in immunology, to precipitate and...
• polyethylenesSynthetic thermoplastics that are tough, flexible, inert, and resistant to chemicals and electrical current...
• polyglutamic acidA peptide that is a homopolymer of glutamic acid.
• polyketidesNatural compounds containing alternating carbonyl and methylene groups (beta-polyketones), bioenergenetically...
• polymer nanocompositesNanostructured materials produced by the reinforcement of polymer matrices with nanoscale fillers. The...
• polymerase chain reactionIn vitro method for producing large amounts of specific DNA or RNA fragments of defined length and sequence...
• polymerizationA chemical reaction in which the molecules of a monomer are linked together to form large molecules whose...
• polymersA compound formed by the reaction of simple molecules having functional groups that permit their combination...
• polymorphismThe occurrence of different forms of individuals in a single species.
• polymyositisDiseases characterized by inflammation involving multiple muscles. This may occur as an acute or chronic...
• polymyxin BA mixture of polymyxins B1 and B2, obtained from Bacillus polymyxa strains. They are basic polypeptides of...
• polymyxinsBasic lipopeptide antibiotic group obtained from Bacillus polymyxa. They affect the cell membrane by...
• PolynesiaOne of the three main divisions of Pacific Ocean Islands, in the central and south Pacific Ocean. The...
• polyphenismA phenomenon where two or more distinct phenotypes are expressed from one genotype in response to an...
• polyphylyThe phylogenetic relationship grouping organisms with an evolutionary history descending from more than one...
• polyploidyThe chromosomal constitution of a cell containing multiples of the normal number of chromosomes; includes...
• polyproteinsProteins which are synthesized as a single polymer and then cleaved into several distinct proteins.
• polyps (pathological conditions)Discrete abnormal tissue masses that protrude into the lumen of the digestive tract or the respiratory tract...
• polypyrimidine tract-binding proteinsA RNA-binding protein that binds to polypyriminidine rich regions in the introns of messenger RNAs...
• polyribosomesA multiribosomal structure representing a linear array of ribosomes held together by messenger RNA; They...
• polysorbatesSorbitan mono-9-octadecanoate poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl) derivatives; complex mixtures of polyoxyethylene...
• polyunsaturated fatty acidsUnsaturated fatty acids containing more than one double bond between carbon atoms.
• pomaceThe pulpy residue remaining after the juice has been pressed from fruit.
• pome fruitsThe fleshy, applelike fruit of a member of the apple family (Malaceae): an apple; also, though less exactly...
• populationA group of individuals defined by a particular set of characteristics, e.g., organisms of a particular...
• population dynamicsThe pattern of any process, or the interrelationship of phenomena, which affects growth or change within a...
• population ecologyThe field of ecology dealing with the dynamics of populations within species, and the patterns in space and...
• population viabilityThe probability that enough individuals in a population will survive to reproductive age to prevent...
• population viability analysisThe general term for the application of models that account for multiple threats facing the persistence of a...
• porcine reproductive and respiratory syndromeA syndrome characterized by outbreaks of late term abortions, high numbers of stillbirths and mummified or...
• pork belliesThe source of bacon. The pork belly is the lower side of a hog remaining after the loin and spareribs have...
• porphyriaA diverse group of metabolic diseases characterized by errors in the biosynthetic pathway of heme in the...
• porridgeA porridge is a hot cereal that can be made from a variety of ground, chopped or crushed grains, vegetables...
• portion sizeThe amount of a food served or consumed in one eating occasion. A portion is not a standardized amount, and...
• position effect (genetics)Change in the phenotypic expression of a gene due to a change in the physical location of the gene with...
• positive reinforcement trainingGiving an animal a reward (treats, toys, praise, etc.) when they preform a desired task or behavior. This...
• positive sense, single-stranded RNA virusesA group of RNA viruses whose positive single strand of viral RNA (5' to 3') contains the coding triplets...
• positron-emission tomographyAn imaging technique using compounds labelled with short-lived positron-emitting radionuclides (such as...
• posterior cruciate ligamentA strong ligament of the knee that originates from the anterolateral surface of the medial condyle of the...
• posterior pituitaryNeural tissue of the pituitary gland, also known as the neurohypophysis. It consists of the distal axons of...
• postharvest food safetyEnsuring the fitness of food for human consumption during all steps once the food product leaves the farm.
• postharvest treatmentThe preparation of gathered or harvested commodities, such as food crops, feed crops or wood, for fresh...
• postlarvaeA stage in development past the larval form but not yet a juvenile form, most often seen in fish, bivalves...
• postoperative complicationsPathologic processes that affect patients after a surgical procedure. They may or may not be related to the...
• postprandial stateThe physiological condition occuring after a meal.
• post-translational modificationAny of various enzymatically catalyzed post-translational modifications of peptides or proteins in the cell...
• potamodromous fishPotamodromous fish are species that are spawned in upstream freshwater habitats then migrate downstream...
• potassium channelsCell membrane glycoproteins that are selectively permeable to potassium ions. At least eight major groups of...
• potassium cyanideA highly poisonous compound that is an inhibitor of many metabolic processes, but has been shown to be an...
• potassium-hydrogen antiporterMembrane proteins that allow the exchange of hydrogen ions for potassium ions across the cellular membrane...
• Potato spindle tuber viroidPotato spindle tuber viroid (PSTV) can cause a destructive disease of potato and receives particular...
• potentially hazardous foodsA natural or synthetic food that requires temperature control because it is in a form capable of supporting...
• poultsYoung fowl, especially turkeys, of either sex usually not more than two months of age.
• pound cakesA creamy, moist cake that is characterized with firm texture and creamy mouthfeel upon mastication. It...
• pour pointThe lowest temperature at which a fluid will pour or flow, often indicative as a measure of the flow...
• povertyA standard of living below the minimum needed for maintenance of life and health.
• powdery mildewA fungus forming a white powdery coating on leaves and stems.
• power take-offsMechanism on a tractor which enables the engine power to be used to operate attached tools, such as a pump or...
• Prairie Pothole regionA wetland region encompassing the Northern Great Plains region from the upper Midwest and extending into...
• prairiesCharacterized by fertile soil, a mesic climate, and covered originally with coarse grasses, a prairie is an...
• prebioticsNon-digestible food components which selectively stimulate the growth or activities, or both, of beneficial...
• Precambrian timeThe geological time from the formation of the Earth (4.55 billion years ago) to the start of the Cambrian...
• precaution advocacyA type of risk communication that aims to increase concern for a real hazard in order to motivate...
• precautionary principleAn approach to decision making in risk management which justifies preventive measures or policies despite...
• precisionThe agreement between the numerical values of two or more measurements that have been made in an identical...
• precision agricultureA management strategy that utilizes site-specific information to precisely and economically manage and...
• precision medicineClinical, therapeutic and diagnostic approaches to optimal disease management based on individual variations...
• preclinical animal modelsPreclinical animal models are used in the beginning stages of clincial trials for evaluation and testing...
• precoolingTo reduce the temperature of a product before packaging, shipping or other processing.
• predatorsAn organism that preys on other organisms that are usually weaker.
• predatory bacteriaPredatory bacteria are Gram-negative bacteria that can attack and grow within susceptible bacteria. They have...
• predatory insectsSeveral species of insect preying upon other insects, mites, etc.
• predictionThe prediction or projection of the nature of future problems or existing conditions based upon the...
• predictive microbiologyPredictive microbiology uses mathematical models to define growth kinetics of food microorganisms and to...
• prednisoloneA glucocorticoid with the general properties of the corticosteroids. It is the drug of choice for all...
• pregnancyThe status during which female mammals carry their developing young (embryos or fetuses) in utero before...
• pregnancy outcomeResults of conception and ensuing pregnancy, including live birth, stillbirth, spontaneous abortion, induced...
• pregnancy proteinsProteins produced by organs of the mother or the placenta during pregnancy. These proteins may be...
• pregnancy rateThe percentage of a population that becomes pregnant. Pregnancy rate is generally used for groups of...
• pregnanesSaturated derivatives of the steroid pregnane. The 5-beta series includes progesterone and related hormones...
• prejuvenilesA developmental stage resembling the juvenile form but lacking certain characteristics.
• premenopauseThe period before menopause. In premenopausal women, the climacteric transition from full sexual maturity to...
• prenatal careCare provided the pregnant woman in order to prevent complications, and decrease the incidence of maternal...
• PREPARE guidelinesPREPARE (Planning Research and Experimental Procedures on Animals: Recommendations for Excellence) is a set...
• prepared foodsFood products that have been manufactured, often with the intention of making food preparation and meal...
• prepatent periodPeriod between infection with a parasite and the production of eggs by a female; equivalent to the incubation...
• preschoolsSchools for preschool children, usually 2 1/2 to 5 1/2 years of age - nursery school programs are either...
• prescribed burningPlanned use of carefully controlled fire to achieve predetermined management goals, such as wildlife...
• pressure ulcersAn ulceration caused by prolonged pressure on the skin and tissues when one stays in one position for a long...
• prevalenceThe portion of a population with a specific characteristic, as in the total number of cases at a given time.
• prey speciesAny animal that is killed or hunted by another animal (predator) for food, etc.
• primary contactInitial exposure to a biological, chemical or physical agent.
• primary energyPrimary energy should be used to designate those sources that only involve extraction or capture, with or...
• primary pollutantsAny pollutant that is emitted into the atmosphere directly from its source and that retains the same chemical...
• primary productivityA measure of the rate at which new organic matter is formed and accumulated through photosynthesis and...
• primary sectorThat part of a country's or region's economy that makes direct use of natural resources, including...
• primary successionThe natural development of the vegetation on a newly produced bare area (e.g., sand dunes, lava flows, river...
• primary transmissionInitial transfer of a pathogen to a susceptible organism.
• primate chairsA chair with adjustable head and limb restraints which helps keep nonhuman primates still during laboratory...
• primocanesA biennial stem typical of Rubus. In the first year of growth, the stem is called a primocane, since it is...
• principal component analysisMathematical procedure that transforms a number of possibly correlated variables into a smaller number of...
• prion diseasesA group of genetic, infectious, or sporadic degenerative human and animal nervous system disorders associated...
• prionsSmall proteinaceous infectious particles which resist inactivation by procedures that modify nucleic acids...
• prioritizationThe ranking of activities in order of importance based on the capacity to accomplish them in a timely manner...
• pristinamycinAn antibiotic mixture originally isolated from Streptomyces pristinaspiralis. It is a mixture of compounds...
• private enterprisesOrganizations engaged in the production, distribution and/or sale of goods or services and owned and operated...
• private forestryForest operations on land owned by a private individual, group, or corporation and is not owned by a body of...

649 of 6,908 terms in Agriculture and food terminology (MLC-0114). Request the full dataset.