Agriculture and food terminology · MLC-0114

Agriculture and food terms: S (632)

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• Sacral spineThe vertebrae of the pelvic region, below the lumbar spine. These vertebrae are usually fused together to...
• Safe Drinking Water ActThe act designed to protect the nation's drinking water supply by establishing national drinking water...
• Safety assessmentAn evaluation of the adverse effect of a biological, chemical or physical agent based on toxicity and...
• Safety equipmentEquipment and devices designed to prevent or reduce the risk of injury or accidents.
• Safety factorA mathematical adjustment (generally a 10-fold reduction) used to account for the extrapolation of data to...
• Safety standardsCriteria for ensuring the safety of activities, processes, or products,.
• SagoA powdered starch derived from sago palms (and other tropical palm species) and used in foods and as textile...
• SaguinusAlso known as tamarins, these are squirrel-sized, New World monkeys and are usually found in groups. They...
• Saguinus leucopusA New World monkey native to South America known commonly as the Silvery-brown Bare-face Tamarin or...
• Saguinus oedipusOne of the smallest monkeys, this is a small New World monkey weighing less than 0.5 kg. This species...
• SahelA dryland belt that stretches across Africa and is the transition zone between the Sahara Desert to the north...
• SaimiriThese are agile, arboreal primates belonging to the New World monkeys. They are small-sized and live in...
• Saimiri oerstediiAlso known as the Central American squirrel monkey, this species is predominantly orange to golden-orange...
• SalesTotal products and services sold.
• Sales taxTax imposed on the retail price of an item which is collected by the retailer.
• SalidrosideSalidroside is a phenylpropanoid glycoside isolated from Rhodiola species, that has antioxidant and...
• Salivary ductsAny of the ducts which transport saliva. Salivary ducts include the parotid duct, the major and minor...
• SalmonellosisInfections with bacteria of the genus Salmonella.
• SalpingitisInflammation of the oviducts (Fallopian tubes).
• Salt marsh plantsPlants that grow in salt marshes and are salt tolerant as well as tolerant of wet conditions.
• Salt marshesTypically, transitional areas between land and ocean, where the salinity and level of the water are dependent...
• Salt substitutesSubstances which taste salty but contain less sodium chloride than table salt, or are sodium free.
• Salt toleranceThe ability of an organism to resist the adverse effects of excessive soluble salts in an environment.
• SaltingTo treat, preserve or season with common salt.
• Salvage loggingCutting primarily to utilize dead and downed material and scattered poor-risk trees that will not be...
• SamarasDry, one-seeded fruit with a membranous wing.
• SamoaA group of islands in the SW Pacific Ocean divided into American Samoa (administered by the U.S. Department...
• Sample sizeA number of observations or sampling units that are selected from a specific study to achieve a desired level...
• Sand filtersDevices that remove some suspended solids from sewage. Air and bacteria decompose additional wastes filtering...
• Sanitary and phytosanitary regulationsGovernment standards to protect humans, animals and plants from diseases, pests or contaminants.
• SanitationThe development and application of measures designed to promote health and prevent disease.
• Sanitation fellingRemoval and destruction of infected or diseased trees for the purpose of controlling the spread of the...
• SanitizingTo make physically clean and sterile.
• SapA fluid that circulates in vessel elements (xylem) or sieve tube elements (phloem) of a plant. It is often...
• Sapajus xanthosternosA New World monkey found mostly in the tropical rainforests state of Bahia on the east coast of Brazil. It is...
• Saphenous veinThe vein which drains the foot and leg.
• SaplingsA young tree that is more mature than a seedling but is not yet seed-producing. A silvicultural tree class in...
• SaponinsA type of glycoside widely distributed in plants. Each consists of a sapogenin as the aglycone moiety, and a...
• Sapstain fungiSap stain fungi infect the sapwood of trees and cause a discoloration of the lumber products, but do not...
• SapwoodThe wood of pale color near the outside of the log. Under most conditions, the sapwood is more susceptible to...
• SarcopeniaProgressive decline in muscle mass due to aging which results in decreased functional capacity of muscles.
• Sarcoplasmic reticulumA network of tubules and sacs in the cytoplasm of skeletal muscle fibers that assist with muscle contraction...
• SarcosinesAn amino acid intermediate in the metabolism of choline.
• Sargasso SeaLarge tract of still water in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean that is predominated by Sargassum...
• Satellite DNAHighly repetitive DNA sequences found in heterochromatin, mainly near centromeres. They are composed of...
• Satellite RNASmall, linear single-stranded RNA molecules functionally acting as molecular parasites of certain RNA plant...
• Satellite virusesDefective viruses which can multiply only by association with a helper virus which complements the defective...
• SavannasA tropical or subtropical biome, consisting mainly of coarse grasses with scattered shrubs and trees due to...
• SawlogsA log large enough to be sawed economically into boards on a sawmill. Sawlogs are usually at least 8 inches...
• ScandinaviaA region encompassing Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, sometimes expanded to include Finland and Iceland.
• Scanning electrochemical microscopyA scanning probe microscopy technique that uses an ultramicroelectrode as the scanning probe that...
• Scanning probe microscopyScanning microscopy in which a very sharp probe is employed in close proximity to a surface, exploiting a...
• Scanning tunneling microscopyA type of scanning probe microscopy in which a very sharp conducting needle is swept just a few angstroms...
• ScapulaAlso called the shoulder blade, it is a flat triangular bone, a pair of which form the back part of the...
• Scavenging behaviorSearching for and feeding on dead carcasses or decaying organic matter.
• ScedosporiumA genus of fungus which is pathogenic on animals and humans.
• Scenario uncertaintyUncertainty due to descriptive errors, aggregation errors, errors in professional judgment, or incomplete...
• Schiff basesCondensation products of aromatic amines and aldehydes forming azomethines substituted on the N atom...
• Schistosomiasis haematobiaA human disease caused by the infection of parasitic worms Schistosoma haematobium. It is endemic in Africa...
• Schistosomiasis japonicaSchistosomiasis caused by Schistosoma japonicum. It is endemic in the Far East and affects the bowel, liver...
• Schistosomiasis mansoniSchistosomiasis caused by Schistosoma mansoni. It is endemic in Africa, the Middle East, South America, and...
• SchizocarpsLiterally, splitting fruit. A dry compound fruit, as in the mallow family, splitting up at maturity into...
• SchizophreniaA severe emotional disorder of psychotic depth characteristically marked by a retreat from reality with...
• SchoenocaulonA tropical lily plant whose seeds produce an insecticide known as sabadilla (veratrine alkaloid).
• Schwann cellsNeuroglial cells of the peripheral nervous system which form the insulating myelin sheaths of peripheral...
• ScintigraphyThe production of an image obtained by cameras that detect the radioactive emissions of an injected...
• ScionsAn aerial plant part, often a branchlet, that is grafted onto the root-bearing part of another plant.
• ScleraThe white, opaque, fibrous, outer tunic of the eyeball, covering it entirely excepting the segment covered...
• SclereidsA type of sclerenchyma cell which is various in shape (e.g., isodiametric, branched, star-shaped, etc.) and...
• SclerenchymaA protective or supporting tissue in higher plants composed of cells with walls thickened and lignified and...
• Sclerophyll forestsTemperate forests composed predominantly of broad-leaved evergreen trees and shrubs in regions with warm...
• ScleroproteinsSimple proteins characterized by their insolubility and fibrous structure. Within the body, they perform a...
• SclerosisA pathological process consisting of hardening or fibrosis of an anatomical structure, often a vessel or a...
• SclerotizationThe hardening and darkening of the chitin in the exoskeleton.
• Scombroid poisoningScombroid poisoning is caused by the ingestion of foods that contain high levels of histamine and possibly...
• ScrapieA fatal disease of the nervous system in sheep and goats, characterized by pruritus, debility, and locomotor...
• ScreeningA systematic examination or assessment, done to detect a particular substance or attribute.
• Scrub typhusAn acute infectious disease caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi.
• Sea levelThe level of the surface of the ocean; especially, the mean level halfway between high and low tide used as a...
• Seafood toxinsToxins produced in seafood species that have an adverse effect on an organism.
• SeafoodsEdible aquatic (freshwater or marine) organisms such as fish, shellfish, or seaweed that is used as food.
• SeagrassesSeagrasses are flowering vascular plants that live completely submerged in shallow oceanic and estuarine...
• Seal of qualityLabels on products that reflect participation in a voluntary inspection and labeling program that esablishes...
• SeamountsAn elevation of the seafloor, which is 1,000 meters or higher. Seamounts may be discrete, arranged in a...
• Seasonal wetlandsEphemeral wetlands formed during the wettest time of year which dry and disappear with seasonal change. These...
• Seaweed cultureThe cultivation of macroalgae or seaweeds for food or other purposes.
• Second growthForest growth that has come up naturally after some drastic interference (e.g., wholesale cutting, serious...
• Second hand smokeSecondhand smoke is the combination of smoke from the burning end of a tobacco product and the smoke breathed...
• Secondary attack rateA measure of the frequency of new cases of a disease among the contacts of known cases.
• Secondary contactExposure to a biological, chemical or physical agent following initial exposure.
• Secondary educationEducation of students from grade 7, 8, or 9 through grade 12 (which is dependent on the school system).
• Secondary forestsThe first forest regenerated on land that was originally covered by primary forest which was drastically...
• Secondary metabolitesChemicals synthesized by organisms that do not appear to have a direct role in the organism's growth. Many...
• Secondary pollutantsAny pollutant that is formed by atmospheric reactions of precursor or primary emissions. An example of a...
• Secondary productivityThe amount of carbon incorporated by heterotrophs (animals, saprophytes, herbivores, etc.) from organic...
• Secondary sectorThe part of a country or region's economy that produces commodities without much direct use of natural...
• Secondary successionA secondary succession is initiated by natural or artificial disruption of a previously established stable or...
• Secondary transmissionTransfer of a pathogen from an infected organism to additional organisms.
• Second-hand smoke exposureInvoluntary environmental inhalation for a nonsmoker to tobacco smoke.
• Second-order lateral rootsThe roots branching directly from second-order lateral root.
• SecretinA peptide hormone of about 27 amino acids from the duodenal mucosa that activates pancreatic secretion and...
• Secretory granulesVesicles derived from the Golgi apparatus containing material to be released at the cell surface.
• Sedentary lifestyleUsual level of physical activity that is less than 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity on most days of...
• Sedentary speciesOrganisms which, at the harvest stage, either are immobile on or under the seafloor or are unable to move...
• Sediment contaminationContamination of sediments.
• Sediment textureSize, shape or three dimensional arrangement of particles (silt, clay, sand etc.) that make up sediment or a...
• Sediment yieldThe quantity of sediment, measured in dry weight or by volume, transported through a stream cross-section in...
• Sedimentary rocksRocks which have been formed from deposits of sediment-whether from fragments of other rock transported from...
• SedimentsSolid material, both mineral and organic, that is in suspension, is being transported, or has been moved from...
• Seed coatProtective outer covering or coverings of a seed formed from the integuments of the ovule.
• Seed cottonUnginned cotton which consists of the seed with the attached lint as picked from the boll.
• Seed dressingsThe process of coating seeds with clay, biofertilizers, pesticides or other inert materials to give them a...
• Seed exchangeAny act of giving and receiving seeds, usually with no exchange of money.
• Seed germThe embryo or the sprouting portion of the seed which is rich in fats and other nutrients and is separated...
• Seed insectsInsects usually feeding inside developing flowers, ovaries or seeds and damage them before they fully develop.
• Seed orchardsA plantation of trees selected for their hereditary characters, so grown and treated as to produce abundant...
• Seed predationCollecting and harvesting of seed by insects or other animals for food.
• Seed primingPretreatment of seeds by various methods in order to improve seed germination rate, percentage germination...
• Seed scarificationPregerminative treatment to make seed coats permeable to water and gases; accomplished usually by mechanical...
• Seed stratificationThe practice of placing seeds in moist media and specific temperature regimes in order to break seed dormancy...
• Seed tree systemsSilvicultural system in which the stand is removed in one cutting, with the exception of a small number of...
• Seed treesTrees that produce seeds; usually a superior tree left standing at the time of cutting to produced seeds for...
• Seed tubersTubers that are typically cut for asexual propagation.
• Seedling productionproduction of plants propagated by seed to be sold and/or used as transplants.
• SeedlingsA tree grown from seed that has not yet reached a height of 0.9 m (3 ft) or exceeded 5.1 cm (2 in) in...
• SeedsA plant structure that develops from an ovule and has as parts an embryo enclosed in a seed coat.
• Selection criteriaThe traits of the breeding plant or animal that are desirable in their progeny.
• Selection indexPrediction of the long term breeding objectives.
• Selection pressureThe selection pressure is defined as the degree to which the better individuals are favoured. The higher the...
• Selection responseSelection response is a measurement of the progress made by selection, which is, specifically, the difference...
• Selective breedingMaking deliberate crosses or matings of organisms so the offspring will have particular desired...
• Selective mediaA special type of medium that allows the growth of a specific microorganism while inhibiting the growth of...
• Selenium compoundsChemical compounds that contain selenium as an integral part of the molecule.
• SelenoneineSelenoneine is an organic selenium compound found in the blood and tissues of tuna. It is an analog of...
• SelenoproteinsSelenoproteins are proteins that specifically incorporate selenocysteine into their amino acid chain. Most...
• Self-efficacyA person's sense of his own capabilities in order to cope with a wide variety of demanding situations.
• Self-perceptionA person's view of himself.
• Self-pollinationThe pollination of an individual or biotype with its own pollen, the offspring being termed selfs.
• Semen banksCenters for acquiring, storing and distributing semen.
• Semiarid zonesRegions characterized by low and erratic rainfall, periods of drought, and where the prevalent vegetation is...
• Semimembranosus muscleA large muscle on the posterior thigh that runs from the base of the pelvis to the back of the tibia. It...
• Seminal plasma proteinsProteins found in semen. Major seminal plasma proteins are secretory proteins from the male sex accessory...
• Senescence (aging)The gradual irreversible changes in structure and function of an organism that occur as a result of the...
• Sensible heat fluxThe flux of heat from the earth's surface to the atmosphere that is not associated with phase changes of...
• SensometricsUse of mathematical or statistical methods in sensory and consumer science.
• Sensors (equipment)A device that receives and responds to a signal or stimulus.
• Sensory disordersDisorders of the special senses (i.e., vision, hearing, taste, and smell) or somatosensory system (i.e...
• Sensory neuronsNeurons that conduct impulses inwards to the brain or spinal cord.
• SepiidaAn order of cephalopods known as cuttlefish and sepiolas that have ten limbs, a flattened body, and an...
• Sepsis (infection)Systemic inflammatory response syndrome with a proven or suspected infectious etiology.
• SepticemiaSystemic illness caused by infection of the blood by pathogenic microorganisms and the toxins they release.
• Sequence alignmentThe arrangement of two or more amino acid or base sequences from an organism or organisms in such a way as to...
• Sequence analysisA multistage process that includes the determination of a sequence (protein, carbohydrate, etc.), its...
• Sequence deletionDeletion of sequences of nucleic acids from the genetic material of an individual.
• Sequence homologyThe degree of similarity between sequences. Studies of amino acid and nucleotide sequences provide useful...
• Sequential croppingThe growing of two or more crops in sequence on the same field in the same year.
• SericinA serine-rich sticky protein secreted by moths. Generally, the term refers to silkworm silk gum protein...
• Serine proteinase inhibitorsExogenous or endogenous compounds which inhibit serine endopeptidases.
• SerodiagnosisDiagnosis of a disease or condition based on a reaction of an organism's blood serum or other serous fluids.
• Serological surveysEpidemiological investigations which involve the detection and identification of antibodies to specific...
• SerologyThe study of serum, especially of antigen-antibody reactions in vitro.
• SerotinyAn ecological adaptation in which some seeds are retained in long-closed cones within the plant canopy for a...
• SerotoninA biochemical messenger and regulator, synthesized from the essential amino acid, l-tryptophan. In humans it...
• SerotypesSubdivision of a species or subspecies distinguishable from other such strains on the basis of antigenicity.
• SerpentineA mineral or rock consisting essentially of a hydrous magnesium silicate. It usually has a dull green color...
• SerpentiniteA rock consisting almost wholly of serpentine minerals derived from the alteration of previously existing...
• SerpinsA family of serine proteinase inhibitors which are similar in amino acid sequence and mechanism of...
• Serum albuminA major protein in the blood. It is important in maintaining the colloidal osmotic pressure and transporting...
• Serving sizeServing Size on the Nutrition Facts Label is the amount of food that is customarily eaten at one time and is...
• SesquiterpenoidsTerpenoids having a C15 skeleton.
• SestonFree floating particulate matter in bodies of water. It includes both living organisms (planktons, nektons...
• SewageThe waste and wastewater discharged into sewers from homes and industry.
• Sex allocationAbility of the female to control the gender of offspring.
• Sex chromatinIn the interphase nucleus, a condensed mass of chromatin representing an inactivated X chromosome. Each X...
• Sex determinationThe genetic mechanism by which the sex of an individual in a given species is fixed. In many species, sex is...
• Sex determination analysisValidation of the sex of an individual by inspection of the gonads and/or by genetic tests.
• Sex hormonesHormones having estrogenic or androgenic activity.
• Sex preselectionMethods for control of genetic sex of offspring.
• Sex ratioThe number of males per 100 females in a population.
• Sex reversalA change in the gender identity of an organism from one sex to the opposite sex, due to life history or...
• Shade treesA tall tree which provides shade at ground level due to its large canopy.
• ShaleA fine-grained sedimentary rock composed mostly of consolidated clay or mud. Shale is the most frequently...
• Shale gasNatural gas that occurs in a free and adsorbed state, mostly in organic rich shale.
• ShallotsA type of onion which is formed with a head made up of several cloves, resembling garlic.
• ShapefileA shapefile stores non-topological geometry and attribute information for the spatial features in a dataset...
• SharecroppingA farm leasing agreement in which both landowner and tenant farmer receive a share of the harvested crop. The...
• Shear strengthMaximum shear stress that can be sustained by a material before rupture. It is the ultimate strength of a...
• Sheep diseasesDiseases of domestic and mountain sheep of the genus Ovis.
• Sheet erosionSoil erosion occurring from a thin, relatively uniform layer of soil particles on the soil surface.
• Shelf lifeThe length of time during which a product or material may be stored and maintain quality suitable for use or...
• Shell glandThe specialized glandular part of the oviduct that forms the egg's shell.
• ShelterbeltsA row or rows of trees, shrubs, or other plants used to reduce wind erosion, protect young crops and control...
• Shelterwood systemsEven-aged silvicultural system in which a new stand is established under the protection of a partial canopy...
• Shifting cultivationA farming system, common in the tropics, in which land is cleared, the debris burned, and crops grown for a...
• Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coliStrains of Escherichia coli with the ability to produce at least one or more of at least two antigenically...
• Shiga-like toxin 1A toxin produced by certain pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli such as Escherichia coli O157. It is...
• Shiga-like toxin 2A toxin produced by certain pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli such as Escherichia coli O157. It shares...
• Short-day plantsA plant that requires a long period of darkness (night time) to flower. They usually flower when day length...
• Shortwave radiationEnergy emitted in the visible, near-ultraviolet and near-infrared wavelengths.
• Shrink-swell potentialThe susceptibility for a soil's volume to change due to loss or gain in moisture content.
• ShrublandsA growth of shrubs or small trees usually of a type undesirable to livestock or timber management.
• SialomeThe complete set of mRNA transcripts and proteins expressed in the salivary glands, especially of...
• SiblicideThe killing of a sibling caused by intensive neonatal/sibling aggression as observed in birds, hyenas, wasps...
• Sibling speciesSpecies that are morphologically nearly identical and closely related genetically, but which are...
• SiderophoresMicrobial compounds that sequester and transport ferric iron.
• Sierra Nevada (California)A 400 mile long mountain range located in eastern California.
• Sigma factorsA protein which is a subunit of RNA polymerase. It effects initiation of specific RNA chains from DNA.
• SigmoidoscopyEndoscopic examination, therapy or surgery of the sigmoid flexure.
• Signal peptideAmino acid sequences found in transported proteins that selectively guide the distribution of the proteins to...
• Signal transducing adaptor proteinsA broad category of carrier proteins that play a role in signal transduction. They generally contain several...
• Signal transductionThe intracellular transfer of information (biological activation/inhibition) through a signal pathway. In...
• Signal-to-noise ratioThe height of the signal as measured from the mean (average) of the noise to the peak maximum divided by the...
• SilageAny crop that is harvested green and preserved in a succulent condition by partial fermentation in a...
• SilicaTransparent, tasteless crystals found in nature as agate, amethyst, chalcedony, cristobalite, flint, sand...
• SiliclesA small silique, especially one that is as broad as or broader than long; as the silicles of pepperwort and...
• Silicon compoundsInorganic compounds that contain silicon as an integral part of the molecule.
• SiliconeA broad family of synthetic organosiloxane polymers containing a repeating silicon-oxygen backbone with...
• SiliquesThe peculiar, mostly elongated, 2-valved capsule or pod of the mustard family (Brassicaceae or Cruciferae).
• SiloxanesSilicon polymers that contain alternate silicon and oxygen atoms in linear or cyclic molecular structures.
• Silver compoundsInorganic compounds that contain silver as an integral part of the molecule.
• Silver proteinsCompounds of silver and proteins used as topical anti-infective agents.
• Silver stainingThe use of silver, usually silver nitrate, as a reagent for producing contrast or coloration in tissue...
• SilvicidesA pesticide designed to kill unwanted woody plants.
• Silvicultural systemsLong-range harvest and management schemes designed to optimize the growth, regeneration, and administration...
• SilvicultureThe science, art, and practice of establishing and tending forest stands to produce forest stands with the...
• Simple leavesA single leaf with one leaf blade or lamina.
• Simulation trainingA highly customized interactive medium or program that allows individuals to learn and practice real world...
• Simultaneously extracted metalsDivalent metals - commonly cadmium, copper, lead, mercury, nickel, and zinc -that form less soluble sulfides...
• SimvastatinA derivative of lovastatin and potent competitive inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme a...
• Sindbis virusThe type species of Alphavirus normally transmitted to birds by Culex mosquitoes in Egypt, South Africa...
• Single nucleotide polymorphismA single nucleotide variation in a genetic sequence that occures at appreciable frequency in the population.
• Single nucleotide polymorphism arraysA type of DNA microarray that is used for high-throughput analysis of a large number of single nucleotide...
• Single-sex housingHousing animals of the same species and gender together in a laboratory animal facility.
• Singlet oxygenAn excited state of molecular oxygen generated photochemically or chemically. Singlet oxygen reacts with a...
• Sinus venosus atrial septal defectA congenital heart defect of the atrial septum affecting venous blood flow of the inferior or superior vena...
• SinusitisInflammation of the nasal mucosa in one or more of the paranasal sinuses.
• SiresMale parents.
• SirtuinsA homologous family of regulatory enzymes that are structurally related to the protein silent mating type...
• SisomicinAntibiotic produced by Micromonospora inyoensis. It is closely related to gentamicin C1A, one of the...
• Site indexA measure of site class based upon the height of the dominant trees in a stand at an arbitrarily chosen age...
• Site-directed mutagenesisGenetically engineered mutagenesis at a specific site in the DNA molecule that introduces a base...
• Site-specific recombinationDNA rearrangements occurring between specific DNA segments which may exhibit little sequence homology...
• Skeletal developmentGross development of bones from fetus to adult.
• Skim milkMilk from which sufficient cream has been removed to reduce its milk fat content to less than 0.5 % (usually...
• Skin absorptionUptake of any physical, chemical, or biological substance through the skin.
• Skin graftingThe grafting of skin in humans or animals from one site to another to replace a lost portion of the body...
• Skin neoplasmsCancer that forms in the tissues of the skin.
• Skin prick testsA test for sensitivity to allergens. A solution containing a suspected allergy-causing substance is placed on...
• Skin testsTests or bioassays that measure the skin sensitization potential of various agents or chemicals.
• Slag woolA porous, grayish-yellow mineral wool that is obtained by melting and spinning the slags or fused agglomerate...
• SlashDebris left over after logging, pruning, thinning or brush cutting; includes logs, chips, bark, branches...
• Sleep deprivationThe state of being deprived of sleep under experimental conditions, due to life events, or from a wide...
• Sleep disordersConditions characterized by disturbances of usual sleep patterns or behaviors.
• SludgeThe solid or semi-solid residual waste remaining when liquid is removed during industrial waste treatment.
• Small farmsFarms with less than $250,000 gross receipts annually, on which day-to-day labor and management are provided...
• Small interfering RNASmall double-stranded, non-protein coding RNAs (21-31 nucleotides) involved in gene silencing functions...
• Small nuclear RNAShort chains of RNA (100-300 nucleotides long) that are abundant in the nucleus and usually complexed with...
• Small ruminantsGenerally refers to domestic goats (Capra hircus) and sheep (Ovis aries), as opposed to larger ruminants like...
• Small schoolsAlthough the designation of "small" is relative to locale, small schools of grades K-12 usually do not exceed...
• SmallpoxAn acute, highly contagious, often fatal infectious disease caused by an orthopoxvirus characterized by a...
• Smart materialsMaterials designed to change properties in response to changes in their environment adopting various...
• SmeltingA process for separating metal from an ore, usually by heating in a furnace beyond the melting point.
• Smog pollutionSmog is the brownish haze that pollutes our air, particularly over cities in the summertime. Smog can make it...
• Smoke managementApplication of fire intensities and meteorological processes to minimize degradation of air quality during...
• Smoke pointTemperature at which heated oil or fat begins to emit visible smoke. It depends upon the contents of free...
• Smoking (food products)The application of smoke from burning wood to foods in order to preserve them and add a smoky flavor.
• SmoltificationThe hormonally-regulated process by which anadromous fish undergo physical and physiological adaptation for...
• SmoltsAdolescent salmonid fish which have lost their parr marks and have developed a silvery coloring on the body...
• Smooth endoplasmic reticulumA type of endoplasmic reticulum lacking associated ribosomes on the membrane surface. It exhibits a wide...
• SnagsStanding dead trees from which the leaves and most of the branches have fallen.
• Snake venomsSolutions or mixtures of toxic and nontoxic substances elaborated by snake (Ophidia) salivary glands for the...
• SNARE proteinsA superfamily of small proteins which are involved in the membrane fusion events, intracellular protein...
• S-nitrosylationS-nitrosylation is defined as the covalent attachment of a nitric oxide (NO) group to the thiol of a cysteine...
• Snow damageDamage to plants from snow.
• SoapsSodium or potassium salts of long chain fatty acids.
• SoapstockThe fatty material from which soap is made; a byproduct of oilseed refining.
• Social barriersDifferences (inequalities),in gender, ethnicity, race, religion, health or socioeconomic status, between...
• Social capitalThe social relationships and interconnectedness between and among people, businesses and institutions that...
• Social cohesionA property of social groups describing the strength of participants' commitment to other group members and to...
• Social discriminationUnfavorable treatment of individuals or groups on arbitrary grounds.
• Social identificationThe process by which an aspect of self image is developed based on in-group preference or ethnocentrism and a...
• Social inequalityA condition in which various members of a society have unequal amounts of income, prestige, and social power.
• Social justiceAn interactive process whereby members of a community are concerned for the equality and rights of all.
• Social marketingThe application of marketing practices to the development of programs designed to influence the behavior of...
• Social mobilityThe upward or downward movement of individuals or groups into different positions in a social hierarchy based...
• Social parasitismThe coexistence in the same nest or colony of two insect or animal species, of which one is parasitically...
• Social responsibilityThe ethical principle guiding decision-making by an individual or group toward actions which beneficially...
• Social sciencesDisciplines concerned with the interrelationships of individuals in a social environment including social...
• Social servicesOrganized assistance provided by public or private agencies and organizations to the members of a society.
• Social stigmaA perceived attribute that is deeply discrediting and is considered to be a violation of social norms.
• Social sustainabilityThe component of sustainability that includes human rights, labor rights, and national, international and...
• SocialismAn economic system that is regulated, directed and administered by the government rather than private...
• SociobiologyThe comparative study of social organization in animals including humans, especially with regard to its...
• Socioeconomic developmentActivities involving both social and economic factors which result in the growth of the economy and societal...
• Socioeconomic statusA stratum of people with similar position and prestige; includes social stratification. Social class is...
• SocioeconomicsThe branch of economics which examines the relationship between economic factors and society.
• SodarMeteorological instrument used to measure the scattering of sound waves by atmospheric turbulence.
• SoddingThe placement and establishment of sod strips to cover bare soil areas.
• Sodium adsorption ratioSodium adsorption ratio is a measure of the amount of sodium (Na) relative to calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg)...
• Sodium channel blockersA class of drugs that act by inhibition of sodium influx through cell membranes. Blockade of sodium channels...
• Sodium cholateA trihydroxy bile salt that is used as a digestive aid in dietary supplements. It is used in culture media...
• Sodium cyanideA highly poisonous compound that is an inhibitor of many metabolic processes and is used as a test reagent...
• Sodium dodecyl sulfateAn anionic surfactant, usually a mixture of sodium alkyl sulfates, mainly the lauryl; lowers surface tension...
• Sodium glucose transporterMonosaccharide transport proteins that function as active symporters. They utilize sodium or hydrogen ions to...
• Sodium lactateA low molecular weight organic sodium salt of lactic acid that neutralizes the acidic substances. It has...
• Sodium-calcium antiporterAn electrogenic ion exchange protein that maintains a steady level of calcium by removing an amount of...
• Sodium-hydrogen antiporterA plasma membrane exchange glycoprotein transporter that functions in intracellular pH regulation, cell...
• Soft red winter wheatA wheat class seeded in the fall, has low to medium protein content, with a soft endosperm; and is used in...
• Soft white wheatA wheat class used much in the same way as Soft Red Winter (for bakery products other than bread). Grown...
• Soft-rot fungiSoft-rot fungi are decay fungi that primarily affect the outer surface of wood, can degrade cellulose in the...
• SoftwoodGenerally, one of the botanical groups of trees that have no vessels and in most cases have needlelike or...
• Softwood cuttingsCuttings prepared from the soft, succulent, non-lignified or new growth of woody plants, mostly during spring...
• Softwood plywoodStructural material made of layers of softwood veneer glued together, under heat and pressure, with the...
• SoilComplex mixture of inorganic minerals (i.e., mostly clay, silt, and sand), decaying organic matter, water...
• Soil acidificationLowering of acid-neutralizing capacity (ANC) of the solid phase of a soil. It is basically a decrease in soil...
• Soil aggregatesSoil aggregates are groups of soil particles that bind to each other more strongly than to adjacent...
• Soil conditionersAn organic material like humus or compost that helps soil absorb water, build a bacterial community, and take...
• Soil creepThe slow, mass movement of soil material down relatively steep slopes, primarily under the influence of...
• Soil degradationSoil degradation is defined as the process, which lowers (quantitatively or qualitatively) the current and/or...
• Soil electrical conductivitySoil electrical conductivity is a measure of the amount of salts in soil (salinity of soil).
• Soil erosionThe wearing away of the land surface by water, wind, ice, or other geologic agents.
• Soil faunaMicroscopic and macroscopic soil animals (mice, mites, nematodes, earthworms etc.), and some protozoans that...
• Soil fertilityThe quality of a soil that enables it to provide nutrients in adequate amounts and in proper balance for the...
• Soil flushingSoil flushing refers to applying a liquid flushing agent to contaminated soil to physically or chemically...
• Soil food websThe interconnected community of organisms living all or part of their lives in the soil.
• Soil functionAny service, role, or task that soil performs, especially: 1) sustaining biological activity, diversity, and...
• Soil heat fluxThe amount of thermal energy that moves through an area of soil in a unit of time.
• Soil inorganic carbonSoil inorganic carbon (SIC) is the result of mineral weathering. It is derived from soil carbonates and...
• Soil liquefactionThe change of the strength of a water saturated, cohesionless soil to that of a liquid, usually from intense...
• Soil mapA map showing the distribution of soil types or other soil mapping units in relation to the prominent...
• Soil nutrient balanceAccount of the total inputs and outputs of a particular nutrient in an agroecosystem.
• Soil organic carbonThat portion of non-living organic compounds in the top one meter of soil, e.g. humus, which is important to...
• Soil parent materialsThe unconsolidated, chemically weathered mineral or organic matter from which the upper layers (i.e., where...
• Soil permeabilityThe readiness with which soil or rock allows water, air, or plant roots to penetrate or pass through.
• Soil pollutionModifications of soil features or, more generally, of its chemical and biological balance, caused by the...
• Soil profilesThere are various layers in the soil known as soil horizons. The arrangement of these horizons in a soil is...
• Soil remediationThe removal of contaminants and pollutants from soil.
• Soil resource managementThe application of scientific and technical principles in the management of soil resources, in order to meet...
• Soil salinityThe amount of soluble salts in a soil.
• Soil surveysA general term for the systematic examination of soils in the field and in laboratories; their description...
• Soil taxonomyA classification of soil types according to properties, organized in hierarchical levels.
• Soil textureThe relative proportions of the three individual particle size classes (i.e., sand, silt and clay) in a soil.
• Soil vapor extractionSoil vapor extraction is an in situ remedial technology that reduces concentrations of volatile constituents...
• Soil washingA treatment technology that contacts soil with a wash solution, which then is vigorously agitated to transfer...
• Soil water regimesThe presence or absence either of ground water or of plant available water (i.e., water held at a tension of...
• Soil weatheringThe breakdown of rock and minerals by physical, chemical, geological, and biological processes, or...
• Solar cellsPhotovoltaic cells that convert sun's energy into electrical energy.
• Solar collectorsDevices that absorb and accumulate solar radiation for use as a source of energy.
• Solar dryingThe utilization of solar radiation or solar energy for the removal of moisture.
• Solar thermal energyA solar energy conversion system characterized by the optical concentration of solar rays through an...
• SolderingA method of thermally joining metal parts with a molten nonferrous alloy that melts at a temperature below...
• Sole croppingGrowing one crop variety in pure stands on a piece of land at any one time.
• Sole proprietorshipA business organization where that business is owned and managed by one person.
• Solid phase extractionAn extraction method that separates analytes using a solid phase and a liquid phase. It is used for...
• Solid phase microextractionA solventless sample preparation method, invented in 1989, that uses a fused silica fiber which is coated...
• Solid solutionsA single crystalline phase which may be varied in composition within finite limits without the appearance of...
• Solid state fermentationA controlled fermentation process in which microorganisms are grown in a solid culture medium.
• Solitary beesSolitary bees are lone bees and do not live in a hive. Females build their own nest usually next to each...
• Solvation energyThe difference in Gibbs energy of an ion or molecule in the vacuum (or the gas phase) and the solvent (or the...
• SolvolysisA chemical reaction in which a solvent reacts with the solute and becomes a part of the reaction product to...
• Somaclonal variationGenetic variation arising from the break-up and reassembly of DNA in dividing vegetative plant cells grown in...
• Somatic cellsCells of a plant or animal other than the germ cells.
• Somatic embryogenesisThe initiation of embryos from previously differentiated somatic cells of plants. In this regeneration...
• Somatosensory disordersDisorders of sensory information received from superficial and deep regions of the body. The somatosensory...
• SomatotropinA protein hormone produced by the anterior pituitary gland, which stimulates growth of muscle, bone and...
• SonarA method or system, analogous to radar used under water, in which high frequency sound waves are emitted so...
• SonicationThe application of high intensity ultrasound to liquids.
• SootA dark powdery deposit of unburned fuel residues, composed mainly of amorphous carbon and some hydrocarbons...
• SophorolipidsMicrobial glycolipids with surfactant and bioactive properties which are produced by fermentation.
• SorbentsAn insoluble material that has the property to adsorb or absorb gases or liquids.
• SorptionThe process by which one material is taken up by another.
• Sorption isothermsFor each product there is a relationship between its water activity value and moisture content at a specific...
• Sort yardsA temporary location where logs from the forests or timber cutting sites are received and sorted on the basis...
• SOS response (genetics)An error-prone mechanism or set of functions for repairing damaged microbial DNA. SOS functions (a concept...
• Sour fellingA felling method where delimbing is delayed to reduce the moisture content.
• Source attributionThe process of determining what proportion of a particular biological, chemical or physical agent is acquired...
• Sous videCooking in a plastic pouch.
• South SudanA nation located in East-Central Africa; south of Sudan, north of Uganda and Kenya, west of Ethiopia...
• Southern blottingA method (first developed by E.M. Southern) for detection of DNA that has been electrophoretically separated...
• SowsAny breeding female swine that has farrowed at least one litter or has reached 12 months of age.
• Soy proteinProteins which are present in or isolated from soybeans.
• SpadixA type of spike inflorescence with a fleshy or succulent main axis, having small flowers, usually enclosed in...
• Sparkling winesWine made effervescent with carbon dioxide resulting solely from the fermentation of the wine within a closed...
• SpathesAn enlarged, membranous, sheathing bract or bracts subtending an inflorescence, and especially the...
• Spatial dataInformation pertaining to the location, spatial dimensions and relationships of objects in multidimensional...
• Spatial learningA process through which individuals encode information about their environmental cues to facilitate spatial...
• Spatial memoryMemory related to spatial information.
• SpawningThe process of bringing forth offspring for aquatic organisms, such as oysters, fish, or frogs.
• SpayingRemoval of the ovaries and uterus of a female animal, especially a pet, for the purpose of sterilization.
• Special dietsA diet regimen designed to address specific nutritional, physiological and/or medical goals.
• Special educationEducation programs for students who need specialized teaching methods or materials because they have...
• Specialty cropsFruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture)...
• Species abundanceThe number of individuals per species in a particular place at a particular time.
• Species dispersalThe movement of individuals of a species away from an existing population in an area of origin.
• Species diversityThe variety of species in an area. It includes not only the number of species in the area but also their...
• Species recruitmentThe addition of new individuals into a population.
• Species richnessNumber of different species in a community.
• Specific energyEnergy density based specifically upon weight.
• Specific growth rateA quantitative measure of cell mass increase per unit of time.
• Specific heatThe ratio of the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a substance 1 degree Celsius to the heat...
• Specific ion electrodesElectrodes which can be used to measure the concentration of particular ions in cells, tissues, or solutions.
• Specific leaf areaThe ratio of leaf area to leaf dry mass or weight.
• Specific leaf weightLeaf dry weight or mass per unit leaf area.
• Specific mechanical energyIt is defined as the mechanical energy of an object per weight unit.
• Specific pathogen-free animalsAnimals or humans raised in the absence of a particular disease-causing virus or other microorganism.
• SpectinomycinAn antibiotic produced by Streptomyces spectabilis. It is active against gram-negative bacteria and used for...
• Spent coffee groundsThe waste product that remain in a pot after brewing coffee.
• Spent hensA breeder or commercial type of egg laying hen that no longer performs at a desired production level.
• Spent mushroom compostA residual waste product remaining after mushroom harvesting.
• Sperm capacitationThe structural and functional changes by which spermatozoa become capable of oocyte fertilization. It...
• Spermatogoniaprimordial male germ cell which give rise to the spermatocytes.
• SpermatophoresCapsule containing sperm to be directly or indirectly transferred to from males to females.
• SpheronizationThe process whereby small spheres of a material are formed.
• SpikeletsThe basic unit of a grass or sedge inflorescence; bearing one or more florets usually subtended by one or two...
• Spikes (plant)An indeterminate inflorescence in which sessile flowers are borne directly on the main axis of the...
• SpillwaysA structure over or through which flow is discharged from a reservoir. If the rate of flow is controlled by...
• Spinal stenosisConstriction of the spinal canal.
• Spindle pole bodyThe microtubule organizing center of yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which functions like the centrosome of...
• SpiramycinA macrolide antibiotic produced by Streptomyces ambofaciens. The drug is effective against gram-positive...
• Splash erosionThe spattering of small soil particles caused by the impact of raindrops on wet soils. The loosened and...
• Splenic neoplasmsTumors or cancer of the spleen.
• SplenomegalyEnlargement of the spleen.
• SpliceosomesOrganelles in which the splicing and excision reactions that remove introns from precursor messenger RNA...
• Splints (medical)Rigid or flexible appliances used to maintain in position a displaced or movable part or to keep in place and...
• Split applicationThe repetitive application of fertilizer, composts, manures or other soil amendments by dividing the total...
• SpodosolsAcidic forest soil of low fertility
• Spoilage fungiFungus that contributes to the acidifying, discoloring, and general breakdown of foods into unsafe states...
• Sponge cakesA light soft cake, usually made without added fat or shortening and leavened with eggs.
• SporangiaA hollow, unicellular or multicellular saclike, spore-producing structure.
• SporophytesA phase where spores are produced in the life cycle of organisms having alternation of generations (i.e...
• SporotrichosisThe commonest and least serious of the deep mycoses, characterized by nodular lesions of the cutaneous and...
• Spring wheatA general term for wheat sown in the early spring and harvested in the late summer or early autumn of the...
• Sprouts (food)The tender new shoots of germinated seeds (such as mung beans, soybeans, lentils, alfalfa and radish) that...
• StakeholdersIndividuals, groups or organizations that have an interest in or are affected by the activities of...
• StanchionsA specially designed headgate to hold an animal in place while allowing feeding and resting.
• Stand basal areaCross-sectional area of trees measured at breast height (4.5 feet from ground level), or of grasses and...
• Stand compositionThe proportion of each plant species in a managed unit, such as a forest, sward or crop.
• Stand densityThe average total basal area per acre of a given stand.
• Stand tablesA table showing the number of trees by species and diameter classes per unit area of a stand.
• Standard cagesEnclosures for laboratory animals such as mice and rats which provide enough space per animal to comply with...
• Standard deviationStandard deviation is a measure of the spread or dispersion of a set of data. It is calculated by taking the...
• StandardizationA process to remove the effects of differences or other confounding variables in order to establish uniform...
• Standards of identityStandards of identity define what a given food product is, its name, and the ingredients that must be used or...
• Standing reflexresponse of a female animal that is willing to be served by a male.
• Staphylococcal infectionsA group of infections caused by genus Staphylococcus.
• Staphylococcal protein AA protein present in the cell wall of most Staphylococcus aureus strains. The protein selectively binds to...
• Staple (fibers)Short fibers cut to a specific length to be twisted together to form a yarn for weaving or knitting into...
• Staple foodsFoods that are basic to the diet/cuisine of the culture, like wheat flour, rice, corn, yams, sugar, salt, etc.
• Start codonA codon that directs initiation of protein translation (translation, genetic) by stimulating the binding of...
• Statistical appealPersuasive tactic which uses statistical evidence to communicate a message, usually evoking a cognitive...
• Statistical modelsStatistical formulations or analyses which, when applied to data and found to fit the data, are then used to...
• StatisticsA branch of mathematics dealing with the collection, analysis, interpretation and presentation of masses of...
• SteamWater in vapor form resulting when water is heated to a temperature of 212 degrees F (100 degrees C).
• SteatitisInflammation of adipose tissue; a histopathological indicator of vitamin E deficiency in animals fed on diets...
• SteersMale bovines castrated before reaching sexual maturity.
• Stem cellsUndifferentiated cells that retain the ability to self-regenerate and differentiate into specialized cells.
• StemflowPrecipitation that is intercepted by vegetative cover and runs down the stem or major axes of such cover.
• Stenohaline speciesAquatic organisms which cannot tolerate a wide variation in water salinity.
• Stenotopic speciesAn organism tolerating only a narrow range of environmental conditions or adaptable to only a narrow range of...
• SteppesArid land with xerophilous vegetation usually found in regions of extreme temperature range and loess soil.
• StereoisomerismThe phenomenon whereby compounds whose molecules have the same number and kind of atoms and the same atomic...
• StereoisomersCompounds that are alike in that the atoms are bonded to the same other atoms but are different from each...
• Stereotyped behaviorRelatively invariant mode of behavior elicited or determined by a particular situation; may be verbal...
• SterigmatocystinA carcinogenic mycotoxin produced by strains of the mold, Aspergillus versicolor and Aspergillus nidulans.
• Sterile insect techniqueMethod of insect control, utilizing sterilizing doses of radiation, in which sterile insects (usually males)...
• Sterilized milkMilk that has been heated to a temperature and for a time that kills all bacteria and spores, giving it an...
• SterilizingThe destroying of all forms of life, especially microorganisms, by heat, chemical, or other means.
• Sterilizing immunityAn immune response that not only prevents initial infection but also completely eliminates it.
• StigmaThe part of the pistil, usually the tip, often sticky, which receives the pollen and upon which the pollen...
• StilbenesOrganic compounds that contain 1,2-diphenylethylene as a functional group.
• Stingless beesSocial bees belonging to the subfamily Meliponinae which defend nests by biting, not stinging. Species...
• Stochastic processesAny process whose development in time is governed by chance or probabilistic considerations.
• Stocker cattleHeifers and/or steers that are being raised on pasture or other forage for later sale as feedlot replacements.
• Stocking rateThe actual number of animals, expressed in either animal units or animal unit months, on a specific area at a...
• Stocks and sharesA part of the ownership of a company which people buy as an investment. Each investor's ownership represents...
• StoichiometryRatios of moles of compounds in a reaction.
• Stomach volvulusTwisting of the stomach that may result in gastric ischemia and gastric outlet obstruction. It is often...
• Stop codonAny codon that signals the termination of genetic translation (translation, genetic). Peptide termination...
• StorehousesBuildings or manmade structures that are used for the temporary storage of raw materials or manufactured...
• StormwaterExcess water from a meteorological event which has limited interaction with the landscape and flows to...
• Strain gaugesInstruments used to measure the strain of distortion in a member or test specimen (such as a structural part)...
• StratigraphyThe branch of geology concerned with the formation, composition, ordering in time, and arrangement in space...
• StratosphereRegion of the atmosphere between the troposphere and mesosphere, having a lower boundary about 8 km. at the...
• Stream channelsThe long, narrow depression in land where a natural stream of water flows or once flowed.
• Street treesA tree planted along a street to provide shade or for ornamental purposes.
• Strength trainingExercise that builds muscular strength by utilizing resistance movements.
• StreptavidinA tetrameric bacterial protein which binds tightly to biotin.
• StreptolysinExotoxins produced by certain strains of streptococci, particularly those of group A (Streptococcus...
• StreptomycinAn antibiotic produced by the soil actinomycete Streptomyces griseus. It acts by inhibiting the initiation...
• Stress fracturesFractures due to the strain caused by repetitive exercise. They are thought to arise from a combination of...
• Stress relaxationA time-dependent decrease in stress in a material subjected to prolonged constant strain due to viscoelastic...
• StridulationSound communication by insects produced by the friction of rigid body parts (e.g., legs, wings).
• Strip croppingThe growing of crops in a systematic arrangement of strips or bands which serve as vegetative barriers to...
• Strip cuttingA clearcutting system variation in which the logging operation removes all merchantable timber from areas...
• StrokeA sudden, nonconvulsive loss of neurologic function due to an ischemic or hemorrhagic intracranial vascular...
• Stromal cellsConnective tissue cells of an organ found in the loose connective tissue. These are most often associated...
• StrongyloidiasisInfections with nematodes of the genus Strongyloides.
• Structural genesA gene that encodes a protein with a chief function as part of a physical structure within a cell. This is in...
• Structural genomicsDetermination of the three-dimensional shapes or structures of all proteins or important biomolecules...
• Structure firesFires originating in and burning any part or all of any building, shelter or other structure.

632 of 6,798 terms in Agriculture and food terminology (MLC-0114). Request the full dataset.