Age
Give the age of the sample. This could be done in a variety of ways. For example:
'4 weeks after germination'
'2 months old plants after anthesis'
'ovules 12 hours after pollination', etc.

Cell type
In case a specific cell type is used as a sample (source of the nucleic acid) in your experiment, specify the cell type or types of primary interest (in a tissue of mixed cell types) by clicking the "Set" button. This will start a PO browser in a pop-up window. Check the correct term and click 'Select Terms'.
If your cell type is not on the list, you may specify a new term using the PO browser. We may contact you for further information.

Ecotype
If relevant to this sample, mention the ecotype and describe or reference it. If not a common ecotype, a brief description, as relevant to this experiment is useful.

Extracted Molecule
Specify the type of molecule that was extracted from the biological material.

Developmental stage
The developmental stage of the organism's life cycle during which the sample (biomaterial) was extracted [MGED Ontology definition].

Specify the development stage by clicking the "Set" button. This will start a Growth and Development ontology browser in a pop-up window. Select the correct term and click 'Select Terms'.

If your developmental stage is not on the list, You may specify a new term using the ontology browser. We may contact you for further information.

Environmental conditions
Documentation of growth conditions (as relevant for field, greenhouse, growth chambers, etc.) particularly location (field), season (field), temperature, humidity, photoperiod, light source and intensity, humidity, et cetera; as detailed as possible to be able to reproduce the exact conditions of growth of this plant sample.

Germplasm name and description
If this sample has its origin from a germplasm collection, mention the source and identification (Reference, Accession Number, Catalog Number, etc.) of this line. Details may be added in the space provided for 'description'. If appropriate, mention any modification that has been done to this line before using it as a sample for this experiment. .

Growth temperature
Temperature, temperature range or day and night temperatures, etc. in the Celsius scale.
Growth description
A description of the environment used to grow organisms or parts of the organism. Specify the time range, the temperature range and media used for the culture condition in the text boxes provided.

Specify other relevant growth conditions (atmosphere, humidity, contaminant organism, density range, generations, host, light, nutrients) in the text box provided.

Example: Plants were grown in a growth chamber (73% RH at 20-22 oC) under a short day (SD) photoperiod (8hrs/16hrs) from fluorescent lamps (129 16 mm-2s-1 PAR).

Growth Media
A drop down list of media is provided. Select the appropriate one for your sample. If your medium is not on the list, choose 'Other'(and follow the instructions that pop up). We may contact you for further information.

Hybridization
Select a hybridization (treatment+replicate) that corresponds to this sample from the drop-down list. The list is automatically generated after you specify your factors, their levels and replications. Please note that you will have to provide a sample description for each hybridization.

Hybridization date
The date on which hybridization was conducted. Please use the format MM/DD/YY for your date.

Example: 03/24/03 (for March 24, 2003)

Mutant description
The nature and description of the mutation(s) or mutant allele(s) should be very clearly documented and referenced for correct interpretation of the microarray experiment. In most cases this is accomplished by a reference to the literaure, a short note about its relevance to this experiment, source of the mutant line, and/or any modification that might have been done to the source mutant line (e.g., selection, etc.).

Organism
The genus and the species (and subspecies) of the organism from which the sample (biomaterial) is derived.

A drop down list of organism names is provided. Select the appropriate one for your sample. If your organism is not on the list, please choose 'Other'(and follow the instructions that pop up). We may contact you for further information.

Organism part / structure
The part of the organism's anatomy from which the sample (biomaterial) was derived [MGED Ontology Definition].

Choose by clicking the "Set" button. This will start a PO browser in a pop-up window. Check the correct term and click 'Select Terms'. The controlled vocabulary of plant morphology, anatomy representing tissue and cell types in cereal plants are permutated in a tree structure where users can explore to select desired terms to describe the part of the organism used in their sample.

Examples are stamen, petal, cauline leaves, inflorescence, apical meristem, etc.

If your term is not on the list, you may specify a new term using the PO browser. We may contact you for further information.

Sample preparation date
The date on which the plant sample was prepared. Please use the format MM/DD/YY.

Example: 03/24/03 (for March 24, 2003)

Protocol selection
A drop down list of existing protocols is provided. Please select one that is relevant to your experiment. If your protocol is not on the list, please submit a new one through "Protocol Submission", and the submitted protocol will be available to all users. The content of protocols can also be viewed from "Protocol Submission".

Sampling date
The date on which the sample was collected. Please use the format MM/DD/YY.

Example: 03/24/07 (for March 24, 2007)

Sample and treatment description
A brief description of 'this specific biological material' and the 'treatment(s)' applied to it. Please avoid writing one description for all the samples.

You may, for example, mention the relevant germplasm, ecotype, mutant, trangenic, cultivar, etc., and provide the details in the corresponding field(s) later in this page. The description should help other investigators trace the orgin, uniquely identify and/or reproduce the sample.

Sample name
Provide a unique but succinct name that describes your sample and helps you differentiate it from other samples.

Examples:
'wt_salt-r1' (to describe: wildtype-salt stressed-replication 1);
'mut_con_r3' (to describe: mutant-unstressed control-replication 3)

Ideally, this name should reflect the specific treatment factor (as mentioned in the 'hybridization' field above) in your experiment and the specific replication that this sample represents. Many find it useful to include a part that hints the data file name and hence, helps avoid/trace errors during a later file association step (example: mut_con_r3_A239, that data file 'A239' belongs to sample, 'mut_con_r3'). We recommend using a label that is as short as possible and intuitive. You may use informative abbreviations common to your field of study.

The sample name will be used to help you during the submission procedures. In case of a problem or a need to contact us during submission, you may reference the sample name and your name in the e-mail.

Sample picture
An optional picture of the sample tissue or specimen. The image must be in png, jpeg, gif or tiff image format.

Sample provider
In most cases the sample would be provided by the experimenter. In which case, provide the requested information. Please remember to provide the name of the head of the lab(Principal Investigator or permanent contact) and an URL for the lab(if exists).

If the sample was obtained from an external source, please provide company or institution, contact name and location.

Separation technique
The technique used to separate the sample (which may be plant parts, tissues or cells, etc.) from the organism or whole plant. A drop down list of separation techniques is provided. Select one or more to describe your separation technique.

E.g.: Microdissection, cutting, filtration, etc.

If the separation technique you used is not on the list, please choose 'Other' and follow the instructions that pop up.

Transgenic description
In case the sample is from transgenic material: Literature reference or source and orgin as appropriate, the nature of the vector and relevant insert, and a brief note explaining this sample's relevance to the experimental objective(s).