The Main Lines of Research at the Botanical Garden of M. V. Lomonosov Moscow State University in 1937–1973

Abstract

The Botanical Garden of M. V. Lomonosov Moscow State University is the oldest scientific botanical institution in Russia. Established in 1706 as a physic garden, it was acquired by Moscow University in 1805. This article reviews the dynamics of the range of research areas pursued by the Garden in 1937–1973 (from its becoming an autonomous institution within MSU to the splitting of Biological and Soil Science Faculty and the Garden becoming part of a recreated Biological Faculty). Based on the analysis of bibliography and materials of the theme plans and reports on the Garden’s research work, deposited at the MSU Archive, this time period may be divided into several stages. Thus, in 1937–1948, the research focused on the development of methods for experimental morphogenesis, designed do obtain new heritable forms (induced polyploidy, X-ray treatment of crop and ornamental plants (L. P. Breslavets-Krestovnikova); development of scientific foundation for horticulture (“green construction”) to expand the diversity of herbaceous ornamental plants (M. P. Nagibina); studies on plant development rhythms and factors (A. V. Kozhevnikov, I. G. Serebryakov). In 1948–1951, after the August VASKhNIL Session, the problems of vegetative hybridization prevailed while, in 1952–1957, the researchers’ attention was focused on the development of scientific basis for the construction of a new botanical garden as a component of natural science cluster of MSU on Leninskie (Vorobyovy) Gory (N. A. Bazilevskaya). In 1958–1964, the focus was shifted towards complex studies of the domestic flora. In 1967–1973, the garden’s main lines of research were evolutionary morphology, plant taxonomy, floristics, and botanical geography (A. K. Skvortsov, V. N. Tikhomirov); plant protection and agrochemistry; and breeding and genetics of ornamental plants and fruit and berry crops. Therefore, at different stages, the emphasis was placed on both the fundamental and applied research whose focus changed depending on the sociopolitical context of the epoch.