D. Dolhushyn as one of the founders of research on the connection between ontogenesis stages and useful features of winter wheat

Abstract

Goal. To outline the most important stages of the development of winter wheat selection in Ukraine for 1929–1993, and to analyze the scientific activity of the famous plant breeder of this crop D. Dolhushyn as one of the founders of the theory of ontogenesis. Methods. General scientific (analysis, synthesis, classification) and historical (biographical, historical-comparative) methods were used. Results. It is proven that foreign researchers were the first to pay attention to the need for winter varieties in low positive temperatures and their reaction to light, but it was D. Dolhushyn who developed the theory, connecting the variety of grades with the peculiarities of passing through the stages of development. At the same time as studying the patterns of ontoge­nesis, the scientist carried out the selection of winter and spring wheat varieties. He used a significant part of the results of his theoretical and methodical research both in breeding programs and in experiments on the development of primary seed breeding methods. Based on the research D. Dolhushyn created the most famous varieties of winter wheat, which were spread not only in Ukraine but also in other countries. All varieties invented by him in co-authorship, starting with Odeska 3 and Odeska 12 varieties, were analyzed for the nature of vernali­zation, photosensitivity, frost resistance, and duration of the growing season. Conclusions. Created by D. Dolhushyn highly adaptive and environmentally plastic varieties were of great importance for grain production in Ukraine and other republics of the former Soviet Union in the second half of the past and at the beginning of the current century and are present in the pedigrees of many modern varieties. Using the example of the multi-line and genetically balanced variety Odeska 51 and the single-line variety Odeska 267, the scientist developed schemes and proposed original methods of primary seed production.