Language:
Hebrew
Year of publication:
2020
Titel der Quelle:
קתדרה
Angaben zur Quelle:
177 (תשפא) 35-60
Keywords:
Eig, Alexander,
;
Vavilov, N. I.
;
Elazari-Volcani, I.
;
Agriculture History
;
Botany History
;
Agriculturists
Abstract:
This article describes the cooperation between thefounders of plant science in Israel and the Russian scientist, Nikolai Ivanovich Vavilov, a groundbreakingresearcher in several fields, such as genetics, botanyand agriculture. Vavilov, one of the greatest scholarsof the early twentieth century, visited Israel in thefall of 1926. This article presents for the first timean unknown letter from Vavilov to Yitzhak Elazari Volkani, the founder of the new agronomy in Israel,which reveals their close mutual understanding.The authors analyze the effect of Vavilov’s scientificauthority and charismatic personality on AlexanderEig – known as the ‘creator of plant science in Israel’– at the beginning of his university career. Vavilov andEig were both enthusiastic about advancing science intheir countries, and after their meeting, Eig adoptedVavilov’s path in developing basic scientific researchbeyond political and national boundaries. These twogreat scientists passed away prematurely, at the peakof their professional heyday and scientific influence,leaving no autobiography or organized archives.Following the meeting with Vavilov, Eig began toengage in phytosociology, defining for the first timethe three phytogeographical regions in the country –the Mediterranean, the Irano-Turanian and theSaharo-Sindian (Saharo-Arabian) regions – and,according to this division, prepared the first vegetationmap of Israel. He later established the first botanicalgarden of its kind in Israel, based on the variousphytogeographic units – a kind of miniature of theLand of Israel, described 150 new species for science,and prepared material for a scientific key for plantsthat addressed both the scientific community and thegeneral public. The authors of the article point to the match between Eig’s working methods and Vavilov’srecommendations; they believe that this match helpsto understand Eig’s path and the spirit of his work,which serve as a standard for subsequent generationsof Israeli botanists.
Note:
With an English summary.
URL:
אתר את הפרסום בקטלוג המאוחד של ספריות ישראל
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