Plant Physiology - Musiyenko, M. M. 2001

Introduction
A Brief Historical Outline of the Development of Plant Physiology in Ukraine

One of the founding fathers of plant physiology in Ukraine was Professor Y.V. Baranetsky (1843–1905) of Kyiv University, who was a student of A.S. Famintsyn, the pioneer of this science in Russia. His main scientific works focused on plant growth, Water regime, and plant anatomy. A significant contribution to The Development of applied plant physiology in Ukraine was made by Y.P. Votchal (1864–1937), who from 1890 headed the Department of Plant Physiology and Microbiology at the Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, where he invited prominent scientists such as S.G. Navashin, V.V. Finn, and G.A. Levitsky.

Y.P. Votchal founded a renowned school of physiologists, whose members advanced various branches of plant physiology (V.R. Zalensky, V.V. Kolkunov, I.M. Tolmachov, A.S. Okanenko). V.R. Zalensky (1875–1923) is one of the founders of ecological plant physiology. He discovered the dependence of leaf Anatomical Structure on its position on the stem, which later became known as Zalensky's law.

Photosynthesis and chlorophyll, Photoperiodism, patterns of secondary metabolite Biosynthesis, organismal ADAPTATION TO ENVIRONMENTAL conditions, and original concepts regarding Plant GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT represent far from a complete list of problems addressed by V.M. Lubimenko (1873–1937), one of the most prominent plant physiologists who established phytophysiological laboratories in Kharkiv, Kyiv, and Crimea.

Global recognition was brought to Ukrainian plant physiology by the works of M.G. Kholodny (1882–1953) in phytohormonology. His name is broadly associated with fundamental and theoretical concepts regarding Plant Growth and development. He made a substantial contribution to physiology,

plant anatomy, ecology, and soil microbiology. M.G. Kholodny also authored philosophical works on natural science and is rightly regarded as a follower of the ideas of Charles Darwin and K.A. Timiryazev.

A great deal of credit for establishing this science goes to V.I. Palladin (1859–1922), who served as a professor of plant physiology and anatomy at Kharkiv University starting in 1889, directed the Nikitsky Botanical Garden, and lectured at Taurida University (Simferopol). His major scientific works were dedicated to Plant Respiration and The Role of Enzymes in it. The establishment of plant physiology in Ukraine was also advanced by the Ukrainian phytophysiologist N.T. Gamorak (1892–1937), whose scientific legacy is only now coming to light. Working at the Kamianets-Podilskyi State Ukrainian University—which became the second university after the Ukrainian People's University founded in Kyiv in the autumn of 1918 where teaching was conducted in Ukrainian—N.T. Gamorak conducted original research on the stomatal apparatus and plant Transpiration, and proposed A number of new instruments and Methods for physiological research. He taught not only plant physiology but also other botanical disciplines. Back in 1920, he published two textbooks on plant anatomy and Morphology, which were the very first Ukrainian textbooks in this field (D.M. Dobrochaieva et al., 1993).

However, the true cradle of plant physiology in Ukraine was the Institute of Botany, where luminaries of our science such as M.G. Kholodny, Y.P. Votchal, and V.M. Lubimenko successfully worked. It served as the breeding ground for new research institutions and The formation of prominent phytophysiological schools. In the 1930s, significant contributions to the development of plant physiology were made by O.O. Tabentsky, I.M. Tolmachov, A.S. Okanenko, F.F. Matskov, M.G. Molotkovsky, V.K. Zalesky, F.M. Porodko, and others.

During the same years, research began on the PHYSIOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL role of microfertilizers, which later served as the theoretical basis for creating new types of fertilizers enriched with micronutrients (P.A. Vlasyuk). In 1946, the Institute of Plant Physiology and Agrobiology of the Academy of Sciences of Ukraine was established on The basis of the Department of Nutrition Physiology and Agrochemistry of the Institute of Botany under the leadership of O.I. Dushchkin (1874–1956), who coordinated all research activities across the republic's institutions. Among the achievements of the Institute of Plant Physiology, special mention should be made of the research by A.S. Okanenko—a follower of the scientific traditions and achievements of Y.P. Votchal—who, alongside L.K. Ostrovska, developed the theoretical foundations for increasing photosynthetic productivity and sugar content in sugar beets. Ecophysiological studies of photosynthesis were continued here (A.S. Okanenko, B.I. Hulyayev), and biochemical and Biophysical Aspects of the photosynthetic process were explored (S.M. Kochubey) under the guidance of L.K. Ostrovska.

Among the works dedicated to photosynthesis, mention should be made of the research by S.I. Lebedev and his disciples, in particular O.G. Sudyina (on the role of carotenoids in photosynthesis and the Evolution of the pigment system across various taxonomic groups of Algae).

Ukrainian scientists have also made major contributions to The Study of plant development theory (V.M. Lubimenko, F.F. Matskov, A.O. Sapehin, Y.S. Modylevsky, D.O. Dolgushin, F.H. Kyrychenko, V.M. Remeslo) and ontogeny theory (V.Y. Yuryev, M.M. Kuleshov, V.I. Babenko, et al.).

In general, addressing problems of plant growth and development has become a traditional strength for Ukrainian physiologists (S.O. Hrebinsky, T.T. Demydenko, F.L. Kalinin, H.Kh. Molotkovsky, H.I. Semenenko, I.P. Bilokin, K.M. Sytnyk, L.I. Musatenko, O.T. Demkiv).

In the 1950s, a plant tissue culture laboratory was established in Ukraine, where primary responses of Cell growth and differentiation were investigated. Today, research continues on discovering and studying new phytohormones and BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE SUBSTANCES, as well as systems regulating physiological processes, including intracellular ones (F.L. Kalinin, V.V. Sarnatska, V.K. Yavorska, V.M. Troyan).

Fundamental studies have been conducted on the physiology of individual plant Organs, specifically ROOT and leaf physiology (K.M. Sytnyk, L.I. Musatenko, T.L. Bohdanova). The integrative approach to characterizing the growth and METABOLISM of individual plant organs, typical of these authors' research, led to the Conclusion that metabolic Specificity at various Stages of the growth process is manifested through Changes in the dynamics of a range of metabolites, notably Nucleic Acids, Proteins, and phytohormones.

Research continues into the morphological features, structural Organization, and metabolism of embryonic organs during seed ripening and germination, as well as the MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF growth, its transmembrane aspects, ionic Homeostasis, and the phytohormonal status underlying plant growth and development.

Fundamental research carried out in Ukraine on the physiology of sugar beets (O.I. Dushchkin, A.S. Okanenko, I.M. Tolmachov, I.F. Buzanov) and grapes (I.I. Bubriak, S.Ya. Mininberg, M.K. Manankov) is of general scientific significance.

General biological problems of growth and development and theoretical issues of ontogeny were investigated by B.M. Lubimenko, A.O. Sapehin, Y.S. Modylevsky, D.O. Dolgushin, M.M. Kuleshov, V.Y. Yuryev, H.Kh. Molotkovsky, F.F. Matskov, I.P. Bilokin, P.I. Hupalo, V.V. Sarnatska, V.P. Lobov, and others. In 1972, research in Plant Introduction/32.html">Genetic Engineering was initiated (K.M. Sytnyk, Y.Y. Gleba), which later led to the ESTABLISHMENT OF THE Institute of Cell Biology and GENETIC ENGINEERING OF the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. Through protoplast fusion followed by Plant Regeneration, new hybrid plants were obtained here, along with cell lines and plants resistant to herbicides and stress factors. These efforts provide the foundation for further developments in plant Genetic Engineering and will help resolve many problems of general biological importance.

Globally recognized are the works of Academician A.M. Hrodzinsky, the founder of modern allelopathy. He formulated a novel framework of allelopathy as the Circulation of physiologically active substances within a biogeocenosis, acting as a regulator of internal and external interactions and driving the equilibrium, stability, and succession of plant communities. Academician A.M. Hrodzinsky was the first to consider allelopathy as an independent biological problem whose development is critically important for plant physiology and biochemistry, geobotany, plant cultivation, and crop management. He investigated the role of allelopathic plant interactions in natural and artificial coenoses alongside Other forms of interaction, explored allelopathy in higher plants, Fungi, and Bacteria, as well as the transformation of colicins, and developed methods for controlling soil toxicity. This research direction is successfully pursued by scientists at the M.M. Gryshko Central Botanical Garden of the NAS of Ukraine.

However, A.M. Hrodzinsky's scientific interests extended far beyond establishing a research school in allelopathy. He pioneered several new fields regarding The Use of plants in ergonomic systems—phytodesign, medicine, and space biology. He actively engaged in theoretical and methodological issues concerning plant introduction and acclimatization, and served as one of the primary coordinators for the development of plant physiology and biochemistry in Ukraine.

The 1960s marked the beginning of research into plant-microbe interactions (S.F. Nehrutsky) and symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation (A.V. Manoryk, Y.P. Starchenkov).

Fundamental studies on The Nature of plant physiological resistance were carried out in the late 20th century by D.P. Protsenko, M.O. Solovyova, O.I. Kolosha, I.H. Shmatko, A.V. Kaplia, R.F. Protsko, and V.P. Tarabrin. Interest in Stress physiology is steadily growing. It has become possible to significantly deepen our understanding through novel approaches and theoretical concepts rooted in modern plant molecular biology and the subcellular organization of adaptive systems (M.M. Musienko, 1985; V.A. Sidorov, 1990; B.O. Levenko, 1992).

In 1962, the Department of Biophysics and Radiobiology was established at the Institute of Plant PHYSIOLOGY OF THE Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (D.M. Hrodzinsky) to study radiobiological responses in plants and the protective mechanisms of radioprotectors (I.M. Hudkov, O.D. Kolomiyets, A.A. Bulakh, O.P. Holikova). Academician D.M. Hrodzinsky developed The Theory of plant system reliability, analyzing—for the first time across various Levels of organization, from molecular to whole-Organism and phytocoenotic—the General and Specific responses of plants to ionizing radiation. He also initiated research in Ukraine on positional information and cell interactions in plant morphogenesis.

With the participation of Ukrainian scientists in the mid-1970s, a series of phytobiological experiments was prepared and conducted aboard artificial Earth satellites, spacecraft, and orbital stations, as well as within international space biology programs (Y.L. Kordium et al.). For the first time in space biology, the ultrastructure of plant Cells was investigated, proving the informativeness and reliability of this indicator for assessing The impact of space flight factors on the functioning of living systems, and demonstrating changes in the Structural and functional organization of cells under such conditions.

A substantial contribution to the development of phycology and the physiology of higher aquatic plants was made by scientists at the Institute of Hydrobiology of the NAS of Ukraine.

Through years of research into the ecophysiological features of phytoplankton formation in the Dnieper, Dniester, and Danube rivers and their reservoirs, L.Ya. Sirenko and her colleagues analyzed the patterns of algal community formation under The Influence of eutrophication, acidification, pollution, and toxic stress. They identified general ecological, physiological, and biochemical reactions underlying the adaptation and survival of algae under extreme conditions. Since the 1960s, core phycophysiological research in Ukraine has developed along several avenues: extensive and intensive algae cultivation in relation to their development in axenic cultures; studies of their organic and mineral nutrition, pigment systems, and photosynthetic activity under both Artificial and natural conditions; The chemical composition of algae and extracellular metabolites in relation to environmental conditions; and the utilization of algal biomass and cellular functional activity for various purposes. It has been proven that algae hold great promise as sources of feed, food, and energy resources, biologically active compounds, and industrial raw Materials, as well as serving as a key component in wastewater Treatment.

At the present stage, more than 50 research institutions and higher education establishments in Ukraine are engaged in solving problems of plant physiology and biochemistry. Among them are the Institute of Plant Physiology and Genetics, the M.G. Kholodny Institute of Botany, the National Botanical Garden of the NAS of Ukraine and other botanical gardens, the Institute of Hydrobiology, the Institute of Cell Biology, as well as departments of plant physiology and botany at universities, agricultural and pedagogical institutes, and numerous laboratories within sectoral research institutions of the Ukrainian Academy of Agrarian Sciences.

A Brief Overview of the development of physiological research in Ukraine demonstrates a rich heritage and substantial scientific potential that will ensure its preservation into the future. Ukrainian universities must provide rigorous theoretical and methodological training to secure a reliable future for plant physiology.

Experimental and review articles addressing various problems in plant physiology are published in domestic journals such as Plant Physiology and Biochemistry (Физиология и биохимия культурных растений), the Ukrainian Bota-

nical Journal, Reports of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, The Journal of Agricultural Science, as well as in periodicals issued by higher education institutions and specialized research institutes. Prominent international publications include the Russian journal Plant Physiology, journals of the American Society of Plant Biologists such as Plant Physiology, Annual Review of Plant Physiology and Plant Molecular Biology, journals from counterpart associations in Europe, Japan, and Australia—including Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, Planta, Plant Science, Physiologia Plantarum, Journal of Plant Physiology, Plant and Cell Physiology, and Australian Journal of Plant Physiology—as well as Nature and Science, among others. Abstracting and indexing information can be retrieved from sources such as Current Contents (Life Sciences) and Current Contents (Agriculture, Biology and Environmental Sciences), alongside other Databases.

Selection/41.html">Review Questions and Assignments

1. Subject matter and objectives of plant physiology.

2. What are the Specific characteristics of the plant physiologist's research object? Methodological aspects of modern physiology.

3. Physico-chemical, ecological, and evolutionary aspects of plant physiology. What is their core essence?

4. What are the key challenges in modern plant physiology?

5. Characterize the Stages of development in plant physiology and their connection to the overall progress of biological science and Practical Applications.

6. What is the historical trajectory of plant physiology development in Ukraine?

7. What is the theoretical and Practical significance of modern plant physiology?

8. Explain The Cosmic Role of green plants.

9. Which experimental methods developed in the 20th century contributed to expanding our knowledge of the Structure and function of plant organisms?