Вавиловский журнал генетики и селекции, 2012, том 16, №3

N.I. VAVILOV’S EXPEDITIONS
N.P. Goncharov
Institute of Cytology and Genetics SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia, 
е-mail: [e-mail]
Summary
N.I. Vavilov occupies a special position among scientists and most successful «hunters» for cultivated plants 
and their relatives. He first predicted and then discovered and collected an unexpectedly broad diversity 
of species, accessions, and varieties. Under his leadership, the most significant bank of plant resources 
(biodiversity) of crops was established, and later, the collected resources were successfully summoned up 
for the Soviet economy. The article considers the many-sided Vavilov’s activity to organize and conduct 
expeditions, in which he took personal part; their goals; efficiency; and basic methods of examination and 
use of the plants material collected.
Key words: N.I. Vavilov, expeditions, cultivated plants, biodiversity, crop resources.