Scientific and Practical Activity of Ukrainian Geneticist Academician O. O. Sozinov: Odesa Period (1958–1978)

The purpose of the article is to analyze the research and practical activities of the Ukrainian scientist-geneticist,breeder, agroecologist, organizer and educator of agricultural science in Ukraine Oleksii Sozinov (1930–2018).The scientific novelty of the study is to deepen and systematize information about the scientific and practical activitiesof O. Sozinov in the Odesa period in the context of the development of genetic and breeding science in the second half of thetwentieth century.The research methodology is based on a combination of methods of both historical science and related fields, the principlesof scientificity, historicism, objectivity, complexity, and systematicity. Historical and biographical, historical and chronological,retrospective research methods and the method of source analysis were used.Conclusions. It has been found that the Odesa period of O. Sozinov’s activity is mainly associated with the functioning ofthe All-Union Breeding and Genetic Institute (now the Breeding and Genetic Institute — National Center for Seed and VarietyStudies). The scientist’s research interests were primarily focused on the study of grain quality, field and laboratory research onplant genetics. The scientific and methodological approaches of the scientist to the quality of wheat grain are revealed, wherethe scientist gives a scientific explanation of the components of quality and explains in detail the measures to improve it. The expansion of research areas, in particular in the field of molecular biology and genetic transformations, was noted. The scientisthas developed methods for the isolation of chromatin, DNA, DNA and nuclear proteins from cereal plants, which contributedto the study of gene regulation mechanisms. The priority and practical significance of his fundamental and applied research forthe further evolution of genetics were substantiated.