Nicholas Tsitsin. The main botanical garden named after N.V. Tsitsina RAS - description, history and interesting facts. Tsitsin Nikolay Vasilievich

26.01.2022

Nikolai Vasilyevich Tsitsin went down in history as a Soviet botanist, geneticist and breeder.
Nikolai Vasilyevich Tsitsin was born on December 18, 1898 in the city of Saratov. He came from a poor peasant family, as a teenager he worked at a factory in Saratov. Having lost their father in the same year, the family moved to Saratov, where, due to the difficult financial situation, Kolya was given to an orphanage by his mother. There he stayed until 1912 and received his primary education, and then, in order to earn a living, he mastered many professions.
During the Civil War, Tsitsin joined the Red Army and soon became a military commissar, and since 1920 he was the head of the cult department and a member of the provincial communications committee in Saratov. Then he continued his education - first he studied at the workers' faculty, and then entered the agronomic faculty of the Saratov Institute of Agriculture and Melioration, from which he graduated in 1927 and got a job at the Saratov Agricultural Experimental Station at the All-Union Institute of Grain Economy.
Communication with such outstanding breeders as N.G. Meister, A.P. Shekhurdin, P.N. Konstantinov determined the further direction of the young scientist's work. From the very beginning, he was interested in the problem of creating more productive varieties of the main food crop - wheat - based on distant hybridization. While working as an agronomist at one of the departments of the Gigant grain farm in the Salsky district of the Rostov region, Tsitsin crossed wheat with wheatgrass and for the first time received a wheat-couch grass hybrid, which was the beginning of his work in this direction. He widely involved in crossing wild and cultivated plants that had gone through independent evolutionary paths that determined their genetic isolation. Research carried out by scientists in this direction has made it possible to create new varieties of plants.
Under the leadership of N.V. Tsitsin, all landscape and construction work on the development of the VSHV-VDNKh and GBS took place. He was the initiator of organizing expeditions around the country to collect plants for the botanical garden. Since 1947, Tsitsin has been collecting a scientific library, in the funds of which already in 1952 there were 55 thousand books, including the rarest copies of the 16th-19th centuries in Russian and foreign languages. Since 1948, Tsitsin began to publish the Bulletin of the Main Botanical Garden. Of the 200 published bulletins from the 1st to the 120th, he himself was the editor-in-chief. Under his leadership, an arboretum, one of the largest in Europe, was created on 75 hectares. During its existence, 2500 species of woody plants were tested in it. Of these, 1800 were selected as quite sustainable, and of these, in turn, about 600 were recommended for planting greenery in Moscow.
In 1952, on the initiative of N.V. Tsitsin, a network of botanical gardens of the USSR was created, and the Main Botanical Garden of the Academy of Sciences became a kind of national coordinating and methodological center. In the same year, the greenhouse was opened. By 1953, Tsitsin had completely completed the exposition of the flora department, and by 1954, on the day of the second birth of the VSHV-VDNKh, the garden of continuous flowering, the garden of coastal plants and the collection rose garden were finally completed. In the village of Snegiri, Istra district, Moscow region, on almost 1.5 thousand hectares, Tsitsin organized an experimental garden farm.
On July 28, 1959, the Botanical Garden was opened to visitors. By the 70s, all the main expositions of the garden were finally completed, and collection sites of geographical landscapes were created in the flora department. The garden under the direction of N.V. Tsitsin became one of the largest in Europe. There were more than 20 thousand taxa of plants in his collections (about 17 thousand were exhibited).

Delegate of the XX Congress of the CPSU. Deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of the 1st, 3rd and 4th convocations.
N.V. Tsitsin is an honorary foreign member of 8 foreign academies. He was president, chairman, member of a number of domestic and foreign scientific organizations. President (1958-1970) and Vice-President (since 1970) of the Soviet-Indian Society for Friendship and Cultural Ties.
N.V. Tsitsin had the degree of Doctor of Agricultural Sciences (1936), the academic title of Academician of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR (1939), Academician of the All-Russian Academy of Agricultural Sciences (1938).
N.V. Tsitsin Twice Hero of Socialist Labor (1968, 1978), awarded 7 Orders of Lenin (1935, 08.1945, 09.1945, 1953, 1968, 1975, 1978), Orders of the October Revolution (1973), Order of the Red Banner of Labor (1939), medals , a gold medal named after I.V. Michurin, the French Order of Merit in the Field of Agriculture (1959). Laureate of the Lenin (1978) and State (1943) Prizes of the USSR.
More than 700 scientific papers have been published, including 46 books and brochures. He has 8 copyright certificates for inventions. Many works have been published abroad.
Lived in Moscow. Died July 17, 1980. He was buried in Moscow at the Novodevichy Cemetery.

The main botanical garden in Moscow is the largest in Europe. It has collected a myriad of collections of various plants that are found on all continents and in all climatic zones of the planet. On a vast territory there are different varieties of representatives of the flora, planted using the latest techniques of landscape design. For more than 70 years, the garden has literally flourished, expanded and is one of the main cultural sites of the capital.

The history of the formation of the Main Botanical Garden

GBS was founded in April 1945 as one of the events to celebrate the 220th birthday of the USSR RAS. More than 360 hectares of land were allocated for the organization of a botanical garden in the Ostankino forest park.

The first mention of this land dates back to 1584. Then the territory belonged to the princes of Cherkasy. After some time, she passed Sheremetev and received the name "Ostashkovo village." Together with the estate located here, the forest park zone was the dowry of Varvara Cherkasskaya, the wife of Peter Sheremetev. Over time, the English Park was created. This was done by Count Nikolai Sheremetev, the owner of Ostankino. In order to create a natural landscape, the earl hired a gardener originally from England. Limes, oaks and maples, viburnum and honeysuckle were planted on the huge area of the Main Botanical Garden of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 5 ponds were dug, the water to which came from the Kamenka River.

A unique forest area of the Russian capital was allocated for the formation of the largest botanical garden in Europe. And only thanks to the activities of the researchers, it was possible to save the fragments of the ancient grove, oak forest and forest intact. From the day of its foundation and for 24 years, the Academy of Sciences of the USSR transferred to the ownership of the GBS the land on which the main expositions are now located.

The first director of the park is Nikolai Vasilyevich Tsitsin. Actually, that's why the GBS RAS bears his name. Nikolai Vasilyevich is the founder of the garden, under his leadership the territory was landscaped and scientific and laboratory events were held.

From the first days of the existence of the Main Botanical Garden of the Russian Academy of Sciences named after N.V. Tsitsin, well-known scientists worked in it, which had a positive effect on the timing of construction and the subsequent development of the park. Today, 150 researchers work here. The GBS RAS also trains scientific personnel - about 200 people have studied at the postgraduate course for the entire time of its existence.

From the moment the garden was founded, the leadership recognized the expediency of exchanging experience and the results of scientific research with other botanical gardens of the USSR. To achieve this goal in 1948 began the periodic production of serial printed publications. The materials presented in the articles told about all the important moments in the world of botany and in the life of the Main Botanical Garden in particular.

Since 1976, GBS RAS has been cooperating with the United States on the problem of protecting endangered plants. In order to preserve the environment, joint expeditions are regularly carried out to the regions of the USA and the CIS countries.

Description of the forest park zone

The park covers a total area of 361 hectares. Of these, 52 hectares are allocated to the park area, the same amount is occupied by the reserved oak forest. Expositions are located on another 150.4 hectares. GBS RAS has a huge number of plants. The collections include the flora of all countries that were once part of the USSR, tropical and subtropical, cultivated and flower-decorative plants. In total, more than 8,000 forms and varieties, about 8,200 species, are collected here, and the total number of taxa is about 16,300 elements.

Structural and non-structural formations

The main botanical garden named after N. V. Tsitsina in Moscow includes departments:

dendrology;
flora;
ornamental plants;
plant protection;
tropical and subtropical plants;
distant hybridization;
cultivated plants;
implementation of the latest developments.

And labs:

plant biotechnology;
physiology and biochemistry;
landscape architecture;
plant physiology and immunity;
herbarium.

Also, the structural scientific division includes a branch located in the city of Cheboksary - the Cheboksary Botanical Garden.

Non-structural scientific subdivisions include the group of chemosystematics and evolutionary plant biochemistry. In addition, scientific support units have been organized in the botanical garden, including the Altai stronghold and other production services responsible for maintaining the garden and conducting research work. Since 1947, the scientific library has been operating, which is a department of the Library of Natural Sciences of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Schematic representation of the Main Botanical Garden named after N. V. Tsitsin

The layout of the GBS RAS is best seen on the map. Several entrances lead to the botanical garden from different sides:

main - from the street. Botanical;
from the hotel "Ostankino";
from the side of st. Komarova;
from the metro station - Vladykino station.

The following objects are numbered on the diagram:

arboretum;
reserved oak forest;
rose garden;
shady garden;
coastal plants;
continuously flowering plants;
exposition of plants of natural flora;
Japanese garden;
cultivated plants;
natural forest;
laboratory;
stock greenhouse;
new greenhouse.

Collection funds

On the area allotted for the Main Botanical Garden of Moscow, several expositions dedicated to different parts of the world have been recreated:

"Caucasus".
"European part of Russia".
"Middle Asia".
"Far East".
"Siberia".
"Useful Plants"

The greenhouse is a place where plants are grown and then delivered to all botanical gardens located on the territory of Russia and the USSR countries. The collection began with the orchid family: a little over 100 hybrids of Paphiopedilum and 120 Cattleya, 140 other orchid genera. All of them were brought from Germany in 1947. Today, the collection has expanded significantly, it has been supplemented with other types of plants. In total there are more than 1120 pieces. Of these, 300 hybrids and 222 subspecies and forms of orchids.

New greenhouse

Recently, the construction of a new greenhouse was completed within the Main Botanical Garden. The building is a structure, over 33 m high and about 9,000 m² in area. Several blocks are formed here, each of which meets certain climatic conditions. So, in the new greenhouse there are blocks "Wet forests", "Tropics" and "Subtropics". To create a naturalistic landscape, cascades of pools, rivers, waterfalls and reliefs were organized, trail systems were laid, artificial rocks and grottoes were formed. Here you can even make tropical fog and "cause" rain - all so that the plants develop in their usual conditions.

Interesting facts, or why you should visit the park

A unique opportunity to get acquainted with plants growing in our country and abroad.
Japan in Russia - cherries and azaleas grow in the Japanese garden, a gazebo is installed and there is a small pond. This is a great place for those who want to be alone with themselves.
Within the Main Botanical Garden. Tsitsina (GBS RAS) there is an opportunity to take a walk in the forest, in which a wide variety of trees grow, for example, catalpa, white locust, Japanese quince, North American thuja, hornbeam and much more.
Several reservoirs strewn with water lilies have been created here, near which it will be pleasant to relax.
In the greenhouse, which was already mentioned above, you can visit the tour. Who doesn't want to be in the tropics among the bustling metropolis?

It will be interesting to know that the Moscow Botanical Garden is a participant in many international exhibitions. GBS was awarded 30 diplomas, the collection of more than 100 gold, silver and bronze medals.

Other information

How to get to the botanical garden? GBS RAS is located on the street. Botanicheskaya, building 4. You need to take the metro to the VDNKh station, from there by trolley bus to the Botanichesky Sad stop. From the metro station "Vladykino" to the GBS RAS can be reached on foot.

And vegetation in general. However, in order to stop considering the capital of Russia exclusively as a stone jungle, it is enough to visit the Main Botanical Garden. What is the history of this unique organization and how to get on a tour here today?

Taking care of nature is necessary at any time!

The main botanical garden named after N.V. Tsitsin was founded in the capital on April 14, 1945. And this is no mistake - the official victory in the Great Patriotic War had not yet been won, but was already preoccupied with the issue of preserving and studying the plant world. The organization was unique for its time. From the moment the decision was made to create it, it was decided that the Main Botanical Garden of the USSR Academy of Sciences would become not only a place where plants would be collected and accumulated, but also actively explored. The organization immediately received the rank of a research institute of the first category. To create a garden, the Ostankino forest park massif was allocated - a picturesque place in which several small rivers flow, the total area of \u200b\u200bwhich is about 360 hectares.

Don't have time to travel around the world? Visit the botanical garden!

Landscape architects and botanists from all over the world worked on the creation of the Main Russia. The area chosen for growing the plant boasts a significant variety of soils. Thanks to this, it became possible to reproduce the flora of almost all continents of the Earth. Its modern name is the Main Botanical Garden. Tsitsin RAS was not accidental, the academician, whose name this unique organization bears today, was its permanent director for 36 years. To date, the collection consists of more than 17 thousand plants brought here from all over the world. At the same time, important scientific research is being carried out here and today.

Arboretum - the pride of the Main Garden of the country

On the territory of the Botanical Garden of the Russian Academy of Sciences there is a unique nature reserve - an array of natural forests, covering an area of about 50 hectares. Mostly it is a local oak, the age of many trees, according to scientists, is 100-200 years. The main botanical garden also boasts its own arboretum, which is located in its northern part. On the territory of about 7 5 hectares grow trees from all over the world. Many species could hardly endure the harsh Russian winters, but many years of work by botanists made it possible to identify and develop the most stable ecotypes. The research work carried out in the arboretum has made it possible to identify a significant number of species of trees and shrubs that are best suited for growing in our country. Today, these plants are successfully used for landscaping parks and gardens throughout Russia.

Many tourists come to the Main Botanical Garden of the Russian Academy of Sciences primarily to visit the Stock Greenhouse, where you can admire exotic plants from the tropics and the Japanese Garden all year round. But this is not all local attractions. Of considerable interest is the zone of ornamental plants. And the location of agricultural crops is one of the most unusual. Numerous varieties and hybrids of the same species grow very close. By visiting this exposition, you can significantly change your ideas about familiar vegetables and get a lot of interesting ideas for your own garden. In the zone of cultivated plants, one can clearly trace the process of cultivation, because in the neighborhood with the usual varieties of berries and vegetables “from the garden”, their wild relatives grow.

Up-to-date information for tourists

Everyone can visit the Main Botanical Garden named after N.V. Tsitsin from mid-spring to mid-autumn daily from 10.00 to 20.00. An entrance fee is charged for access to the territory of some expositions. You can view the Stock Greenhouse only as part of an organized excursion group by appointment. The main botanical garden offers excursion services when visiting other locations. When viewing the expositions in the company of a guide, you can not only admire but also learn a lot of new and interesting facts.

What to do in the botanical garden? Who will be interested in this tour?

The main botanical garden named after Tsitsina in Moscow is a great place for walking. Here you can walk all day, literally moving from one climate zone to another. Along the way, studying the tablets with the names of unknown plants and their brief description, you will learn a lot of interesting facts. Not so long ago, bicycle paths were laid on the territory of the garden. Now here you can not only enjoy walking, but also ride. The entire territory of this unusual protected area is ideal for photo shoots. But the Japanese Garden makes an absolutely incredible impression in the spring. At this time, sakura blossoms here, and this is a truly fantastic sight. How to get to the Main Botanical Garden of the Russian Academy of Sciences? The nearest metro station to the main entrance: "Vladykino". If you go out into the city in the direction of Botanicheskaya Street, you can walk. Ground transport runs from the VDNKh metro station to the botanical garden. These are trolleybuses: 9, 36, 73 or buses: 24, 85, 803.

December 17, 1968 For great services in the development of biological and agricultural sciences and in connection with the 70th anniversary of his birth, Tsitsin Nikolai Vasilyevich was awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor with the Order of Lenin and the Hammer and Sickle gold medal.

Nikolai Vasilyevich was a delegate to the XX Congress of the CPSU, a Deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of the 1st, 3rd and 4th convocations. In addition, Tsitsin was an honorary foreign member of eight foreign academies. He was elected president, chairman, member of a number of domestic and foreign scientific organizations. He led the Soviet-Indian Society for Friendship and Cultural Relations. He has published more than 700 scientific papers, including 46 books and brochures. He has eight copyright certificates for inventions. Many works have been published abroad.

Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR No. December 15, 1978 For great services in the development of biological and agricultural sciences and in connection with the 80th anniversary of his birth, Nikolai Tsitsin was awarded the Order of Lenin and the second gold medal "Hammer and Sickle".

Prominent scientist Nikolai Vasilievich Tsitsin died July 17, 1980 in Moscow. He was buried at the Novodevichy cemetery of the capital.

Nikolay Tsitsin's awards

Twice Hero of Socialist Labor (1968, 1978)

Seven Orders of Lenin

Order of the October Revolution (12/18/1973)

Order of the Red Banner of Labor (11/16/1939)

Medal "For Military Merit" (28.10.1967)

Lenin Prize (1978)

Stalin Prize of the second degree (1943)

Order of Agricultural Merit (France, 1959)

The memory of Nikolai Tsitsin

In Saratov, in the park on Rakhova Street, a bust was erected

Commemorative plaque on the House on the embankment in Moscow

Memorial plaque at the main building of the Main Botanical Garden named after N.V. Tsitsin RAS in Moscow

The main botanical garden of the country bears the name of its founder: Tsitsina.

17.07.1980

Tsitsin Nikolay Vasilievich

Russian Scientist

Doctor of Agricultural Sciences

Twice Hero of Socialist Labor

Nikolai Tsitsin was born on December 18, 1898 in the city of Saratov. The boy grew up in a poor peasant family. Having lost his father, due to the difficult financial situation, the mother gave her son to an orphanage. Kolya stayed there until 1912 and received his primary education, and then, in order to earn a living, he mastered many professions.

During the Civil War, Tsitsin joined the ranks of the Workers 'and Peasants' Red Army and soon became a military commissar, and since 1920 he was the head of the cultural department and a member of the provincial communications committee in Saratov.

Then, Tsitsin continued his education: first he studied at the school of working youth, and then entered the agronomic faculty of the Saratov Institute of Agriculture and Melioration, from which he graduated in 1927. Having received a diploma, he got a job at the Saratov Agricultural Experimental Station at the All-Union Institute of Grain Economy. It was this work and communication with famous breeders: Georgy Meister, Alexei Shekhurdin and Pyotr Konstantinov that determined the further scope of Nikolai Vasilievich's activity.

From the very beginning, the young scientist was interested in the problem of creating, on the basis of distant hybridization, more productive varieties of the country's main food crop: wheat. The research he carried out when crossing wild and cultivated plants made it possible to create new plant varieties with higher yields. Even then, Tsitsin successfully combined his fruitful scientific work, as well as his entire subsequent life, with public-organizational and state activities.

In 1932, he headed the laboratory of wheat-couch grass hybrids organized by him in Omsk, later reorganized into the Siberian Research Institute of Grain Economy. In 1938, Tsitsin was appointed director of the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition in Moscow, in the creation and operation of which he invested a lot of effort.

Nikolai Vasilyevich in the 1940s headed the Institute of Grain Economy in the Central Regions of the Non-Chernozem Zone. He was the chairman of the State Commission for Variety Testing of Agricultural Crops under the USSR Ministry of Agriculture and vice-president of the All-Union Academy of Agricultural Sciences of the USSR.

Under his leadership, on April 14, 1945, the Main Botanical Garden of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR was created, where he remained the permanent leader until the end of his life. Thanks to the efforts of Tsitsin, this botanical garden has become a methodological and coordinating center for scientific research conducted by all other botanical gardens in our country.

In subsequent years, Nikolai Vasilyevich was also chairman of the board of the Council of Botanical Gardens of the USSR Academy of Sciences and president and vice-president of the International Association of Botanical Gardens. At the same time, he continued his scientific work, being the head of the laboratory of distant hybridization of the Academy of Sciences of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the laboratory of wheat-couch grass hybrids of the Institute of Grain Economy of the Non-Chernozem Belt. The main works and researches of the scientist are devoted to distant hybridization of plants and are aimed at the development of Michurin's ideas in this area.

Tsitsin theoretically substantiated and practically proved the possibility of obtaining perennial wheat, his wheat-couch grass hybrids were especially widespread, which led to a significant increase in productivity. He also contributed to the development of the scientific foundations of plant acclimatization and the organization of introduction work in the country. Many of the conclusions and scientific developments of the scientist are widely used by breeders today.

Recognized as one of the largest gardens in Europe, the Main Botanical Garden. N.V. Tsitsin of the Russian Academy of Sciences is an institution of the Federal Agency for Scientific Organizations of Russia.

The decision to create it was made in 1945, immediately after Russia's victory in the Great Patriotic War. The garden was planned as a symbol of Russia's victory and the reign of peace on its territory. The name of Academician Tsitsin was given to the garden in 1991, for his services in the field of genetics, botany and breeding. Nikolai Vasilyevich himself was twice awarded the Order of the Hero of Labor. The academician led the garden for 35 years, from the very day of its foundation.

Modern garden funds include about 18 thousand different varieties of plants from all over the world. The garden covers an area of almost 332 hectares and is a national treasure of Russia. Employees and scientific staff of the garden carry out research work on the study and conservation of rare plant varieties. In addition, the Main Botanical Garden is also known for its educational activities: lectures and conferences dedicated to the wealth of the natural world of Russia.

The garden is also known for its achievements in the field of crop production and landscape architecture. On its territory, the basics of creating botanical gardens, as well as the secrets of hybridization and reproduction of rare species are being actively studied. The scientific staff is actively developing theories of creating completely new plant species and saving endangered ones.