Dekaprelevich Leonard

Leonard Dekaprelevich [13 (25) July 1886, Tbilisi – 7 November 1981, Tbilisi] was a geneticist-breeder and a botanist. He was a corresponding member of the Georgian Academy of Sciences since 1944, earned a Doctorate in Agricultural Sciences in 1943, and became a professor in 1930.

In 1912, he graduated from the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics (Natural History Department) of Moscow University, and began his career at the Tbilisi Botanical Garden's Breeding Division—first as a junior specialist in 1914, and later as head of the division in 1916.

From 1929, he lectured at the Georgian Agricultural Institute, and from 1937 to 1973, he headed the Department of Genetics and Breeding there, later becoming its honorary chair and consultant.

Dekaprelevich’s scientific work primarily focused on the cultivated flora of the Transcaucasus, especially Georgia. In collaboration with N. Vavilov and P. Zhukovsky, he demonstrated that Georgia is one of the cradles of wheat and he identified the important role of traditional selection in improving this crop. Cultivation of the wheat started here about 5000 years ago.

He developed new varieties of wheat, corn, barley, and beans, and held eight patents. In 1973, he was awarded the N. Vavilov Prize.

Dekaprelevich also received several state awards.

Literary works: Роль Грузии в происхождении пшеницы, Тб., 1942; Виды, разновидности и сорта пшеницы Грузии, Тб., 1954.

Literature: ლეონარდ დეკაპრელევიჩი. ბიობიბლიოგრაფია, შემდგ. მ. ბარკავა, თბ., 1987.

G. Todua