The Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences decided to award professor Yakov Nikolaevich Demurin, the head of the biological research department of V.S. Pustovoit All-Russian Research Institute of Oil Crops, Doctor of Biology with the V.S. Pustovoit gold medal for the development and introduction of the concept of the genetic basis for sunflower breeding by economic characters. As a result of research carried out by Ya.N. Demurin, there were identified the mutations in the compositions of tocopherols and fatty acids in seeds; their genetic analysis was carried out and technological effects were evaluated, the oxidative stability of sunflower seed oil was increased by increasing its antioxidant potential; interlinear sunflower hybrids with improved oil quality have been received, the possibility of developing productive herbicide-resistant hybrids for new cultivation production systems has been theoretically substantiated, and such hybrids have also been developed.
Demurin Ya.N. is a leading scientist in the field of biochemical genetics of lipids and scientific foundations of sunflower breeding for oil quality by increasing the content of antioxidants in it. With his direct participation, for the first time in the world there were discovered, studied, and introduced in practical breeding the mutations in the composition of tocopherols in sunflower seeds. This work is pioneering for all oil crops.
Congratulations to Ya.N. Demurin!