The inspiring scientists who saved the world’s first seed bank
During the siege of Leningrad, botanists in charge of an irreplaceable seed collection had to protect it from fire, rodents – and hunger
Somewhere in the sky above, the mosquito drone of a plane’s propeller neared. Since Abram Kameraz had begun to commute by train from Leningrad (now St Petersburg) to the suburban town of Pavlovsk earlier in the summer of 1941, attacks by enemy planes had become a frequent cause of delay. Through the carriage window, Kameraz saw the road was littered with bodies. These men, women and children had been killed by German planes which had strafed and bombed the crowds of refugees as they fled towards the city. As Kameraz caught the silhouette of a German Stuka cresting the horizon, the driver stopped the train and ordered the passengers to run to a nearby ditch for cover.
Kameraz, 36, was a potato specialist, one of about 50 botanists who worked at the Plant Institute, the world’s first seed bank, situated off St Isaac’s Square in the centre of Leningrad. The institute’s potato collection contained 6,000 varieties, including many rare cultivars – the largest, most diverse potato collection yet gathered in history, a crop of inestimable scientific importance. And right now, hundreds of delicate South American specimens were planted in sheds in the fields on the outskirts of the city, in the path of the advancing German army.
Continue reading...Topics
-
Politicians not ambitious enough to save nature, say scientists
World - Yahoo News - November 2 -
‘Not just a museum’: Kenya’s seed bank offers unexpected lifeline for farmers
World - The Guardian - October 31 -
The Rebellious Scientist Who Made Kamala Harris
Health - The New York Times - November 6 -
Scientists say biggest coral in the world discovered in the Pacific
Top stories - CBS News - November 14 -
Third of world's tree species slide towards extinction, say scientists
Top stories - BBC News - October 28 -
Trout vs. Harper in October? No Astros title in 2017? What if every World Series was between No. 1 seeds?
Sports - ESPN - November 12 -
World Series 2024: Yankees win the first of a potential four games in a row as they look to do the impossible — 'Who doesn't wanna make history?'
Sports - Yahoo Sports - October 30 -
JPMorgan’s Chase UK bank launches first credit card
Business - Financial Times - 2 days ago -
'Penguin Bandit' who robbed multiple banks sentenced to 13 years in prison
Top stories - NBC News - October 22
More from The Guardian
-
US and Israel reject ICC warrant for Netanyahu’s arrest – Middle East live
World - The Guardian - 34 minutes ago -
Police report details sexual assault allegations against Pete Hegseth
World - The Guardian - 4 hours ago -
Ukraine claims Russia fired intercontinental ballistic missile at Dnipro
World - The Guardian - 5 hours ago -
First close-up image of a star outside Milky Way shows supergiant in ‘cocoon’
World - The Guardian - 2 hours ago -
Son of woman killed by IRA condemns ‘cruel’ Disney series
World - The Guardian - 5 hours ago