THE PLACE OF IAROVIZATION IN PLANT BREEDING

Abstract

Editor's Note: Iarovisation (pronounced “Yarovization” and also referred to as Vernalization) was first discussed in this Journal a little over four years ago. Since that time a considerable amount of literature dealing with the genetic and physiological bases of the phenomenon, and with agricultural applications of the method in practice, have appeared in many languages. The term is now used sometimes rather loosely to include many biological processes involving the manipulation of such external elements as light, heat, and moisture. Recently iarovization seems to have itself undergone a “iarovization” at the hands of Soviet workers, who have expanded it to rather astonishing proportions. Mr. Bruman’s article was submitted for publication just a week before the announcement of the postponement (or cancellation) of the Seventh International Genetics Congress by the Soviet authorities. (Developments to date regarding the present status of the Congress and of Soviet genetics are the subject of a note else-where in this issue of the Journal.) As an aid to understanding the underlying inotivation, which has led the “iarovization geneticists” to brand “classical genetics” as a game like chess or football“, Mr. Bruman's summary of recent developments in the field is invaluable. It is left to the reader to reach his own conclusions as to the point at which such exact scientific measures as probable errors leave off, and where such intangibles as ”Marxian ideology“ begin to change the writings of the new iarovization school of genetics from true science to political special pleading. At this distance it is impossible to evaluate this point objectively, but it seems fairly obvious that the urge to produce a ”new genetics“ more in line with Marxian concepts must have been an element of some importance in the recent ”Renaissance of Iarovization“ in the Soviet Union.