Weed Science 2014 62:207–216 Vavilovian Mimicry: Nikolai Vavilov and His Little-Known Impact on Weed Science J. Scott McElroy* Nikolai Ivanovich Vavilov was an early 20th century Russian plant scientist who was killed by Joseph Stalin in 1943 for his adherence to basic genetic principles. Vavilov is well known within plant breeding and plant evolutionary biology circles, yet the science of Vavilov is just as important to the field of weed science. Specifically, Vavilov proposed that certain weeds adapted to weed control practices to survive in prehistorical agrarian societies. Most would refer to this adaption as crop mimicry, but the term ‘‘Vavilovian mimicry’’ is more apt. Vavilovian mimicry requires three factors: a model—the crop or desirable plant; a mimic—the weed; and an operator—the discriminating agent, possibly human, animal, or machine. In a modern context, it is proposed that weed adaptation to herbicide applications be included as a form of Vavilovian mimicry, with the acknowledgement that the operator is the herbicide. In this context, Vavilovian mimicry is the adaption of the weed mimic to be perceived by the operator as visually, physically, or biochemically indistinguishable from the crop model. This review will cover the history and legacy of Vavilov in a condensed version in the hope that weed scientists will hold this individual in high regard in our future endeavors and begin to acknowledge Vavilov as one of the first scientists to propose that weeds can mimic the attributes of crops. Key words: Adaptation, crop mimicry, evolution, herbicide resistance, Nikolai Vavilov, Vavilovian mimicry. In 2012 to 2013, at national scientific meetings I are often listed as the name of the All-Union posed a question to numerous weed and agronomic Institute headed by Vavilov), Vavilov was a leading scientist: ‘‘Are you familiar with the work of Nikolai world researcher in the field of plant breeding and Vavilov?’’ No one with whom I spoke could tell me genetics. If left to guide plant breeding research in who Nikolai Vavilov was—although many were the Soviet Union, modern-day Russia could be familiar with Vavilov’s nemesis Trofim Lysenko. quite different. Instead, the work of Vavilov was After a short survey of weed science–related discarded, and the world is poorer for it. Stalin and textbooks, the only citations of Vavilov were in his crony pseudoscientists systematically intimidat- Holzner and Numata (1982) and the works of Jack ed, imprisoned, starved, and killed scientists, all for R. Harlan. Other prominent weed science textbooks political control of scientific knowledge. Nikolai such as Zimdahl (2007) and Radosevich et al. Vavilov died due to the harsh conditions of his (1997) mention the work of Vavilov indirectly, but imprisonment on January 26, 1943. He was do not specifically mention Vavilov. To be fair, imprisoned because being on the right side of until a few years earlier I myself had never heard of science left him on the wrong side of Joseph Stalin. Vavilov until I stumbled on to the book The Murder The story of Nikolai Vavilov is important for of Nikolai Vavilov (Pringle 2008). Pringle (2008) numerous reasons. His story illustrates the danger- tells the story of one of the most brilliant biologists ous mixture of politics and science that can pervert who ever existed, a story that few people have ever scientific research and stall technological advance- heard because in postczarist Russia, Joseph Stalin ment (Roll-Hansen 2005). His story is inspirational virtually exterminated legitimate science, replacing because throughout his persecution he remained world-renowned scientists with working-class, self- dedicated to his country as a scientist, and even in taught pseudoscientists. As a plant breeder and plant the face of certain death in a Soviet prison he geneticist and head of his All-Union Institute of remained an inspiration to prisoners around him. Botany and Applied Cultures (other similar names The story of Vavilov illustrates the importance of free speech and expression in the scientific commu- nity. For the weed science community, it is the DOI: 10.1614/WS-D-13-00122.1 * Associate Professor, Department of Crop, Soil, and overlooked discoveries and theories of weed adap- Environmental Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL tation to cropping systems that need to be 36849. Corresponding author’s E-mail: [email protected] rediscovered and acknowledged. McElroy: Vavilovian mimicry N 207 Downloaded from https://www.cambridge.org/core. IP address: 170.106.35.76, on 26 Sep 2021 at 19:56:00, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use, available at https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms. https://doi.org/10.1614/WS-D-13-00122.1 throughout the world, while at the time the Soviet Union was becoming more isolated (Crow 1993). Vavilov had created a comprehensive plant breeding and genetics program to rival any other in the world and he did it by not being closed off to the world but by being open to all discoveries and ideas that all had to offer (Medvedev 1970). But in the Stalinist-led Soviet Union, scientists affiliated with persons outside the country were seen as possible conspirators against the government (Crow 1993; Medvedev 1970). Vavilov was frequently labeled a traitor and spy for foreign governments plotting to destroy the Soviet Union by not producing improved varieties of crops fast enough, thus prolonging famines and starvation. Trofim Lysenko was a self-taught crop scientist who garnered attention as an opponent of Vavilov. Lysenko used political posturing, bold promises that could not be delivered upon, and absolute lies to destroy scientific research in the Soviet Union beginning in the 1930s (Crow 1993; Medvedev 1970; Roll-Hansen 2005). Lysenko dismissed the dominant scientific theories of the day proposed by Mendel, Darwin, and Morgan, such as basic heredity, chromosome theory, and the existence Figure 1. Nikolai Ivanovich Vavilov. November 25, 1887– of mutations (Medvedev 1970). Lysenko and his January 26, 1943. (Image provided by N.I. Vavilov Research Lysenkoists created theories based on Lamarckism, Institute of Plant Industry, St. Petersburg, Russia.) which stated that environmental factors experienced by an organism could be passed off to the offspring Nikolai Vavilov and His Nemesis Trofim (Crow 1993). Building upon Lamarckism, Lysen- Lysenko: Historical Context koists had to develop a new doctrine to replace mutation and chromosome theory. To Lysenko, the It is impossible to discuss the science of Vavilov hereditary unit of a plant was the cell itself. Lysenko without first discussing the historical context in believed that by subjecting the cell to a given which Vavilov worked. Vavilov was born in 1887 environment one could change the plant into a and rose to prominence as a scientist in the mid- more fit variety or plant type (Crow 1993). Lysenko 1920s to lead the All-Union Institute of Botany and theorized that there were certain points in the life of Applied Cultures in the Soviet Union (Figure 1). a plant in which the environment was ‘‘assimilated’’ Vavilov was well connected throughout the world into a plant’s heredity (Medvedev 1970). But at with scientists such as William Bateson and other periods in the life history, a plant would not Hermann Joseph Muller, and incorporated the be influenced by environmental stimuli. Lysenko work of non-Russian scientists into his work— proposed that the stress itself actually caused including the work of Gregor Mendel, Charles changes that would lead to greater stress tolerance Darwin, and Thomas Hunt Morgan (Crow 1993). in plants. As an illustration of this ignorance, Soyfer Vavilov was in no way controversial in his scientific (1989) presents a picture dated 1948, which shows views. He was at the forefront in the mainstream of Lysenko boldly claiming he had even used this scientific thought in the area of genetics and plant method to change Triticum spp. (wheat) into Secale breeding during his career. Vavilov served as vice cereale L. (rye). It must be noted that Lysenko’s president to the 1932 XI International Genetics ideas fit well into political thought at the time, as Conference held in Ithaca, NY, and was elected the Communists held that if Communism created a president of the 1939 XII International Genetics better environment for the people then the people Conference held in Edinburgh, Scotland. Vavilov themselves would improve, and that these improve- saw value in integrating scientific ideas from ments would then be passed on to subsequent 208 N Weed Science 62, April–June 2014 Downloaded from https://www.cambridge.org/core. IP address: 170.106.35.76, on 26 Sep 2021 at 19:56:00, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use, available at https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms. https://doi.org/10.1614/WS-D-13-00122.1 generations (Roll-Hansen 2005), the correlation Cultivated Plants, comprising 25 separate manu- being that Marxism improves the people just as the scripts. The compilation of the Russian version of conditions in which a plant is grown change the these manuscripts was published in 1987 on the plant and the subsequent plant generations. Inter- 100th anniversary of Vavilov’s birth. The English estingly, Mendelian genetics was seen as anticom- version was published in 1992. As a matter of munist in the Soviet Union at the time and the convenience, this manuscript is cited as ‘‘Vavilov contention between Western and Soviet science over 1992, page number’’ to allow for ease of reference to Mendelian genetics is an example of one of the first this book. propaganda battles of the Cold War (Wolfe 2011). The downfall of Nikolai Vavilov occurred By knowing the past, looking at elements from throughout the 1930s, with the final blow from which crops developed and gathering cultivated Trofim Lysenko occurring in 1935 to 1938, which plants in the ancient centers of agriculture, we led to Vavilov’s eventual death in 1943 (Crow hope to learn soon how to control the historic 1993; Medvedev 1970; Soyfer 1989).