National Academy of Sciences of Belarus

GODNEV Tikhon Nikolaevich

GODNEV Tikhon Nikolaevich

Tikhon Nikolaevich Godnev (05.04.1893, Zadonsk, Lipetsk region, Russia – 29.10.1982), plant physiologist and biochemist. Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (1940; Corresponding Member since 1936), Doctor of Biological Sciences (1935), Professor (1926). Honored Scientist of the BSSR (1944).

He put forward ideas on the formation of chlorophyll through mono-pyrol and porphyrin leukosoedineniya, on a single process for the synthesis of chlorophyll and heme from carbohydrates, on a relatively constant amount of chlorophyll per unit volume of chloroplast. Proved that chlorophyll's precursor, protochlorophyllide, first turned it into chlorophyll in the dark. Investigated the state of photosynthetic pigments in ontogenesis depending on the light and temperature conditions.

Published more than 300 scientific papers, incl. 4 monographs.

The Prize named after K.A. Timiryazev of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR (1967) for the monograph "Chlorophyll. Its structure and formation in the plant".

Awarded with the Order of Lenin (1951, 1961), the Red Banner of Labor (1944, 1949), the "Badge of Honor" (1940), and medals.

Major papers:

  1. Строение хлорофилла и методы его количественного определения. Мн.: Изд-во АН БССР, 1952.
  2. Хлорофилл. Его строение и образование в растении. Мн.: Изд-во АН БССР, 1963.
  3. Вопросы биосинтеза хлорофилла и каротиноидов // Биохимия и биофизика фотосинтеза. М., 1965 (в соавт.).