Alexander Vladimirovich Kilchevsky (b. 17.08.1955, Gorki, Mogilev region), a scientist in the field of plant genomics. Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (2017; corresponding member since 2003), Doctor of Biological Sciences (1994), Professor (1995).
Well-known scientist in the field of genetics, genomics, biotechnology and plant breeding. Created in BSAA the country's first department of biotechnology, the largest biotechnology center in Belarus. He made a great contribution to the development of plant genomics. Conducted large-scale molecular genetic studies on the study of polymorphism of the source material of agricultural plants on a complex of signs. He developed methods for genetic certification of plant varieties based on molecular markers. Identified patterns of gene expression, determining economically valuable traits in various environmental conditions. Conducted research on the comparative genomics of solanaceous crops (tomato, pepper, eggplant, physalis), which allowed us to reveal the peculiarities of homologous variability in a number of ways at the molecular level. He developed methods of marker-related plant breeding and successfully applied them in practice (tomato, pepper, lupine, cabbage, corn, sugar beets, potatoes).
He made a significant contribution to the development of the ecological and genetic basis of plant breeding. Created a method for assessing the adaptive capacity and ecological stability of genotypes, the environment as a background for selection. For the first time, he carried out a systematic study of the problem of interaction between the genotype and the environment at all stages of selection, which made it possible to substantiate the principles of ecological optimization of the selection process. For the first time, he comprehensively studied the genetics of the accumulation of pollutants (nitrates, heavy metals, radionuclides) by vegetable cultures, and showed that by selecting genotypes with minimal removal of pollutants, their accumulation in production can be reduced by 2–5 times. Co-author of 25 tomato varieties zoned in Belarus and 3 - pepper.
Conducts a large scientific and organizational work. Carries out scientific management of the subprogram “Structural and Functional Genomics” of the State Scientific and Pedagogical Institute “Biotechnologies”, the subprograms “Innovative Biotechnologies - 2020” of the State Enterprise “High Technologies and Equipment”, the programs of the Union State “DNA Identification” Member of the Bureau and Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, Chairman of the Editorial and Publication Commission of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus.
Chairman of the Belarusian Society of Genetics and Breeders, National Coordinator of the European Biotechnology Association, Head of the National Contact Point for Food, Agriculture and Biotechnology in the EU Framework Program, member of the European Society of Genetics and Breeders, member of the Scientific Council of the VBFFI, member of the WAC Presidium, member Royal Society of Biologists of Great Britain, member of the editorial board of a number of journals (BioDiscovery, EuroBiotech Journal, Proceedings of the Latvian Academy of Sciences, Genetics, Ecological genetics, Vavilov Journal of Genetics and Breeding, etc.).
Repeatedly he was a member of the organizing committees and made presentations at international congresses of world and European level. He initiated the creation of the Republican Center for Genomic Biotechnology, the Republican DNA Bank (national property of the Republic of Belarus, 2016), the center for collective use "Genome" at the Institute of Genetics and Cytology of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus.
Author of more than 460 scientific papers, including 10 monographs, 4 textbooks, 28 certificates of the breeder, 1 patent for an invention. Initiator, co-editor and co-author of the 4-volume monograph “Genetic bases of plant breeding”, unique in the CIS. Prepared 2 doctors and 19 candidates of science.
Awarded with the Medal of Francisk Skaryna, Acknowledgment of the President of the Republic of Belarus, he is laureate of the Prize of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (1999, 2015), an excellent student of the Republic of Belarus. He was awarded with diplomas of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus, the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry, the Higher Attestation Commission, the BRFFI, and with medals named after N.I. Vavilov, S.I. Zhegalov. Honorary Professor of the University of Warmia-Mazury (Poland), Honorary Doctor of the Belarusian State Agricultural Academy. By order of the President of the Republic of Belarus he was awarded a personal allowance for outstanding contribution to the development of higher education.