Agricultural specialist, doctor of biology, university professor, corresponding member of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova, Knight of the Order of "Glory of Labor". He was born on May 1, 1940, in the village of Scorțeni, Telenești district. He died on February 25, 2021, in Chișinău.
After graduating from the seven-year school in his native village (1954), he studied at the Agricultural Technical School in Cucuruzeni, Orhei district, which he graduated with honors (1958). He completed his university studies (1959-1964) at the Faculty of Agronomy of the Agricultural Institute in Chisinau (today, the Faculty of Agricultural, Forestry and Environmental Sciences at the Technical University of Moldova). He was a doctoral student at the Academy of Sciences of Moldova (ASM), Plant Genetics Section (1965-1968). In 1970, he defended his doctoral thesis in agricultural sciences at the Institute of Genetics of the ASM and in 1984, his habilitated doctorate, at the Ukrainian Scientific Research Institute in Phytotechnics, Breeding and Genetics "V. Iuriev" in Kharkov.
He followed internships at the Department of Genetics (1976) of the Leningrad Agricultural Institute (today, the St. Petersburg State Agrarian University), then at the Department of Genetics (1986) of the Leningrad State University (today, the St. Petersburg State University).
He began his professional activity as an agronomist in the "Kalinin" collective farm in his native village, Scorțeni, Telenești district (1958-1959), then he was the chief agronomist in the "Întăi Mai" collective farm, Mașcăuți village, Dubăsari district (1964). He completed his military service in 1964-1965, after which he was employed as a junior scientific researcher in the Plant Genetics Section of the Academy of Agricultural Sciences (1968-1971), senior scientific researcher in the same section (1971-1974), head of the Laboratory "Corn Breeding for Grain Quality" within the Scientific Association for Production "Hybrid" (v. Porumbeni, rn. Criuleni, 1974-1975), where he also does research for his doctorate thesis.
He is an associate professor (1975-1986) at the Department of Seed Breeding and Production of the Agricultural Institute of Chisinau. In 1986 he was elected to the position of university professor at the same department, being the holder of courses in general genetics, evolutionism and special plant breeding. He is the vice-dean of the Faculty of Agronomy (1984-1988) and dean (1989-2006), head of the Department of Breeding, Genetics and Biotechnology of Agricultural Crops (1989-2001 and 2006-2012), head of the department (2012-2013) and professor at the Department of Plant Biology (2013-2021) of the State Agrarian University of Moldova. Genetics, breeding and biotechnology of agricultural plants remain his priorities in the field of scientific interest, and general genetics, plant breeding, evolutionism and organic farming are priority directions in teaching.
He has carried out important investigations in the conditions of Moldova and the Krasnodar Territory of the Russian Federation on the genetic control and practical use of different types and sources of cytoplasmic male sterility in corn. Since 1968, he has been focused on research on the application of genetic variability in the process of corn breeding for grain quality. In collaboration, he created a collection of about 400 analogues (inbred lines), which are used in genetics and corn grain quality improvement programs both in Moldova and abroad. This research was completed with the creation and homologation of six special corn hybrids.
In 2008, he initiated a new program of research on the expression of the opaque-2 mutation at the tetraploid level, selecting biologically pure diploid and tetraploid forms, homozygous and heterozygous
for the opaque-2 and floury-2 genes. Subsequent studies determined the nutritional value of the protein. Thus, the corn germplasm collection was enriched with new material at both levels: diploid and tetraploid. Thanks to the collaboration with the Institute of Plant Technology "V. Iuriev" in Kharkov (Ukraine), 28 inbred lines carrying the o2, su2 and wx1 genes were obtained, included in tetraploidy induction experiments, in order to research the action and interaction of endosperm genes at the tetraploid level, this being a new approach both in the Republic of Moldova and worldwide.
His prodigious scientific activity devoted to the delimitation, argumentation and recognition of new grain varieties resulted in: eight corn hybrids, two winter durum wheat varieties and two soybean varieties approved in the Republic of Moldova.
The results of his research can be found in about 300 works, including the monograph "Genetic aspects of improving the quality of corn grains" (1989), three textbooks and 47 methodological works. In 1998, he edited the first Romanian-language textbook on "Genetics" in the Republic of Moldova.
Andrei Palii has published his contributions in publishing houses in Moldova, Romania, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Hungary, USA, Greece, Yugoslavia, Japan, etc.
He participated in various national and international congresses and conferences.
He trained scientific and didactic staff, coordinating the theses of 10 doctors of science and two habilitation doctors.
He was a member of the International Academy of Ecological Sciences and Life Security in St. Petersburg (1998), academician of the International Academy in the Field of Agrarian Education in Moscow (2000), corresponding member (since 2007) of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova (ASM). Doctor honoris causa of the University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine "Ion Ionescu de la Brad" in Iași (2012).
He was a member of several national and international scientific societies:
- member of the National Council for Accreditation and Attestation;
- member of the National Council for the Award of the National Prize;
- member of the National Council for Plant Varieties;
- member of the National Commission for Biological Safety;
- president and member of the Specialized Scientific Council of the Institute of Genetics, Physiology and Plant Protection;
- president of the Specialized Scientific Council of the "D. Cantemir" University of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova;
- vice-president of the Society of Geneticists and Breeders of Moldova.
His long-term activity in the agricultural field, contributions to the development of genetics and plant improvement, especially corn cultivation, remarkable successes were recognized and appreciated with the Medal "Civic Merit" (1993), the National Prize in Science and Technology (2004), the Order "Gloria Muncii" (2005), the Medal "D. Cantemir" (2010), the ASM Prize for Valuable Scientific Achievements (2015), the Medal "70 years since the creation of the first research institutions and 55 years since the founding of the ASM" (2016).
See also the article in "National Calendar 2015". – Chișinău, 2015. – P. 180-181.
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