Wolf Prize in Agriculture (1157 Pages)

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The Wolf Foundation began its activities in 1976, with an initial endowment fund

donated by the Wolf family. The Foundation’s founders and major donors were

Dr. Ricardo Subirana y Lobo Wolf and his wife Francisca. The annual income from

investments is used to award prizes and scholarships, as well as fund the operating

expenses of the Foundation.

One of the aims of the Wolf Foundation, as stated by the law is “to award

prizes to outstanding scientists and artists — irrespective of nationality, race, color,

religion, sex or political views — for achievements in the interest of mankind

and friendly relations among peoples” in the fields of agriculture, chemistry,

mathematics, medicine and the arts. The official prize award ceremony takes place

at the Knesset building (Israel’s Parliament) in Jerusalem and the President of the

State of Israel hands the awards to the winners. Through the years, the Wolf Prize

has become one of the most prestigious prizes. In agriculture, it is probably the

most highly esteemed prize in the world.

The list of laureates in agricultural sciences from 1978 to 2008 contains 41

scientists in fields such as genetics, bio-control, ecology, plant sciences, animal

breeding, soil chemistry and physics, and plant biochemistry. Because of  the

depletion in natural resources, agricultural development and human well-being

became one of the major concerns in the world. The Wolf Prize winners in the

field of agriculture are awarded for their remarkable innovative and pioneering

discoveries, development of new technologies and/or extraordinary contribution

to agricultural research, ecological conservation and food produce.

Now, at the end of 2008, there is an extremely high interest in agriculture, as

the concern of the world’s population is not only food supply but also alternative

sources of energy and neutraceuticals.

In this volume, we documented the Wolf  Prize winners’ bibliography,

curriculum vitae (CV), autobiographical accounts and/or reports on their work

and achievements by others, important papers, lectures and other relevant

information. We did our best to include the data of prize winners who are no

longer with us.

The diverse fields of interest of the laureates provide a unique overview of the

work done by exceptional scientists in different institutes around the world. I wish

to share with the readers some of the deliberations and excitement involved in

discovering novel ideas and approaches, and reassessing the old ones. In rare

disclosures, updated findings alongside their views and speculations on various

PREFACE

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Wolf Prize in Agriculture

subjects in agriculture are offered in this volume. I sincerely hope that the readers,

be they researchers, students, biotechnologists, or extension specialists, find the

following pages stimulating and exciting as I did.

I would like to thank my talented secretary Mrs. Nili Ben-Yehezkel for putting

this volume together with all of  her enthusiasm and devotion, and to the prize

winners and colleagues who helped in collecting the material for the volume.

I would also like to thank my publisher, World Scientific Publishing Co.,

especially Ms. Joy Quek, for her cooperation and assistance.

Ilan Chet

Rehovot, Israel

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1

ABOUT DR. JOHN CHARLES WALKER

Plant Pathologist

University of Wisconsin

This is a story of  a local industry and a Racine man. The industry is one of the

prime industries of Racine and Kenosha counties; the man has contributed more

basic knowledge to that industry here and throughout the world than any other

living person. This is the story of a man who attended Beebe grade school, Racine

High School, and graduated from the University of Wisconsin. Today he is world-

renowned in his field, a member of the National Academy of Science (membership

in this society is the highest recognition possible in the United States for scientific

research) and an honored member in many international scientific societies.

John Charles Walker, because of his inherent modesty, is hardly known in his

home town. He, who has contributed so very much toward the economic and

physical welfare of ourselves and the world, has never been formally recognized

by his fellow townspeople.

In the early 1800’s a few rugged individualists from Northern Europe

settled near Racine. These individuals founded the type of specialized agriculture

1893–1994

John C. Walker

University of Wisconsin

Madison, Wisconsin, USA

k

1978 — for his research in plant

pathology, developing of

disease-resistant varieties of

major food plants.

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Wolf Prize in Agriculture

for which Racine and the surrounding area has long been noted, namely the

production of truck crops — cabbage — onions — potatoes — etc.

About the time of the Civil War, Racine had become the major source of

supply for cabbage in the Midwest. In the middle 1800’s, Ben Bones operated

a farm just east of Lathrop Road, and south of Chicory Road. He found, in this

particular year, that he had a surplus of cabbage, more than could be marketed

through the local trade channels. Learning that the beer industry of St. Louis had

started using a refrigerated freight car to ship beer, Mr. Bones conceived the idea

of loading one of  these cars with cabbage and shipping this cabbage under

refrigeration to the German settlement of St. Louis. It is believed that this was the

first time that perishable produce was shipped under refrigeration. Two carloads

were shipped this first year which proved so profitable that Mr. Bones increased

his acreage the following year. Thus Wisconsin’s Cabbage Industry was born.

A disease (cabbage “yellows”) was noted in the area during the late 1800’s. It

was serious enough that the growers called a special meeting at the Berryville

School in 1890. Professor H. L. Russell, later Dean of the College of Agriculture,

was present at this meeting. The disease problem was discussed and reviewed but

nothing constructive was accomplished. By 1910, the disease was epidemic, resulting

in a complete crop failure. The Durand farm (now Case South Works) operated by

the Gunthers was replanted twice, and each time the crop died as a result of  this

new disease. Those who were fortunate enough to have a partial crop found yields

reduced to one or two tons per acre. Today, a yield of 30 tons per acre is not

exceptional.

Dr. L. R. Jones, a native of Wisconsin and a graduate of Ripon College, had

been teaching botany at Vermont. In 1910 the University of Wisconsin enticed

L. R. Jones to join its staff, and at the second cabbage meeting held at the Berryville

school, 1910, Dr. Jones was present. This time definite plans were made to learn

more about the disease, to get it under control if possible. All growers offered full

cooperation with Dr. Jones and the University. This disease had to be controlled, or

farmers would have to change to different crops, and the kraut packers would

have to move into an area in which the disease was not a factor.

A “cabbage sick” field of  1913. This field is

located just north of  Chickory Road and east

of  the North Shore tracks.

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