This article presents a comprehensive historical and scientific analysis of the contribution of women scientists – members of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine such as I. O. Dudka, E. L. Kordyum and L. I. Musatenko – in the development of botanical science and the establishment and functioning of the M. G. Kholodny Institute of Botany of the NAS of Ukraine as a leading scientific institution. The aim of the work is to summarize their scientific achievements, outline the main areas of research and highlight the role of these researchers in the formation of scientific schools and traditions of the institution.

The research methodology is based on the principles of historicism, objectivity, systematicity, and comprehensive analysis of the problem. General scientific and historical methods of scientific research were applied – biographical, problem-chronological, objectivity, systematicity, analysis, and synthesis.

It is shown that I. O. Dudka's scientific activities were focused on problems of systematics, ecology, geography, evolution of fungi, as well as on the development of applied mycology. She has made a significant contribution to the studies of biodiversity of mushrooms in Ukraine, became the founder of a new scientific direction in myconeustonology, as well as the initiator of research of biotechnology for the cultivation of edible mushrooms. Scientific achievements of E. L. Kordyum cover a wide range of fundamental problems of cellular biology, embryology of plants, evolution and space biology. Shown is her decisive role in the formation of space phytobiology, research on the influence of microgravity on cellular structure and the formation of a scientific school of gravitational microbiology. Research by L. I. Musatenko focused on the physiology of growth and development of plants, regulatory mechanisms of cellular metabolism and the role of phytohormones in ontogenesis processes. She developed conceptual approaches to studying the hormonal regulations of growth processes, initiated new directions of research in the field of phytohormonology and contributed to the development of applied aspects of the use of biologically active substances.

It is summarized that the scientific achievements of these researchers have fundamental and applied significance, determining the development of modern botany and related biological disciplines, as well as provide continuity of the scientific traditions of the M. G. Kholodny Institute of Botany of the NAS of Ukraine. Their activities are an important factor in the formation of national scientific schools and the integration of Ukrainian science into the world’s scientific space.

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