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'''Daniel Israel Arnon''' (November 14, 1910 – December 20, 1994)<ref name="Who's Who">{{cite book|title=Who Was Who in America (1993-1996)|year=1996|publisher=Marquis Who's Who|location=New Providence, N.J.|isbn=0837902258|page=9|chapter=Arnon, Daniel I(srael)|chapter-url-access=registration|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/whowaswhoinameri11marq}}</ref> was a [[Poland|Polish-born]] American [[Plant physiology|plant physiologist]] whose research led to greater insights into the operation of [[photosynthesis]] and [[Plant nutrition|nutrition]] in [[plants]]. In the first part of his professional career, the so-called "Plant Nutrition Years (1936-1950)", Arnon and collaborators discovered the essentiality of [[molybdenum]] for the growth of all plants and of [[vanadium]] for the growth of [[green algae]]. In the second one, the so-called "Photosynthesis Period (1951-1978)", plant [[micronutrient]] work led him to photosynthesis, where in 1954 he discovered [[photophosphorylation]].
'''Daniel Israel Arnon''' (November 14, 1910 – December 20, 1994)<ref name="Who's Who">{{cite book|title=Who Was Who in America (1993-1996)|year=1996|publisher=Marquis Who's Who|location=New Providence, N.J.|isbn=0837902258|page=9|chapter=Arnon, Daniel I(srael)|chapter-url-access=registration|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/whowaswhoinameri11marq}}</ref> was a [[Poland|Polish-born]] American [[Plant physiology|plant physiologist]] whose research led to greater insights into the operation of [[photosynthesis]] and [[Plant nutrition|nutrition]] in [[plants]]. In the first part of his professional career, the so-called "Plant Nutrition Years (1936-1950)", Arnon and collaborators discovered the essentiality of [[molybdenum]] for the growth of all plants and of [[vanadium]] for the growth of [[green algae]]. In the second one, the so-called "Photosynthesis Period (1951-1978)", plant [[micronutrient]] work led him to photosynthesis, where in 1954 he discovered [[photophosphorylation]].<ref name=NAP/> Arnon served as president of the [[American Society of Plant Physiologists]] from 1952 to 1953.<ref name=NYTObit/>


==Early life and education==
==Early life and education==
Line 25: Line 25:


==Career==
==Career==
⚫
Some of Arnon's earliest research focused on growing plants in nutrient-enriched water rather than [[soil]]. Together with his supervisor Dennis Hoagland, he further developed the [[Hoagland solution]] which was published in modified form as Hoagland's solution (1, 2) in 1938. It was further revised by Arnon in 1950.
Arnon became Assistant Professor in 1941 and Associate Professor of [[cell physiology]] at the [[University of California]] in 1946.


Arnon became Assistant Professor in 1941<ref name="Nickelsen">{{cite book |last1=Nickelsen |first1=Kärin |title=Explaining Photosynthesis: Models of Biochemical Mechanisms, 1840-1960 |date=June 17, 2015 |publisher=Springer |location=Heidelberg, New York, London |pages=263-266 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XOfyCQAAQBAJ&pg=PA263 |access-date=12 October 2021}}</ref> and Associate Professor of [[cell physiology]] at the [[University of California]] in 1946.
⚫
Some of his earliest research focused on growing plants in nutrient-enriched water rather than [[soil]]. Together with his supervisor he further developed the [[Hoagland solution]] which was published in modified form as Hoagland's solution (1, 2) in 1938 and revised by Arnon in 1950.


During [[World War II]], Arnon served as a major in the Army Air Corps of the [[United States Army]] and was sent to the [[Asiatic-Pacific Theater|Pacific Theater of Operations]]. There he used his prior experience with plant nutrition on [[Pohnpei|Ponape Island]], where there was no [[arable land]] available. He was able to grow food to feed the troops stationed there using gravel and nutrient-enriched water.<ref name=NYTObit>Sullivan, Walter. [https://www.nytimes.com/1994/12/23/obituaries/daniel-arnon-84-researcher-and-expert-on-photosynthesis.html "Daniel Arnon, 84, Researcher And Expert on Photosynthesis"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', December 23, 1994. Accessed July 18, 2010.</ref>
During [[World War II]], Arnon served as a major in the Army Air Corps of the [[United States Army]] and was sent to the [[Asiatic-Pacific Theater|Pacific Theater of Operations]]. There he used his prior experience with plant nutrition on [[Pohnpei|Ponape Island]], where there was no [[arable land]] available. He was able to grow food to feed the troops stationed there using gravel and nutrient-enriched water.<ref name=NYTObit>{{cite news |last1=Sullivan |first1=Walter |title=Daniel Arnon, 84, Researcher And Expert on Photosynthesis |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/12/23/obituaries/daniel-arnon-84-researcher-and-expert-on-photosynthesis.html |access-date=12 October 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=December 23, 1994}}</ref>


After returning from military service, Arnon performed research on [[chloroplast]]s and their role in the photosynthesis process. His work was able to demonstrate how energy from sunlight is used to form [[adenosine triphosphate]], the energy transport messenger within living cells, by adding a third phosphorus group to [[adenosine diphosphate]]. In 1954, Arnon reproduced the process in a laboratory, making him the first to successfully demonstrate the chemical function of photosynthesis, producing sugar and starch from inputs of carbon dioxide and water.<ref>Laurence, William L. [https://www.nytimes.com/1954/12/30/archives/sun-is-harnessed-to-create-food-science-team-on-the-coast.html "SUN IS HARNESSED TO CREATE FOOD; Science Team on the Coast Duplicates Photosynthesis Outside Plants' Cells"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', December 30, 1954. Accessed July 18, 2010.</ref>
After returning from military service, Arnon performed research with [[Mary Belle Allen]] and [[F. Robert Whatley]] on [[chloroplast]]s and their role in [[photosynthesis]], identifying a process which they named "[[photophosphorylation|photosynthetic phosphorylation]]".<ref name="Nickelsen"/> In this and later work, Arnon demonstrated how energy from sunlight is used to form [[adenosine triphosphate]], the energy transport messenger within living cells, by adding a third phosphorus group to [[adenosine diphosphate]]. In 1954, Arnon reproduced the process in a laboratory, making him the first to successfully demonstrate the chemical function of photosynthesis, producing sugar and starch from inputs of carbon dioxide and water.<ref name="Laurence">{{cite news |last1=Laurence |first1=William L. |title=Sun is harnessed to create food; Science Team on the Coast Duplicates Photosynthesis Outside Plants' Cells |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1954/12/30/archives/sun-is-harnessed-to-create-food-science-team-on-the-coast.html |access-date=12 October 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=December 30, 1954}}</ref>


Arnon served as the [[editor-in-chief|editor]] of the ''Annual Review of Plant Physiology'' (now the ''[[Annual Review of Plant Biology]]'') for 1956.<ref name="preface 10">{{Cite journal|date=1959|title=Preface by L. Machlis|url=http://www.annualreviews.org/doi/10.1146/annurev.pp.10.093004.100001|journal=Annual Review of Plant Physiology|language=en|volume=10|issue=1|pages=annurev.pp.10.093004.100001|doi=10.1146/annurev.pp.10.093004.100001|issn=0066-4294}}</ref>
Arnon served as the [[editor-in-chief|editor]] of the ''Annual Review of Plant Physiology'' (now the ''[[Annual Review of Plant Biology]]'') for 1956.<ref name="preface 10">{{Cite journal|date=1959|title=Preface by L. Machlis|url=http://www.annualreviews.org/doi/10.1146/annurev.pp.10.093004.100001|journal=Annual Review of Plant Physiology|language=en|volume=10|issue=1|pages=annurev.pp.10.093004.100001|doi=10.1146/annurev.pp.10.093004.100001|issn=0066-4294}}</ref>

Revision as of 16:03, 12 October 2021

Daniel Israel Arnon
Born(1910-11-14)November 14, 1910
Warsaw, Poland
DiedDecember 20, 1994(1994-12-20) (aged 84)
Berkeley, California, US
Alma materUniversity of California, Berkeley
AwardsNational Medal of Science
Scientific career
FieldsPlant physiology
InstitutionsUniversity of California, Berkeley
Doctoral advisorDennis Robert Hoagland

Daniel Israel Arnon (November 14, 1910 – December 20, 1994)[1] was a Polish-born American plant physiologist whose research led to greater insights into the operation of photosynthesis and nutrition in plants. In the first part of his professional career, the so-called "Plant Nutrition Years (1936-1950)", Arnon and collaborators discovered the essentiality of molybdenum for the growth of all plants and of vanadium for the growth of green algae. In the second one, the so-called "Photosynthesis Period (1951-1978)", plant micronutrient work led him to photosynthesis, where in 1954 he discovered photophosphorylation.[2] Arnon served as president of the American Society of Plant Physiologists from 1952 to 1953.[3]

Early life and education

Arnon was born on November 14, 1910, in Warsaw, Poland, to a Jewish family. Summers spent on the family's farm helped foster Arnon's interest in agriculture. His father had lost the family's food wholesale business after World War I. Arnon's readings of the works of Jack London, which mentioned scientific agriculture, led him to save his money and apply to university in California.[2]

Arnon enrolled in the University of California, Berkeley, from Poland, and would spend his entire professional career at the school, until his retirement in 1978.[2] He earned his Bachelor's degree in 1932 and his Ph.D. in plant physiology in 1936 at UC Berkeley under Dennis R. Hoagland.[3]

Career

Some of Arnon's earliest research focused on growing plants in nutrient-enriched water rather than soil. Together with his supervisor Dennis Hoagland, he further developed the Hoagland solution which was published in modified form as Hoagland's solution (1, 2) in 1938. It was further revised by Arnon in 1950.

Arnon became Assistant Professor in 1941[4] and Associate Professor of cell physiology at the University of California in 1946.

During World War II, Arnon served as a major in the Army Air Corps of the United States Army and was sent to the Pacific Theater of Operations. There he used his prior experience with plant nutrition on Ponape Island, where there was no arable land available. He was able to grow food to feed the troops stationed there using gravel and nutrient-enriched water.[3]

After returning from military service, Arnon performed research with Mary Belle Allen and F. Robert Whatley on chloroplasts and their role in photosynthesis, identifying a process which they named "photosynthetic phosphorylation".[4] In this and later work, Arnon demonstrated how energy from sunlight is used to form adenosine triphosphate, the energy transport messenger within living cells, by adding a third phosphorus group to adenosine diphosphate. In 1954, Arnon reproduced the process in a laboratory, making him the first to successfully demonstrate the chemical function of photosynthesis, producing sugar and starch from inputs of carbon dioxide and water.[5]

Arnon served as the editor of the Annual Review of Plant Physiology (now the Annual Review of Plant Biology) for 1956.[6]

Awards

In 1961 Arnon was elected to the National Academy of Sciences, in 1962 to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and in 1974 to the Leopoldina.

In 1973, he was awarded the National Medal of Science for "his fundamental research into the mechanism of green plant utilization of light to produce chemical energy and oxygen and for contributions to our understanding of plant nutrition."

The Arnon Lecture has been held annually at UC Berkeley since 2000 in early March in honour of the late Professor Daniel I. Arnon. Speakers have made significant contributions to photosynthesis or a related field and are selected by the Arnon Lecture Committee.

Family

A resident of Kensington, California, Arnon died at age 84 on December 20, 1994, in Berkeley, California, of complications resulting from cardiac arrest. He had three daughters and two sons. His wife, the former Lucile Soulé, died in 1986.[3]

References

  1. ^ "Arnon, Daniel I(srael)". Who Was Who in America (1993-1996). New Providence, N.J.: Marquis Who's Who. 1996. p. 9. ISBN 0837902258.
  2. ^ a b c Buchanan, Bob B. (2001). "Daniel I. Arnon: November 14, 1910 — December 20, 1994". Biographical Memoirs (PDF). Vol. 80. Washington, DC: National Academies Press. pp. 3–20. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d Sullivan, Walter (December 23, 1994). "Daniel Arnon, 84, Researcher And Expert on Photosynthesis". The New York Times. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  4. ^ a b Nickelsen, Kärin (June 17, 2015). Explaining Photosynthesis: Models of Biochemical Mechanisms, 1840-1960. Heidelberg, New York, London: Springer. pp. 263–266. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  5. ^ Laurence, William L. (December 30, 1954). "Sun is harnessed to create food; Science Team on the Coast Duplicates Photosynthesis Outside Plants' Cells". The New York Times. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  6. ^ "Preface by L. Machlis". Annual Review of Plant Physiology. 10 (1): annurev.pp.10.093004.100001. 1959. doi:10.1146/annurev.pp.10.093004.100001. ISSN 0066-4294.

External links

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