Pierre-Marie-Alexis Millardet

Pierre-Marie-Alexis Millardet
Born 13 December 1838
Montmirey-la-Ville
Died 15 December 1902 (1902-12-16) (aged 64)
Bordeaux
Nationality France
Fields botany and mycology
Institutions Strasbourg
Alma mater Heidelberg
Freiberg
Known for Phylloxera
Influenced Jules Émile Planchon
Notable awards 1893 Prix Morogues[1][2]

Pierre-Marie-Alexis Millardet (13 December 1838 15 December 1902) was a French botanist and mycologist born in Montmirey-la-Ville.

He was a student at the Universities of Heidelberg and Freiberg, and later became a professor of botany at the Universities of Strasbourg (1869), Nancy (1872), and Bordeaux (1876).

Millardet is chiefly remembered for his work dealing with plant pests. In the 1860s the vineyards of France were infested by the destructive Phylloxera, an aphid-like pest inadvertently introduced to Europe from the United States. Millardet and fellow botanist Jules Émile Planchon (1823-1888) controlled the infestation by using American grape vines that were resistant to Phylloxera as grafting stock.

He was also responsible for protecting grape vineyards from downy mildew fungus (Plasmopara viticola). He accomplished this feat by implementing a fungicide consisting of hydrated lime, copper sulfate and water, a mixture that was to become known as the "Bordeaux mixture". It was the first fungicide to be used worldwide, and is still used today.

Writings

Sources

  1. "Tableaux des prix décernés". Comptes rendus hebdomadaires des séances de l'Académie des sciences 117. 1894. p. 1007. (The French Academy awarded the 1893 prizes on 18 December 1893.)
  2. "Science Prizes". American Naturalist 28. U. of Chicago Press. 1894. p. 290.
  3. "Author Query for 'Millardet'". International Plant Names Index.
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