Biography
Brefeld was a native of Telgte. He studied pharmacy in Heidelberg and Berlin, and afterwards became an assistant to Anton de Bary at the University of Halle. In 1878 he came a lecturer of botany at the Forestry Academy at Eberswalde, and in 1882 was a professor of botany at the University of Münster, as well as manager of its botanical gardens. In 1898 he succeeded Ferdinand Cohn as professor at the University of Breslau. In 1898 Brefeld was stricken by glaucoma, and subsequently became totally blind. His eye problems caused him to retire from the university in 1909.
Brefeld was a prolific author of works in the field of mycology, and is remembered for his writings about the heteroecious nature of fungal rusts and smuts. He pioneered culture techniques in the growth of fungi, and is credited with providing nomenclature for several genera and species of fungi.
Originally a scientific supporter of Anton de Bary, Brefeld had later disagreements with the famed botanist concerning the sexual nature of fungi. The mycological genus Brefeldia from the family Stemonitaceae is named after him.
Read more about this topic: Julius Oscar Brefeld
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