Darya Nikolayevna Teterevnikova-Babayan was born in St Petersburg on 27 September 1904. In 1921-1926 she studied at the Institute of Zoology & Phytopathology (Leningrad Agricultural Institute). Among her first teachers were outstanding scientists - corresponding members of the USSR Academy of Sciences A.A. Yachevsky and N.A. Naumov. After graduating from the Institute in 1926-1929 she worked at the plant pathology station and carried out her first scientific research on establishment the racial composition of the agent of stem rust (Puccinia graminis) and on etiology of damping off of young winter crops. At the same period, along with ?.?. Babayan she began investigation of cotton-plant wilt in Turkmenia. This investigation was one of the first of its type in the USSR.

In 1929 D.N. Teterevnikova-Babayan moved to Yerevan (Armenia), where she worked as plant pathologist at the Station of Plant Protection of People's Commissariat of Agriculture (Narkomzem) of Armenian SSR. In 1934 she assigned to the position of the head of the Department of Plant Pathology. On the basis of mycological inspection of cultural crops D. N. Teterevnikova-Babayan and ?.?. Babayan in 1930 published the first list of parasitic fungi of Armenia. The list included 193 species of fungi. At the Station D.N. Teterevnikova-Babayan began her investigations on smut fungi of grain-crops. The programme of investigations included the study of intraspecific diversity of fungal agents of the smut, their virulence, biology, ecology and distribution in Armenia. Later on D.N. Teterevnikova-Babayan along with N.A. Kechek began the large-scale investigations of fungal agents of vine diseases (Oidium, Septoria leaf spot, Cercospora leaf spot etc.), as well as diseases of vegetables and melons. Subsequently on the basis of the results of these investigations was prepared and published two-volume monograph "Diseases of vegetable and melon crops and measures to combat them" (1959, 1964). In 1940 D.N. Teterevnikova-Babayan got the scientific rank of the Candidate of Agricultural Sciences. Since 1930 D.N. Teterevnikova-Babayan read lectures at Armenian Agricultural Institute. In 1938 she headed the Chair of Plant Protection of the same Institute, and since 1940 she began to work there permanently. At the same time in 1942-1946 she headed the Department of Plant Protection at the Institute of Wine-Making and Viticulture of Armenian SSR Academy of Sciences. In 1945 she got the academic status of Doctor of Agricultural Sciences and since 1946 she became the professor at the Chair of Plant Pathology. In 1948 D.N. Teterevnikova-Babayan was invited to Yerevan State University, where she headed at first the Chair of Botany and then the Chair of Lower Plants. She worked at Yerevan State University till 1984.

From the first years of her work at Armenia D.N. Teterevnikova-Babayan began to collect mycological material. At first she was interested mainly in fungi, which developed on different crops. D.N. Teterevnikova-Babayan studied also species composition, ecology and biology of fungi - agents of diseases of grain crops, leguminous plants, technical crops, fruits, subtropical, citrus, plants, herbs and wood trees of Armenia. When D.N. Teterevnikova-Babayan began to work at the University, the range of studied subjects increased at the expense of fungi developing on wild plants. The results of investigation of species composition, distribution, biological and ecological peculiarities of fungi of order Uredinales were represented in the monograph "Rust fungi of cultural and wild plants of Armenian SSR" (1959). As herbarium materials on fungi, developing on wild plants, were accumulated and new specialists in mycology - candidates of sciences were trained by D.N. Teterevnikova-Babayan, it became possible to begin the preparation of multi-volume "Mycoflora of Armenia". D.N. Teterevnikova-Babayan was an initiator of its creation, organizer of group of highly qualified experts on the major groups of fungi and the editor of the book. She personally edited 4 of 7 volumes of "Mycoflora of Armenia", devoted to Perenosporales, Aphyllophorales, Gasteromycetes, Moniliales and Agaricales fungi. D.N. Teterevnikova-Babayan was an author of 2 volumes of this edition. One of them, dedicated to Uredinales fungi, was published in 1977; the second one, dedicated to Sphaeropsidales (fungi with colorless unicellular conidia) - in 1983. D.N. Teterevnikova-Babayan and her progenies M.G. Taslakhchyan and I.A. Martirosian prepared the volume on fungi of order Sphaeropsidales. D.N. Teterevnikova-Babayan wrote chapters on evolutionary-systematic position of order Sphaeropsidales, on phytopathogenic significance of Sphaeropsidales and composed all keys for identification of families and genera as well as diagnoses of 177 species of genus Phoma and of 30 another smaller genera.

Since the beginning of 1950s D.N. Teterevnikova-Babayan studied sphaeropsidal micromycetes of genus Septoria. She set herself very difficult and crucial problem: to summarize original and literary data on species diversity and distribution in USSR numerous species of this volumetric genus. Teterevnikova-Babayan carried out the thorough work on revealing the species of this genus in Armenia, analyzing herbarium materials and collections of colleagues - mycologists from different regions and clarification of the details of morphology, consortive relationships, ecology of some species, adjustment of systematic position and nomenclature of some taxa. On the basis of these materials D.N. Teterevnikova-Babayan published a number of papers. Among them - a little monograph on fungi of genus Septoria in Armenia (1962), where she presented a general review of this group and listed the most harmful species. As a result of almost thirty-year investigations of this genus, in 1987 the monograph "Fungi of genus Septoria in USSR" was published. This book was the last in scientific work of D.N. Teterevnikova-Babayan. In process of its preparation D.N. Teterevnikova-Babayan ascertained the presence and critically rewiewed more then 80 species and varieties of genus Septoria in the fauna of USSR. As a result, some of them were removed into synonyms of others species of the same genus and in some cases - to other genera. And what is more, D.N. Teterevnikova-Babayan, the excellent expert in the genus Septoria, skilfully weighing taxonomic significance of morphological and biological characters, for the first time described 29 species and 6 varieties of the genus, proposed new combinations and renamed the homonyms for 7 species. At the same time, it should be accentuated that in this book D.N. Teterevnikova-Babayan expounded her own interpretation of species criteria in genus Septoria. Amphasizing such criteria as specialization on host plants, D.N. Teterevnikova-Babayan analyzed and represented in the book allocation of all revealed in the USSR Septoria species according to families, genera and species of host plants. Of undubitable interest are also data on relationships of anamorphs of the genus Septoria and corresponding to them ascus stages (teleomorphs). Diagnoses of species of the genus Septoria, presented in the separate chapter of the book, also are marked by creative approach of D.N. Teterevnikova-Babayan. She scanned numerous samples of every species, and as a result modified significantly some of the diagnoses in some cases giving new descriptions. This work has reflected in full measure the brilliant mycological erudition, huge creative potential and extraordinary efficiency of D.N. Teterevnikova-Babayan and has served as the worthy conclusion of her scientific heritage.

Scientific and educational activity of D.N. Teterevnikova-Babayan was highly appreciated. In 1960 she got an academic status of the Corresponding Member of Armenian Academy of Sciences. She was awarded the Order of Red Labour Banner, Order "Mark of Honour", medals and diplomas.

Biographies & obituaries. Микология и Фитопатология [Mycology & Phytopathology] 23 (2): 186-187, 1989 [+ portrait]. Lists. Publications. Taxa. Kirk & Ansell form of name: Teterevn.