Biocellulose, named “the biomaterial of the future”, is a natural and ecologically friendly polymer, produced by selected acetic acid bacteria strains. Biocellulose impregnated with antimicrobial agents can be used as a novel, safe, and biodegradable food packaging material, helping extend the shelf life of some products and may also have the chance to replace typical plastic packaging, which is a big environmental problem these days. This study aimed to evaluate if cellulose impregned with natural oregano essential oil could show antibacterial activity against Cronobacter strains, which can occur in food, causing diseases and food poisoning. Bacterial cellulose was obtained from two acetic bacteria strains, Gluconacetobacter hansenii ATCC 23769 and Komagataeibacter sp. GH1. Antibacterial activity was studied by the disc-diffusion method against chosen Cronobacter strains, isolated from the plant matrix. Oregano essential oil has been shown to penetrate into the structure of bacterial cellulose, and after applying cellulose to the solid medium, it showed the ability to migrate. Biopolymer from the strain K. sp. GH1 was able to better absorb and retain essential oregano oil (OEO) compared to bacterial cellulose (BC) produced by the G. hansenii ATCC 23769. Bacterial cellulose with oregano essential oil from strain Komagataeibacter GH1 showed generally greater inhibitory properties for the growth of tested strains than its equivalent obtained from G. hansenii. This was probably due to the arrangement of the polymer fibers and its final thickness. The largest zone of inhibition of strain growth was observed in relation to C. condimenti s37 (32.75 mm ± 2.8). At the same time, the control sample using filter paper showed an inhibition zone of 36.0 mm ± 0.7. A similar inhibition zone (28.33 mm ± 2.6) was observed for the C. malonaticus lv31 strain, while the zone in the control sample was 27.1 mm ± 0.7. Based on this study, it was concluded that bacterial cellulose impregnated with oregano essential oil has strong and moderate antimicrobial activity against all presented strains of the genus Cronobacter isolated from plant matrix. Obtained results give a strong impulse to use this biopolymer as ecological food packaging in the near future.

Rhaponticum carthamoides (Willd.) Iljin. (Leuzea carthamoides, Maral root), a medicinally valuable species listed in the Red Book of Kazakhstan, is known for its rich phytochemical profile. However, limited data exist on its microclonal propagation. This study aimed to optimize in vitro and medium-term storage conditions using biotechnological methods. Mature seeds collected from natural populations in the Kazakhstani Altai were germinated, and tissues from the seedlings were used as explants. Sterile shoots were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 3.0 mg L⁻¹ −6-benzylaminopurine and 3.0 mg L⁻¹ kinetin. For shoot induction, MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg L⁻¹ meta-Topolin and using stem apices as explants yielded optimal results. Medium-term storage with chlorocholine chloride at 0.1–0.4 g/L effectively preserved regenerative capacity for further rooting. After 12 months of storage, plantlets were transferred to half-strength MS medium with 3.0 g/L activated carbon and at 2.0 or 5.0 mg L⁻¹ indole-3-butyric acid for rooting. Regenerated plants were successfully acclimatized ex vitro. The 20-hydroxyecdysone content in field-grown plants post-storage reached 9.24 mg/mL, 2.4-fold higher than in wild plants. Inter simple sequence repeat analysis confirmed genetic stability. Our optimized protocol ensures high-yield metabolite production and genetic fidelity, enabling in vitro conservation, nursery-scale cultivation, and the restoration of R. carthamoides natural populations.

Tulipa auliekolica and Tulipa turgaica have been recently described as endangered species endemic to Kazakhstan, which require urgent conservation amid rising human impact and climate change. Biotechnology offers effective tools for conserving such rare species; however, species-specific in vitro protocols tailored to their biological traits remain largely unreported. This study aimed to develop an in vitro propagation protocol for these rare Tulipa species by investigating the effects of different temperature regimes and phytohormone treatments. We conducted a study on the in vitro propagation of two recently described species, T. auliekolica and T. turgaica. Species-specific temperature regimes for seed stratification were established. Maximum germination of T. auliekolica was achieved at alternating temperatures of 4/10 °C, and of T. turgaica at 10/20 °C. No seed germination from either species occurred at a constant temperature of 20 °C. Bulbs cultured on Murashige & Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 90 g/L sucrose and the growth regulators mT (meta-topolin) and BAP (6-benzylaminopurine) were effective in stimulating the formation of up to 4–7 microbulbs. Cultivation on a medium supplemented with 0.5 mg L⁻¹ IBA (indole-3-butyric acid) resulted in the formation of mature bulbs covered with scales. These results can be successfully used in biodiversity conservation programs for the endemic Tulipa species. In addition, they provide a valuable basis for future biotechnological research, including microclonal propagation, the establishment of gene banks, and the development of reintroduction methods for Kazakh endemic Tulipa species.

Optimization of the method of medium-term storage of the rare and endangered plant species Allium ivasczenkoae under in vitro conditions using modern approaches of biotechnology is an urgent task. Aseptic microplants Allium ivasczenkoae were used as starting material. The cultivation of microplants was carried out on nutrient media supplemented in various combinations with an increased concentration of sucrose, mannitol, chlorocholine chloride, ABA and BAP at various temperature and light conditions of deposition. The survival dynamics of A. ivasczenkoae varied depending on cultivation regimes. After 9 months of deposition, the survival of test-tube plants in mode 1 (control) was 20%, mode 2 - 60-80%, mode 3 - 30-50%. Under experimental conditions, the best results were obtained by depositing aseptic cultures for 9 months at a low positive temperature and low light intensity (mode 2) on nutrient media with the addition of CCC 120 mg/l and a sucrose concentration of 60 g/l and (B-1) and MS medium containing 0.5 mg/l BAP and 3 g/l mannitol (MSВМ). This mode of deposition made it possible to lengthen the period between transplants, as well as to maintain the viability of A. ivasczenkoae microplants from 60 to 80%. The data obtained make it possible to optimize the mode of medium-term storage of Allium ivasczenkoae under in vitro conditions for the mass production of rare species of bulbous plants in order to restore, reproduce and preserve the number of valuable gene pool and natural populations, create gene banks in vitro, reintroduce and green building.

The article presents the results of studies on the introduction into in vitro culture of the valuable medicinal plant Rhaponticum carthamoides, growing in the territory of the Kazakhstan Altai. R. carthamoides - or maral root is a source of various biologically active compounds (flavonoids, polysaccharides, saponins, cumanins). This species is of particular value as a producer of ultra-high quantities of ecdysteroids, which have a hepatoprotective and hypoglycemic effect, acting as adaptogens. Currently, natural reserves of this species are sharply reduced due to increasing demand and, as a consequence, lead to the depletion of natural populations. Modern biotechnology methods make it possible to develop highly effective approaches for the propagation and preservation of R. carthamoides for subsequent introduction and expansion of the range of fodder and medicinal crops that meet the needs of agriculture, medicine and the food industry. Seeds collected from their natural habitats were used as research material. A seed sterilization protocol has been developed; it has been established that to obtain aseptic seedlings it is necessary to use a multi-stage sterilization protocol using various sterilizing agents. Surface-sterilized seeds were placed on MS and MS media containing ½ mineral salts with different hormonal compositions. The results showed that the percentage of seed germination varied depending on the hormonal status of the environment and ranged from 42.9 to 85.5%. Thus, the lowest percentage of germination was noted on the B0 medium option (½ MS) - 42.9%. The highest percentage of germination was in seeds on the B3 medium option (MS + 3 mg/l BAP + 3 mg/l kinetin) - 85.5%.