Raspberry bushy dwarf virus (RBDV) is an economically significant pathogen of raspberry and grapevine, and it has also been found in cherry. Most of the currently available RBDV sequences are from European raspberry isolates. This study aimed to sequence genomic RNA2 of both cultivated and wild raspberry in Kazakhstan and compare them to investigate their genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships, as well as to predict their protein structure. Phylogenetic and population diversity analyses were performed on all available RBDV RNA2, MP and CP sequences. Nine of the isolates investigated in this study formed a new, well-supported clade, while the wild isolates clustered with the European isolates. Predicted protein structure analysis revealed two regions that differed between α- and β-structures among the isolates. For the first time, the genetic composition of Kazakhstani raspberry viruses has been characterized.

Clonal rootstocks of apple trees are one of the main components of intensive horticulture, and they play an important role in regulating tree growth, yield, fruit quality, and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. In the two-year monitoring survey reported here, eleven rootstocks mainly used for cultivar grafting in Kazakhstan were assessed for fire blight resistance, taking genetic background into consideration. The loci FB_F7 on LG7 and FB_MR5 and RLP1 on LG3 were analyzed on the basis of SCAR and SNP markers. The rootstocks ‘Geneva 41’, ‘62-396’, and ‘Geneva16’, bearing resistant alleles for five markers (AH0JFXM, AH21B92, AH4AAGA, AH5I8MI, and AH6R6SQ), four markers (AH0JFXM, AH21B92, AH4AAGA, and AH5I8MI), and one (AH4AAGA) SNP marker, respectively, were not infected during the monitoring period despite weather conditions in 2022 being favorable for the development and spread of Erwinia amylovora. No connection was identified between the presence of a resistant allele for the AE10-375 marker and fire blight resistance responses. This is the first study to evaluate the fire blight resistance of foreign and local rootstocks grown in the Kazakhstan southern region.

Wild apples and their hybrids are valued as a source of genetic resistance to biotic and abiotic stress. Malus niedzwetzkyana is an endangered ornamental apple species endemic to Southeast Kazakhstan, the center of Malus domestication. To test the fire blight resistance of M. niedzwetzkyana, eight plant genotypes were inoculated with a local strain of Erwinia amylovora. The genotypes possess different genetic backgrounds, which was confirmed via SSR profiling. Four out of eight displayed moderate to severe symptoms of fire blight infection, while the three wild genotypes proved resistant. To search for the source of the resistance, the samples were tested for the presence of FBF7 QTL using SCAR markers, where seven genotypes tested positive for one of the markers (AE10-375) and one for the other (GE80-19). No correlation between resistance phenotype and FBF7 QTL was confirmed, indicating the source lies elsewhere. Developing detailed genetic and phenotypic profiles of wild apple species helps advance both the preservation efforts and marker-assisted selection in apple breeding.

MLO proteins are a family of transmembrane proteins in land plants that play an important role in plant immunity and host–pathogen interactions, as well as a wide range of development processes. Understanding the evolutionary history of MLO proteins is important for understanding plant physiology and health. In the present work, we conducted a phylogenetic analysis on a large set of MLO protein sequences from publicly available databases, specifically emphasising MLOs from the tomato plant and related species. As a result, 4886 protein sequences were identified and used to construct a phylogenetic tree. In comparison to previous findings, we identified nine phylogenetic clades, revealed the internal structure of clades I and II as additional clades and showed the presence of monocotyledon species in all MLO clades. We identified a set of 19 protein motifs that allowed for the identification of particular clades. Sixteen SlMLO proteins from tomato were located in the phylogenetic tree and identified in relation to homologous sequences from other Solanaceae species. The obtained results could be useful for further work on the use of MLO proteins in the study of mildew resistance in Solanaceae and other plant families.

Cross-ecosystem transmission of plant pathogens from crops to natural forests is increasingly recognized as a key factor in disease emergence and biodiversity loss. Agricultural systems serve as major sources of inoculum, with landscape interfaces—such as crop–forest edges, riparian zones, abandoned orchards, and nursery–wildland transitions—acting as active epidemiological gateways. Biological vectors, abiotic dispersal, and human activities collectively enable pathogen movement across these boundaries. Host-range expansion, recombination, and hybridization allow pathogens to infect both cultivated and wild hosts, leading to generalist and recombinant lineages that survive across diverse habitats. In natural ecosystems, such introductions can alter community composition, decrease resilience, and intensify the impacts of climate-driven stress. Advances in molecular diagnostics, genomic surveillance, environmental DNA, and remote sensing–GIS (Geographic Information System) approaches now enable high-resolution detection of pathogen flow across landscapes. Incorporating these tools into interface-focused monitoring frameworks offers a pathway to earlier detection, better risk assessment, and more effective mitigation. A One Health, landscape-based approach that treats agro–wild interfaces as key control points is essential for reducing spillover risk and safeguarding both agricultural productivity and the health of natural forest ecosystems.

Walnut (Juglans regia L.) is a significant nut crop in the southern regions of Kazakhstan; however, its productivity is substantially limited by fungal and bacterial diseases. Therefore, a phytopathological investigation was conducted in 2023–2024 in the Almaty and Turkestan regions, including field monitoring, pathogen isolation, molecular identification, and pathogenicity testing. Field monitoring revealed that symptoms of brown spot, walnut canker, walnut blight, bacterial blight, and crown gall were widespread. The overall disease incidence ranged from 8% to 30%, while the disease severity index varied from 15% to 70% across the surveyed sites. Pure cultures of pathogens were isolated from 69 samples, and their morphology was characterized. Molecular identification through sequencing of universal genetic loci (the internal transcribed spacer for fungi and 16S ribosomal RNA for bacteria) revealed the presence of the fungal species Alternaria alternata and Fusarium incarnatum, as well as the bacterial species Pantoea agglomerans and Xanthomonas arboricola pv. juglandis. Pathogenicity testing confirmed the virulence of the identified pathogens, which induced characteristic symptoms of brown spot, walnut canker, and walnut blight, consistent with those observed in the field. These findings have considerable practical significance for improving phytosanitary monitoring and protection systems in walnut plantations, thereby facilitating disease outbreak prediction and the development of effective quarantine measures.