The Kazakhstan-Siberia Network for Spring Wheat Improvement (KASIB) was established in 2000, forming a collaboration between breeding and research programs through biannual yield trials. A core set of 142 genotypes from 15 breeding programs was selected, genotyped for 81 DNA functional markers and phenotyped for 10 agronomic traits at three sites in Kazakhstan (Karabalyk, Shortandy and Shagalaly) and one site in Russia (Omsk) in 2020–2022. The study aim was to identify markers demonstrating significant effects on agronomic traits. The average grain yield of individual trials varied from 118 to 569 g/m². Grain yield was positively associated with the number of days to heading, plant height, number of grains per spike and 1000-kernel weight. Eight DNA markers demonstrated significant effects. The spring-type allele of the Vrn-A1 gene accelerated heading by two days (5.6%) and was present in 80% of the germplasm. The winter allele of the Vrn-A1 gene significantly increased grain yield by 2.7%. The late allele of the earliness marker per se, TaMOT1-D1, delayed development by 1.9% and increased yield by 4.5%. Translocation of 1B.1R was present in 21.8% of the material, which resulted in a 6.2% yield advantage compared to 1B.1B germplasm and a reduction in stem rust severity from 27.6 to 6.6%. The favorable allele of TaGS-D1 increased both kernel weight and yield by 2–3%. Four markers identified in ICARDA germplasm, ISBW2-GY (Kukri_c3243_1065, 3B), ISBW3-BM (TA004946-0577, 1B), ISBW10-SM2 (BS00076246_51, 5A), ISBW11-GY (wsnp_Ex_c12812_20324622, 4A), showed an improved yield in this study of 3–4%. The study recommends simultaneous validation and use of selected markers in KASIB’s network.

Proso millet is a valuable short-term crop of universal use cultivated all over the world. However, due to the lack of genetic improvement, the yield of this crop does not provide stable in-come for farmers. The research is aimed to test proso millet germplasm of different geographical origin under different agro-climatic regions in Kazakhstan. 90 accessions of proso millet originated from 19 countries were tested in the conditions of the North (A.I. Baraev Scientific Production Centre of Grain Farming) and the West (Agricultural Experimental Station) Kazakhstan from 2022 to 2023. The main agronomic traits such as plant height, number of seeds per panicle, seed weight per panicle and productive tillering, 1000 seed weight and yield per m² were measured. Correlation analysis was conducted based on the obtained data. High correlation was established between the SWPP and NSPP traits (r=0.73-0.92) in Northern and Western Kazakhstan conditions in 2022-2023 years. The world collection with higher values of 1000 seed weight showed a lower number of seeds per panicle, while the correlation was negative (r= - 0.48). The findings can be used in future proso millet breeding programs to develop new and improved genotypes with desirable productive traits adaptable to different environments.

The progressive study determined the gliadin 'profile' and genetic diversity based on allelic variations of gliadin-coding loci in spring soft wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) selection from Russian and Kazakh origins. A total of 139 samples obtained from a spring soft wheat collection consisting of 62 from Russia and 77 from Kazakhstan were studied. As a result of electrophoretic analysis in Russian wheat, the share of monomorphic gliadin cultivars was 63% and polymorphic was 37%. However, in the Kazakh wheat collection, the share of polymorphic gliadin cultivars was 26%. The alleles were mostly found among the Russian cultivars, i.e., Gli-А1f (46.9%), Gli-В1е (43.7%), Gli-В1b (30.8%), Gli-D1а (61.0%), Gli-А2l (17.0%), Gli-А2m (16.9%), Gli-В2o (16.1%), and Gli-D2q (19.8%). In wheat genotypes collected from Kazakhstan, the following alleles dominated, i.e., Gli-А1f (47.4%), Gli-В1е (72.0%), Gli-D1а (61.7%), Gli-А2l (25.3%), Gli-А2s (16.2%), Gli-В2r (25.7%), and Gli-D2a (40.3%). The study compiled the so-called 'ideal' electrophoretic spectrum of gliadin for several countries to visualize the 'portrait' of wheat, created based on common blocks of gliadin identified by the researchers at different times. It assumed that cultivars close to the 'ideal' spectrum in gliadin alleles should have a complex of economically valuable features. For example, the spectrum of Russian wheat consists of the blocks of components controlled by alleles, i.e., f, e, a, q, o, e. As for the Kazakh wheat, its 'ideal' spectrum (f, e, a, l, r, a) coincides with the spectrum of Russian wheat at the loci Gli-1, as Russian cultivars were often taken as parental genotypes by the Kazakhstan breeders.

This article presents the results of a multi-year evaluation of spring bread wheat based on key morphological and yield-related traits under the conditions of Northern Kazakhstan. Descriptive statistics, correlation and cluster analysis, and selection index methods were applied. Strong positive correlations were identified between the traits of number of grains per spike, productive tillering, and grain yield. Cluster analysis distinguished three groups of genotypes differing in productivity and qualitative characteristics. The use of selection indices allowed to identify the most promising genotypes combining desirable traits. The results highlight the effectiveness of an integrated approach to the selection of breeding material and its relevance for the development of adapted wheat varieties under changing climatic conditions.

Просо обыкновенное (Panicum miliaceum) — типичный ксерофит, и для условий сухостепной зоны Казахстана оно является одной из наиболее приспособленных культур, что и определяет его ареал для пищевых и кормовых целей. Изучены биохимические и технологические свойства коллекционных образцов проса в условиях степной зоны Северного Казахстана за 2015 – 2017 гг. Целью исследований являлось вовлечение лучших линий и коллекционных образцов проса различных эколого-географических групп, отличающихся по содержанию белка, массе 1000 зерен, натуре, пленчатости, выравненности, крупности и выходу крупы, в селекционные программы. Контрастные агроклиматические условия на протяжении 3 лет испытания способствовали качественной оценке коллекционного материала проса. Выделены образцы проса К-2432 (Алтайский край), К-9989 (Барнаульское 80), превосходящие стандартный сорт соответственно: по содержанию белка (15,2 и 15,3 %), массе 1000 зерен (8,2 и 8,1 г), натуре зерна (752 и 751 г/л), пленчатости (16,8 и 16,6 %), выравненности (97,8 и 97,5 %), выходу крупы (83,1 и 83,0 %). Лучшие сортообразцы, обладающие высокими качественными показателями, включены в признаковые коллекции, а также в селекционный процесс в качестве исходного материала.

The research aimed to study the correlations between the valuable agronomic traits of oat (Avena sativa), which are necessary in plant selection programs to increase productivity. The study was conducted in 2023-2024 in the field experimental plots of A.I. Barayev Research and Production Centre for Grain Farming; the observations were carried out using biometric measurements of plant height and morphological features of plant productivity. Biological material consisted of 16 oat genotypes; experimental data were collected from all genotypes. The results were interpreted by determining the correlation coefficients, analysing the variance of multiple regression, and studying the relationship between the traits. The study shows that productive tillering is in a linear relationship with the other characteristics, except for the weight and number of grains in a panicle (r=-0.39-0.46). According to the results of correlation analysis, the following pairs of the related traits were determined: weight of 1000 grains and plant height, seed weight per plant and panicle length (r=0,38-0,46), productive tillering and seeds weight per panicle (r=0,46); that can be effectively used to achieve high yield in selection process. According to the results of structural analysis of productive elements, the genotypes featuring a complex of valuable traits were selected: Yarovoy and Fax varieties, as well as the FL 0524 sample. These valuable genotypes can be recommended as sources for increasing productive properties in oat plants