Two lines of transgenic carrot plants producingMycobacterium tuberculosisproteins (ESAT6 and CFP10) have been constructed. The target proteins are present in carrot storage roots at a level not less than 0.056% of the total storage protein (TSP) for ESAT6 and 0.002% of TSP for CFP10. As has been shown, oral immunization of mice induces both the cell-mediated and humoral immunities. These data suggest that the proteins in question are appropriate as a candidate edible vaccine against tuberculosis.

Early blight, caused by fungi of the genus Alternaria, is one of the most destructive diseases affecting tomato plants, leading to a decrease in yield and commercial value. Studies so far on Alternaria spp. affecting tomato in Kazakhstan have been limited to morphological identification or molecular analysis, without an in-depth phylogenetic study and pathogenicity assessment. In this study, between 2023 and 2024, 61 isolates were obtained from tomato leaves with early blight symptoms and identified, based on conidial morphology and DNA sequencing, as A. tenuissima (54%) and A. alternata (46%). The pathogenicity assessment showed that the disease index for A. tenuissima was 21.7–53.3, while it was 41.7–60.0 for A. alternata, indicating greater aggressiveness of the latter species. The disease index varied by region, with the highest average value recorded for A. alternata from Almaty (55.7%), while 38.2% and 36.2% for A. tenuissima were recorded from Pavlodar and Akmola, respectively. Both species showed notable intraspecific variation in pathogenicity. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of A. tenuissima detection as the causative agent of early blight in tomato plants in Kazakhstan. The results of this study may help facilitate the development of effective disease management strategies.

To date, human actions have significantly changed 75% of the Earth's surface. This has resulted in an unprecedented increase in the rate of biodiversity loss in human history. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, over the past 500 years, as a result of direct or indirect influence of the anthropogenic factor, 774 animal species and 123 plant species have become extinct. To prevent further loss of biodiversity, in the context of the ongoing «crisis of biodiversity», all over the world, including Kazakhstan, there is a need for reliable conservation of the available genetic resources of plants and animals, primarily rare and endangered species. In this regard, specialized biobanks of organized collections of living biomaterials are successfully used worldwide for the conservation and restoration of populations of rare and endangered species of flora and fauna. The article presents information about some of the largest biobanks and their importance in solving this global problem. The experience of scientific centers of Kazakhstan in the field of biobanking of biomaterials of wild flora and fauna, including rare and endangered species, is given, and the results of the National Center for Biotechnology in this area are summarized.

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.

Ribes janczewskii is a rare and valuable plant known for its resistance to spring frosts, pests, and diseases. It is used in hybridization to develop resistant currant varieties but is on the verge of extinction, listed in Kazakhstan Red Book. This study developed a micropropagation and slow-growth storage protocol for conservation. Genotypes were identified through DNA barcode analysis (rbcL, ITS, and matK) and sequences uploaded to the National Center for Biotechnology Information database. Genetic diversity was assessed using iPBS primers, generating 98 fragments with 88–94% polymorphic bands. Biochemical analysis of fruits showed vitamin C content from 4.64 to 5.61 mg/100 g, vitamin E from 2.26 to 3.16 mg/100 g, vitamin B5 from 3.18 to 4.93 mg/100 g, and quercetin up to 12.5 mg/100 g. Micropropagation stages were optimized with 12% hydrogen peroxide for surface sterilization, achieving up to 73.3% explant viability. Effective hormonal combinations for in vitro culture included WPM with BAP 0.2 mg L⁻¹ and GA 0.5 mg L⁻¹, and for propagation, BAP 0.25 mg L⁻¹, GA 0.5 mg L⁻¹, and IBA 0.5 mg L⁻¹. Mannitol (20 g L⁻¹) was used for slow-growth storage, keeping explants viable for 4 months without re-cultivation.