Wheat is the main cereal crop in Kazakhstan and fertilizers play an important role in enhancing harvest growth. In this study, the impact of new sulfur-containing fertilizers on the growth and yield of wheat was evaluated, and the resistance of varieties to Puccinia triticina Erikss was also investigated. (also known as Puccinia recondite Rob. ex Desm.) for recommendations in agriculture. The study was conducted from 2017 to 2020 in a nursery and greenhouse. The sulfur-containing fertilizer contains nutrients that allow you to extend the duration of absorption by the plant, thereby extending the period of their availability to plants, compared to conventional preparations. By encapsulating molten elemental sulfur and impregnating with a solution of calcium polysulfide, a long-acting compound based on amorphous and monocalcium phosphate was developed. The sulfur is in a water-soluble sulfate form, which, in turn, is slowly oxidized by bacteria and retained in the soil. Three different types of the developed sulfur-containing nano-particle have been used to test in greenhouses and nurseries: powdered, pasty sulfur-containing composition, and a solution of calcium polysulfide. The results showed that the use of powdered and dissolved sulfur-containing fertilizers contributed to the early ripeness and increased productivity of wheat. Wheat varieties were tested for the presence of key Lr genes that determine resistance to brown rust. The Omskaya 29 sample showed an immune response according to phytopathological assessment, and molecular screening revealed four resistance genes. The new sulfur-containing product is recommended for improving wheat productivity in agriculture, and the Omskaya 29 variety can also be used as a valuable breeding material resistant to brown rust.

Scab, caused by Venturia inaequalis, is the most destructive fungal disease of apple worldwide. Apple scab incidence was studied in apple orchards in the south and southeast of Kazakhstan, including the Almaty, Zhambyl, and Turkestan regions, during 2022 and 2023. Disease incidence was higher in the Zhambyl region than in the Turkestan and Almaty regions in both years. The field evaluation suggested that 19 genotypes showed resistance to apple scab. Molecular screening was carried out using eight gene-specific molecular markers (AM19, CH05e03, OPL19, Hi07f02, AL07, K08, HB09, and CH02f06). The results of the molecular screening revealed that in 38 of the 45 studied cultivars, which included 11 Kazakh cultivars and 34 foreign cultivars, the Rvi (Rvi2, Rvi4, Rvi5, Rvi6, Rvi8, Rvi9, Rvi11, Rvi14, and Rvi15) resistance genes were amplified. Resistance genes such as Rvi2, Rvi4, Rvi6, and Rvi9 are still useful for breeding, but their use is recommended only in extended pyramids of multiple resistance genes. Several cultivars will be strong candidates for further breeding programs against apple scab and for the pyramiding of scab resistance genes in new cultivars.

Lentil (L. culinaris ssp. culinaris) is a climate-resilient legume crop that plays a key role in global food security and sustainable agriculture. Understanding genetic diversity and population structure is essential for conserving genetic resources, enhancing breeding strategies, and developing improved, high-performing cultivars. The genetic diversity and population structure of 96 lentil genotypes were evaluated using 15 iPBS-retrotransposon markers, which produce a total of 346 scorable bands. Among these primers, iPBS-2376 yielded the highest number of bands (33). The polymorphism information content (PIC) values ranged from 0.17 to 0.38, indicating a broad range of marker informativeness. Genetic diversity analysis revealed a mean gene diversity (h) of 0.29, a Shannon information index (I) of 0.44, and an effective number of alleles (Ne) of 1.48. The maximum genetic distance (0.88) was observed between genotypes G25 (Pakistan25) and G94 (Cagil), reflecting this genetic divergence. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed that 82% of the total variation occurred within populations. The STRUCTURE analysis and neighbor-joining (NJ) clustering consistently grouped the genotypes into two distinct clusters, largely corresponding to their geographic origins. Similarly, Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA) further confirmed this separation based on geographic distribution. These results demonstrate considerable genetic diversity within the lentil germplasm. This suggests that these accessions can be employed in breeding programs to design improved lentil cultivars with enhanced resilience, higher crop output, and broader adaptability.

Rootstocks play an important role in the life of fruit crops.The full realization of the potential of the variety depends on them, such as physiological capabilities, drought resistance, winter hardiness, productivity, durability and fruiting rate. To determine the best scion-rootstock combinations physiological and phyto-pathological assessment scion-rootstock combinations for apple cv. ‘Aport’ and M. sieversii were studied. The experiment was carried out from February 2019 to July 2022 in the experimental orchard of Kazakh Fruit and Vegetable Research Institute. In the experimental garden (2015 y. planted) the physiological studies of the water homeostasis, adaptive potential, ecological status, and coefficient stress were carried out in dynamics. High adaptive homeostatic coefficients and a good ecological state were observed in forms № 1, 8, 11 and № 9 throughout the growing season. The robustness of these forms was on an average 38% higher than that of the № 2, 3, 4 and № 7. The maximum fetal weight was 270 g. According to biochemical analysis, forms № 2, 11 and № 9 differed in the amount of vitamin C and total sugar. Scab and powdery mildew are common ‘Aport’ diseases. Forms № 11, 2, 10 are the most resistant rootstock-scion combinations. To conclude, № 8, 9 and № 11 were considered as highly adaptive, productive, rapid-fruiting and resistant to biotic and abiotic factors, free-subsurface factors. These varieties were collected from the Reserves of State National Parks of Kazakhstan.

Viral infections in stone fruit crops cause substantial economic losses across all sectors of production. Despite their significance, viruses affecting stone fruits remain under-investigated in Kazakhstan. Among these, plum pox virus (PPV, genus Potyvirus, family Potyviridae), commonly known as Sharka, is the most critical viral pathogen worldwide, severely threatening the sustainable cultivation of stone fruits and posing risks to food security. This study aimed to evaluate virus management strategies in stone fruit crops to facilitate the production of healthy planting material from valuable genotypes. Field surveys were conducted in plum and apricot orchards located in the Almaty region (Southeast Kazakhstan) and the Saryagash region (Southern Kazakhstan). Plant samples were tested for the presence of the following viruses: apple chlorotic leaf spot virus (ACLSV), apple mosaic virus (ApMV), PPV, prune dwarf virus (PDV), prunus necrotic ringspot virus (PNRSV), cherry green ring mottle virus (CGRMV), and myrobalan latent ringspot virus (MLRSV). Real-time RT-PCR diagnostics confirmed the presence of PPV in the ‘Stanley’ and ‘Ansar’ cultivars and Prunus armeniaca genotypes, while both PPV and ACLSV were detected in the ‘Ayana’ variety. Chemotherapy (Ribavirin), thermotherapy, cryotherapy, and shoot apical meristem (SAM) culture, both individually and in combination, were used to eliminate viruses and regenerate virus-free plants. Successful virus eradication was achieved for PPV and ACLSV. However, the ‘Stanley’ and ‘Ansar’ cultivars did not survive the treatment process, likely due to high thermo- or cryo-sensitivity. As a result of this research, an in vitro collection of virus-free plants was established, comprising eight rootstocks, six plum cultivars, and three apricot genotypes.

The monogenic resistance to powdery mildew (caused by Podosphaera leucotricha) of apple trees is crucial when selecting them. DNA markers allow it to differentiate apple cultivars by individual resistance traits and determine prospective genotypes with high reliability. The presented research determines the results of molecular genetics and phytopathological analyses of apple cultivars on loci Pl-2, Pl-1, Pl-w, and Pl-d for reactions to powdery mildew. The molecular screening procedure involved using seven gene-specific markers (EM M01, EM M02, AT20-450, OPN18 SCAR, OPU02 SCAR, dr70F/dr339, and dr55F/dr336R). The resistance genes Pl-1, Pl-2, Pl-w, and Pl-d were amplified in 30 of the 34 research cultivars, with 8 Kazakh and 26 other country apple cultivars among the ones researched, according to the results of a molecular screening. Although resistance genes are still helpful for breeding, they are only recommended for use in extended pyramids of multiple resistant genes. Several cultivars are excellent candidates for additional breeding programs against powdery mildew and for pyramiding the Podosphaera leucotricha resistant genes in new cultivars.