Leaf rust (Puccinia triticina Eriks) is a wheat disease causing substantial yield losses in wheat production globally. The identification of genetic resources with permanently effective resistance genes and the generation of mutant lines showing increased levels of resistance allow the efficient incorporation of these target genes into germplasm pools by marker-assisted breeding. In this study, new mutant (M₃ generation) lines generated from the rust-resistant variety Kazakhstanskaya-19 were developed using gamma-induced mutagenesis through 300-, 350-, and 400-Gy doses. In field trials after leaf rust inoculation, 75 mutant lines showed adult plant resistance. These lines were evaluated for resistance at the seedling stage via microscopy in greenhouse experiments. Most of these lines (89.33%) were characterized as resistant at both developmental stages. Hyperspectral imaging analysis indicated that infected leaves of wheat genotypes showed increased relative reflectance in visible and near-infrared light compared to the non-infected genotypes, with peak means at 462 and 644 nm, and 1936 and 2392 nm, respectively. Five spectral indexes, including red edge normalized difference vegetation index (RNDVI), structure-insensitive pigment index (SIPI), ratio vegetation index (RVSI), water index (WI), and normalized difference water index (NDWI), demonstrated significant potential for determining disease severity at the seedling stage. The most significant differences in reflectance between susceptible and resistant mutant lines appeared at 694.57 and 987.51 nm. The mutant lines developed were also used for the development and validation of KASP markers for leaf rust resistance genes Lr1, Lr2a, Lr3, Lr9, Lr10, and Lr17. The mutant lines had high frequencies of “a” resistance alleles (0.88) in all six Lr genes, which were significantly associated with seedling resistance and suggest the potential of favorable haplotype introgression through functional markers. Nine mutant lines characterized by the presence of “b” alleles in Lr9 and Lr10—except for one line with allele “a” in Lr9 and three mutant lines with allele “a” in Lr10—showed the progressive development of fungal haustorial mother cells 72 h after inoculation. One line from 300-Gy-dosed mutant germplasm with “b” alleles in Lr1, Lr2a, Lr10, and Lr17 and “a” alleles in Lr3 and Lr9 was characterized as resistant based on the low number of haustorial mother cells, suggesting the contribution of the “a” alleles of Lr3 and Lr9.

The study of the genetic diversity and adaptation mechanisms of the Kazakh apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) is essential for breeding programs and the conservation of plant genetic resources in arid environments. Despite this species’ ecological and agricultural significance, its chloroplast genome remains poorly studied due to its complex repetitive structure and secondary metabolites that hinder high-molecular-weight DNA (HMW-DNA) extraction and long-read sequencing. To address this gap, our study aims to develop and optimise sequencing protocols for P. armeniaca under arid conditions using Oxford Nanopore’s MinION technology. We successfully extracted HMW-DNA with 50–100 ng/μL concentrations and purity (A260/A280) between 1.8 and 2.0, ensuring high sequencing quality. A total of 10 GB of sequencing data was generated, comprising 155,046 reads, of which 74,733 (48.2%) had a Q-score ≥ 8. The average read length was 1679 bp, with a maximum of 31,144 bp. Chloroplast genome assembly resulted in 33,000 contigs with a total length of 1.1 Gb and a BUSCO completeness score of 97.3%. Functional annotation revealed key genes (nalC, AcrE, and mecC-type BlaZ) associated with stress tolerance and a substantial proportion (≈40%) of hypothetical proteins requiring further investigation. GC content analysis (40.25%) and GC skew data suggest the presence of specific regulatory elements linked to environmental adaptation. This study demonstrates the feasibility of using third-generation sequencing technologies to analyse complex plant genomes and highlights the genetic resilience of P. armeniaca to extreme conditions. The findings provide a foundation for breeding programs to improve drought tolerance and conservation strategies to protect Kazakhstan’s unique arid ecosystems.

Genetic variability in bread wheat concerning grain nutritional quality and physical morphometric parameters, which is a required prerequisite to improve modern varieties is limited. It is also important to combine the improved grain quality characteristics with tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses including fungal disease such as yellow rust, the most common wheat disease that significantly reduces its production. The goal of present study was to broaden the genetic variation of spring bread wheat on the basis of a rust resistant cv. Kazakhstanskay-19 and mutational selection. The doses of gamma irradiation of 300 Gy, 350 Gy, and 400 Gy treatments were applied to develop new M4 mutant lines and search advanced resources which combine yellow rust resistance, improved grain morphometric parameters, and high grain protein content. The 300 Gy and 350 Gy radiation doses showed a significantly highest effect in an increase in grain area with the same level of action, showing its increased efficiency to cause mutations in the genes related to with this grain characteristics. The grain features such as length recorded significant variation only through 300 Gy treatment, indicating that only this lowest dose is effective for the improvement comparing with the higher level of radiation. Key words: genetic variation in grain nutritional quality, physical morphometric parameters, spring wheat, grain protein content.

Conservation of biological diversity is one of the most important tasks in the field of nature protection, which is given great attention all over the world. One of the pеrspective solutions to this problem in the world for strengthening soil structure and landscaping is the use of plants of the Paulownia species. Paulownia tomentosa is one of the fastest growing trees that is not demanding on soil quality. This type of trees has frost-resistant and winter-hardy qualities, which are necessary for the development and reproduction of plants in various soil and climatic conditions of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The introduction of effective technologies for micropropagation of perspective plants is relevant for the rational use of unique genetic resources, replenishment of the collection fund. The article presents experimental data on micropropagation of Paulownia tomentosa. Sterilization conditions for the introduction of various plant explants into in vitro culture have been selected. The best explants for introduction into in vitro culture and plant regeneration were the apical meristem and internodes of the plant. The well-established method of cultivating explants made it possible to carry out micropropagation in a short time and obtain clonal planting material for the MEBG collection fund.

This study, conducted with meticulous attention to detail, comprehensively examines the state of plants and their adaptation to Kazakhstan's extra-arid climatic zone of the Mangistau. It uses the collections of woody plants from the Mangyshlak Experimental Botanical Garden in Aktau as a case study and extrapolates the results to the entire region. The study area is arid and unsuitable for many plants, so examining physiological adaptation mechanisms and strategies for preserving plants in unfavourable conditions is crucial. The study employed a range of methods, including the measurement of the intensity of transpiration, leaf hydration, and the content of chlorophyll A, B, and carotenoids. These methods were chosen for their proven effectiveness in similar studies and their ability to provide accurate and reliable data. The samples were also assessed using a point system for resistance to drought, phytophagy, gas tolerance, salt tolerance, winter hardiness, and soil fertility. The results obtained and entered into the IEBG platform “DinTseR” to assess the value of the introduction using a diagnostic scale revealed a high variability (up to 51.7-52.2%) of physiological indicators of growth and development. The highest values of transpiration intensity were observed in deciduous trees and shrubs, rose varieties (205-243 mg/g fresh leaf mass per hour), leaf water content - in climbing plants (68.9%), chlorophyll A and B content - in deciduous plants, and plants - old trees, fruit trees and varietal roses (3.46-3.93 and 1.34-1.84%). Their concentration in coniferous species is almost two times lower (0.63%). A correlation was also made between various significant factors. Twenty regression equations and forecasts have been identified that can be used to diagnose and assess resistance, thereby reducing the cost of determining the introduction value in the conditions of Mangistau. These findings are essential in understanding and preserving the unique flora of the Mangistau region.

This article presents the analysis of the allocation of important plant areas (IPA), which urgently identifies the most valuable sites for protecting plant objects. The study is based on a comprehensive inventory of the species composition of plants in the flora of the Western Karatau Ridge and the Mangyshlak Peninsula (arid regions)- key sites Akmysh, Samal, and Kogez, considered standard and the best preserved with natural vegetation cover. The flora of these critical sites was analysed using a combination of field surveys, herbarium studies, and a literature review. The results revealed a rich biodiversity, with 104 species from 82 genera and 33 families. Most species belong to 9 families, making up 60.6% of the total taxa. By the nature of life forms, perennial herbaceous plants dominate in all key sites (30 species, 50.0%). The eco-phylogenetic spectrum showed that a significant share of the flora of the studied IPAs is made up of xerophytes (21 species, 35%) and xeromesophytes (9 species, 15%); desert and mountain-steppe species prevail (53.0%). Rare, endangered and Red Book species account for 10-21.3% of those growing in the region. Regarding economic value, fodder, ornamental, honey, medicinal and food species dominate. The Shannon, Simpson, and Jaccard indices assessed alpha-beta and gamma diversity. The index showed that biodiversity in the Samal and Kogez sites is higher and more evenly distributed compared to the Akmysh site. The Whittaker, Harrison and Cody indices confirm significant differences in the species composition between the sites. In light of these compelling results, a clear and urgent call to action is proposed to allocate these areas to the IPA category, a crucial step towards ensuring the long-term existence of natural biocenoses.