This article studies the morphological parameters of vegetative and generative organs of different age groups of Crataegus ambigua from four populations in Western Karatau (Mangistau region, Kazakhstan). In this study, we examined four populations: Sultan Epe, Karakozaiym, Emdikorgan, and Samal, all located in various gorges of Western Karatau. Several phylogenetic inference methods were applied, using six genetic markers to reconstruct the evolutionary relationships between these populations: atpF–atpH, internal transcribed spacer (ITS), matK, psbK–psbI, rbcL, and trnH–psbA. We also used a statistical analysis of plants’ vegetative and generative organs for three age groups (virgin, young, and adult generative). According to the age structure, Samal has a high concentration of young generative plants (42.3%) and adult generative plants (30.9%). Morphological analysis showed the significance of the parameters of the generative organs and separated the Samal population into a separate group according to the primary principal component analysis (PCoA) coordinates. The results of the floristic analysis showed that the Samal populations have a high concentration of species diversity. Comparative dendrograms using UPGMA (unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean) showed that information gleaned from genetic markers and the psbK–psbI region can be used to determine the difference between the fourth Samal population and the other three.

This study investigates the anatomical adaptations and ecological plasticity of C. ambiguus in extreme environmental conditions by analyzing the structural characteristics of its leaves and annual shoots collected from 12 populations in the arid regions of Mangystau, including Western Karatau, Northern Aktau, and the Tyubkaragan Peninsula. Microscopic and statistical analyses revealed significant variability in key anatomical traits, including epidermal thickness, collenchyma, primary cortex, and vascular bundle area, highlighting the species’ adaptive responses to drought, high solar radiation, and limited water availability. The epidermal thickness ranged from 14.85 µm (Pop_12 Botakan) to 22.51 µm (Pop_6 Samal), demonstrating xeromorphic adaptations for reducing transpiration. At the same time, the vascular bundle area varied from 286.06 × 10⁻³ mm² (Pop_3 Emdikorgan) to 528.51 × 10⁻³ mm² (Samal), indicating differences in water transport efficiency across populations. Despite substantial anatomical variation, the low coefficients of variation (0.31%–6.31%) suggested structural stability, reinforcing C. ambigua’s ability to maintain functional integrity under environmental stress. Canonical Correlation Analysis (CCA) confirmed that environmental factors such as soil type, elevation, and water availability significantly influenced anatomical traits. Floristic analysis revealed distinct patterns of species richness, with the highest diversity recorded in Pop_4 and Pop_7, while Pop_12 and Pop_9 exhibited lower diversity, indicating potential vulnerability. Furthermore, the identified anatomical traits could serve as key markers for selecting drought-resistant genotypes in afforestation and restoration programs. This study also highlighted the need for the long-term monitoring of C. ambigua populations to assess the impact of climate change on structural adaptations. These findings offer a framework for integrating ecological and genetic studies to refine conservation strategies for xerophytic species.

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.

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.

Selecting an adaptive plant assortment under conditions of global climate change and increasing aridification is a critical task for modern botanical science. The objective of this study was to evaluate the anatomical structure of young shoots and leaves of Sophora japonica to assess their adaptability to the arid conditions of the city of Aktau. Plant samples grown in the Mangyshlak Experimental Botanical Garden were collected for the study. Leaves and shoots were fixed, examined using a freezing microtome, and subsequently described in terms of their anatomical structure, with measurements taken of individual tissues. The results revealed that the leaf of Sophora japonica is of the light-type, with a clear division of the mesophyll into palisade and spongy tissues, the presence of a cuticle, and single- and multicellular trichomes on the epidermis; the stomata are of the anomocytic type, and based on their arrangement, the leaf is of the amphistomatic type. The mesophyll contains numerous calcium oxalate druses, localized primarily along the leaf veins. One-year-old shoots have a secondary anatomical structure, featuring a wide zone of chlorenchyma and a narrow zone of parenchyma. Xylem elements are small. The shoot epidermis exhibits a significant cuticle layer and soft trichome pubescence. This set of microscopic characteristics confirms the species’ adaptation to the arid conditions of the city of Aktau