Endemic species are especially vulnerable to biodiversity loss caused by isolation or habitat specificity, small population size, and anthropogenic factors. Endemic species biodiversity analysis has a critically important global value for the development of conservation strategies. The rare onion Allium ledebourianum is a narrow-lined endemic species, with natural populations located in the extreme climatic conditions of the Kazakh Altai. A. ledebourianum populations are decreasing everywhere due to anthropogenic impact, and therefore, this species requires preservation and protection. Conservation of this rare species is associated with monitoring studies to investigate the genetic diversity of natural populations. Fundamental components of eukaryote genome include multiple classes of interspersed repeats. Various PCR-based DNA fingerprinting methods are used to detect chromosomal changes related to recombination processes of these interspersed elements. These methods are based on interspersed repeat sequences and are an effective approach for assessing the biological diversity of plants and their variability. We applied DNA profiling approaches based on conservative sequences of interspersed repeats to assess the genetic diversity of natural A. ledebourianum populations located in the territory of Kazakhstan Altai. The analysis of natural A. ledebourianum populations, carried out using the DNA profiling approach, allowed the effective differentiation of the populations and assessment of their genetic diversity. We used conservative sequences of tRNA primer binding sites (PBS) of the long-terminal repeat (LTR) retrotransposons as PCR primers. Amplification using the three most effective PBS primers generated 628 PCR amplicons, with an average of 209 amplicons. The average polymorphism level varied from 34% to 40% for all studied samples. Resolution analysis of the PBS primers showed all of them to have high or medium polymorphism levels, which varied from 0.763 to 0.965. Results of the molecular analysis of variance showed that the general biodiversity of A. ledebourianum populations is due to interpopulation (67%) and intrapopulation (33%) differences. The revealed genetic diversity was higher in the most distant population of A. ledebourianum LD64, located on the Sarymsakty ridge of Southern Altai. This is the first genetic diversity study of the endemic species A. ledebourianum using DNA profiling approaches. This work allowed us to collect new genetic data on the structure of A. ledebourianum populations in the Altai for subsequent development of preservation strategies to enhance the reproduction of this relict species. The results will be useful for the conservation and exploitation of this species, serving as the basis for further studies of its evolution and ecology.

This article presents the results of floristic research in the mountainous regions of Kazakhstan Altai and partially the former Semipalatinsk Region for the period 1976-2017. On the basis of the conducted research, the author lists 83 taxa: 77 species and 6 subspecies of the Poaceae family, not noted in the "Flora of Kazakhstan" (1956) from the genera Agropyron (1) Agrostis (2), Agrotrigia (1), Beckmannia (1), Bothriochloa (1), Calamagrostis (5), Dactylis (1), Deschampsia (4), Echinochloa (1), Elymotrigia (7), Elymus (18), Elytrigia (1), Festuca (6), Hordeum (1), Koeleria (2), Leymus (3), Poa (7), Psathyrostachys (1), Ptilagrostis (2), Puccinellia (1), Stipa (16), Trisetum (1); 24 species are endemic, 12 of them are narrow-local endemics of Kazakhstan. The taxa cited by the author are not included in the "List of vascular plants of Kazakhstan" (1999) critically revised by S. A. Abdulina.

The Altai Mountains of Kazakhstan form a critical part of the Altai-Sayan Ecoregion, one of Central Asia’s most important centers of plant endemism and biodiversity. However, this fragile mountain ecosystem is increasingly threatened by climate change, unsustainable land use, and habitat degradation. This study provides the first comprehensive checklist of rare, endemic, and endangered vascular plant species of Kazakhstan’s Altai, integrating herbarium data and spatial analyses to support regional conservation and sustainability goals. A total of 65,540 herbarium specimens from eight major collections were reviewed, and species identifications were verified using national and international databases. In total, 230 rare and endangered species were recorded, including 73 strict endemics. Species were assessed using IUCN Red List categories, and their distributions analyzed with GIS and hierarchical clustering tools. The results revealed a high concentration of threatened species in the Ivanovskiy, Narym, and Azutau ridges. Notably, 127 species were assessed for rarity status for the first time, with families such as Poaceae and Orchidaceae disproportionately represented. The study highlights substantial gaps in current conservation frameworks, as many species remain in the “Data Deficient” category, and some highly threatened taxa occur outside protected areas. These findings provide essential baseline data to inform the expansion of protected zones, guide national Red Book updates, and support targeted ex situ conservation. By prioritizing biodiversity-rich areas and incorporating plant rarity data into spatial planning, this research contributes directly to long-term sustainability and ecosystem resilience strategies in Kazakhstan’s mountainous regions.

Allium microdictyon Prokh. is a rare, endemic species possessing good taste qualities and listed in the Red Book of Kazakhstan; therefore, it is subject to anthropogenic impact (food gathering, grazing, logging, fires, etc.), which leads to a substantial reduction of its area. The aim of the study was to develop a protocol for microclonal propagation of A. microdictyon. Mature seeds of A. microdictyon collected from natural habitats in the Kazakhstani Altai were used as explants. Optimization of seed sterilization methods, selection of growth regulators for inducing adventitious shoot formation and microclonal propagation, and optimization of conditions for adaptation of regenerants to ex vitro conditions were carried out. Surface sterilization of seeds with 70% EtOH and 0.01% HgCl₂ is optimal for obtaining sterile and viable A. microdictyon seedlings. Sterile seedlings obtained in vitro on ½ Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 10 mg L⁻¹ gibberellic acid and 0.1 mg L⁻¹ indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) were used as a source for obtaining micropropagation cultures. Induction of adventitious organogenesis of A. microdictyon was effective on media containing 0.5 mg L⁻¹ 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 1.5–2 mg L⁻¹ zeatin. On these variants, leaf conglomerates consisting of abundantly overgrown thin leaves were formed. The effect of 0.2 mg L⁻¹ indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) on further development of organogenesis and formation of microbulbs in A. microdictyon was shown in comparison with IAA, NAA, and PAC. Regenerated A. microdictyon plants were adapted to ex vitro conditions and resumed growth after 16–20 weeks of relative dormancy. The developed micropropagation protocol can be used to preserve germplasm and propagate for subsequent restoration of A. microdictyon populations in natural habitats.

The genus Allium is highly diverse and ecologically significant in Eastern Kazakhstan, with several rare and endemic species belonging to the section Schoenoprasum. This study provides a comparative analysis of the seed morphology of four species from this section: A. ledebourianum, A. ivasczenkoae, A. schoenoprasum, and A. ubinicum. Seeds were collected from their natural habitats and analyzed through morphometric measurements, surface structure assessments, and environmental correlation. Distinct differences in seed length, width, thickness, and weight were identified, with A. ubinicum displaying the most pronounced divergence in size and mass. Qualitative traits, including surface texture, micropyle visibility, and chalaza structure, were also recorded. Principal component and cluster analyses revealed clear separation between the species, notably distinguishing A. ubinicum from A. schoenoprasum, challenging their previously assumed synonymy. Environmental variables such as light, moisture, and soil chemistry showed significant correlations with seed dimensions, suggesting that environmental conditions contribute to morphological differentiation. Although the micromorphological features observed under scanning electron microscopy were generally similar, the macromorphological traits proved to be taxonomically informative. The larger and heavier seeds of A. ubinicum suggest regional divergence or adaptive evolution, reinforcing its classification as a separate taxon. These findings contribute to the refinement of the species delimitation process within Schoenoprasum and underscore the role of seed traits in both taxonomic research and conservation strategies in floristically rich but understudied regions like Eastern Kazakhstan.

This article presents the results of a comprehensive study on Rosa acicularis Lindl., Rosa laxa Retz., and Rosa spinosissima L. growing in the sharply continental climate of the Kazakhstan Altai under diverse ecological and phytocenotic conditions. All three wild rose species show notable ecological plasticity, allowing them to thrive in heterogeneous environments. A total of 41 populations were recorded: 12 of R. acicularis, 13 of R. laxa, and 16 of R. spinosissima, with vertical distribution ranging from 404 to 1837 m a.s.l. Nine populations where each species dominates its plant community were selected as model sites to assess ecological, biological, and economic traits. For each population, the floristic composition and structure were described, and morphometric, resource, and physiological indicators were evaluated. Significant phenotypic variation was noted in plant height, bush diameter, leaf traits, and fruit morphology and taste. Under natural conditions, industrial thickets are mainly formed by R. laxa in the Southern Altai and by R. spinosissima in the Southwestern Altai due to their wide distribution and high plant density. Fruit weight ranged from 2.23 to 2.47 g (R. acicularis), 2.28 to 2.68 g (R. laxa), and 2.17 to 2.55 g (R. spinosissima), values generally lower than those previously reported. Based on coefficients of variation for intra-population diversity in morphological and quantitative traits, several promising populations were identified. These populations hold potential for selecting valuable forms for breeding programs and for establishing a regionally adapted gene pool.