The genus Alternaria is a widely distributed major plant pathogen that can act as a saprophyte in plant debris. Fungi of this genus frequently infect cereal crops and cause such diseases as black point and wheat leaf blight, which decrease the yield and quality of cereal products. A total of 25 Alternaria sp. isolates were collected from germ grains of various wheat cultivars from different geographic regions in Kazakhstan. We investigated the genetic relationships of the main Alternaria species related to black point disease of wheat in Kazakhstan, using the inter-primer binding site (iPBS) DNA profiling technique. We used 25 retrotransposon-based iPBS primers to identify the differences among and within Alternaria species populations, and analyzed the variation using clustering (UPGMA) and statistical approaches (AMOVA). Isolates of Alternaria species clustered into two main genetic groups, with species of A.alternata and A.tennuissima forming one cluster, and isolates of A. infectoria forming another. The genetic diversity found using retrotransposon profiles was strongly correlated with geographic data. Overall, the iPBS fingerprinting technique is highly informative and useful for the evaluation of genetic diversity and relationships of Alternaria species.

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 analysis of genetic diversity in natural populations of valuable medicinal plant species experiencing overexploitation is a key aspect of their natural conservation strategy. Mobile genetic elements and other interspersed repeats, which are major components of eukaryotic genomes, serve as effective tools for studying plant biodiversity and variability. The genetic diversity of four valuable medicinal plant Rhodiola rosea L. populations was investigated using the inter-repeat amplified PCR method with inter-priming binding sites (iPBSs) for genome profiling. At the interpopulation level, unique amplicons characteristic of specific R. rosea populations were identified. Molecular variance analysis revealed that the biodiversity of R. rosea populations in the Kazakh Altai region is 56% attributed to interpopulation differences and 44% to intrapopulation differences. It was shown that populations located in favorable environmental conditions have greater genetic diversity compared to those in extreme habitats. This study identified a high degree of polymorphism among R. rosea populations using the inter-repeat amplified PCR method. The genetic diversity of the populations ranged from 0.105 to 0.156, with an average heterozygosity of 0.134. The findings provide new insights into the population structure of R. rosea in the Kazakh Altai, enabling the identification of different genotypes, which will significantly complement traditional methods for conserving this valuable medicinal plant.

Rhaponticum carthamoides (Willd.) Iljin. (Leuzea carthamoides, Maral root), a medicinally valuable species listed in the Red Book of Kazakhstan, is known for its rich phytochemical profile. However, limited data exist on its microclonal propagation. This study aimed to optimize in vitro and medium-term storage conditions using biotechnological methods. Mature seeds collected from natural populations in the Kazakhstani Altai were germinated, and tissues from the seedlings were used as explants. Sterile shoots were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 3.0 mg L⁻¹ −6-benzylaminopurine and 3.0 mg L⁻¹ kinetin. For shoot induction, MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg L⁻¹ meta-Topolin and using stem apices as explants yielded optimal results. Medium-term storage with chlorocholine chloride at 0.1–0.4 g/L effectively preserved regenerative capacity for further rooting. After 12 months of storage, plantlets were transferred to half-strength MS medium with 3.0 g/L activated carbon and at 2.0 or 5.0 mg L⁻¹ indole-3-butyric acid for rooting. Regenerated plants were successfully acclimatized ex vitro. The 20-hydroxyecdysone content in field-grown plants post-storage reached 9.24 mg/mL, 2.4-fold higher than in wild plants. Inter simple sequence repeat analysis confirmed genetic stability. Our optimized protocol ensures high-yield metabolite production and genetic fidelity, enabling in vitro conservation, nursery-scale cultivation, and the restoration of R. carthamoides natural populations.

Tulipa auliekolica and Tulipa turgaica have been recently described as endangered species endemic to Kazakhstan, which require urgent conservation amid rising human impact and climate change. Biotechnology offers effective tools for conserving such rare species; however, species-specific in vitro protocols tailored to their biological traits remain largely unreported. This study aimed to develop an in vitro propagation protocol for these rare Tulipa species by investigating the effects of different temperature regimes and phytohormone treatments. We conducted a study on the in vitro propagation of two recently described species, T. auliekolica and T. turgaica. Species-specific temperature regimes for seed stratification were established. Maximum germination of T. auliekolica was achieved at alternating temperatures of 4/10 °C, and of T. turgaica at 10/20 °C. No seed germination from either species occurred at a constant temperature of 20 °C. Bulbs cultured on Murashige & Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 90 g/L sucrose and the growth regulators mT (meta-topolin) and BAP (6-benzylaminopurine) were effective in stimulating the formation of up to 4–7 microbulbs. Cultivation on a medium supplemented with 0.5 mg L⁻¹ IBA (indole-3-butyric acid) resulted in the formation of mature bulbs covered with scales. These results can be successfully used in biodiversity conservation programs for the endemic Tulipa species. In addition, they provide a valuable basis for future biotechnological research, including microclonal propagation, the establishment of gene banks, and the development of reintroduction methods for Kazakh endemic Tulipa species.

Kazakhstan has one of the highest diversities of Tulipa species, most of which are threatened. The threat of their extinction necessitates the use of biotechnological approaches, such as in vitro micropropagation, which allows the preservation of valuable genotypes without harming natural populations. In the process of increasing climate change and anthropogenic impact, these endemic species are at high risk of extinction. In this regard, the study and conservation of biodiversity of endemic plant species is considered a global priority throughout the world. The aim of the work was to study the effect of temperature and growth regulators on germination of T. auliekolica, T. turgaica seeds for their introduction into in vitro cultures. In vitro germination was carried out on ½ MS media with and without the addition of GA₃ (13 and 52 mg/l). Germination was recorded for 60 days, germination (%) and T₅₀ were calculated. According to the results of the tetrazolium test, the viability of T. turgaica and T. auliecolica seeds was 95% and 100%, respectively. The studied species showed different temperature preferences; for T. auliecolica seeds, the optimal temperature was 4°C, and for T. turgaica, 10°C. In addition, T. auliecolica seeds germinated faster than T. turgaica seeds. The results showed that temperature significantly affects seed germination. Seeds of both species germinated only at low temperatures (4 and 10°C), at 20°C, seed germination was absent in both species. The obtained data are of significant practical importance for the creation of effective methods for in vitro cultivation of these rare Tulipa species. Selection of optimal GA₃ concentrations in combination with temperature regimes significantly increases the success of in vitro propagation, which plays a key role in programs for the conservation of biodiversity of endemic plants.