Wild apples and their hybrids are valued as a source of genetic resistance to biotic and abiotic stress. Malus niedzwetzkyana is an endangered ornamental apple species endemic to Southeast Kazakhstan, the center of Malus domestication. To test the fire blight resistance of M. niedzwetzkyana, eight plant genotypes were inoculated with a local strain of Erwinia amylovora. The genotypes possess different genetic backgrounds, which was confirmed via SSR profiling. Four out of eight displayed moderate to severe symptoms of fire blight infection, while the three wild genotypes proved resistant. To search for the source of the resistance, the samples were tested for the presence of FBF7 QTL using SCAR markers, where seven genotypes tested positive for one of the markers (AE10-375) and one for the other (GE80-19). No correlation between resistance phenotype and FBF7 QTL was confirmed, indicating the source lies elsewhere. Developing detailed genetic and phenotypic profiles of wild apple species helps advance both the preservation efforts and marker-assisted selection in apple breeding.

This study delves into the phytocenotic structure and biodiversity of forest ecosystems dominated by species of the family Betulaceae (Betula pendula, Betula pubescens, and Alnus glutinosa) in the Kostanay region of Kazakhstan. The research is a significant step toward understanding the influence of environmental factors, particularly hydrological regimes and soil conditions, on the formation and functioning of these forest communities. Field studies were conducted across multiple plots, where detailed geobotanical descriptions and analyses of species diversity were performed. The results underscore the significant species diversity, with 146 vascular plant species identified across various forest types, and are of great importance. Birch forests exhibit higher species diversity than alder forests, with the highest diversity observed in plots with favourable moisture conditions. The study concludes that the hydrological regime is critical in shaping these forest ecosystems’ phytocenotic structure and productivity. These conclusions underline the importance of biodiversity conservation and sustainable forest management in the region, making the implications of this research significant and far reaching.

Alnus glutinosa plays a crucial role in flood control, riverbank stabilization, and water purification. Recognized for its ecological significance, it is listed in the Red Book of Kazakhstan. This study investigated the genetic variability of A. glutinosa populations in Kazakhstan, analyzing 78 trees from seven populations in the Bayanaul mountain forest massif and the northern Turgay regions using 12 SSR markers. The study identified an average of 6.3 alleles and 2.783 effective alleles, as well as observed and expected heterozygosities of 0.570 and 0.562, respectively, reflecting genetic diversity. Among the populations, KS1 (northern Turgay) and PVL3 (Bayanaul) displayed the highest diversity, while PVL5 (Bayanaul) showed slightly lower diversity. The analysis of molecular variance results indicated that 86% of the genetic diversity occurred within populations, with 14% attributed to differences between populations. A UPGMA tree based on Nei’s genetic distance revealed three distinct clusters, suggesting geographically structured genetic variability in A. glutinosa populations.

Haploid and doubled haploid (DH) technologies are important tools for accelerated wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) breeding, enabling the rapid production of fully homozygous lines and increasing the efficiency of genetic analysis of complex traits. This review presents a comprehensive analysis of the main approaches to producing haploid and DH wheat plants, with particular emphasis on androgenesis-mediated and chromosome elimination methods, including wheat-maize hybridisation. The biological basis of androgenesis is discussed in relation to stress-induced microspore reprogramming; however, the primary focus is on the methodological factors determining the efficiency of DH production, including the donor plant genotype, microspore development stage, pretreatment conditions, composition of the induction and regeneration media, and chromosome doubling. However, its widespread application remains limited by pronounced genotypic dependence, low responsiveness of many commercial varieties, albinism, and a lack of universally effective protocols. In contrast, distant hybridisation systems, particularly wheat-maize hybridisation, are generally characterised by greater reproducibility and less genotypic dependence, although they remain labour-intensive and require precise embryo rescue and chromosome doubling procedures. Overall, further progress in producing DH in wheat will be associated with the optimisation of protocols for difficult-to-respond genotypes and the integration of classical haploidisation systems with omics approaches, genomic selection, and genome-editing.

The decline in plant diversity is a pressing global issue driven by climate change, plant diseases, and humanactivities. This reduction in biodiversity poses significant threats to food security and the sustainability ofecosystems. Conserving wild plant species is crucial as they harbor genes that confer resistance to various bioticand abiotic stresses. One such important species is the Regel pear, endemic to Kazakhstan, known for itsresistance to drought and diseases. During research efforts, samples of Regel pear were collected from theirnatural habitats. Using SSR markers, researchers identified samples that exhibited resistance to scab. In a pioneeringstep, optimal in vitro cultivation conditions were developed to preserve this economically valuablespecies. The sterilization process for establishing in vitro culture and subsequent regeneration was established.The multiplication conditions were refined using DKW nutrient medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/lBAP, 0.5 mg/l IBA, and 0.2 mg/l GA3. These measures aim to ensure the long-term conservation of geneticdiversity and enhance agricultural resilience to environmental changes.

Amygdalus ledebouriana (Schltdl.) Y.Y. Yao is a rare, endangered wild almond species native to Eastern Kazakhstan, listed in both Kazakhstan’s Red Book and the IUCN Red List, and valued as a source of drought- and frost-tolerance genes for stone fruit breeding. This study developed an efficient droplet-vitrification cryopreservation protocol for A. ledebouriana shoot tips and assessed regenerant genetic stability using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. The protocol comprised five stages: preculture, osmotic conditioning (loading), vitrification with plant vitrification solutions 2 and 3 (PVS2/PVS3), liquid nitrogen storage, and unloading/regeneration. Each stage was optimized by stepwise variation of a single factor while holding the remaining conditions constant, using generalized linear models (quasi-binomial distribution, Holm-corrected post hoc comparisons). Optimal conditions included preculture on 0.75 M sucrose for 3 days (31.1% survival), 30 min loading (38.9%), and 120 min dehydration with PVS3, which significantly outperformed PVS2 in terms of shoot tip survival after cryopreservation (50.0% vs. 30.0%). Unloading with 0.8 M sucrose under mild conditions (22 °C, 20 min) and recovery medium supplemented with ascorbic acid achieved the highest survival (61.1%) and regrowth (60.0%). SSR analysis at five loci revealed no genetic changes in regenerants following cryopreservation. The developed protocol is the first reported for A. ledebouriana and can be recommended for the long-term ex situ conservation of its genetic resources.