Due to the environment pollution by cadmium (Cd) near industrial metallurgic factories and the widespread use of phosphorus fertilizers, the problem of toxic Cd effect on plants is well discussed by many authors, but the phytotoxicity of Cd under iron (Fe) deficiency stress has not been sufficiently studied. The aim of the work was to study comprehensively the effect of Cd under Fe deficiency conditions on physiological, biochemical, and anatomical parameters of rice varieties, to identify varietal differences in plant response to the effect of double stress. Relative resistance and sensitivity to the joint effect of Cd and Fe deficiency stress rice varieties have been identified. Double stress decreased a linear growth and biomass accumulation of roots and shoots (by 36‐50% and 33‐46% and 32‐56% and 32‐48%, accordingly), content of photosynthetic pigments (Chla, Chlb, and carotenoids by 36‐51%, 32‐47%, and 64‐78%, accordingly), and relative water content (by 18‐26%). Proline content increased by 28‐103% in all rice varieties, but to a lesser extent in sensitive varieties. The thickness of the lower and upper epidermis and the diameter of vascular bundles of leaves decreased by 18‐50%, 46‐60%, and 13‐48%, accordingly. The thickness of the root endodermis and exodermis and diameter of the central cylinder mainly decreased. The thickness of the exodermis increased slightly by 7%, and the diameter of the central cylinder remained at the control level in resistant Madina variety while in sensitive Chapsari variety, these indicators decreased significantly by 50 and 45%, accordingly. Thus, the aggravation of adverse effect of Cd under Fe deficiency conditions and the varietal specificity of plants’ response to double stress were shown. It creates the need for further study of these rice varieties using Fe to identify mechanisms for reducing the toxic effect of Cd on plants as well as the study of Fe and Cd transporter genes at the molecular level.

The manuscript presents the results of morpho-anatomical structure of vegetative organs of Salvia aethiopis L. S.aethiopis L. is a promising medicinal plant of flora of Kazakhstan, which is able to grow under certain soil and climatic conditions. According to its anatomical and morphological...

Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) has long stood as the prevailing standard in drug delivery, celebrated for its capacity to enhance solubility, extend circulation, and improve pharmacological performance. Nevertheless, the emergence of anti-PEG antibodies, accelerated clearance, and limited biodegradability increasingly undermine its role as a universal solution. In response, a new generation of polymers has been developed to address these shortcomings, offering the potential to sustain or surpass PEG’s benefits while mitigating immunogenicity, improving biocompatibility, and enabling finer control over therapeutic fate. This review examines current research to articulate a coherent perspective on the replacement of PEG, tracing how advances in polymer design are reshaping the foundations of targeted drug delivery. Taken together, these developments signal not only a corrective to the limitations of PEG but also a broader paradigm shift toward safer, more versatile, and clinically translatable systems that define the next frontier in precision therapeutics.

In the present work, the flower volatiles and seed fatty acids compositions of three populations (P-I, P-II, P-III) of Rosa iliensis were investigated for the first time. R. iliensis is a rare, endangered, narrow-endemic species growing in floodplains of the Ili and Sharyn rivers of Almaty region. The flower volatiles have been investigated with the tandem of MSD-SPME and GC-MS/FID techniques. The seed lipids were extracted from the ripe fruits with the microextraction technique. The flower volatiles of R. iliensis three populations were characterized by the abundance of oxygenated monoterpenes with benzaldehyde (13.3-38.7 %) and citronellol (2.6-8.8 %) as the major constituents. There were detected significant differences in floral scents between the populations. The flowers of P-I (from Sharyn River) contain sesquiterpene g-elemene (8.8%), the flowers of P-II (upper reaches of the Ili River) were rich in a-gurjunene (12.8%), while flowers of P-III (lower reaches of the Ili River) contained any sesquiterpenes. Seven fatty acids were determined in the seeds and unsaturated acids were found to be dominant for studied populations. Linoleic (43.0-51.0%), a-linolenic (26.5-28.1%) and oleic (12.0-16.1%) acids were detected as the major constituents. The present study shows that R. iliensis species is rich source of valuable volatiles and fatty acids.

The article presents the results of the study of ecological characteristics of soils of three populations on the territory of Karatau. The populations were located in different geographical points with differences in soil types, depth of horizons and content of chemical elements. The study evaluated the main soil parameters including humus content, pH, CO2, macro- and microelements, and salinity level. It was found that population-1 (mountain gray-brown soils) was characterized by the highest content of humus and mobile nitrogen, indicating better availability of nutrients to plants. population-2 (mountain southern serozems) has higher potassium content, which is favourable for plant growth. population-3 (mountain gray-brown soils) showed the lowest content of mobile phosphorus and copper compared to other populations. Analysis of heavy metal concentrations showed that zinc exceeded the maximum permissible concentration only in population-2. At the same time, soil salinization at all three sites remains at a low level and does not pose a threat to the ecosystem. These findings are ecologically significant as they reveal the critical role of soil fertility and contamination in supporting the distribution and survival of the rare endemic species Spiraeanthus schrenkianus. These results provide new information for assessing the fertility and sustainability of land resources.

The article presents the biological features of Arctium tomentosum Mill. in natural and sowing conditions, the changes in morpho-anatomical structure of vegetative organs in ontogenesis. The growth rate of the germinal root was quite active, and the formation of many lateral roots was observed at...