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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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malus niedzwetzkyana is an endemic, endangered, and valuable plant species. To conservation Malus niedzwetzkyana in nature, it is necessary to obtain planting material with a high survival rate. Selection of optimal pH, light intensity, and fertilizers is necessary to obtain high survival rate during the adaptation period of microshoots after micropropagation and in vitro culture. For optimization of adaptation condition of in vitro rooted microshoots of M. niedzwetzkyana were used. This work investigated the effect of pH level, light intensity, and fertilizers on the growth parameters of micropropogated microshoots of M. niedzwetzkyana. To select the optimal pH and substrate four types of substrates were studied: neutral peat, acid peat, neutral soil, and acidic soil. In addition, as the artificial light source two lighting conditions were studied: LED phyto tapes (4680 lx) and fluorescent phytolamps (7410 lx). In result, highest survival rate was obtained in treatments using peat or soil at neutral pH and 7410 lx light intensity. Additionally, to acclimatize the plantlets in a greenhouse the fertilizers effects were studied: potassium nitrate, monoammonium phosphate, Special crystallon, ammonium nitrate. Thus, irrigation with the Special Crystallon was an effective treatment for seedlings and substantial growth was observed in the aboveground and underground parts of the plants post transfer to greenhouse conditions. After 4 months the average height of seedlings, the number of shoots, and the crown diameter were 114.42 cm, 25.67, and 61.83 cm, respectively with 90% survival rate of planting material after three years under natural conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cotoneaster melanocarpus Fisch. ex A.Blytt (Rosaceae) is a deciduous shrub that is difficult to propagate through traditional methods. Thus, in the present study, in vitro regeneration utilizing nodal explants was attempted for the first time. Murashige and Skoog (MS) and Quoirin and Lepoivre (QL) medium supplemented with 0.2 or 0.5 mg L−1 6-benzyladenine (BA), 0.01 mg L−1 indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), and 0.5 mg L−1 gibberellic acid (GA3) were utilized for shoot culture establishment. Optimum 8.83 ± 0.66 shoots with 0.87 ± 0.10 cm length and 4.27 ± 0.37 leaves per explant were recorded after 40 d in MS medium fortified with 0.2 mg L−1 BA, 0.01 mg L−1 IBA, and 0.5 mg L−1 GA3. These shoots were then rooted in ½MS medium augmented with 0.5 mg L−1 IBA which formed 4.03 ± 0.29 roots per shoot (100% response) with 3.64 ± 0.16 cm length. The plantlets were then transferred to soil:vermiculite (3:1 w/w) in the light room for 35 d. Later on, they were successfully hardened and acclimatized in open ground with 80.9% survival rate after 3 mo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodiversity conservation requires advanced and effective ex situ plant propagation techniques. The present study was conducted to optimize the micropropagation of a rare and endangered species of Malus niedzwetzkyana. The objective was the ex situ conservation and reintroduction, via micropropagation, of this species. Further, we aimed to obtain healthy planting material on a large-scale for commercial implementation. To study shoot multiplication, we examined the effects of three cytokinins (6-benzylaminopurine, kinetin, and thidiazuron) supplemented to Quoirin–Lepoivre (QL) culture medium. To examine the rooting of the shoots, we tested the effects of the macronutrient concentration of the QL medium (at 1×, 0.5×, and 0.25× concentration), and of its sucrose content (0%, 10%, 20%, and 30%). The optimized micropropagation technology provided a high propagation rate (28.77 new shoots per explant) on QL medium supplemented with 0.5 mg L−1 6-benzylaminopurine and 0.01 mg L−1 indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). All shoots developed roots on 0.5× QL media with the addition of 10 mg L−1 sucrose and 1.5 mg L−1 IBA, producing a mean of 11.8 roots per explant. Using nine pairs of simple sequence repeat primers, no somaclonal variation was detected among the plantlets produced using the 13 treatments. Thus, the proposed technology makes it possible to preserve and reproduce the valuable genetic material of the M. niedzwetzkyana in the laboratory and natural conditions. This study demonstrates how biotechnology can be effectively used as an ex situ conservation strategy for this endangered species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two lines of transgenic carrot plants producing Mycobacterium tuberculosis proteins (ESAT6 and CFP10) have been constructed. The target proteins are present in carrot storage roots at a level not less than 0.056% of the total storage protein (TSP) for ESAT6 and 0.002% of TSP for CFP10. As has been shown, oral immunization of mice induces both the cell-mediated and humoral immunities. These data suggest that the proteins in question are appropriate as a candidate edible vaccine against tuberculosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two lines of transgenic carrot plants producing Mycobacterium tuberculosis proteins (ESAT6 and CFP10) have been constructed. The target proteins are present in carrot storage roots at a level not less than 0.056% of the total storage protein (TSP) for ESAT6 and 0.002% of TSP for CFP10. As has been shown, oral immunization of mice induces both the cell-mediated and humoral immunities. These data suggest that the proteins in question are appropriate as a candidate edible vaccine against tuberculosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]