Relevance

The conservation and maintenance of biodiversity is one of the key global challenges. Many plant species are facing an increased risk of extinction due to habitat destruction, overharvesting, unsustainable farming and forestry practices, urbanization, environmental pollution, invasive alien species, and climate change. Malus sieversii and Malus niedzwetzkyana are among the species affected by these factors. They once covered vast areas of the Ili Valley, which hosted extensive apple forests.

Currently, M. sieversii and M. niedzwetzkyana are critically endangered and listed in the Red Book of Kazakhstan and the IUCN Red List. The distribution area of M. sieversii has decreased from 9,330 hectares in 1959 to 1,800 hectares in 2005. M. sieversii is recognized as the genetic progenitor of most modern cultivated apples.

While traditional propagation methods help preserve biodiversity, they have several limitations, including the risk of transmitting infections, long cultivation periods, genetic changes during sexual reproduction, and inconsistency of offspring with the parent tree.

The novelty of the project lies in the development of cryobiotechnology for the conservation and reproduction of endangered species M. sieversii and M. niedzwetzkyana. Four technologies for medium- and long-term storage based on in vitro culture and cryopreservation will be developed. A collection of 500 in vitro samples and a cryocollection of 500 samples will be established. This approach represents an innovative method for restoring ecologically disturbed ecosystems.

Objective

To develop medium- and long-term storage technologies for endangered species Malus sieversii and Malus niedzwetzkyana based on in vitro culture and cryopreservation for their conservation and reproduction.

Expected results

Population genotypes of M. sieversii and M. niedzwetzkyana will be selected. An aseptic in vitro collection from five populations will be established. A total of 500 clones will be micropropagated on specialized nutrient media.

Technologies for slow-growth in vitro culture of apple shoots will be developed by optimizing media composition, temperature, light, and growth retardants. Two medium-term preservation technologies will be developed, resulting in an in vitro collection of 500 shoot samples.

Cryopreservation technologies will be developed by selecting cryoprotectant types and concentrations, freezing and thawing rates, and explant types. Culture media for post-cryopreservation viability will also be studied. Two long-term cryopreservation methods will be developed, and a cryocollection of 500 explants will be created.

Project leader

Saltanat  Kabieva, Candidate of Biological Sciences, H-index – 1. Scopus Author ID 56016939200. Researcher ID Web of Science ADE-4352-2022. ORCID ID 0000-0002-6796-5136

Research team members

Almagul Apsalamovna Kakimzhanova, Doctor of Biological Sciences, H-index – 4. Responsibilities: project consulting, development of long-term storage technology based on cryopreservation, statistical analysis.

Aidana Serikbolkyzy Nurtaza, research associate, PhD (ENU, 2018–2021), MSc in Biology, author of 25 scientific works including publications in Web of Science and Scopus. Completed research internships in Gliwice (Poland) and Milan (Italy). H-index – 3.

Gulmira Kozovna Magzumova, research associate, agronomy specialist, author of 20 scientific works, including 2 in foreign journals with impact factors and 5 in KZ-recommended journals.

Asel Kairatovna Yessimseitova, MSc in Biology, research associate, author of 25 scientific works, including 3 in high-impact international journals and 7 in KZ-recognized journals. In 2015, completed an internship on molecular biology at Vytautas Magnus University, Kaunas, Lithuania.

Publications and intellectual property related to the project

1. Nurtaza A., Magzumova G., Yessimseitova A., Karimova V., Shevtsov A., Silayev D., Kakimzhanova A. Micropropagation of the endangered species Malus niedzwetzkyana for conservation biodiversity in Kazakhstan. In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology-Plant, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11627-021-10174-4
2. Nurtaza A.S., Dyusembekova D.A. Optimization of the protocol for medium-term storage of the endangered species Malus niedzwetzkyana. Bulletin of the L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University. Series: Biological Sciences, 2022, No. 2 (139), pp. 107–122. https://doi.org/10.32523/2616-7034-2022-139-2-107-122 (in Russian)
3. Nurtaza A.S., Yesimseitova A.K., Karimova V.K., Magzumova G.K., Baktybay B.N., Kabieva S.Zh. Optimization of factors influencing the adaptation and growth of plants in the soil of the rare species Malus niedzwetzkyana. Bulletin of ENU named after. L.N. Gumilyov. Series: Biological Sciences, 2022, No. 2(139), p. 70–85. https://doi.org/10.32523/2616-7034-2022-139-2-70-85 (in Russian)
4. Method of microclonal propagation of Sievers apple tree (Malus sieversii). Patent of the Republic of Kazakhstan No. 35361 dated August 27, 2020. Authors: Nurtaza A.S., Dyusembekova D.A., Yesimseitova A.K., Baktybay B.N., Magzumova G.K., Ramankulov E.M. (in Russian)

Achieved results

Population types of Malus sieversii and Malus niedzwetzkyana were selected, and an aseptic in vitro collection of 500 clones was established for conservation and reproduction purposes. Technologies for slow growth and medium-term storage of Malus sieversii and Malus niedzwetzkyana shoots under in vitro conditions were developed. Cryopreservation protocols were created, and a cryocollection consisting of 500 explants of Malus sieversii and Malus niedzwetzkyana was established for long-term storage.