According to expert estimates, approximately 75% of Earth’s terrestrial surface has been significantly altered by human activities. Agriculture, particularly intensive crop and livestock farming, is a leading threat to plant extinction. Growing populations further contribute to biodiversity loss, affecting medicinal, edible, and ornamental plant species. Kazakhstan, where 14% of plant species are endemic, has officially recognized biodiversity conservation as a priority to ensure environmental sustainability and quality of life.
Amygdalus ledebouriana is an endemic, endangered almond species listed in the Red Book of Kazakhstan and the IUCN Red List. It occurs in the foothills of southwestern Altai, Tarbagatai, Dzungarian Alatau, and China’s Xinjiang Autonomous Region. The species is notable for its high ornamental value, use as rootstock for stone fruit trees, and soil erosion control.
Its effective conservation requires a combination of in situ and ex situ methods. Modern biotechnologies enable short-, medium-, and long-term conservation of plant material through micropropagation, slow-growth culture, and cryopreservation. These approaches support the formation of reliable in vitro and cryo collections to safeguard genetic diversity. Despite progress with other almond species, targeted research on A. ledebouriana is lacking, making the creation of a robust biotechnological platform essential.
To develop micropropagation, medium-term storage, and cryopreservation technologies for the endemic, endangered Amygdalus ledebouriana to conserve biodiversity.
Three novel biotechnological methods—micropropagation, medium-term storage, and cryopreservation—will be developed. Collections of at least 5 populations of A. ledebouriana will be established.
1,200 clones will be micropropagated; 500 will be rooted in vitro and 250 will be adapted and cultivated in soil substrate under greenhouse conditions.
A collection of 700 in vitro shoot samples and a cryocollection of 700 explant samples will be created. Histological analysis will be conducted to observe tissue structure modifications before and after cryopreservation. Molecular genetic analysis using SSR markers will be performed on mother plants and derived clones to evaluate clonal uniformity.
Almagul Kakimzhanova, Doctor of Biological Sciences, H-index – 4. Researcher ID – I-3841-2017 ORCID ID – 0000-0002-7797-6867 Scopus ID – 56031411400
Aidana Nurtaza, PhD, researcher. Experienced in plant biotechnology, breeding, and molecular biology. Author of over 11 publications (Web of Science, Scopus). H-index – 3. Researcher ID – AEE-6834-2022 ORCID ID – 0000-0001-6934-3747 ScopusID – 57389205700
Assel Yessimseitova, PhD student, researcher. Author of 25 publications. H-index – 1. Researcher ID: P-9837-2017 ORCID: 0000-0002-5428-1915 Scopus ID: 57389169700
Gulmira Magzumova, agronomist, researcher. Author of 30 publications including 5 in peer-reviewed international journals.
Damira Dyussembekova, junior researcher, MSc in Natural Sciences. Co-author of 11 publications and 1 patent. Internship in Poznan, Poland. H-index – 3. ORCID: 0000-0002-1621-0577
Zhanargul Zhanybekova, junior researcher. MSc from the University of Helsinki and Unilasalle, France. 8 years of experience in grant-funded and commercialization projects. Author of 10 publications.
Aisha Abdrakhmanova, MSc student, lab technician. Experience in biotechnology, plant breeding, and molecular biology. Author of 4 publications indexed in Web of Science and Scopus.
For the first time, micropropagation, medium-term storage, and cryopreservation technologies for the endemic and endangered species Amygdalus ledebouriana were developed, and collections of at least five populations were established for biodiversity conservation. A total of 1200 clones of Amygdalus ledebouriana were micropropagated, 500 clones were rooted in vitro, and 250 clones were successfully adapted and grown in soil substrate under greenhouse and glasshouse conditions.