Search Results (28)

Background: Rosa L. is an economically significant genus with species that are notable for their rich content of phenolic compounds. Despite its importance, the taxonomy of Rosa remains complex and unresolved. Methods: We sequenced, assembled, and performed comparative analyses of the complete plastomes of four Rosa species: R. acicularis, R. iliensis, R. laxa, and R. spinosissima. In addition to the plastome, we sequenced the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS). Results: Plastomes ranged in size from 157,148 bp (R. iliensis) to 157,346 bp (R. laxa). In each plastome, 136 genes were annotated, comprising 90 protein-coding, 38 tRNA, and eight rRNA genes. A total of 905 SSRs were identified, ranging from 224 (R. acicularis) to 229 in R. spinosissima. Nine highly variable regions were detected, including two coding genes (rps16 and ycf1) and seven intergenic spacers (ycf3-trnS(GGA), trnT(UGU)-trnL(UAA), rpl14-rpl16, trnR(UCU)-atpA, trnD(GUC), trnG(UCC)-trnfM(CAU), and psbE-petL). Maximum Likelihood (ML) phylogenetic analyses based on the complete plastome and ycf1 gene datasets consistently resolved the Rosa species into three major clades, with strong bootstrap support. In contrast, the ML tree based on ITS resolved species into four clades but showed lower bootstrap values, indicating reduced resolution compared to plastid datasets. Conclusions: Our findings underscore the value of plastome data in resolving phylogenetic relationships within the genus Rosa. Full article

The assessment of the hydrological functions of landscapes and the landscape–hydrological background is an important instrument for minimizing damage from rivers and preventing water conflicts under conditions of data scarcity for hydrological modeling. To assess the climate–hydrological background of the East Kazakhstan region, the Selyaninov Hydro-thermal Coefficient and the Vysotsky–Ivanov Moisture Coefficient were used. The East Kazakhstan region is a typical continental arid and semi-arid region. The presence of mountain ranges, such as the Altai, makes the climate and environment in the region highly varied. A dataset from 30 weather stations for the period 1961–2023 was used for calculations. Three interpolation methods and landscape extrapolation were used to construct maps of the coefficients. Over the observation period, the values of the moisture indices at the weather stations in the region fluctuated within a wide range. Both coefficients are in the range from extra arid to extra humid climates. Full article

The Altay oasis, located at the heart of the transnational ecological conservation zone shared by China, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Mongolia, is a region with tremendous potential for water resource utilization. However, with the continued expansion of agriculture, its ecological vulnerability has become increasingly pronounced. Within this fragile balance lies a critical opportunity: efficient water resource management could pave the way for sustainable development across the entire arid oasis regions. This study uses a decision tree model based on a feature threshold to map the spatial distribution of major crops in the Altay Prefecture oasis, assess their water requirements, and identify the coupling relationships between agricultural water and land resources. Furthermore, it proposed optimization planting structure strategies under three scenarios: water-saving irrigation, cash crop orientation, and forage crop orientation. In 2023, the total planting area of major crops in Altay Prefecture was 3368 km², including spring wheat, spring maize, sunflower, and alfalfa, which consumed 2.68 × 10⁹ m³ of water. Although this area accounted for only 2.85% of the land, it consumed 26.23% of regional water resources, with agricultural water use comprising as much as 82.5% of total consumption, highlighting inefficient agricultural water use as a critical barrier to sustainable agricultural development. Micro-irrigation technologies demonstrate significant water-saving potential. The adoption of such technologies could reduce water consumption by 14.5%, thereby significantly enhancing agricultural water-use efficiency. Cropping structure optimization analysis indicates that sunflower-based planting patterns offer notable water-saving benefits. Increasing the area of sunflower cultivation by one unit can unlock a water-saving potential of 25.91%. Forage crop combinations excluding soybean can increase livestock production by 30.2% under the same level of water consumption, demonstrating their superior effectiveness for livestock system expansion. This study provides valuable insights for achieving sustainable agricultural development in arid regions under different development scenarios. Full article

This article presents the results of a comprehensive study on Rosa acicularis Lindl., Rosa laxa Retz., and Rosa spinosissima L. growing in the sharply continental climate of the Kazakhstan Altai under diverse ecological and phytocenotic conditions. All three wild rose species show notable ecological plasticity, allowing them to thrive in heterogeneous environments. A total of 41 populations were recorded: 12 of R. acicularis, 13 of R. laxa, and 16 of R. spinosissima, with vertical distribution ranging from 404 to 1837 m a.s.l. Nine populations where each species dominates its plant community were selected as model sites to assess ecological, biological, and economic traits. For each population, the floristic composition and structure were described, and morphometric, resource, and physiological indicators were evaluated. Significant phenotypic variation was noted in plant height, bush diameter, leaf traits, and fruit morphology and taste. Under natural conditions, industrial thickets are mainly formed by R. laxa in the Southern Altai and by R. spinosissima in the Southwestern Altai due to their wide distribution and high plant density. Fruit weight ranged from 2.23 to 2.47 g (R. acicularis), 2.28 to 2.68 g (R. laxa), and 2.17 to 2.55 g (R. spinosissima), values generally lower than those previously reported. Based on coefficients of variation for intra-population diversity in morphological and quantitative traits, several promising populations were identified. These populations hold potential for selecting valuable forms for breeding programs and for establishing a regionally adapted gene pool. Full article

The assessment of the maximum snow-water equivalent in mountains is important for understanding the mechanism of their formation, as well as for hydrological calculations. The low density of the observation network and the high complexity of ground-based snow-measuring operations have led to the widespread use of remote methods to obtain such data. In this study, the maximum water reserve of the Uba River basin was calculated for the period of 2020–2023, based on data from the Sentinel-2 satellite regarding the position of the seasonal snow line, obtained using the temperature-based melt-index method. This study determined the snowmelt coefficients for the meteorological stations at Zmeinogorsk, Shemonaikha, and Ridder. Maps were constructed to show the distribution of the maximum snow-water equivalent in the Uba River basin. The spatial differentiation features of the snow cover were revealed, depending on the elevation, slope exposure, and distance from the watersheds. It was established that the altitudinal distribution of snow cover on the northern and southern macro-slopes of the ridges is asymmetric: in the western part of the basin, within the elevation range of 500–1200 m, the maximum water reserves of snow cover are greater on the southern slopes, but they become higher on the northern slopes above 1200 m. In the eastern part of the basin, they are always larger on the northern slopes. The greatest differences in the distribution of snow cover between the slopes occur near the watersheds. Full article

The granitoids of the Kalba–Narym batholith and the Irtysh shear zone (ISZ) are among the main geological features of the late Paleozoic Altai accretion–collision system (AACS) in Eastern Kazakhstan. Traditionally, it is believed that late Paleozoic strike-slip faults played a pivotal role at all stages of the development of the AACS, they were supposed to control deformation, magmatism, and ore deposits. This work is devoted to solving the problem of the tectonic evolution of the AACS based on the reconstruction of the thermal history of granitoids of the Kalba–Narym batholith in connection with the Chechek metamorphic dome structure, which is one of the highly metamorphosed blocks mapped within the ISZ. The new geological and geochronological data presented in this work allowed us to establish the sequence of formation of the Kalba–Narym granitoid batholith and link it with the evolution of the Irtysh shear zone (ISZ). It was revealed that in the late Carboniferous–early Permian (312–289 Ma), during the NE–SW compression, the Irtysh shear zone formed as a gently dipping thrust system into which gabbro of the Surov massif intruded. The combined manifestation of magmatic and tectonic processes caused the formation of tectonic mélange with cataclastic gabbro and metamorphic rocks of the Chechek metamorphic dome structure (312–289 Ma). Compression caused the formation of a cover-thrust structure. The thickening of the crust under the probable thermal action of the Tarim plume led to the formation of the early Permian Kalba–Narym batholith (297–284 Ma) within the Kalba–Narym terrane. Denudation of the orogen occurred before the Early Triassic (280–229 Ma). In this way the sequence of formation of the Kalba–Narym batholith and the ISZ is consistent with the concepts of the stages of plume-lithosphere interaction within the AACS under the influence of the late Carboniferous–early Permian Tarim igneous province, but in the cover-thrust tectonic setting. Full article

The analysis of genetic diversity in natural populations of valuable medicinal plant species experiencing overexploitation is a key aspect of their natural conservation strategy. Mobile genetic elements and other interspersed repeats, which are major components of eukaryotic genomes, serve as effective tools for studying plant biodiversity and variability. The genetic diversity of four valuable medicinal plant Rhodiola rosea L. populations was investigated using the inter-repeat amplified PCR method with inter-priming binding sites (iPBSs) for genome profiling. At the interpopulation level, unique amplicons characteristic of specific R. rosea populations were identified. Molecular variance analysis revealed that the biodiversity of R. rosea populations in the Kazakh Altai region is 56% attributed to interpopulation differences and 44% to intrapopulation differences. It was shown that populations located in favorable environmental conditions have greater genetic diversity compared to those in extreme habitats. This study identified a high degree of polymorphism among R. rosea populations using the inter-repeat amplified PCR method. The genetic diversity of the populations ranged from 0.105 to 0.156, with an average heterozygosity of 0.134. The findings provide new insights into the population structure of R. rosea in the Kazakh Altai, enabling the identification of different genotypes, which will significantly complement traditional methods for conserving this valuable medicinal plant. Full article

The Black Irtysh River, a major tributary of the Ob River, traverses diverse ecological zones, influencing the distribution and composition of its floodplain vegetation. This study focused on the Black Irtysh River valley, a key segment of the Irtysh basin, to assess the current state of its plant communities. To compile expedition routes and a preliminary floristic list, a critical revision of more than 1000 herbarium sheets was carried out in the herbarium collections of Kazakhstan (Altai Botanical Garden and Institute of Botany and Phytointroduction). During the field season, a study of plant biodiversity was carried out along the entire coastline of the Black Irtysh. As a result, 217 species of higher vascular plants were identified (55% of those previously found in herbarium archives) from 139 genera and 43 families. The habitats of two Red Book species were discovered: Tulipa patens and Tulipa uniflora. It was found that the flora of the Black Irtysh is similar to the flora of the entire Zaisan depression, and families Poaceae, Asteraceae, Amaranthaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Rosaceae, and Fabaceae are predominant. Geobotanical surveys revealed that the species composition of plant communities is poor and similar among survey points. Only the western part of the river delta is characterized by high rates of projective cover and reserves of forage plants. The main factors of anthropogenic influence are fires, livestock grazing, and deforestation. Full article

Allium microdictyon Prokh. is a rare, endemic species possessing good taste qualities and listed in the Red Book of Kazakhstan; therefore, it is subject to anthropogenic impact (food gathering, grazing, logging, fires, etc.), which leads to a substantial reduction of its area. The aim of the study was to develop a protocol for microclonal propagation of A. microdictyon. Mature seeds of A. microdictyon collected from natural habitats in the Kazakhstani Altai were used as explants. Optimization of seed sterilization methods, selection of growth regulators for inducing adventitious shoot formation and microclonal propagation, and optimization of conditions for adaptation of regenerants to ex vitro conditions were carried out. Surface sterilization of seeds with 70% EtOH and 0.01% HgCl₂ is optimal for obtaining sterile and viable A. microdictyon seedlings. Sterile seedlings obtained in vitro on ½ Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 10 mg L⁻¹ gibberellic acid and 0.1 mg L⁻¹ indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) were used as a source for obtaining micropropagation cultures. Induction of adventitious organogenesis of A. microdictyon was effective on media containing 0.5 mg L⁻¹ 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 1.5–2 mg L⁻¹ zeatin. On these variants, leaf conglomerates consisting of abundantly overgrown thin leaves were formed. The effect of 0.2 mg L⁻¹ indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) on further development of organogenesis and formation of microbulbs in A. microdictyon was shown in comparison with IAA, NAA, and PAC. Regenerated A. microdictyon plants were adapted to ex vitro conditions and resumed growth after 16–20 weeks of relative dormancy. The developed micropropagation protocol can be used to preserve germplasm and propagate for subsequent restoration of A. microdictyon populations in natural habitats. Full article

Radial tree growth at high-elevation and high-latitude sites is predominantly controlled by changes in summer temperature. This relationship is, however, expected to weaken under projected global warming, which questions the reliability of tree-ring chronologies for climate reconstructions. Here, we examined the growth–climate response patterns of five tree-ring width (TRW) and maximum latewood density (MXD) chronologies of larch (Larix sibirica) from upper-treeline ecotones in the Altai Mountains, which is a key region for developing millennial-long dendroclimatic records in inner Eurasia. The TRW and MXD chronologies exhibited significant year-to-year coherency within and between the two parameters (p < 0.001). While TRW is mostly influenced by temperature changes during the first half of the growing season from June to July (r = 0.66), MXD is most strongly correlated with May–August temperatures (r = 0.73). All seasonal temperature signals are statistically significant at the 99% confidence level, temporally stable back to 1940 CE, the period with reliable instrumental measurements, and spatially representative for a vast area of inner Eurasia between northeastern Kazakhstan in the west, northern Mongolia in the east, southern Russia in the north and northwestern China in the south. Our findings demonstrate the paleoclimatic potential of TRW and especially MXD chronologies and reject any sign of the ´divergence problem´ at these high-elevation, mid-latitude larch sites. Full article

During the last twenty years, minimal white spotting associated with blue eyes was selected by feline breeders to create the Altai, Topaz, and Celestial breeds. Additionally, certain breeders introduced this trait in their lineages of purebred cats. The trait has been called “dominant blue eyes (DBE)” and was confirmed to be autosomal dominant in all lineages. DBE was initially described in outbred cats from Kazakhstan and Russia and in two purebred lineages of British cats from Russia, as well as in Dutch Maine Coon cats, suggesting different founding effects. We have previously identified two variants in the Paired Box 3 (PAX3) gene associated with DBE in Maine Coon and Celestial cats; however, the presence of an underlying variant remains undetermined in other DBE breeding lines. Using a genome-wide association study, we identified a single region on chromosome C1 that was associated with DBE in British cats. Within that region, we identified PAX3 as the strongest candidate gene. Whole-genome sequencing of a DBE cat revealed an RD-114 retrovirus LTR (long terminal repeat) insertion within PAX3 intron 4 (namely NC_018730.3:g.206975776_206975777insN[433]) known to contain regulatory sequences. Using a panel of 117 DBE cats, we showed that this variant was fully associated with DBE in two British lineages, in Altai cats, and in some other DBE lineages. We propose that this NC_018730.3:g.206975776_206975777insN[433] variant represents the DBE^ALT (Altai Dominant Blue Eye) allele in the domestic cat. Finally, we genotyped DBE cats from 14 lineages for the three PAX3 variants and showed that they were not present in four lineages, confirming genetic heterogeneity of the DBE trait in the domestic cat. Full article

The Pazyryk Culture, situated in the Altai Mountains of Russia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and China, flourished for a relatively short period: 5th–3rd centuries BCE. A series of burial grounds from the later phase, 4th–mid-3rd centuries BCE, to be studied here reveal the remains of three groups of individuals of high, mid, and lower status. Within the limiting topographical and environmental confines of the local region, in contrast to the vast grasslands of the steppe and the deserts and oases of Central Asia, it is possible via the analysis of material culture and with reference to ethnographic studies to see nuances of interaction among these three groups and the regions immediately adjacent during this short period. Aided by modern scientific techniques, including DNA and isotopic analysis, together with analysis of excavated and often frozen remains, it is also possible to map out a heterarchical set of relationships within the hierarchical framework. The model developed in this unique landscape might be tested elsewhere in Eurasia as it extends the application of the notion of nonuniform socio-political organization among pastoralists noted for Bronze Age societies in the Eurasian steppe to the late Iron Age. Full article

Paeonia anomala L. is a valuable and sought-after medicinal plant for treating therapeutic pathologies. The natural habitat of P. anomala in the Republic of Kazakhstan is located in the mountainous areas of the East Kazakhstan region. P. anomala is listed in the Red Book of Kazakhstan as a rare species with limited distribution. In this regard, we studied a strategy for preserving the biological diversity of P. anomala wild population. In particular, the ecological, phytocenotic, and floristic characteristics of five P. anomala populations in East Kazakhstan were explored. The anatomical, morphological, and genetic variability of the species in various habitats was evaluated. Overall, the condition of the P. anomala population in the study region can be considered satisfactory. The floristic composition of P. anomala plant communities recorded 130 species belonging to 35 families and 101 genera. The northern slopes of mountains and shrub-grass communities with leached chernozem with high contents of N-NO₃ and P₂O₅ appeared to be optimal for P. anomala growth. Asteraceae (13%), Rosaceae (13%), Poaceae (10%), and Ranunculaceae (9%) are the major families of P. anomala flora and plant communities. The Eurasian (54%), Asian (24%), and Holarctic (15%) groups were recognized as dominant in the chronological spectrum. Amplification with iPBS primers resulted in the generation of 505 fragments, 257 of which were polymorphic. Our research results indicate that the genetic differentiation of the Kazakhstan populations is not quite as high and may indicate their long-term existence within one large population. A separate branch is formed by the P5 population, which is located separately from other populations, confirming its genetic isolation. The analysis of genetic diversity iPBS markers suggests the existence of a large, unified P. anomala population in Kazakhstan Altai. Full article

Argali (Ovis ammon), the largest species among all wild sheep, is native to mountainous regions of Central and East Asia, spreading mainly throughout such countries as Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Afghanistan, Mongolia, Russia and China. Intraspecific taxonomy of argali remains unclear, and currently, most researchers recognize up to nine subspecies. The aim of our work was to investigate the phylogenetic relationship between populations of O. ammon based on genome-wide SNP analysis. Five subspecies, Altai (O. a. ammon) (n = 6), Gobi (O. a. darwini) (n = 5), Pamir (O. a. polii) (n = 12), Tian Shan (O.a. karelini) (n = 15) and Kyzylkum (O. a. severtzovi) (n = 4), were genotyped using Illumina OvineHD BeadChip. In addition, complete mitogenome sequences from 30 of those samples were obtained. After quality control procedures, 65,158 SNPs were selected for the subsequent analyses. Neighbor-Net dendrogram and principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that the five subspecies could be grouped into four clusters. It was shown that a population from Altai formed a cluster with Gobi subspecies. The highest pairwise F_ST genetic distance was between O. a. ammon and O. a. severtzovi (0.421) and the lowest were between O. a. polii and O.a. karelini (0.083) and between O. a. ammon and O. a. darwini (0.040) subspecies. Genetic diversity was higher in Central Asian argali as compared to East Asian populations. O. a. severtzovi had an admixed origin and consisted of two genetic components—73.5 ± 0.2% of O. a. polli and 26.5 ± 0.2% of urial (O. vignei). TreeMix analysis revealed a migration event from urial to O. a. severtzovi argali. The analysis of complete mitogenomes supported the results based on whole-genome genotyping. Considering that all the mtDNA sequences of O. a severtzovi belonged to O. ammon and not to O. vignei, we concluded that gene flow in this group was associated with urial males. As this is only the first work on intraspecific taxonomy and genetic diversity of argali based on genome-wide SNP genotyping and the analysis of complete mitogenomes, we suggest that more genetic studies are needed to clarify the status of Gobi and Tian Shan argali. Full article

This paper represents the results of a study of the chemical composition of salt lakes within the Burabay rock mass in eastern Kazakhstan. We sampled water and bottom deposits, geochemically analyzed the composition of the salt lakes, and performed aerial photography of the lakes to geometrize them. We studied the linkage between the rare-metal mineralization of granites of the Burabay rock mass and the salt lakes within the territory. Based on the obtained data, we identified the prospects of the survey area for rare metals. The surveys included 15 water samples and 15 bottom-deposit samples. To identify the source of salt in the lake water and deposits, the chemical composition of Burabay rocks was analyzed and seven samples of coarse-grained and porphyritic granites were selected. It was established that the water and bottom deposits accumulated elevated concentrations of valuable components (i.e., Sr, Rb, and U); this fact may be considered as an argument for conducting special surveys of small lakes in the region. The results obtained can be used for conducting further explorations and mining operations in the survey area in order to revive the rare-metal industry in the region, which will allow the development of new high-tech production and the creation of new jobs in this sphere. Full article