Isolation, Morphological and Molecular-Phenological Identification of Nematophagous Fungi Inhabiting the Soils of Agricultural Lands in Southern Kazakhstan.

The aim of the present research is the isolation and morphological and molecular-phenological identification of nematophagous fungi of Southern Kazakhstan for the production of effective bionematicides on their basis. Nematophagous fungi, which include nematode-trapping, ovicidal, endoparasitic, toxin-producing, and special substance-producing fungi, are among the most effective biological agents in controlling phytoparasitic nematodes. To isolate and characterize nematophagous fungi, soil samples were collected at 12 sites in three regions of Southern Kazakhstan.

Evaluation of Wheat Germplasm for Resistance to Leaf Rust () and Identification of the Sources of Resistance Genes Using Molecular Markers.

Leaf rust, caused by (), is a significant disease of spring wheat spread in Kazakhstan. The development of resistant cultivars importantly requires the effective use of leaf rust resistance genes. This study aims to: (i) determine variation in population using races from the East Kazakhstan, Akmola, and Almaty regions of Kazakhstan; (ii) examine resistance during seedling and adult plant stages; and (iii) identify the sources of resistance genes among the spring wheat collection using molecular markers.