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HomeAP23483825 (supervisor Almerekova S.S.)

AP23483825 (supervisor Almerekova S.S.)

Brief description of the project

(2024-2026)

 

Project title: IRN AP23483825 «Biological diversity of species in genus Iris L. growing in Kazakhstan».

Relevance. Plants of the genus Iris L. are a source of valuable medicinal compounds, are widely used in perfumery, and have high decorative value. At the same time, plants of this genus have not been sufficiently studied in Kazakhstan, where there are 19 species, three of which are listed in the Red Book of Kazakhstan. The main bottlenecks in the study of the genus are 1) confusing taxonomy of this genus, due to insufficient botanical studies of Iris species in Kazakhstan, 2) lack of information on the state of genetic diversity in populations of Iris species, and 3) limited information on the biochemical composition of secondary compounds in plants of medicinal species, growing in Kazakhstan. The project plans to study the molecular taxonomy of Iris species growing in Kazakhstan and determine the population structure of rare and endangered Iris species. The main hypothesis of the project is based on determining the genetic uniqueness of species of the genus Iris growing in Kazakhstan. The results of the project will contribute to the development of scientific and human resources, as well as further study, conservation and rational use of irises. Assessing the level of genetic polymorphism in natural populations of rare and Red Book iris species will allow us to identify populations with a relatively high level of genetic diversity for further recommendations for their conservation.

The goal of the project: To study the biodiversity of species in genus Iris L. growing in Kazakhstan using modern molecular-genetic technologies and biochemical methods.

Expected results:

  1. Samples from populations of Iris wild species will be collected and DNA-bank of Kazakhstan’s flora will be replenished.
  2. Nucleotide sequencing of nuclear and chloroplast genomes markers will be done for collected species, and phylogenetic relationships between species will be studied.
  3. The nucleotide sequences will be determined, annotation of complete sequences in cp genomes will be studied.
  4. The population structure will be determined, and genetic diversity within and between populations of Iris species in Kazakhstan will be studied.
  5. Biochemical analysis of plants in Iris species will be studied using secondary metabolites of leaf samples.

Scientific Supervisor of the project:

Almerekova Shyryn, PhD, associate professor, leading researcher. S. Almerekova co-author of more than 40 scientific articles, including 25 articles in peer-reviewed publications indexed in Scopus (H-index–8, https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57196952712) and/or Web of Science (H-index–8, https://www.webofscience.com/wos/author/record/2003633), of which 20 articles are on the topic of the project. Co-author of a utility model patent, handbook, monograph and methodological recommendations. Winner of a scholarship for talented young scientists of the Republic of Kazakhstan (2021). Best young scientist of the IPBB (2020, 2021, and 2024). Awarded the “Kurmet” diploma from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

 Research group: 

  1. Turuspekov, Academician of the NAS RK under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan,

candidate of biological sciences (genetics, breeding and seed production), professor (biology), head of the laboratory of molecular genetics. Has more than 100 scientific publications, including 77 in peer-reviewed international publications having a CiteScore percentile in the Scopus database (H-index 18, https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57197860996) and/or indexed in Web of Science databases (H-index 15, https://www.webofscience.com/wos/author/record/1719056), 15 in publications of CQAFSHE, co-author 4 monographs, 4 scientific and methodological recommendations. He has 4 utility model patents, patents and copyright certificates for varieties of barley, wheat and soybeans. Y. Turuspekov is a member of the editorial boards of 7 local and foreign scientific journals. Awarded with the badge «For merits in the development of science of the Republic of Kazakhstan» (2014). Holder of the Diploma «Leader of Science» from Thomson Reuters and NCSTE JSC (2015); scholarship holder of the state scientific scholarship for scientists and specialists who have made an outstanding contribution to the development of science and technology of the Republic of Kazakhstan (2018). Winner of the contest «Best Researcher» in 2022 of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 

  1. Yermagambetova, PhD (geobotany), researcher. Co-author of 20 articles of which 14 articles are in Scopus databases (H-index=5, https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57381827100) /WoS (H-index=5, https://www.webofscience.com/wos/author/record/3768817) and 5 articles in CQAFSHE journals. Completed scientific internships in research centers in China, Hungary, England, and South Korea.
  2. Osmonali, PhD (geobotany), researcher at the Laboratory of the flora of higher plants of the Institute of Botany and Phytointroduction of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Co-author of more than 20 articles, incl. 13 articles in Scopus databases (H-index=4 (https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57212564484) and/or WoS (H-index=2, https://www.webofscience.com/wos/author/record/2091403). Completed international internships in Germany.

List of publications of the project’s participants (2018-2023)

Main publications of the scientific supervisor (highlighted) and members of the scientific group (underlined):

  1. Almerekova, S., Shchegoleva, N., Abugalieva, S., & Turuspekov, Y. The molecular taxonomy of three endemic Central Asian species of Ranunculus (Ranunculaceae) // PLoS ONE (IF=3.8, Q2 – Multidisciplinary sciences; SJR=0.885, percentile: 87 – Multidisciplinary). – 2020. – Vol.15(10). – P. e0240121 doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0240121
  2. Almerekova S., Yermagambetova M., Abugalieva S., Turuspekov Y. The complete chloroplast genome sequencing data of Juniperus sabina (Cupressaceae Bartl.) from Kazakhstan. Data in Brief (IF= 1.1, Q3 Multidisciplinary sciences; SJR= 0.131, percentile: 72- Multidisciplinary). – 2022. – Vol.45. – P.108644. DOI: 10.1016/j.dib.2022.108644
  3. Yermagambetova M., Abugalieva S., Turuspekov Y., Almerekova S.* Illumina sequencing data of the complete chloroplast genome of rare species Juniperus seravschanica (Cupressaceae) from Kazakhstan // Data in Brief (IF= 1, Q3- Multidisciplinary Sciences, SJR= 0.258, percentile: 72 – Multidisciplinary). – 2023. – Vol. 46. – P. 108866.
  4. Almerekova S., Favarisova N., Turuspekov Y., Abugalieva S. Cross-genera transferability of microsatellite markers and phylogenetic assessment of three Salsola species from Western Kazakhstan // Proceedings of the Latvian Academy of Sciences, Section B (SJR=0.143, percentile: 29-Multidisciplinary). – 2020. – Vol. 74. – No. 5. – P. 325-334. doi: 10.2478/prolas-2020-0049
  5. Альмерекова Ш.С., Абугалиева С.И., Мухитдинов Н.М. Taxonomic assessment of the Oxytropis species from South-East of Kazakhstan // Vavilov Journal of Genetics and Breeding (Вавиловский журнал генетики и селекции) (IF=0.9, Q3 – Agriculture,Multidisciplinary sciences; SJR=0.223, percentile: 46 –General Agricultural and Biological Sciences) – 2018. – Т. 22(2). – С.285-290. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18699/VJ362
  6. Yermagambetova M.M., Ivashchenko A.A., Abugalieva S.I., Almerekova S.S.* Floristic composition of some plant communities including Juniperus seravschanica in Aksu-Zhabagly state natural reserve // Eurasian Journal of Ecology. – 2023. – Vol. 76(3). – P. 119-134.
  7. Ермагамбетова М.М., Абугалиева С.И., Туруспеков Е.К., Альмерекова Ш.С.* Конспект рода Juniperus, произрастающего в Казахстане // Proceedings on Applied Botany, Genetics and Breeding (Труды по прикладной ботанике, генетике и селекции) (SJR= 0.160, percentile: 6 — Plant Science, Agricultural and Biological Sciences). – 2022. – T.183. – №3. – С. 161-170. https://doi.org/10.30901/2227-8834-2022-3-161-170
  8. Yermagambetova M.M., Almerekova S.S., Krekova Y., Abugalieva S.I., Turuspekov Y.K. Genetic variation in populations of Picea schrenkiana et CA Mey. based on simple sequence repeat markers // Moscow University Biological Sciences Bulletin (SJR= 0.189, percentile: 42 — General Agricultural and Biological Sciences, Agricultural and Biological Sciences). – 2022. – Vol. 77(2). – P. 76-83. DOI : 10.3103/S0096392522020134
  9. Özek, G., Schepetkin I.A., Yermagambetova, M., Özek T., Kirpotina, L.N., Almerekova, S.S., Abugalieva, S.I., Khlebnikov A.I., Quinn M.T. Innate Immunomodulatory Activity of Cedrol, a Component of Essential Oils Isolated from Juniperus Species // Molecules (IF= 4.9, Q2 Biochemistry & Molecular Biology; SJR= 0.705, percentile: 83- Chemistry (miscellaneous), Chemistry) – 2021. – Vol. 26. – P. 7644. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26247644
  10. Yermagambetova M., Almerekova S., Turginov O., Sultangaziev O., Abugalieva S., Turuspekov Y. Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Juniperus seravschanica collected in Central Asia // Plants (IF=4.8, Q1-Plant Sciences; SJR=0.790, percentile: 83 – Plant Sciences). – 2023. – Vol. 12. – N. 16. – P. 2961. doi: 10.3390/plants12162961
  11. Genievskaya Y., Karelova D., Abugalieva S., Zhao P., Chen G., Turuspekov Y. SSR-based evaluation of genetic diversity in populations of Agriophyllum squarrosum and Agriophyllum minus Fisch. & Mey. collected in South-East Kazakhstan // Vavilovskii Zhurnal Genetiki i Selektsii=Vavilov Journal of genetics and Breeding (IF=0.9, Q3 – Agriculture,Multidisciplinary sciences; SJR=0.223, percentile: 46 –General Agricultural and Biological Sciences). – 2020. – Vol. 24. – No. 7. – P. 697-704. DOI: 10.18699/VJ20.664.
  12. Friesen, N., Vesselova, P., Osmonaly, B., Sitpayeva, G., Luferov, A., & Shmakov, A. Allium toksanbaicum (Amaryllidaceae), a new species from Southeast Kazakhstan. Phytotaxa (IF=1.1, Q4-Plant Science; SJR=0.388, percentile: 42-Plant Science). – 2021. – Vol. 494(3). – P. 251-267. DOI:10.11646/phytotaxa.494.3.1
  13. Kechaykin А, Batkin, A., Sitpayeva, G., Vesselova, P., Osmonali, B., Shmakov, A. New data on genus Potentilla L. Rosaceae Juss.) in the flora of Kazakhstan // Turczaninowia (SJR=0.277, percentile: 25-Plant Science). – 2020. – Vol. 23(1). – P. 32-40.
    DOI:   14258/turczaninowia.23.1.4
  14. Vesselova, P., Makhmudova, K., Kudabayeva, G., Osmonali, B., & Mikhalev, V. Current growth conditions of Populus diversifolia Schrenk and Populus pruinosa Schrenk in the Syr-Darya Valley // OnLine Journal of Biological Sciences. – – Vol. 22. – P. 425-438.
  15. Osmonali B.B., Vesselova P.V., Kudabayeva G.M., Skaptsov M.V., Shmakov A.I., Friesen N. Phylogeny and Flow Cytometry of the Genus Kalidium Moq.(Amaranthaceae sl) in Kazakhstan // Plants. – 2023. – Vol. 12(14). – P. 2619.
  16. Осмонали Б. Виды рода Salsola флоры пустынной части долины р. Сырдарьи (конспект и ключ к определению) // Проблемы ботаники Южной Сибири и Монголии. 2021. – Vol. 20(2). – P. 125-137. DOI: 10.14258/pbssm.2021130
  17. Yermagambetova M.M., Kusmangazinov A.B., Kurmanbayeva M.S., Höhn, M. Study of changes in anatomical structures of young needles Picea schrenkiana Fisch et CA Mey and shoots of Haloxylon bunge species in Kazakhstan // International Journal of Biology and Chemistry. – 2020. – Vol.13(1). – P. 47-56. DOI: https://doi.org/10.26577/ijbch.2020.v13.i1.05
  18. Осмонали Б.Б., Ермагамбетова М.М., Альмерекова Ш.С.* Особенности видового состава фитоценозов с доминированием и участием видов рода Salsola в пустынных и полупустынных регионах Казахстана // Проблемы ботаники Южной Сибири и Монголии, 2023. Т. 22, № 1. С. 251-258 DOI: 10.14258/pbssm.2023049

Results for 2024:

  1. Collection of plant material from populations of wild species of Iris L. and enrich of the DNA bank of the flora of Kazakhstan has begun. An analysis of herbarium material from foreign and local herbarium funds and literary data was conducted. The isolated DNA from the collected plant material of irises replenished the collection of the DNA bank of wild flora of the IPBB. A total of 85 samples (7 populations) of 4 species of Iris were collected.
  2. Sequencing of nucleotide sequences of markers of the nuclear and chloroplast genomes of the collected species has begun, and phylogenetic relationships between species of the genus Iris have been studied. Sequencing of samples of Iris species was carried out using markers of the nuclear (ITS) and chloroplast (matK and rbcL) genome. The ABI3130 genetic analyzer (Applied Biosystems, USA) was used to sequence DNA barcoding markers.
  3. Analyzing of the population structure and study of genetic diversity within and between populations of Kazakhstan species of the genus Iris have been started. Microsatellite (SSR) markers known from previously published works were used to study genetic diversity within and between populations of Kazakhstan Iris species. Optimization of PCR conditions for SSR analysis of the population of Iris species has been started. Optimization of PCR conditions was carried out for the concentration of dNTPs and MgCl2, as well as for the annealing temperature of primers. PCR conditions were optimized for each individual species.

 

 

Results for 2025

 

  1. Collection of plant material from wild Iris L. species populations and replenishment of the DNA bank of Kazakhstan’s flora continued. Forty-four populations of 13 iris species were collected in the Almaty, Turkestan, Zhambyl, Ulytau, Karaganda, and Pavlodar regions. A total of 796 leaf samples from 13 Iris species were collected.

 

  1. Sequencing of nucleotide sequences of nuclear and chloroplast genome markers from the collected species continued, and the phylogenetic relationships between Iris species were studied. Sequencing of samples of the species I. halophila, I. songarica, I. tenuifolia, I. kuschakewiczii, I. lactea, I. kolpakowskiana and I. orchioides was carried out using markers of the nuclear (ITS) and chloroplast (matK, trnH, psbA, and rbcL) genomes.

 

  1. Nucleotide sequencing and annotation of the complete chloroplast genome sequences of several Iris species in Kazakhstan have begun. The chloroplast genome sequences of I. sogdiana, I. halophila, I. tenuifolia, and I. kuschakewiczii, all native to Kazakhstan, have been determined. The formatted and aligned chloroplast genome sequences of the Iris species will be used to search for highly polymorphic DNA markers and assess the phylogenetic relationships of the genus. The nucleotide sequences of the chloroplast genomes of I. sogdiana, I. halophila, I. tenuifolia, and I. kuschakewiczii have been deposited under accession numbers PX505519.1, PX505514.1, PX505521.1, and PX505525.1, respectively.

 

  1. The determination of population structure and the study of genetic diversity within and between populations of Kazakhstani species of the genus Iris were continued. Nine populations of I. kuschakewiczii and one population each of I. sogdiana and I. halophila were analyzed. Nine populations of I. kuschakewiczii were genotyped using ten SSR markers: IM61, IM93, IM123, IM196, IM200, IM327, IM348, IM391, IK2, and I23. Of these, five markers (IK2, IM123, IM196, IM200, and IM348) were polymorphic for the studied populations. In addition, one population of I. sogdiana and one population of I. halophila were genotyped using nine SSR markers (IM61, IM93, IM123, IM164, IM196, IM200, IM327, IM348, and IM391). Of these, seven markers (IM93, IM164, IM196, IM200, IM327, IM348 and IM391) showed polymorphism.

 

  1. A biochemical analysis of Iris species was initiated based on the study of secondary metabolites in leaf material. Leaf extracts from I. songarica and I. tenuifolia were analyzed for secondary metabolites.

 

Information for potential users

 

The results of the phylogenetic analysis will be used to refine the molecular taxonomy of the genus. The resulting nucleotide sequences of DNA barcoding markers and the chloroplast genome will be deposited in international databases and can serve as the basis for subsequent evolutionary and comparative genomic studies. Furthermore, assessing the genetic structure of populations of rare and endangered Iris species will identify the most polymorphic populations and serve as the basis for developing scientifically sound conservation recommendations.

Publications 2025

List of publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals indexed in the Web of Science and (or) Scopus databases

Articles in a peer-reviewed domestic publication with a non-zero impact factor (recommended by the SHEQAC MSHE RK)

Alikhanova А. A., Osmonali B. B., Turuspekov Y. K., & Almerekova S. S. The distribution features of the rare species Iris Kuschakewiczii B. Fedtsch. on the territory of Kazakhstan. Experimental Biology – 2025. – №2 (103). – P. 4–16.

Abstracts of the international conference (indicating the form of the report)

  1. Almerekova S., Yermagambetova M., Turuspekov Y., Abugalieva S. Phylogenetic relationships of Tulipa and Iris species collected in Kazakhstan inferred from plastid genome sequences // Proceedings of the 3rd International Symposium on the Frontiers of Plant Diversity Conservation Research on the Pan-Third Pole Region (PDCR 2025) (Eds.: Turuspekov Y., Abugalieva S.). ISBN 978-601-08-5404-8. / Almaty, Kazakhstan (August 2025). – С. 19. (oral report)

 

  1. Alikhanova A., Yermagambetova M., Almerekova S., Turuspekov Y. Distribution of the rare Iris kuschakewiczii B. Fedtsch. species and population structure using microsatellite markers // Proceedings of the 3rd International Symposium on the Frontiers of Plant Diversity Conservation Research on the Pan-Third Pole Region (PDCR 2025) (Eds.: Turuspekov Y., Abugalieva S.). ISBN 978-601-08-5404-8. / Almaty, Kazakhstan (August 2025). – С. 45. (poster)