Laboratory of Germplasm Cryopreservation

She has been working as head of the laboratory since 2000. Graduated from the Biology Faculty of Moscow State University on a specialty “Biochemistry” (1984). Defended her Candidate’s dissertation on a specialty “Plant Physiology and Biochemistry” in 1990. In 2022 she was awarded the academic title of Professor.

Kushnarenko S.V. is one of the new direction founders of scientific research for Kazakhstan — cryopreservation of plant genetic resources. The laboratory, headed by S.V. Kushnarenko, is the only one in Kazakhstan that develops techniques for the long-term preservation of valuable cultivated and wild nuts, fruits, berry crops, grapes and potatoes. The laboratory provides internships for Kazakh scientists and researchers from Central Asia to master biotechnological methods for preserving plant biodiversity.

Kushnarenko S.V. is the author of more than 200 scientific papers, including 22 publications in international peer-reviewed scientific journals, indexed in the Web of Science database (H- index 8; https://www.webofscience.com/wos/author/record/1018077,24021278) ,34742362); 21 articles are included in the Scopus database (H-index 9; https://www2.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=6507153914); 34 articles in scientific journals, Preferred Committees for Quality Assurance in Science and Higher Education (KOKSNVO) of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan. S.V. Kushnarenko is a co-author of 5 patents of the Republic of Kazakhstan, 1 monograph, 5 methodological recommendations, 2 catalogs. Member of the editorial boards of 3 domestic and foreign scientific journals.

During her work Kushnarenko S.V. was the initiator and leader of 13 research projects on fundamental and applied research within the framework of grant and program-targeted funding. From 2002 to 2008 participated in research work under grant K-428 of the International Science and Technology Center (ISTC). Currently, under the leadership of Kushnarenko S.V. 1 grant funding project and 2 projects are being implemented in the scientific and technical programs of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Head of the scientific and technical Program BR21882024 “Study of biodiversity and development of methods for ex situ conservation of genetic resources of fruit and nut plants” (implementation period 2023-2025).

Kushnarenko S.V. carries out training of scientific personnel, under her leadership 1 candidate’s dissertation, 2 PhD dissertations, 6 master’s dissertations and 18 bachelor’s theses were successfully defended.

Winner of the Grant of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan (2003). She was awarded the medal «For merits in the development of science of the Republic of Kazakhstan» (2019) and a certificate of honor of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan for making a significant contribution to the development of education and science of the Republic of Kazakhstan (2023).

Membership in professional societies:

European Biotechnology Thematic Network Association

Society for In Vitro Biology

International Association of Sexual Plant Reproduction Research

Society of Plant Physiologists of Kazakhstan

Society of Plant Physiologists of Russia

Rakhimbayev Izbassar Rakhimbayevich, Chief research scientist, Member of the NAS of the RK, Professor, Doctor of Biological Sciences. Soviet and Kazakh scientist, founder of biotechnology in Kazakhstan, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor, Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan, honorary member of the Presidium of the Society of Plant Physiologists of the Russian Federation, member of the International Biotechnology Society, member of the International Society of Plant Growers, member of the International Society of Plant Propagation. Published 455 scientific papers, incl. 7 monographs, 9 textbooks, 21 educational and teaching aids devoted to biotechnology, physiology and biochemistry of cultured cells and which made a significant contribution to the development of the theoretical and methodological foundations of plant biology. Author of 4 new varieties of wheat, 2 varieties of rice. He created a scientific school — he trained 8 doctors and 30 candidates of science who work in research institutes and universities in Kazakhstan and foreign countries (India, Australia, Israel, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan).

Romadanova Natalya Vladimirovna, Leading researcher, Candidate of Biological Sciences. Qualified specialist in the field of plant biotechnology. More than 20 years of experience. She was the head of 3 projects of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan and a commercialization grant, executor in 9 projects of grants of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan. She completed internships in the world’s leading scientific organizations in cryopreservation and molecular biology.  Awarded with the certificate of honor «Algys bіldіredi» and «Kurmet». She has 115 scientific papers, of which 12 publications are included in the WoS indexed database, 9 in Scopus, 1 monograph, 3 guidelines, 3 patents, 1 catalog. H-index 5; WoS ID: M-6619-2015; ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1052-2753, Scopus Author ID 36111616700

Turdiyev Timur Tuygunovich, Leading researcher scientist, Candidate of Biological Sciences, highly qualified specialist in Plant Biotechnology. More than 21 years of experience. He was the head of 4 projects and the responsible executor in 6 projects of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan. He was an executor in the international project of the ISTC. He has more than 80 scientific papers, 48 of them in peer-reviewed journals, including 11 publications included in the WoS and Scopus indexed database, 4 guidelines, 4 patents. He was awarded with the diploma «Algys». He completed an internship on the development of the statistical program DesignExpert at the National Repository of Clonal Germplasm, USA. H-index: 6, WoS ID: М-6639-2015; ORCID ID: 0000-0002-6476-1007; Scopus ID: 57193198717

Altaeva Nazira Altaykyzy, Researcher, more than 17 years of experience. 54 scientific papers have been published, of which 4 publications are included in the Web of Science database, 3 in the Scopus database. H-index 3. Scopus ID 57216750088; Web of Science ID EKZ-9456-2022; ORCID 0000-0002-5039-8999.

Aralbayeva Moldir Malikovna, Researcher, Master’s degree in biotechnology. More than 13 years of experience. Co-author of 32 publications, including 3 indexed WOS databases, 1 patent, H index: 1. ResearcherID: GBA-8887-2022, ORCID ID: 0000-0002-2322-8054, Scopus Author ID: 57195069563

Rymkhanova Nazgul, Researcher, specialist in the field of plant biotechnology, She got master’s degree in biotechnology at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. In 2019, she completed an internship on the project topic at ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (Delhi, India). More than 7 years of experience. She was an implementer in projects of grants from the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan, in projects of Program-targeted financing and a Commercialization Grant. Co-author of 14 publications, 1 publication included in the Scopus database, 2 in the WoS database. H index: 1. Scopus ID 57773405800; WoS ID FVM-9722-2022; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5565-5827.

Tolegen Arman, Researcher, PhD- Doctoral student. Currently continuing his doctoral studies at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. More than 5 years of experience, was the executor of grants from the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Commercialization Grant. He completed an internship at the N. I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (VIR) on the topic: “The study of the state of infection of wild populations with viral diseases, as well as commercially valuable varieties of fruit and berry crops. He has 13 publications on the topic of the project, 2 publications are included in the WoS indexed database, 2 in Scopus. H index: 2, Researcher ID IPO-2780-2023; Orcid ID: 0000-0002-3747-2330, Scopus Author ID: 57567940600;

Zemtsova Alina, Junior Researcher, Master. Young specialist in plant biotechnology. She got the bachelor’s degree at Satbayev University with a degree in biotechnology and a master’s degree at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, specialty — biotechnology. In 2021, she completed an internship at Nazarbayev University. 3 years’ experience in micropropagation and cryopreservation. She has 6 publications.

Manapkanova Ulzhan, Junior Researcher, Master. Young specialist in plant biotechnology. She got master’s degree at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, specialty – Genetics. Work experience 3 years. In 2023, she completed an internship at Nazarbayev University. Has 3 publications.

Mikhailenko Natalya, Lab-assistant, Master student. She graduated from KazNAU with a degree in forest engineering. More than 16 years of experience in the field of greenhouse work master and in the field of in vitro adaptation of plants to greenhouse conditions. Has 3 publications.

Main research areas of the laboratory

Laboratory activities are aimed at studying the biotechnological aspects of plant genetic resources reliable conservation for their rational use in agriculture, medicine, forestry and environmental protection.

Research areas:

• Improving biotechnological techniques for micropropagation and cryopreservation of species, forms and varieties of fruit, berries, nuts, vegetables, forest, and ornamental crops with valuable economic and biological characteristics.
• Creation of a cryobank in liquid nitrogen at -196°С for long-term storage of germplasm of economically important, rare and endangered plants.
• Establishment of improving methods of important agricultural crops from viral, bacterial pathogens using chemotherapy, thermotherapy and cryotherapy.
• Obtaining virus-free seedlings of commercially valuable agricultural crops using biotechnological methods.
• Phytochemical study of plants of the flora of Kazakhstan.

Project 0116-17-GК: “Production of super-elite nursery plants of fruit and nut crops by biotechnology methods

Grantee: Integration-Turgen LLP

Implementation period: 11.01.2017 – 10.31.2020

Project goal: Organization of production of superelite apple, hazelnut and walnut nursery plants based on our own technology of cryotherapy and micropropagation.

The final product for commercialization: Apple, walnut and hazelnut nursery plants (Fig. 1)

Figure 1 – Nursery plants obtained by biotechnology methods

• Project 0170-17-GK. Organization of production and sale of elite planting material of the Asiatic poplar and poplar hybrids of Kazakhstan breeding based on the use of biotechnological methods of micropropagation and agrotechnical practices of cultivation with an integrated system of protection against pests and diseases.

Grantee: “Kazakh Research Institute of Plant Protection and Quarantine named after Zhazken Zhiembayev” LLP

Implementation period: 11.03.2017 – 10.31.2020

The purpose of the project: Production and sale of elite plant material of the Asiatic poplar and poplar hybrids of the Kazakhstan breeding to gardening organizations, farmers and horticultural farms, tree nurseries and companies laying industrial plantations.

Plants of Asiatic poplar in containers

Plants of hybrid poplars in containers

Bekmukhanbetova A.N. – KazNU named after. Al Farabi, specialty 6B05105 – “Genetics”, 2023

Danaeva G.K., Dildabekova A.E., Sagyndykova F.A., Santay B.A.– Al-Farabi KazNU, specialty 5В070100 – «Biotechnology», 2019.

Makhmutova I.A.– Al-Farabi KazNU, specialty 5В070100 – « Biotechnology », 2017.

Zholamanova S.Zh. – Al-Farabi KazNU, specialty 5В070100 – «Biotechnology», 2016.

Бекмуханбетова А.Н. – КазНУ им. Аль Фараби, специальность 6В05105 – «Генетика», 2023 г.

Mikhailenko N.V. – KazNAIU, specialty 7M08302 – “Forest resources and forestry”

Aralbaeva M.M. – Almaty Technical University, specialty 7M05101 – “Biotechnology”, 2024

Manapkanova U.A. – KazNU named after. Al Farabi, specialty 7M070100 – “Biotechnology”, 2023

Zemtsova A.S. – KazNU named after. Al Farabi, specialty 6M070100 – “Biotechnology”, 2022

Rymkhanova N.K.– Al-Farabi KazNU, specialty 6М060700 – «Biology», 2018.

Nurmanov M.M.– Al-Farabi KazNU, specialty 6М070100 – «Biotechnology», 2018.