3rd Edition Of Plant Science and Molecular Biology World Conference 2026

Abstract

In 2024, field trials at the Kazakh Research Institute of Agriculture and Plant Growing (Almalybak) assessed 36 spring wheat genotypes (17 Triticum aestivum L. and 19 T. durum Desf.) for resistance to key foliar diseases. Genotypes #513 and #545 exhibited outstanding resistance to leaf rust (0.2–1.1%), yellow rust (0–0.25%), and spot blotch (0.7–3.0%), combined with high productivity traits: spike length (8.2–8.5 cm), grains per spike (32–35), and grain weight (1.8–2.0 g/spike).

Treatment with the systemic fungicide Kolosal PRO (0.5 L/ha) was highly effective against Puccinia striiformis, suppressing disease development 13.4-fold. It also significantly enhanced yield components, increasing spike length by 11.7%, grain weight by 24.8%, and the number of productive tillers by 16.8% compared to untreated controls.

The integration of resistant genotypes with fungicide application reduced disease variability by 35–45% and improved yield stability by 20–25%. Correlation analysis revealed statistically significant associations between agronomic traits (p < 0.05), with the strongest correlation observed between tiller number and grain weight (r = 0.47), emphasizing their combined contribution to yield.

These results underscore the value of combining host genetic resistance with optimized chemical control to sustainably manage foliar diseases in wheat under the agro-climatic conditions of Southeastern Kazakhstan. Furthermore, the study lays a foundation for future molecular research, including the identification of resistance-associated markers and the development of predictive models to explore “genotype–pathogen–fungicide” interactions.

This integrative approach supports both short-term disease mitigation and long-term breeding strategies aimed at enhancing wheat resilience and productivity in the face of changing disease pressures and environmental conditions.