Development of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) synthetics started at CIMMYT-Mexico in 2004, when winter durum wheat (Triticum turgidum) germplasm from Ukraine and Romania was crossed with Aegilops tauschii accessions from the Caspian Sea region. Chromosomes were doubled after pollination and embryo rescue, but chromosome number and cytological validation was not performed. F2 populations were grown in Mexico and were shipped to Turkey in 2008. During 2009–2015, these populations were subjected to rigorous pedigree selection under dry, cold, disease-affected environments of the Central Anatolian Plateau. The wide segregation and partial sterility observed in 2009 gradually decreased and, by 2016, most of the F8 single spike progenies demonstrated good fertility and agronomic performance. Since 2013, lines have been selected from synthetic populations and evaluated at multiple sites. Superior lines were characterized for resistance to leaf, stripe and stem rust, plant height, and reaction to common bunt and soil-borne pathogens. Thousand kernel weight of many lines exceeded 50 g, compared with the check varieties that barely reached 40 g. Threshability of synthetic lines varied from 0 to 95%, demonstrating genetic variation for this important domestication trait. Screening against Hessian fly, sunny pest and Russian wheat aphid identified several resistant genotypes. Both durum and Aegilops parents affected synthetic wheat traits. Several studies are underway to reveal the genetic diversity of synthetic lines and the basis of resistance to diseases and insects. This synthetic germplasm represents a new winter bread wheat parental pool. It is available upon request to interested breeding/research programmes.

Biostimulators with chemical protection are a challenge in sustainable agriculture to obtain high yield, healthy, and pesticide-free wheat. The aim of this four-year spring wheat field experiment was to assess the effectivity of using herbicide, mixed fungicides protection, and a humic biostimulator. The following treatments were tested: biostimulator (S), sulfosulfuron (H), H + S, H + propiconazole + cyproconazole/spiroxamin + tebuconazole + triadimenol (H + F1 + F2), and H + F1 + F2 + S. Evaluations of wheat yield and fungal diseases (Septoria tritici blotch, eyespot, sharp eyespot, Fusarium spp.) were performed using visual and qPCR methods. Thirteen mycotoxins were analyzed by LC–MS/MS. Infestations of six weeds were examined visually. Temperatures and precipitation data of the vegetative seasons were monitored. Precipitation most affected the occurrence of leaf diseases despite the same chemical/biostimulator treatments (up to 48% Septoria tritici blotch severity for the S treatment). The highest mean yield was obtained for H + F1 + F2 + S (5.27 t ha−1), while the lowest level of mycotoxins was obtained for H + F1 + F2 (221.68 µg kg−1). For H + S, a greater reduction of mycotoxins was determined compared to the H treatment (27.18%), as well as a higher severity of eyespot (18%) and sharp eyespot (24%). For H + F1 + F2, the most effective reduction of weed infestation and Fusarium spp. DNA on ears was indicated (19 m−2 and 0.88 pg g−1 DNA, respectively). The greatest saved production value (890€) was determined for H + F1 + F2 + S.

Soybean is an important high-value crop but susceptible to soil-borne diseases. A field trial was conducted in Kazakhstan to evaluate the effects of soybean cultivars and Fusarium root rot severity on soybean crop physiology, chlorophyll fractions and amino acids profile. The highest yield was achieved in 2018 (up to 4 t ha 1 ) for K-9648 cultivar. The greatest root rot severity (90%) and the lowest plant high (20.8 cm), number of beans per plant (54) were determined in 2020 and were related with the highest precipitations. Moreover, leaf position was crucial in determination of chlorophyll fractions, among which the highest values were achieved in 4 rd leaf. Average concentration of non-essential, essential, aromatic and aliphatic amino acids were correlated with root rot development at flowering (r = 0.73) and maturing stage (r = 0.54), root rot severity (r = 0.64) and precipitations (r = 0.86). Thus, amino acids play the crucial role in defense proteins biosynthesis against biotic stress factors. Interestingly, despite Fusarium root rot occurrence, there were not determined mycotoxins in seeds, which indicate that they are not distributed to other organs from the place of their biosynthesis. This study indicated that among twelve soybean cultivars, Tanais and Isidor cultivars are at least susceptible to Fusarium root rot despite heavier rainfalls in 2020 and in this regard could be implemented to agriculture in the agro climatic conditions of Kazakhstan. However, in aspect of yield and desired amino acids profile, K-9648 cultivar was the most productive in 2018-2020.

Spring barley is an important high-value crop globally.However, it is highly susceptible to soil-borne diseases in Kazakhstan and the world. Bipolaris sorokiniana (Sacc.) Shoemaker is the most important soil-borne pathogen that causes root rot and spot blotch diseases in cereal crops. This study aimed to evaluate the ability of B. sorokiniana isolated from spring barley leaves to survive in plant residuals of different crops. The fungus was isolated from spring barley leaves from the Zholbarys agro farm of Kerbylak district of Almaty, southeastern Kazakhstan, in 2021. Laboratory experiments were conducted at Kazakh National Agrarian Research University. The study was conducted on 10 th days of seedlings of cereal, legume, and oilseed crops. The obtained results showed that seedlings of spring barley, spring wheat, and oats retained the B. sorokiniana infection. Interestingly, the infection of B. sorokiniana isolated from leaves of spring barley statistically significantly increased symptoms of spot blotch on spring wheat and spring barley seedlings, while symptoms decreased on oats (P-value <0.01). The introduction of rapeseed, chickpeas, peas, and oats into the crop rotation system in southeastern Kazakhstan could limit the volume of the B. sorokiniana infection in spring wheat and spring barley. On rapeseed, peas, and chickpeas seedlings no symptoms of spot blotch were observed (P-value <0.01).

In Kazakhstan, barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is the second most important cereal crop after wheat, with an annual production of approximately 1.9 million tons. The study aimed to characterize Bipolaris sorokiniana isolates obtained from barley fields surveyed. A total of 21 diseased leaves showing spot blotch symptoms were collected from experimental plots located close to the Kazakh Research Institute of Agriculture and Crop Production, where the spring barley Arna cultivar was planted in June 2020. The overall strategy for control of spring barley blotch in the Almaty region of Kazakhstan should include the determination of the aggressiveness of the pathogen isolates to better understand the biology of the diseases and ultimately proper control strategy. Pathogenicity of B. sorokiniana isolates was made on barley seedlings in vitro. Inoculated seedlings showed clear symptoms of B. sorokiniana, and therefore, Koch’s postulates were fulfilled by reisolating the pathogen from artificially inoculated seedlings and identifying it based on standard morphology criteria. Further investigation is needed to understand the impact of B. sorokiniana on barley production in Kazakhstan.