Essential oils were obtained by hydrodistillation of the flowers+leaves and stems of Artemisia kotuchovii Kupr. (AKEOf+l and AKEOstm, respectively) and analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The primary components of the oils were estragole, (E)- and (Z)-β-ocimenes, methyl eugenol, limonene, spathulenol, β-pinene, myrcene, and (E)-methyl cinnamate. Seventy four constituents were present at concentrations from 0.1 to 1.0%, and 34 compounds were identified in trace (<0.1%) amounts in one or both plant components. Screening of the essential oils for biological activity showed that AKEOstm, but not AKEOf+l, inhibited N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (fMLF)-stimulated Ca2+ flux and chemotaxis and phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA)-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in human neutrophils. Selected pure constituents, representing >96% of the AKEOstm composition, were also tested in human neutrophils and HL-60 cells transfected with N-formyl peptide receptor 1 (FPR1). We found that one component, 6-methyl-3,5-heptadien-2-one (MHDO), inhibited fMLF- and interleukin 8 (IL-8)-stimulated Ca2+ flux, fMLF-induced chemotaxis, and PMA-induced ROS production in human neutrophils. MHDO also inhibited fMLF-induced Ca2+ flux in FPR1-HL60 cells. These results suggest that MHDO may be effective in modulating some innate immune responses, possibly by an inhibition of neutrophil migration and ROS production.

Analysis of the genetic diversity of natural populations of threatened and endangered species of plants is a main aspect of conservation strategy. The endangered species Allium altaicum is a relict plant of the Ice Age and natural populations are located in extreme climatic conditions of Kazakstan’s Altai Mountains. Mobile genetic elements and other interspersed repeats are basic components of a eukaryote genome, which can activate under stress conditions and indirectly promote the survival of an organism against environmental stresses. Detections of chromosomal changes related to recombination processes of mobile genetic elements are performed by various PCR methods. These methods are based on interspersed repeat sequences and are an effective tool for research of biological diversity of plants and their variability. In our research, we used conservative sequences of tRNA primer binding sites (PBS) when initializing the retrotransposon replication as PCR primers to research the genetic diversity of 12 natural populations of A. altaicum found in various ecogeographic conditions of the Kazakhstani Altai. High efficiency of the PBS amplification method used was observed already at the intrapopulation level. Unique amplicons representative of a certain population were found at the intrapopulation level. Analysis of molecular dispersion revealed that the biodiversity of populations of mountainous and lowland A. altaicum is due to intrapopulation differences for climatic zones of habitation. This is likely conditional upon predominance of vegetative reproduction over seed reproduction in some populations. In the case of vegetative reproduction, somatic recombination related to the activity of mobile genetic elements are preserved in subsequent generations. This leads to an increase of intrapopulation genetic diversity. Thus, high genetic diversity was observed in populations such as A. altaicum located in the territory of the Kalbinskii Altai, whereas the minimum diversity was observed in the populations of the Leninororsk ecogeographic group. Distinctions between these populations were also identified depending on the areas of their distribution. Low-land and mid-mountain living environments are characterized by a great variety of shapes and plasticity. This work allowed us to obtain new genetic data on the structure of A. altaicum populations on the territory of the Kazakhstan Altai for the subsequent development of preservation and reproduction strategies for this relict species.

Endemic species are especially vulnerable to biodiversity loss caused by isolation or habitat specificity, small population size, and anthropogenic factors. Endemic species biodiversity analysis has a critically important global value for the development of conservation strategies. The rare onion Allium ledebourianum is a narrow-lined endemic species, with natural populations located in the extreme climatic conditions of the Kazakh Altai. A. ledebourianum populations are decreasing everywhere due to anthropogenic impact, and therefore, this species requires preservation and protection. Conservation of this rare species is associated with monitoring studies to investigate the genetic diversity of natural populations. Fundamental components of eukaryote genome include multiple classes of interspersed repeats. Various PCR-based DNA fingerprinting methods are used to detect chromosomal changes related to recombination processes of these interspersed elements. These methods are based on interspersed repeat sequences and are an effective approach for assessing the biological diversity of plants and their variability. We applied DNA profiling approaches based on conservative sequences of interspersed repeats to assess the genetic diversity of natural A. ledebourianum populations located in the territory of Kazakhstan Altai. The analysis of natural A. ledebourianum populations, carried out using the DNA profiling approach, allowed the effective differentiation of the populations and assessment of their genetic diversity. We used conservative sequences of tRNA primer binding sites (PBS) of the long-terminal repeat (LTR) retrotransposons as PCR primers. Amplification using the three most effective PBS primers generated 628 PCR amplicons, with an average of 209 amplicons. The average polymorphism level varied from 34% to 40% for all studied samples. Resolution analysis of the PBS primers showed all of them to have high or medium polymorphism levels, which varied from 0.763 to 0.965. Results of the molecular analysis of variance showed that the general biodiversity of A. ledebourianum populations is due to interpopulation (67%) and intrapopulation (33%) differences. The revealed genetic diversity was higher in the most distant population of A. ledebourianum LD64, located on the Sarymsakty ridge of Southern Altai. This is the first genetic diversity study of the endemic species A. ledebourianum using DNA profiling approaches. This work allowed us to collect new genetic data on the structure of A. ledebourianum populations in the Altai for subsequent development of preservation strategies to enhance the reproduction of this relict species. The results will be useful for the conservation and exploitation of this species, serving as the basis for further studies of its evolution and ecology.

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Abstract. Sumbembayev AA, Abugalieva SI, Danilova AN, Matveyeva EV, Szlachetko DL. 2021. Flower morphometry of members of the genus Dactylorhiza Necker ex Nevski (Orchidaceae) from the Altai mountains of Kazakhstan. Biodiversitas 22: 3545-3555. Several species of Dactylorhiza (Orchidaceae) from the Altai mountains of Kazakhstan have been investigated regarding their morphological flower variability. Significant metric characters were identified allowing to differentiate between the four species: D. incarnata, D. fuchsii, D. maculata and D. salina. The morphometric structure of flowers was analyzed by comparing 17 metric parameters in representatives of 11 populations. We identified the most variable and stable traits as well as distinctive features for each species. A high degree of flower morphometric diversity was revealed from principal component analysis for species and populations. Cluster analysis demonstrated the structure of the population diversity. Structural schemes have been compiled from data of the photographic processing of flower morphometry, the analysis of variance ANOVA, and the degree of variation at the population level. Useful characters are provided for further taxonomic work on members of the genus Dactylorhiza in Kazakhstan.

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Оценка эколого-биологических особенностей Rhaponticum carthamoides (Willd.) Iljin и его ресурсные показатели на хребте Ивановский (Восточный Казахстан) Работа выполнена в рамках государственного грантового проекта «Изучение лекарственных растений Казахстанского Алтая, применяемых в официальной и народной медицине, оценка их распространения, сырьевых запасов и возможности практического применения». Представлены эколого-биологические исследования Rhaponticum carthamoides на хр. Ивановский в Восточном Казахстане и при интродукции в Алтайском ботаническом саду (г. Риддер, Республика Казахстан). Дана фитоценотическая характеристика местообитаний вида, определены онтогенез, возрастной состав ценопопуляций, численность и сезонный ритм развития Rh. carthamoides; выявлены ресурсные показатели вида. Установлено, что на Проходном белке хр. Ивановский Rh. carthamoides имеет промышленные запасы. Растения маральего корня хорошо развиты, по площади участка размещены рассеянно. Популяция представлена всеми возрастными группами с преобладанием генеративных особей. Популяция подвергается сильному антропогенному воздействию из-за чрезмерного сбора растений местным населением. Особи Rh. carthamoides в естественных местах обитания и при интродукции проходят все периоды онтогенеза и полный цикл развития. Продолжительность жизненного периода растений в природе составляет до 60 лет, в культуредо 35 лет. Суммарный эксплуатационный запас сухого сырья Rh. carthamoides в обследованных ценопопуляциях составил 629,0 т надземной массы и 511,8 т корней с объёмом возможной ежегодной заготовки соответственно 157,2 и 33,7 т на общей площади 120 га. Ключевые слова: онтогенез; сезонный ритм развития; фитоценотическая характеристика.

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