Scientists – breeders of the SPC GF named after A.I. Barayev are successfully working on replenishing the gene pool of perennial herbs ​

The staff of the Department of Perennial Herbs Breeding of “SPC GF named after A.I. Barayev” LLP conducted an expedition survey of the wild flora of Northern Kazakhstan and collected seeds of wild populations of perennial grasses of Akmola and North Kazakhstan regions to replenish the gene pool and use them as a starting material in the perennial herbs breeding.

In strengthening the feed base for the further development of animal husbandry, an important role belongs to natural feed resources, selection and attraction of wild flora into the sample. Wild species of perennial herbs are a valuable source material for introduction, creation of a gene pool and breeding.

The expedition was carried out in Akmola, North Kazakhstan regions according to the approved work schedule and work program for 2022 as part of the implementation of the event: “Mobilization of genetic resources of cereals, grain, cereals, oilseeds, legumes and fodder crops for use in breeding programs in Northern Kazakhstan” under the scientific and technical program for 2021-2023. “Study and ensuring the storage, replenishment, reproduction and effective use of genetic resources of agricultural plants to ensure the breeding process”

The composition of the expeditionary group consisted of six people: the head of the group, Philippova N.I. - head of perennial herbs breeding department; herbologist, Parsayev Ye.I. - Head of the perennial legumes breeding laboratory; support staff Cherevatenko T.A., Shchelkanova S.V., Ostrovsky P.A. - laboratory assistants of the perennial herbs breeding laboratory and the perennial legumes breeding laboratory, driver Zhumanov S.S.

The length of the expedition route is 2,230 km.

The expedition route passed through the main settlements: Nauchny – Shortandy - Shortandinsky district (Damsa, Bektau) - Shortandy – Akkol – Uryupinka – Makinsk – Shchuchinsk - Zerenda – Kokshetau - Petropavlovsk –Mamlyutka - Petropavlovsk – Sokolovka - Petropavlovsk – Yavlenka – Petropavlovsk – Kokshetau – Saumalkol – Kokshetau – Chkalovo - Kokshetau - Atbasar – Astrakhanka - Nur-Sultan – Shortandy

Special attention when collecting seeds was paid to the most valuable in terms of productivity and adaptability in the conditions of Northern Kazakhstan, wild forage crops: wheat grass, awnless brome, alfalfa, sainfoin and sweet clover, that is, those species that are most adaptive and used in agricultural production in Northern Kazakhstan, and seeds of other ecologically adapted forage crops were collected, not widely distributed in the steppe zone.

According to the results of the expedition, the breeders collected 77 samples of perennial herbs and legumes belonging to 13 botanical species.