What does modern plant breeding consist of?

Plant breeding is not merely a field of science, but one of the key factors in the development of agriculture and in ensuring the country’s food security. In the face of climate change, population growth, and rising demand for high-quality agricultural products, Kazakhstan increasingly needs new, high-yielding varieties of major crops that can withstand drought, disease, and other natural challenges. That is precisely why the development of domestic plant breeding today is becoming a matter not only of science but also of the country’s strategic future.

To address breeding challenges, accelerate the breeding process, and develop competitive crop varieties, the Scientific and Production Center of Grain Farming named after A.I. Baraev LLP, in collaboration with researchers from the Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology under the Science Committee of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, is conducting comprehensive studies aimed at integrating advanced molecular genetics, physiological, biochemical, and biotechnological approaches, as well as digital phenotyping technologies, into breeding programs.

For example, digital phenotyping tasks are carried out using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) equipped with multispectral and LiDAR cameras. These UAVs enable the collection of vegetation index values (NDVI, GNDVI, OSAVI, NDRE, LCI) for each plot and each specific variety, as well as data on crop architecture and the volume of biomass produced. This information allows researchers to assess the characteristics of plant growth and development during the growing season and track the dynamics of their development. Digital phenotyping is particularly important because conventional methods for assessing dynamic indicators of plant development are destructive, which slows down research, negatively affects the condition of crops, and, in some cases, renders them unsuitable for breeding practice.

As part of the research program “Practical Implementation of Advanced Molecular Genetic, Physiological, Biochemical, Biotechnological Approaches, and Digital Phenotyping in the Breeding of Economically Important Agricultural Crops” (BR24992903), funded by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan for the period 2024–2026, digital phenotyping is being applied to three crop species: wheat, barley, and pea. Current research includes the evaluation of a barley collection comprising more than 270 accessions, a spring wheat collection of approximately 300 accessions, and a pea collection consisting of more than 180 accessions. In addition, a large number of hybrid combinations are being evaluated.

The main goal of this work is to accelerate the breeding process, develop high-yielding varieties adapted to local conditions, and reduce the impact of human factors. The researchers are moving consistently and confidently toward this goal.

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