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Kazakhstani horticulture faces a serious and largely unexplored threat. Phytoparasitic nematodes — microscopic worms living in soil and plant tissues — inflict significant damage on berry crops. Yet their species composition and distribution across Kazakhstan have never been systematically studied. To address this gap, a young researcher is implementing a scientific project titled "Isolation and Identification of Nematodes Parasitising Berry Crops in South-East Kazakhstan." The project is funded under the "Zhas Galym" ("Young Scientist") programme and runs from 2025 to 2027, with total grant funding of nearly 30 million tenge.

The project falls under the priority direction "Sustainable Development of the Agro-Industrial Complex," in the field of phytosanitary science, and constitutes a fundamental research study. The scientific supervisor is PhD Abdykerim Rauza Zhusipkyzy, Senior Researcher at 91��ý Kazakh National University. The international scientific consultant is Professor Halil Toktay, PhD, from Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University in Turkey.

Nematodes are among the most abundant organisms on Earth, accounting for four-fifths of all individual animals. Of the 20,000 described nematode species, approximately 20% — roughly four thousand species — are associated with plants. Berry crops are susceptible to damage from numerous nematode representatives belonging to the orders Aphelenchida, Dorylaimida, and Tylenchida.

The danger posed by parasitic nematodes goes far beyond direct physical damage. Many species serve as vectors of viral, bacterial, and fungal infections. For example, root nematodes of the family Longidoridae transmit nepoviruses and represent a danger to the majority of berry crops. The Raspberry Ringspot Virus and the Strawberry Latent Ringspot Virus, transmitted by these nematodes, can destroy up to 90% of berry yields in severe years. Root-knot nematodes attack plant root systems, causing the formation of characteristic galls that impair water and nutrient uptake. Infected plants fall behind in growth and eventually wither and die. Globally, root-knot nematodes alone destroy around 5% of annual agricultural production. Overall, annual losses of berry crops from harmful nematodes range from 6 to 10%.

Controlling phytoparasitic nematodes is considerably more difficult than managing other pests, because they live both in the soil — as ectoparasites and endoparasites of roots — and inside the tissues of above-ground plant parts. Symptoms of nematode damage can easily be mistaken for bacterial, fungal, or viral disease, or even nutrient deficiency. This makes accurate and timely diagnosis a prerequisite for any effective protection strategy.

The systematic study of nematodes in berry crops is a well-established research practice worldwide. In Kazakhstan, however, no such research has been conducted before. This represents a critical gap: only by identifying which nematode species are present in a specific zone can appropriate and effective control measures be recommended.

The issue is further sharpened by one of the most pressing problems in contemporary Kazakhstani horticulture — the uncontrolled importation of planting material from foreign producers, which is frequently infested with pests and diseases. Nematodes in this context pose a particular danger, as they disrupt physiological processes in plants, inhibit development, weaken growth, and reduce the quality of berries.

This project is the first comprehensive scientific study of berry crop nematodes in Kazakhstan and aims to lay the scientific foundation for a systematic phytosanitary protection programme.

The primary goal of the project is to isolate and identify nematodes parasitising berry crops under the conditions of south-east Kazakhstan, and to determine effective methods for their control.

Four main objectives have been set to achieve this goal. The first is the collection of soil and plant samples for nematode isolation. The second is the identification of nematodes using microscopic, molecular, and bioindicator methods. The third is the compilation of a distribution and harmfulness map of nematodes in south-east Kazakhstan. The fourth is the identification of effective control methods and the development of recommendations for protecting berry crops from nematodes.

Three complementary identification methods are employed in the project.

The first is the classical morphological method, based on the study of external morphological characteristics and morphometric parameters of nematodes: body length and width, stylet length, oesophagus length, dimensions of the reproductive system, and other quantitative indicators. The principal tools are microscopes and specialised diagnostic keys.

The second is the molecular identification method, currently the most widely used in contemporary nematology. It involves the analysis of nucleotide sequences in specific regions of the nematode genome. Following DNA extraction and PCR amplification with gel electrophoresis visualisation, the species of the studied organism can be determined with high precision.

The third is the bioindicator method, primarily used to differentiate pathotypes within a single nematode species — that is, intraspecific groups distinguished by varying pathogenicity towards different plant species or varieties. Determining the pathotype is especially important in breeding programmes aimed at developing nematode-resistant plant varieties: a variety resistant to one pathotype may be highly vulnerable to another, more aggressive one.

For detection of stem nematodes, a simplified version of the Baermann method is employed: infected plant parts are placed in Petri dishes, cut into small pieces, covered with distilled water, and left for several hours. Nematodes actively migrate out of the plant tissues into the water, where they are collected and examined under a binocular microscope. Root-knot nematodes are identified visually by the characteristic galls they produce on roots, after plants are excavated, brought to the laboratory, and washed clean of soil.

The project unfolds in three interconnected stages. In 2025, the primary focus is on fieldwork: soil and plant samples are collected from farms in the Almaty region that cultivate berry crops. Simultaneously, a comprehensive review of the scientific literature is conducted and preliminary data gathered from farmers. In the laboratory, nematodes are isolated from the collected samples.

In 2026, the emphasis shifts to identification: nematodes isolated over two growing seasons are examined using all three methods. Based on the accumulated data, a distribution and harmfulness map of nematodes across the south-east of the country is compiled. Experiments to determine the most effective control methods are also established during this phase.

In 2027, research activities are completed: the distribution map is supplemented with new data, practical recommendations for berry crop protection are developed, and results are submitted for publication in international scientific journals.

A central element of the project is collaboration with an internationally recognised specialist in nematology — Professor Halil Toktay, who leads the nematology laboratory at Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University in Turkey. He is the author of more than 50 scientific publications and holds an H-index of 13. Research internships at his laboratory are planned as part of the project, with the aim of acquiring advanced expertise in molecular nematode identification. This international partnership significantly strengthens the methodological quality and scientific standing of the research.

The project is carried out in the laboratories of 91��ý Kazakh National University, which are equipped with all the equipment necessary for phytosanitary and microbiological analyses: drying cabinets, thermostats, centrifuges, laminar flow cabinets, transmitted-light and stereoscopic microscopes, PCR boxes, thermal cyclers (amplifiers), electrophoresis systems, and other essential instruments. This well-equipped infrastructure enables research to be conducted at a high scientific and methodological level without outsourcing the main types of analysis.

The project will deliver several concrete scientific and practical outputs. For the first time in Kazakhstan, nematodes parasitising berry crops in the south-east of the country will be systematically isolated and identified by species. A map of their distribution and degree of harmfulness will be compiled — a valuable reference tool for researchers and practitioners alike. Practical recommendations for berry crop protection will be developed and disseminated to farmers, research institutions, and universities with biological and agricultural profiles.

The scientific significance of the work lies in filling a fundamental gap in Kazakhstani nematology and establishing a basis for future research in this area. The practical value is equally tangible: farmers will gain access to a scientifically grounded protection system that directly translates into higher-quality and more abundant yields.

Research results will be published in a minimum of two articles in journals indexed in the Scopus and Web of Science databases. Interim findings and updates on the project's progress will be shared on the university's official website, ensuring transparency and knowledge dissemination to the wider public.

This project represents an important step toward a Kazakhstani agricultural sector grounded in contemporary scientific knowledge — and toward giving farmers the tools they need to protect their crops from a threat that is invisible to the naked eye but highly consequential in its impact.