Format: ORAL

Moldir Yermagambetova1, Shyryn Almerekova1, Orzimat Turginov2, Ormon Sultangaziev3, Saule Abugalieva1 , Yerlan Turuspekov1

1 Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Almaty 050040, Kazakhstan 2 Institute of Botany, Tashkent 100125, Uzbekistan 3 Fauna and Flora International, Bishkek 720005, Kyrgyzstan

Juniperus seravschanica Kom. is a widespread and important tree species in Central Asia, and grows extensively in the mountain ranges of Oman to Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan. It is crucial in forming shrub-forest massifs in mountainous regions, contributing to soil drainage and stabilization at medium to high altitudes. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the current status of J. seravschanica resources and develop effective conservation strategies, a thorough study of the species genetic diversity and population structure was conducted. To assess genetic diversity and population structure leaf samples were collected from 15 J.seravschanica populations across Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan. Utilizing 11 polymorphic simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers genetic diversity parameters such as the number of alleles, number of effective alleles, percentage of polymorphic loci, and Neis genetic diversity index were evaluated. Neis genetic diversity index for the J. seravschanica populations averaged 0.450, ranging from 0.407 to 0.566. The AMOVA indicated that 90.3% of the total genetic variation was distributed within populations, suggesting a high level of genetic diversity within each population. Gene flow calculated using alleles from all populations, was estimated at 4.654. Population structure analysis revealed weak clustering among the studied populations, confirming the AMOVA findings. The results of this study provide valuable insights into the genetic diversity and population structure of J. seravschanica in Central Asia. The high genetic diversity within populations suggests that the species has a strong capacity to adapt to environmental changes. These findings can be effectively utilized to develop conservation strategies for J. seravschanica, ensuring the long-term sustainability of this important tree species in Central Asia. This work was supported by Grant No.AP09259027 of the Science Committee of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan.