Investigation of the resistance of black saxaul (Haloxylon aphyllum) forms to gall-forming insects

Countries: Kazakhstan
Duration: 2020 - 2022 (AFoCO/020/2020)

Goal & Objectives

The project aims to study the resistance of specified black saxaul plants among the species damaged by gall-forming insects. With the advent of modern equipment and new teaching methods, it became possible to study plant resistance to damage by pests at a high level. These studies will help to reveal the concept of the specificity of saxaul resistance. The main objectives are outlined as follows:

• Analysis of the pest foci and clarification of the species composition of gall-forming pests in the foci of saxaul, the allocation within the population of individual plants of saxaul not damaged by pests in the lesion;
• Carrying out laboratory tests for biochemical composition in plants and their genetic structure, as well as the study of anatomical and morphological features of plants not damaged by pests; and
• Collection of plant materials from resistant plants within the species for the possibility of further study of the heritability of this property.

Expected Outputs

The project has three expected outputs:

• Analysis of the pest foci and clarification of the species composition of gall-forming pests in the foci of saxaul, the allocation within the population of individual plants of saxaul not damaged by pests in the lesion;
• Carrying out laboratory tests for biochemical composition in plants and their genetic structure, as well as the study of anatomical and morphological features of plants not damaged by pests; and
• Collection of planting materials from resistant plants within the species for the possibility of further study of the heritability of this property.