J. For. Sci., X:X | DOI: 10.17221/41/2026-JFS

Microclonal propagation of Cotoneaster melanocarpus as a tool for ecosystem restoration and resilience in KazakhstanOriginal Paper

Yedil Aishuk ORCID...¹, Dani Sarsekova ORCID...²

¹ Kokshetau University named Shokan Ualikhanov, Kokshetau, Republic of Kazakhstan

² Kazakh National Agrarian Research University, Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan

Degradation of steppe ecosystems in Kazakhstan requires propagation methods for native woody species. Seed propagation of Cotoneaster melanocarpus Fisch. ex Blytt is slow and irregular owing to dormancy. This study evaluated the effects of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) on in vitro shoot regeneration and multiplication. Overall, 200 apical and nodal explants from 40 visually healthy, naturally growing donor shrubs were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with five BAP/IBA treatments (T0–T4). Regeneration frequency, shoot number, shoot length, callus formation, and shoot-development patterns were summarised descriptively after 30 days. T3 produced the highest response (2.0 mg·L^–1 BAP and 0.5 mg·L^–1 IBA): 37/40 explants regenerated (92.5%), yielding 5.2 shoots per explant and 6.3 cm mean shoot length. In T4 (3.0 mg·L^–1 BAP and 1.0 mg·L^–1 IBA), 24/40 explants regenerated (60.0%), with visible callus and apical abnormalities. Shoots in T1–T3 developed predominantly without visible intervening callus, although histology was not performed. Thus, T3 was the most favourable treatment tested for shoot multiplication. The findings are limited to shoot multiplication; rooting, acclimatisation, genetic fidelity, stress tolerance, and field performance require evaluation before restoration use.

Keywords: axillary bud proliferation; culture-medium optimisation; cytokinin–auxin balance; morphogenic response; Rosaceae

Received: May 18, 2026; Revised: August 6, 2026; Accepted: August 10, 2026; Prepublished online: August 17, 2026