Abstract
In commercial orchards and nurseries, the spread of viral infections in apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) poses a serious threat to plant phytosanitary status and productivity. The aim of this study was to obtain virus-free apple rootstock planting material and to evaluate the effectiveness of integrated in vitro biotechnological methods of plant sanitation. The objects of the study were apple rootstocks from pomological and in vitro collections in Kazakhstan. The highest viral load was detected in rootstock B-16-20. For sanitation, a combined Thermotherapy + Chemotherapy + SAM method with antiviral agents was applied. The results showed that the effectiveness and phytotoxicity of the methods depend on the combination of techniques and the concentration of the applied agents. The obtained data confirm the high efficiency of integrated biotechnological approaches for obtaining virus-free apple planting material and have practical significance for certified propagation of fruit crops in Kazakhstan.