MSc. Weronika Kursa
2nd Year doctoral student,
Discipline: Agriculture and Horticulture
University of Parma (Università degli Studi di Parma)

As part of the ERASMUS + program, I had the pleasure of doing an internship at the University of Parma (Italy) from 09.01.2023 until 08.04.2023.  My internship took place at the Department of Chemical, Life and Environmental Sustainability Sciences (Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, della Vita e della Sostenibilità Ambientale). My internship was supervised by Professor Mariolina Gullì.

Photo. 1 In the photo, from the left: Prof. ssa Mariolina Gullì (my practice supervisor), me (Weronika Kursa) and Dr. Francesc Degola.

The purpose of my internship was to support scientific research, improve the applied research and teaching methods, as well as exchange experiences and develop scientific cooperation. During the internship, I became acquainted with issues in the field of microbiology and ecotoxicology. The scope of my tasks included research on a bioproduct (a mixture of plant extracts) for plant protection in terms of phytotoxicity for plants – assessment of seed germination in the presence of various amounts of extracts, comparing the effectiveness of liquid and dried extracts, as well as assessment of the effectiveness of extracts in protection against abiotic stress (salinity) in the germination stage. I also assessed the biocidal effectiveness of plant extracts against pathogenic bacteria – Pseudomonas aeruginosa and selected plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB): Azotobacter chroococcum LS132, Azotobacter vinelandii (DSM2289), Bacillus amyloliquefaciens LMG 9814, Bacillus sp. BV84, Burkholderia ambifaria MCI7, Komagataella pastoris PP59, Pseudomonas fluorescens (DR54), Pseudomonas granadensis A23/T3c, Rahnella aquatilis BB23/T4d, Rhodococcus kyotonensi.

Photo. 2 Evaluation of ecotoxicity of plant extracts

Photo. 3 Preparation of biocidal efficacy tests of plant extracts against pathogenic bacteria – Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Photo. 4 The science and technology campus – Parco Area delle Scienze – is 77 hectares surrounded by greenery. It houses the administration office, teaching rooms and libraries of scientific departments, canteens and sports facilities.

Photo. 5  Piazza Giuseppe Garibaldi – Giuseppe Garibaldi Square – Historic center of Parma – Buildings around the square include the town hall and the governor’s palace.

The internship in Italy (Università degli Studi di Parma) allowed me to get to know a new culture, improve my language skills, explore new issues in the field of e.g. microbiology and ecotoxicology, as well as meeting wonderful people and experiencing an amazing adventure that I will remember for years. A nice bonus of my internship was the early spring, at the turn of February and March, and already at the end of March I could see the blooming common lilac or rapeseed.

Photo. 6 Spring in Parma