Tenth-grade students from the Vocational High School of Food Technologies and Technics in Plovdiv visited CPSBB

Tenth-grade students from the Vocational High School of Food Technologies and Technics in Plovdiv visited CPSBB as part of their practical training in Bioproduction Technologies. The visit provided the students with an opportunity to gain first-hand insight into the Center’s cutting-edge research activities, advanced laboratory infrastructure, and the practical applications of plant biotechnology.

The students were welcomed by Dr. Eng. Alicja Wieteska, Dr. Martina Savova, Alexandra Ivanova, and Manuela Stoyanova, who introduced them to the Center’s main research areas. The researchers presented both applied experiments and fundamental studies in plant systems biology and biotechnology aimed at improving crop resilience to abiotic and biotic stresses, identifying valuable primary and secondary plant metabolites with applications in agriculture, the pharmaceutical industry, and the food sector, as well as investigating the chemical and elemental composition of plant samples, sample preparation, and analytical methodologies.

During the tour, the students visited the Center’s laboratories and specialized research facilities, where scientific experiments are conducted. The researchers explained the basic principles of operating high-tech scientific equipment and demonstrated the capabilities of several state-of-the-art analytical instruments.

Among the technologies presented were a gas chromatograph coupled with a mass spectrometric detector for highly sensitive analysis of low-molecular-weight compounds at concentrations down to nanograms per milliliter, a liquid chromatograph for the identification and analysis of secondary and specialized plant metabolites, and a mass spectrometry-based elemental analysis system used to determine the qualitative and quantitative composition of chemical elements in plant samples. The students were introduced to the sample preparation procedures required for each analytical technique, as well as the specific advantages and applications of the different technologies in scientific research.

The visit to the plant growth rooms attracted particular interest. These facilities enable experiments with crop plants under precisely controlled environmental conditions tailored to the objectives of individual research projects. Manuela Stoyanova introduced the students to the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, one of the most widely used experimental systems in modern plant biology. She explained why this model species is extensively used by researchers worldwide to investigate genetic, physiological, and molecular processes in plants.

The students also learned about in vitro propagated plants of Haberlea rhodopensis, a Balkan endemic species that is renowned for its extraordinary ability to survive extreme desiccation and temperature fluctuations. Manuela Stoyanova presented the specialized nutrient medium developed at CPSBB for the in vitro cultivation of this species for research purposes. These studies focus on uncovering the molecular mechanisms that enable the plant to survive with as little as approximately 4% water content in its tissues and to tolerate both extremely high and extremely low temperatures.

The tour concluded with a visit to the CPSBB greenhouse complex, where Dr. Eng. Alicja Wieteska presented experimental crop plantations within several national and European research projects. She discussed the application of modern approaches to improving crop resilience and productivity, emphasizing the importance of scientific research for the development of sustainable agriculture.

The visit provided the future specialists with a valuable opportunity to experience a real scientific environment, observe researchers working with advanced analytical instrumentation, and gain a deeper understanding of how fundamental research is translated into practical applications in agriculture, food industry, and the pharmaceutical sector.