Exploring Plant Resilience: Insights from a ViroiDoc Secondment in Poland

MSCA Fellow João Colaço reflects on his first ViroiDoc secondment at the Poznań Science and Technology Park, Innosil, and the University of Life Sciences in Poznań, Poland.

MSCA Doctoral Candidate João Colaço successfully completed his first one-month ViroiDoc secondment during September and October 2026 at the Poznań Science and Technology Park, Innosil, and the University of Life Sciences in Poznań, Poland. Under the supervision and guidance of Dr. Marcin Śmiglak and Dr. Tomasz Kleiber, João gained valuable interdisciplinary experience at the interface of academic and industrial research.

During his stay, João actively contributed to ongoing experiments and data analysis focused on improving plant resilience under environmental stress. The secondment provided an opportunity to strengthen his practical skills while experiencing how research findings can be translated into real-world applications.

A key part of his work involved investigating the effects of a salicylic acid derivative as a potential biostimulant in lettuce plants grown under hydroponic conditions. The experiments examined how plants respond to drought stress and whether the tested compound could enhance their resilience. Lettuce seedlings were transferred to hydroponic cultivation systems and distributed across six experimental treatments, combining different salicylic acid concentrations with control and drought conditions. Throughout the experiment, plant physiological responses were carefully monitored, measured, and analysed.

The hydroponic experiment was successfully completed from seed sowing through to final harvest, providing João with hands-on training in plant assays, phenotyping techniques, and the interpretation of physiological responses to drought stress.

Reflecting on the experience, João highlighted both the scientific and professional benefits of the secondment: “The secondment provided valuable scientific and professional training aligned with the objectives of my research. It strengthened my hands-on expertise in plant assays, phenotyping, and data interpretation. In addition, it promoted new collaborative links and opened the opportunity for future scientific publications.”

Beyond technical training, the secondment also fostered new international collaborations and knowledge exchange between partner institutions, further supporting the goals of the ViroiDoc Doctoral Network. Through the secondment, João expanded his research skills, developed new professional connections, and gained valuable insights into innovative approaches for enhancing plant performance under stress conditions.

João Colaço is an MSCA Fellow within the ViroiDoc Network. João is conducting an individual research project entitled “How disrupting viroid biogenesis impacts viroid propagation” at the University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty in Slovenia, while also pursuing his PhD in at the same institution. His supervisors are Jernej Jakše and co-supervisor Helena Volk, both from UL.