2024. March 29., Friday

botanical_garden

Rescuing Species in the Botanical Garden

Adonis vernalis (pheasant’s eye), Ajuga laxmannii (bugleweed), Anchusa barrelieri (Barrelier’s bugloss), Ranunculus illyricus, Silene bupleuroides (catchfly), Viola ambigua (violet), Vinca herbacea (herbaceous periwinkle) and many other rare flowering plants, totalling 82 are included in a plant rescue programme currently underway at the Botanical Garden of the University of Szeged.

“We are participating in a programme to protect natural stands of rare loess steppe plant species in a 160-hectare area of the Körös-Maros National Park. This nature conservation programme was launched in March 2017 and involves 82 plant species, including 16 protected and 52 regionally endangered species” reports Anikó Németh, director of the Botanical Garden of the University of Szeged.


The Pannon loess steppe is one of the most complex and species-rich plant community in Hungary. This community is endangered due to the rich and fertile chernozem soil found in the National Park has largely been ploughed for cultivation. Leaving only small patches of these plants on the slopes of kurgans or between alkali grasslands. Planting areas have been marked and seeds have been collected from the designated plant species within 30 kilometres of the planting areas. The seeds are currently being purified and stored till sowed. There is virtually no knowledge about the reproduction and development of 50 of the 82 plant species to be replanted.


To rescue these plants, sowing experiments have been established to find the optimal conditions and time period for germination adds Anikó Németh describing a crucial step in the nature conservation programme. Seedlings will be planted in multiple phases, with the characteristic natural spatial distribution and growth characteristics of plants taken into consideration. This project will result in the Botanical Garden of the University of Szeged helping plant diversity of Pannon loess steppes in the Southern Trans-Tisza Region by planting 25 thousand seedlings and sowing 255 thousand seeds by the end of 2021.

SZTE Experience

95930002_620793281842686_908476219798847488_oDianne - Faculty of Science and Informatics

I am a PhD student and a Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship holder from the Philippines. I am currently pursuing my PhD in Environmental Science and I happen to be in my 3rd year of studies. I chose University of Szeged because its one of the top ranked research university in Hungary known for its good reputation in the fields of health and natural sciences. Coming from the Philippines with a warm climate, I had huge preference of Szeged for my studies, the city having the most rays of sunshine and considered to be the warmest place in Hungary. I would advise all the prospective students to join University of Szeged’s diverse and vibrant community! Don’t be afraid to leave your comfort zone, try to find and establish your niche in a new place like what I did. I didn’t regret coming to Szeged as it continuously provides me an enabling learning environment for various reasons, has affordable cost of living, very safe and calm university town, organized transport system, beautiful and clean surroundings with the very sightly Tisza River which adds to its appeal, and also holds many festivals throughout the year. After graduation, I am planning to go back to my home institution and continue my teaching duties at the University of the Philippines Los Baños

DSC_0478

Tamerlan Mendybayev – Faculty of Agriculture

My name is Tamerlan Mendybayev. I am from capital of Kazakhstan, Nur-Sultan. Currently I am first year student at the Faculty of Agriculture. I chose the University of Szeged as my study destination for several reasons: firstly, it is a well-known applied science institution in Europe and the best in Hungary. Secondly, the program is designed with a significant focus on the developing practical skills of the students and there is a University pilot farm where students keen their skills and implement their knowledge in practice. Undoubtedly, University of Szeged is a place where students become professionals in their academic field.

More...