Introduction
The Plant Protection Department (OVR), Slovenia’s leading scientific and research centre for plant health, has been researching and managing plant diseases and pests that pose a direct threat to plant health and production for more than 60 years.
Our plant health research is mainly focused on finding new, environmentally friendly ways of protecting plants based on reducing the risks associated with the use of phytopharmaceuticals. Among others, we explore strategies for the integrated management of harmful organisms (integrated pest management), methods of biotic plant protection and approaches to plant protection in ecological farming.
Our professional activities include solving problems related to plant diseases and pests in Slovenia, monitoring the occurrence and spread of plant pests, diagnostics, risk assessments and expertises. We provide appropriate technical support to ministries, agricultural advisors and farmers.
The Diagnostic Laboratory of the Plant Protection Department houses National Reference Laboratories (NRLs) and Official Laboratories (OLs) for the identification of plant pests. The Diagnostic Laboratory of the Plant Protection Department is accredited by the Slovenian Accreditation as a testing laboratory according to SIST EN ISO/IEC 17025:2017.
The Remote Sensing and GIS team uses innovative methods of remote sensing or optical detection of electromagnetic radiation for early detection of plant diseases and pests. To this end, we use a variety of sensors that enable diseases or pests to be recognised even before the visible signs appear and allow timely and spatially precise action to be taken.
As part of our forecasting and warning service, we provide agricultural advisors, farmers and plant enthusiasts with up-to-date information on the occurrence and development of economically important plant diseases and pests and guide them towards suitable technological protective measures.
Our work in the area of new plant protection technologies and field trials includes conducting experiments and analyses to determine the effectiveness of plant protection products. In 2011, we were awarded the certificate for Good Experimental Practise (GEP).
Areas of work
sustainable agriculture and environmentally friendly plant protection - based on the implementation of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) principles
plant protection approaches in organic farming
pest diagnostics - development and implementation of new laboratory diagnostic methods
Use of remote sensing and GIS in plant protection - early detection of plant pests, abiotic stress (e.g. drought) and phenotyping
Forecasting and warning service
Plant protection technologies and field trials
Infrastructure
Associates
Head of department
Researchers
Barbara Gerič Stare, PhD
Scientific Research and Professional Fields:
- Plant-Parasitic Nematodes and Other Plant Pathogens
- Molecular Identification of Nematodes
- Development and Implementation of Diagnostic Methods
- Molecular Phylogenetics
- Management of Plant-Parasitic Nematodes Using Biological Control Agents
- Plant-Pathogen and Plant-Pest Interactions
- Implementation and Maintenance of Laboratory Quality Management Systems
Hans-Josef Schroers, PhD
Scientific Research and Professional Fields:
- Detection and Identification of Fungi Using Morphological and Molecular Methods (DNA Barcoding, PCR)
- Phylogenetic Analyses, Development of Diagnostic Methods, and Research on Pathogenic Fungi
- Use of Fungi as Biological Control Agents (BCAs) in Biotic Plant Protection
- Research on the Interactions of Beneficial Fungi with Plant Pathogens and Pests
Jaka Razinger, PhD
My research is dedicated to biological control of pests and Integrated Pest Management (IPM). My long-term goal is to contribute to the food self-sufficiency of Slovenia and the EU by ensuring the production of high-quality food with minimal negative impact on the environment and human health.
🔗 SICRIS | ORCID | ResearchGate | Google Scholar | Bibliografija
Janja Zajc Žunič, PhD
Head of the Mycological Laboratory, Research Associate, Phytosanitary Inspector.
Scientific Research and Professional Fields:
- Detection and Identification of Fungi Using Morphological and Molecular Methods (PCR, qPCR, dPCR)
- Development of Diagnostic Methods
- Research on Fungal Resistance to Fungicides
- Inventory of Fungal Plant Pathogens
- Research on Pathogenic Fungi
- Use of Fungi as Biological Control Agents in Biological Plant Protection
- Research on the Interactions of Beneficial Fungi with Plant Pathogens
- Implementation and Maintenance of Laboratory Quality Management Systems
Klara Šavli
Scientific Research and Professional Fields:
- Research in the Field of Biotic Plant Protection
- Studies on the Efficacy and Mechanisms of Action of Antagonistic Fungi for Use in the Biocontrol of Selected Plant Diseases
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Kristina Petrović, PhD
Znanstveno-raziskovalno in strokovno področje:
- Soybean pathology with an emphasis on disease resistance
- Morphological and molecular characterization of phytopathogenic fungi
- Phylogenetic analysis
- Study of fungal pathogenicity using various experimental methods
- Seed health testing
- Biological plant protection and the use of biocontrol agents
- Interactions between phytopathogenic fungi and host plants
- Preparation and writing of scientific research project proposals
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Uroš Žibrat, PhD
Head of the Remote Sensing Group, Research Associate, Phytosanitary Inspector, Coordinator of Multiple Research Projects, Member of the Expert Group on Plant Pest Surveillance at the European Food Safety Authority.
Scientific Research and Professional Fields:
- Remote Sensing for Early Detection of Plant Health Status
- Chemometrics with Hyperspectral Imaging Systems
- High-Throughput Phenotyping
- Plant Pest Surveillance
Professional and technical staff
Aleksandra Podboj Ronta
Professional Support in the Detection and Identification of Fungi Based on Morphological Characteristics, Inventory of Fungal Plant Pathogens, Research in Biotic Plant Protection, Maintenance of the Fungal Culture Collection, Implementation and Maintenance of Laboratory Quality Management Systems.
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Maruša Trobec
Detection and Identification of Fungi Based on Morphological and Molecular Methods (PCR, qPCR), Development of Diagnostic Methods, Research in the Field of Biotic Plant Protection.
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Rok Veber
Scientific Research and Professional Fields:
- Soybean Pathology with a focus on Disease Resistance
- Morphological and Molecular Characterization of Phytopathogenic Fungi
- Phylogenetic Analysis
- Pathogenicity Testing using diverse experimental methods
- Seed Quality Assessment
- Biological Plant Protection and the use of Biocontrol Agents
- Fungal–Host Plant Interactions
- Development and Writing of Scientific Research Projects
🔗 ORCID
Urša Prislan
Detection and Identification of Fungi Based on Morphological Characteristics, Inventory of Fungal Plant Pathogens, Research on Pathogenic Fungi, Use of Fungi as Biological Control Agents in Biological Plant Protection, Curation and Maintenance of the Fungal Culture Collection, Implementation and Maintenance of Laboratory Quality Management Systems.
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