Diagnostic laboratory of the Plant Protection Department (OVR-LAB)

The following tasks are carried out in the Diagnostic Laboratory of the Plant Protection Department (OVR-LAB):

  • Laboratory analyses for plant pests using accredited and non-accredited diagnostic methods for nematodes, insects, fungi and oomycetes, plant viruses and viroids, and bacteria (Price list KIS, Cenik storitev Kmetijskega inštituta Slovenije, page 19)
  • Maintenance of collections of nematodes, insects, fungi and oomycetes, viruses and viroids and bacteria
  • Research projects involving work with quarantine and other pests
  • Other activities of official and national reference laboratories

The diagnostic laboratory of the Plant Protection Department is designated as a Quarantine station by the UVHVVR.

The following National Reference Laboratories (NRLs) and Official Laboratories (OLs) for the determination of plant pests are operating within the Diagnostic Laboratory of the Plant Protection Department:

  • National Reference Laboratory for plant parasitic nematodes
  • National Reference Laboratory for viruses, viroids and phytoplasmas: viruses and viroids of crops, fruit trees and vines (consortium partner)
  • National reference laboratory for fungi and oomycetes: on crops, vegetables and fruit plants, oomycetes on all plants (consortium partner)
  • National Reference Laboratory for Insects and Mites: insects and mites on agricultural and ornamental plants (consortium partner)
  • Official laboratory for plant parasitic nematodes
  • Official laboratory for viruses and viroids on fruit trees, vines and crops
  • Official laboratory for fungi and oomycetes
  • Official laboratory for insects and mites on agricultural and ornamental plants

Contact persons:

Head of the Diagnostic Laboratory of the Plant Protection Department (OVR-LAB): Dr Barbara Gerič Stare

Head of the NRL for plant parasitic nematodes: Dr Saša Širca

Head of NRL for viruses, viroids and phytoplasmas: Dr Irena Mavrič Pleško

Head of NRL for fungi and oomycetes: Dr Janja Zajc Žunič

Head of NRL for insects and mites: Dr Špela Modic

Sample submission: Mojca Opara and Dani Dobrovoljc

The Diagnostic Laboratory of the Department of Plant Protection is accredited by the Slovenian Accreditation as a testing laboratory according to SIST EN ISO/IEC 17025:2017 (Annex to Accreditation Certificate LP-020).

Through continuous verification of quality standards, consistent, transparent and comprehensive management of technical requirements for precision measurement, testing and calibration, the accreditation demonstrates the competence and credibility of the Plant Protection Department's Diagnostic Laboratory both nationally and internationally.