Laboratory of the Department of Plant Pathology

Research conducted in the Laboratory of the Department of Plant Pathology are based on the determination of plant pathogens (fungi, pseudofungi, bacteria, viruses, subviral pathogens) and investigation of their ecology and epidemiology. Beside investigation of the resistance of certain plant pathogens to fungicides (gray mold - Botrytis cinerea), spread and pathogenicity of fire blight (Erwinia amylovora), the antagonistic action of mycoparazite species of the genus Trichoderma, recently laboratory work is based on investigation of less-known pathogens of grapevine, olive, Mediterranean fruit, endemic and protected plant species of the Republic of Croatia. In 2018, as a part of joint research with colleagues from UC Berkeley , a new grapevine virus called grapevine badnavirus  1 has been discovered.

The laboratory has modern diagnostic equipment that, together with the use of internationally recognized techniques and protocols, enables precise and reliable determination of different plant pathogens based on their morphological, serological and molecular characteristics (genome analysis). The laboratory cooperates and provides support to significant number of agricultural producers.

Head of the laboratory: Assoc. Prof. Darko Vončina, PhD