Prof. Darko Vončina, PhD

Prof. Darko Vončina, PhD

Professor
Division for Phytomedicine
Department of Plant Pathology
Office location: 3rd Pavilion, 1st floor
Phone: +385 1 239 3971
Email: dvoncina ( at ) agr.hr
Languages: Croatian, English
Consultations: Tursday from 10 am to 12 pm

Academic qualifications

  • 2011: PhD
    University of Zagreb Faculty of Agriculture
    Detection of viruses on autochthonous grapevine cultivars (Vitis vinifera L.) from Dalmatia using serological, molecular and biological methods
  • 2005: MSc
    University of Zagreb Faculty of Agriculture
    Predator efficacy of Adalia bipunctata L. larvae and adults on aphids

Employment and work experience

  • 2018 - 2021: University of Zagreb Faculty of Agriculture
    associate professor, vice-dean for science and international cooperation
  • 2016 - 2018: University of Zagreb Faculty of Agriculture
    assistant professor
  • 2015 - 2016: University of California Berkeley
    "Ecology of an emerging grapevine virus in Croatia and California", project manager
    http://www.newfelpro.hr/default.aspx?ID=2341
  • 2013 - 2015: University of Zagreb Faculty of Agriculture
    assistant professor
  • 2011 - 2013: University of Zagreb Faculty of Agriculture
    senior assistant
  • 2005 - 2011: University of Zagreb Faculty of Agriculture
    assistant

Teaching

Research interests

  • Plant virology
  • Viral diseases of grapevine
  • Transmission of grapevine viruses by vectors
  • Epidemiology of plant diseases and forecasting
  • Use of next generation sequencing in detection of plant viruses

Training and research experience

  • 2019/07/19 - 2019/08/23: University of California Davis, Foundation Plant Services (scientific)
    Detection of grapevine viruses by real-time PCR (design of primers and probes), high throughput sequencing
  • 2015/09/01 - 2016/08/31: University of California Berkeley (scientific)
    "Ecology of an emergin grapevine virus in Croatia and California", project manager, Marie Curie FP7-PEOPLE-2011-COFUND
    http://www.newfelpro.hr/default.aspx?ID=2341
  • 2011/06/10 - 2011/08/10: Instituto di Virologia vegetale - Sezione di Bari del CNR, Bari, Italy (expert)
    Transmission of grapevine viruses by vectors , Morphological and molecular identification of mealybugs (Pseudococcidae)

Projects

scientific

Title Funding Duration AFZ role
Virusi vinove loze: potraga za dijelovima slagalice koji nedostaju Croatian science foundation 2023/12/28 - 2027/12/27 contractor
Znanstveni centar izvrsnosti za bioraznolikost i molekularno oplemenjivanje bilja (CroP-BioDiv) Europski fond za regionalni razvoj 2018/01/01 - 2023/01/01 coordinator
Novi početak za stare hrvatske sorte vinove loze EU programi 2019/12/20 - 2022/12/20 coordinator
Ekologija i karakterizacija dva nova virusa vinove loze Croatian science foundation 2018/12/01 - 2022/11/30 coordinator
Application of next generation sequencing for the study and diagnosis of plant viral diseases in agriculture COST 2015/03/09 - 2019/03/08 partner
Biodiverzitet i uporedna analiza morfoloških i molekularnih karakteristika gerplazme voćaka i vinove loze MZO 2016/01/01 - 2017/12/31 coordinator
Sustainable control of grapevine trunk diseases COST 2013/10/22 - 2017/10/21 partner
Ecology of an emerging grapevine virus in Croatia and California FP7 2015/09/01 - 2017/01/31 partner
Enhancement of Collaboration between Science, Industry and Farmers: Technology Transfer for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in Sugar Beet as the Way to Improve Farmer Income and Reduce Pesticide Use IPA 2013/03/15 - 2015/12/15 coordinator
BISTEC - Building Innovation Support Through Efficient Cooperation Network IPA 2013/04/01 - 2015/03/31 coordinator
Identifikacija fitopatogena molekularnim i drugim metodama MZOS 2007/01/01 - 2013/12/31 coordinator

expert

Title Funding Duration AFZ role
Revitalizacija proizvodnje češnjaka u Zadarskoj županiji Suradnja s tijelima uprave 2015/04/22 - 2015/11/30 coordinator
Poboljšanje kvalitete sadnog materijala višnje Maraske zdravstvenom selekcijom i genetičkom evaluacijom VIP - Vijeće za istraživanja u poljoprivredi 2014/07/01 - 2015/07/01 coordinator
Revitalizacija proizvodnje češnjaka u Zadrskoj županiji Suradnja s tijelima uprave 2014/05/21 - 2014/12/31 contractor

teaching

Title Funding Duration AFZ role
COVID-19 pandemic as an „opportunity window“ for the transition towards new and more inclusive internationalisation through virtual mobility Erasmus+ 2021/03/01 - 2023/02/28 partner

university support

Title Funding Duration AFZ role
Standardizacija molekularne dijagnostike uzročnika biljnih bolesti Sveučilište u Zagrebu 2017/01/01 - 2017/10/31 coordinator
Inovativne tehnologije povećanja iskorištenja dušika u proizvodnji ječma Sveučilište u Zagrebu 2015/01/01 - 2015/12/31 coordinator
Istraživanje manje poznatih i neistraženih patogena smokve na području Republike Hrvatske Sveučilište u Zagrebu 2014/01/01 - 2014/12/31 coordinator

Publications

  • Debat, H., Zavallo, D., Soltero Brisbane, R., Vončina, D., Almeida, R.P.P., Blouin, A., Al Rwahnih, M., Gomez-Talquenca, S., Asurmendi, S. (2019) Grapevine virus L: a novel vitivirus in grapevine. European journal of plant pathology, 155, 319-328 doi:10.1007/s10658-019-01727-w
  • Vončina, D., Almeida, R.P.P. (2018)
    Screening of some Croatian autochthonous grapevine varieties reveals a multitude of viruses, including novel ones. Archives of virology, 163, 8; 2239-2243 doi:10.1007/s00705-018-3850-6
  • Prator, C. A., Kashiwagi, C. M., Vončina, D., Almeida, R.P.P. (2017) Infection and Colonization of Nicotiana benthamiana by Grapevine leafroll-associated virus 3. Virology, 510, 60-66.
  • Vončina, D., Al Rwahnih, M., Rowhani, A., Gouran, M., Almeida, R.P.P. (2017) Viral Diversity in Autochthonous Croatian Grapevine Cultivars. Plant disease, 101 (7), 1230-1235.
  • Vončina, D., Šimon, S., Đermić, E., Cvjetković, B., Pejić, I., Maletić, E., Karoglan Kontić, J. (2011) Differential properties of Grapevine virus B (GVB) isolates from Croatian autochthonous grapevine culitvars (Vitis vinifera L.). Journal of plant pathology, 93 (2), 283-289.
  • Vončina, D., Šimon, S., Đermić, E., Cvjetković, B., Pejić, I., Maletić, E., Karoglan Kontić, J. (2010) Distribution and partial molecular characterization of Grapevine leafroll-associated virus 2 (GLRaV-2) found in Croatian autochthonous grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) germplasm. Journal of plant diseases and protection, 117 (5), 194-200.

Bibliography (CROSBI): https://www.bib.irb.hr/pregled/znanstvenici/278885?w_mentor=1

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=hr&user=A83hbqwAAAAJ

Other professional activities

  • 2021 - : Croatian Plant Protection Society
    Management board, member
  • 2017 - 2018: Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Croatia
    Work group for draft version of Ordinance of measures for prevention of spread and elimination of grapevine flavescence dorée phytoplasma, member
  • 2016 - : American Phytopatological Society
    Virology Committee, member
  • 2016 - : American Phytopatological Society
    Vector-Pathogen Complexes Committee, member
  • 2015 - 2019: Journal of Central European Agriculture (JCEA)
    Editorial board, member
  • 2009 - : International Council for the Study of Virus and Virus-like Diseases of the Grapevine
    member
  • 2005 - : Croatian Plant Protection Society
    member

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