Nataša Štajner

Prof. Dr. Nataša Štajner is the Chair of Genetics, Biotechnology, Statistics, and Plant Breeding at the University of Ljubljana’s Biotechnical Faculty. She specializes in plant genetics and biotechnology, focusing on developing molecular markers and applying them to hops, vines, and other crops. Her group has pioneered a hybrid-based capture technology for enriching specific genomic regions and applied next-generation sequencing to protect agricultural crops. Recently, she has explored small RNA sequencing to analyze plant-pathogen interactions. Prof. Štajner has mentored numerous doctoral and master's students, received commendations for teaching excellence, and led some projects in genetics and biotechnology. She lectures across various programs, including a PhD interdisciplinary study in biosciences, and holds key leadership roles within her faculty. She is an active member of multiple scientific societies and has published nearly 60 peer-reviewed journal articles, contributing over 500 citations.

List of representative bibliography

  1. BURIN, Tea, GROHAR, Mariana Cecilia, JAKOPIČ, Jerneja, VEBERIČ, Robert, ŠTAJNER, Nataša, CESAR, Tjaša, KUNEJ, Urban, HUDINA, Metka. Changes in the anthocyanin pathway related to phenolic compounds and gene expression in skin and pulp of cv. 'Istrska belica' (Olea europaea L.) during ripening. Journal of Plant Physiology. 2024, vol. 303, art. 154364, 10 str. ISSN 0176-1617. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0176161724001950  
  2. BURIN, Tea, GROHAR, Mariana Cecilia, JAKOPIČ, Jerneja, VEBERIČ, Robert, ŠTAJNER, Nataša, CESAR, Tjaša, KUNEJ, Urban, HUDINA, Metka. Interplay of phenolic compounds and gene expression in phenylpropanoid and flavonoid pathways during olive (Olea europaea L.) ripening of ‘Leccino’ cultivar. Scientia horticulturae. [Print ed.]. 2024, vol. 338, art. 113640, 9 str. ISSN 0304-4238.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2024.113640
  3. JESENIČNIK, Taja, KAURIN, Anela, GRGIČ, Zarja, RADIŠEK, Sebastjan, JAKŠE, Jernej, ŠTAJNER, Nataša. Novel identification of the collection of pathogenic fungal species Verticillium with the development of species-specific SSR markers. Pathogens. 2023, vol. 12, no. 4, [article no.] 535, 18 str. ISSN 2076-0817. https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/12/4/535
  4. AWASTHI, Praveen, KUMAR MISHRA, Ajay, KOCÁBEK, Tomáš, NATH, Vishnu Sukumari, ŠTAJNER, Nataša, JAKŠE, Jernej, KROFTA, Karel, HÁJEK, Tomáš, AMIRI, Khaled MA., et al. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated mutagenesis of the mediator complex subunits MED5a and MED5b genes impaired secondary metabolite accumulation in hop (Humulus lupulus). Plant physiology and biochemistry. 2023, vol. 201, art. 107851, 14 str., ilustr. ISSN 1873-2690.  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0981942823003625
  5. SEČNIK, Andrej, ŠTAJNER, Nataša, RADIŠEK, Sebastjan, KUNEJ, Urban, KRIŽMAN, Mitja, JAKŠE, Jernej. Cytosine methylation in genomic DNA and characterization of DNA methylases and demethylases and their expression profiles in viroid-infected hop plants (Humulus lupulus var. ‘Celeia’). Cells. 2022, no. 16, art. 2592, vol. 11, 16 str., ilustr. ISSN 2073-4409. https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/11/16/2592
  6. MILJANIĆ, Vanja, JAKŠE, Jernej, KUNEJ, Urban, RUSJAN, Denis, ŠKVARČ, Andreja, ŠTAJNER, Nataša. Virome status of preclonal candidates of grapevine varieties (Vitis vinifera L.) from the Slovenian wine-growing region Primorska as determined by high-throughput sequencing. Frontiers in microbiology. 2022, vol. 13, 11 str., ilustr. ISSN 1664-302X.  https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2022.830866/full
  7. JESENIČNIK, Taja, ŠTAJNER, Nataša, RADIŠEK, Sebastjan, KUMAR MISHRA, Ajay, KOŠMELJ, Katarina, KUNEJ, Urban, JAKŠE, Jernej. Discovery of microRNA-like small rnas in pathogenic plant fungus Verticillium nonalfalfae using high-throughput sequencing and qPCR and RLM-RACE validation. International journal of molecular sciences. 2022, vol. 23, no. 2, str. 1-17 (900), ilustr. ISSN 1422-0067.  https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/2/900
  8. MILJANIĆ, Vanja, RUSJAN, Denis, ŠKVARČ, Andreja, CHATELET, Philippe, ŠTAJNER, Nataša. Elimination of eight viruses and two viroids from preclonal candidates of six grapevine varieties (Vitis vinifera L.) through In vivo thermotherapy and in vitro meristem tip micrografting. Plants. 2022, vol. 11, no. 8 (1064), 14 str., ilustr. ISSN 2223-7747. https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/11/8/1064
  9. MILJANIĆ, Vanja, JAKŠE, Jernej, RUSJAN, Denis, ŠKVARČ, Andreja, ŠTAJNER, Nataša. Small RNA sequencing and multiplex RT-PCR for diagnostics of grapevine viruses and virus-like organisms. Viruses. 2022, vol. 14, iss. 5 (921), 12 str. ISSN 1999-4915. https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/14/5/921/htm
  10. KUNEJ, Urban, JAKŠE, Jernej, RADIŠEK, Sebastjan, ŠTAJNER, Nataša. Core RNA interference genes involved in miRNA and Ta-siRNA biogenesis in hops and their expression analysis after challenging with Verticillium nonalfalfae. International journal of molecular sciences. 2021, vol. 22, iss. 8, str. 1-16 (4224), ilustr. ISSN 1422-0067. https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/8/4224

Full publication list available on:

Bib.Cobiss.net
ResearchGate.net
Natasa Stajner (0000-0002-8572-8695) - ORCID

Relevant Research/Industry Projects

  1. V4-2204: Innovative Viticulture Technologies (2022–2025) 
  2. 802-12/2024-14: New European silk (2024 – 2025)
  3. BI-US/24-26-079:  Viruses as a solution to control phytopathogenic fungi
  4. J4-4552: Adaptations of wine yeasts to climate change (2022-2025)  
  5. ARRS J1-3017: Development of Electrochemical Gen-Sensor for Citrus Viroid Detection (2021–2024)
  6. V4-2203: Evaluation of genotypes and breeding of cross families for the study of resistance of Humulus lupulus L. to severe viroid stunting of hops (2022-2025) 
  7. ARRS BI-BA/21-23-024: Identification of Paternal Lines in Vine Offspring (2021–2024)
  8. ARRS L4-6809 (D): Plant Response to Viroid Infections (2014–2017)  
  9. Proteus Project (Slovenia-France Collaboration): NGS-Based Vine Genotyping (2017–2018)
  10. Cost Action FA1003: Vine Genetic Diversity Analysis (2010–2014)  
  11. FP7 SEE-ERA.NET PLUS ERA 155/01: Conservation of Vine Genetic Resources (2010–2012)