Journal of Plant Pathology

Affiliation: Maritsa Vegetable Crops Research Institute

Dr. Zhana Valcheva Ivanova-Doneva is an Assistant Professor at the Maritsa Vegetable Crops Research Institute in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Born on March 7, 1985, in Plovdiv, she holds a B.Sc. in Plant Protection and an M.Sc. in Ecology of Urban Systems from the Agricultural University – Plovdiv. She earned her PhD in Plant Breeding and Seed Production at the Maritsa Institute, with a dissertation focused on enriching genetic diversity in melon (Cucumis melo L.) through biotechnological and conventional breeding methods.

With a strong background in agronomy and biotechnology, Dr. Ivanova-Doneva has participated in several national and international research projects, particularly those aimed at enhancing resistance to biotic stress in vegetable crops. Her research interests include tissue culture techniques for breeding variability, pathogen resistance screening, and in vitro regeneration methods. She has also completed scientific training in France and holds additional certifications in teaching methodology, databases, and experimental data analysis.

Fluent in English and proficient in French, she is also skilled in various data analysis and research tools, including SPSS and Microsoft Office. Dr. Ivanova-Doneva continues to contribute significantly to the advancement of vegetable crop breeding and plant pathology research in Bulgaria.