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The reaction of glyoxal with nucleophilic amino acids was monitored for β-casein as well as β-lactoglobulin. As predicted from previous experiments with hippuryl amino acids, a measurable decrease of arginine can be found in the thiol-free β-casein, while the lysine content remained almost unchanged. For β-lactoglobulin, the incubation with glyoxal led to a slight decrease in the lysine content, while the arginine residues remained unmodified. Here, in accordance with nucleophilicity, it is suggested, that mainly cystein residues react with glyoxal. In solutions containing β-casein with or without glutathione, the effects were less pronounced and regarding the lysine and arginine content, the influence of thiols could hardly be recorded on a significant level. However, comparing the CML levels in the different incubations, it becomes obvious, that glutathione is favouring CML formation in a concentration depended manner. Therefore, the use of CML as an indicator, e.g. for the Maillard reaction, must be related to the composition of the reaction system.

The impact of a diet consisting mainly of "fast food" on the urinary excretion of glycation compounds compared to a usual diet was studied. 9 volunteers followed a well defined diet, starting with one day of individual diet of choice followed by four days of "fast food" embedded in two day periods of MRP-free diet. 24 h-urine samples were collected and analysed for contents of free Amadori product and pyrraline. Urinary excretion of the glycation compounds decreased by 70% to a basic level as a consequence of the MRP-free diet. The following "fast food diet" lead to an increase in excretion of both lysine derivatives, giving evidence for no significant differences between the urinary MRP contents after the individual diets and the "fast food diet". In summary, our data confirm, that urinary excretion of glycation compounds is affected by the daily diet. Consumption of a "fast food diet" did not lead to an increased urinary excretion of MRPs compared to the diets usually followed by the participants.

The influence of microwave heating (microwave oven Electrolux, 2450 MHz, 400 W) from 8 up to 24 min on the oxidation and fatty acid composition of lipids of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus) minced fish flesh were studied. The heating treatment at all conditions reduced moisture and therefore, increased lipid and dry matter contents. The isolated lipids were subjected to the following analyses: peroxide value, acid value and content of conjugated dienes (by absorbance at 232 nm). The free fatty acid content in the lipid fraction of the fish flesh was significantly reduced by cooking. Conjugated diene levels in fish muscle increased and peroxide values decreased for all cooked samples. Changes in fatty acids composition were only small.

: Coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) has recently attracted a great interest as a farmed product. This research focuses on its commercialisation as a frozen product. For it, an advanced storage technology combining vacuum and a polyphenolic rich-film was applied for a 9-months storage period (-18°C). The study was addressed to lipid hydrolysis and oxidation changes and to endogenous antioxidant content in salmon muscle. No effect of packaging conditions could be observed on free fatty acid formation. However, vacuum packaging conditions provided a partial inhibition of primary (peroxide) and secondary (anisidine value) lipid oxidation development; this inhibitory effect was accompanied by a lower tocopherol isomers loss. The employment of a film including polyphenolic compounds led to a partial inhibition of α-tocopherol breakdown and to a lower secondary (anisidine value) and tertiary (fluorescent compound formation) lipid oxidation development. A partial inhibitory effect on lipid oxidation development is concluded for the employment of a polyphenolic compound rich-film packaging when applied to farmed coho salmon.

Coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) has recently attracted a great interest as a farmed product. This research focuses on its commercialisation as a chilled product. Thus, the effect of a previous hydrostatic high pressure (HHP) treatment on chemical changes related to quality loss was studied. A marked effect of HHP treatment was observed on lipid hydrolysis (free fatty acid formation), lipid oxidation (primary, secondary and tertiary compounds) and protein breakdown (sarcoplasmic fraction) throughout the chilling storage; however, no influence could be observed on nucleotide degradation and polyene index. Sensory analysis (putrid and amine odour development) showed a profitable effect of HHP on chilled salmon quality; however, no effect could be concluded on rancid odour development.

Phytosterols and -stanols are added to food products because of their known ability to lower serum cholesterol levels. They are applied either in their free or esterified forms, i.e. as fatty acid esters. Sterols are known to form variety of oxidation products under exposure to heat, light and metal contaminants, for example in food processing conditions. Since these oxides may have adverse health effects, the oxidation process needs to be studied. Until recently, sterol oxidation studies have concentrated on following the formation of secondary oxidation products in free sterol and steryl esters, but little is known about the oxidation of steryl esters as intact molecules. The aim of this experiment was to study primary autoxidation of intact steryl ester by measuring hydroperoxide formation in bulk cholesteryl ester. Cholesteryl linoleate was maintained at 60°C for 0-72 h after which formed hydroperoxides were determined with normal phase high performance liquid chromatography connected to diode array detector (HPLC-DAD). Also peroxide value (PV) was measured to indicate the total amount of formed hydroperoxides. With HPLC method steryl ester -OOH's could be analysed as intact esters, without saponification. A gradient elution was performed with 0.3-10% methyl-tert-butyl ether (MTBE) in heptane followed by cleanup with 30% MTBE. Compounds were detected with DAD at wavelengths 206 nm and 234 nm. Peroxide value indicated that the formation of hydroperoxides reached the maximum after 12 h of prolonged heating. According to HPLC data, at this time point less than 10% of the hydroperoxide groups were located in the sterol moiety and more than 90% in the fatty acid chain. The proportion of sterol-OOH's increased as the heating continued; at 24 h 20% and at 48 h 30%. However, after 72 h no hydroperoxides were observed. In conclusion, oxidation of cholesteryl linoleate started in the fatty acid moiety and as the reaction progressed more of the sterol -OOH's were observed, though at all time points fatty acid -OOH's were dominating.

The present research was focused on the commercialisation of fresh farmed sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax). A slurry ice prototype (60% water/40% ice) coupled to an ozone generator (700 mV, 0.17 mg/l) was tested for the slaughtering and chilling storage (up to 7 days) of this species; comparison with slurry ice treatment alone was undergone. The study was addressed to chemical constituent changes (autolysis, lipid hydrolysis and oxidation, volatile amine formation) in fish muscle related to quality loss; comparison to sensory assessment (skin, eyes, external odour, gills, consistency) was carried out. Increasing values (P < 0.05) with icing time could be observed for autolysis (K value assessment), lipid hydrolysis (free fatty acid formation) and microbiological activity (trimethylamine formation); however, no effect (P > 0.05) of icing time on lipid oxidation (primary and secondary compounds) could be depicted. Concerning differences between both icing conditions, a lower (P < 0.05) free fatty acid formation was concluded for individuals kept under slurry ice-ozone condition. For both icing conditions, acceptable sensory quality was accorded at day 7, being scores better (eyes and gills) in the case of fish where ozone was incorporated to slurry ice.

The roasting process allows complex chemical reactions in foods leading the formation of the Maillard-related compounds, which are of fundamental importance for colour and aroma development in hazelnuts (Corylus avellana L.). Colour is a charming characteristic of roasted foods; despite of their fundamental role in organoleptic properties, the roasting allows accumulation of some potentially toxic technological contaminants, as showed in other matrices (e.g. acrylamide, furan and D-amino acids). Free and protein-bound D-amino acids (D-aa) in foods can origin by technological processing (their formation is pH, time, and temperature-dependent), and also from bacterial racemases in fermented foods, as recently showed in cocoa ( FRIEDMAN 1999; CALIGIANI et al. 2007) So, these compounds can be used as thermal and bacterial markers. Racemisation impairs digestibility/nutritional quality of foods; some D-aa acids are both beneficial and deleterious (DA-WEN SUN 2008). The L*a*b* (international standard for colour measurements adopted by the Commission Internationale d'Eclairage, CIE, 1976) and Red Green Blue (RGB) systems are the most employed methods for colour analysis. Computer Vision Image Analysis (CVIA) coupled with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and related tools (Principal Component Analysis, Artificial Neural Networks, Self Organising Maps) should be considered a powerful approach for evaluating colour development in foods (PATZOLD & BRUCKNER 2006). First aim of our study was to monitor via GC-MS the D-aa formation in hazelnuts during different conditions of roasting. Second aim was to develop a CVIA/AI method to study the colour development in roasted hazelnut, considering the correlation between colour and D-aa too. The racemisation of L-aa (particularly D-aspartic acid plus D-asparagine, D-asx) in hazelnut was time-temperature dependent. Protein-bound D-asx (expressed as D/(L+D); 1.49%) and free D-ala (5.87%) were predominant in Infra-Red roasted samples. Hot-air flow process leads the formation of free-D-aa (D-ala: 6.77%; D-asx: 3.47%; D-glu: 4.50%). Using Back Propagation Neural Network on the Discrete Fourier Transform output (whole surface colour), the identification of hazelnuts samples roasted in different condition was achieved. Red colour decreased according to the correspondent increase of D-amino acids content. Concluding, CVIA/AI is a promising complex tool useful to simplify the comprehension of a complex model system, as colour development in roasted hazelnuts. Keywor

Inflammation in joint: The liberation of phospholipids from cell membranes represents the first step of inflammation cascade. By action of phospholipase A2 is split of the arachidonic acid. Free arachidonic acid is than metabolised by two enzymes: 5-lipooxygenase and 2-cyclooxygenase to generate the group of prostanoids and leukotrienes which are the first active proinflammation compounds, starting the whole proces of inflammation. We verífied, that 27 flavonoids and flavans, contained in American patent Univestin are really able to interrupt this pathway by inhibition both of those enzymes. All these flavonoids are naturally occurring chemicals, which give color to plants and are found in plants, fruits, grains, nuts and vegetables. Theirs antioxidant capacity eliminates the action of Cyt P450 also and prevents to origine of epoxides. Cancerogenesis: Inositolhexaphosphate (IP6) is found in substantial amounts in whole grains, cereals, legumes, nuts and seeds. As well as inositol, IP6 is contained in most mammalian cells, wherein they are important in regulating vital cellular function such as signal transduction, cell proliferation and differentation. Inositol and IP6 are contend in product Inocell and there is additional evidence that inositol alone may further enhance the anti-cancer effect of IP6. Beside decreasing cellular proliferation IP6 also causes differentation of malignant cells ofen resulting in a conversion to normal phenotype, what leads to starting of apoptose in those cells. Inocell greatly enhances NK cell activity, regulates cell growth and has very strong antioxidant capacity. The suggestion we can demonstrate on succesfful efects of Inocell in concrete causes of patients with various types of cancerogenesis. Peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer: The ability of Vaccinium macrocarpon, the North American cranberry, to prevent bacterial adhesion has been used to advantage in the prevention of urinary tract infections and has recently been described for the prevention of adhesion of bacteria responsible for oral infections and stomach ulcers as well in Helicobacter pylori.

The work aimed to evaluate the state of agricultural soil contamination what is important for the gaining of information needed for growing of hygienic safe raw materials and foodstuffs. Metallic pollution of soil in Zemplínska polluted area has begins by accumulation of heavy metals in soil, mainly resulting from location in vicinity of chemical and industrial factories, as well as from many others sources. The pH value development indicates gradual trend of soils acidification, except of alkalic ones reaching up to 20% from total arable soils in Slovakia. Acidification is process, where acidity of abiotic compounds has been increased. Soil reaction is a significant agrochemical property markedly affecting growing and developing of plants, and has directly effect on soil fertility, influencing the ecological conditions for plants and soil microorganisms. The site had been localised with GPS and 5 sampling places had been fixed. From these sites the soil samples were taken from 1 depth, A horizon (0-0,2 m) and then processed and managed according to particular ISO norms. The soil reaction and the heavy metals contents in solution of aqua regia and HNO₃ in soil samples were assessed. Afterwards the gained results had been compared with limit values from legislative documents.

During thermal processing of foods non-volatile precursors undergo various types of reactions leading to the unique aromas of well-accepted product such as cocoa, coffee, cereals or nuts. It is without doubt that the reaction between free amino acids and carbohydrates or their degradation products, known as the Maillard reaction, is among the most important "flavor delivery" systems in such foods. However, studies using approaches of "molecular sensory science" have shown that the majority of the Maillard-type reaction products, identified so far, do not show a contribution to the aroma of processed foods. In addition, many of the key Maillard aroma compounds, such as 4-hydroxy-2,5-dimethyl-3(2H)-furanone, the Strecker aldehydes or various pyrazines were found to be identical in many processed foods. Using several foods as examples, the lecture is intended to show that the quantitative balance of potent Maillard-type flavor compounds is a key to explain the differences in the different aroma perception of thermally processed foods. In addition, the presence of lipid degradation products and/or single "character impact odorants" transferred from the raw materials into the final products have to be considered as "modifiers" of the overall "aroma orchestra".

Objective of this work was determination of processing contaminant known as 3-MCPD (3-chloropropane-1,2-diol) in its free and bound form in breads with defined parameters of processing. Selected and analysed were 24 samples, which represented two sets of breads produced in bakeries equipped with a continual line. In all cases determinations were carried out for breadcrumb and crust separately. The first set of samples were wheat-rye breads produced chronologically in ten days in the bakery Michelská pekárna, slightly different in temperatures and times of baking. The second set contained 14 samples of wheat-rye breads with a content of rye flour less than 40% differing in the yeast type and acidity. These breads were produced in the bakery Kontinua. The fat content was determined in all samples by Soxhlet extraction. Free and bound 3-MCPD was determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method. Concentration of free 3-MCPD in samples was at interval < 9-54.5 μg/kg. Concentration of bound 3-MCPD was at interval 1.56-23.60 mg/kg of fat (i.e. 5.7-84.9 μg/kg of sample).

Printing inks contain many substances, the use of which is not allowed in food contact materials. Recently the migration of printing ink constituents from the printed packaging materials into food either through the packaging material or via the set-off phenomenon has been reported. The aim of presented study was to quantify the transfer of selected printing ink plasticisers, i.e. acetyl tributyl citrate (TBAC), bis(2-ethylhexyl) adipate (DEHA), bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), 2-ethylhexyl diphenyl phosphate (EHDPP) and tributoxyethyl phosphate (TBEP), from printing of packaging materials into food simulants. Two polymer packaging films, i.e. polyethylene film (LDPE, thickness 50 μm) and laminated polyethylene terephthalate and polyethylene film (PET/LDPE 12 μm/35 μm) were printed with flexography technique to obtained the packaging materials with defined content (0.05 mg/dm² and 0.5 mg/dm²) of free above mentioned substances in printing layer. The migration of the tested additives through the packaging films into distilled water and 95% ethanol was studied at 6°C and 23°C. The set-off transfer of all plasticisers into LDPE film in contact with printing was tested at 23°C and 40°C. The results confirmed quite easy migration of all tested additives into 95% ethanol through the LDPE film when more than 90% of the total amount of TBAC and DEHP in printing was extracted into the stimulant during 30 day storage at 23°C at both content levels. Lower migration was found for DEHA (i.e. about 86% and 55% for higher and lower content in printing, respectively), TPEC (about 62% and 50%) and EHDPP (69% for lower content in printing). The migration through the laminated PET/PE film was generally about two thirds of that for LDPE film with an exception of DEHA. For DEHA migration through the both tested films were comparable. As expected the plasticiser transfer into distilled water was about 5-10 times slower compared with the migration into 95% ethanol. Surprisingly high levels of the set off transfer from printing into LDPE film at 40°C after 30 days were determined for all tested plasticisers. The found levels of plasticiser transport were as follows: 32%-40% for TBAC, 28% for DEHP, 25% for DEHA, 12% for TBEP and about 2% for EHDPP. The study confirmed the fact that composition of printing inks can significantly influence the safety of food packaging materials and the necessity of acceptation of suitable legislation for the quality control of printing inks for food packages.

The presence of masked or hidden forms of Fusarium mycotoxins (deoxynivalenol, DON, zearalenone, ZEN and fumonisins B1, B2 and B3) were studied in wheat and maize derived products. Significant amounts of these forms were found both in raw and in processed food commodities. Deoxynivalenol-3-glucoside was found in wheat products up to 30% of DON concentration. Bound forms of fumonisins often account for an equal or even higher amount in comparison with the free forms.

We analyzed a set of twenty most grown potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) varieties listed in the Czech Variety List using the PCR-IRAP (Inter-Retrotransposon Amplified Polymorphism) method in order to distinguish fast and unambiguously the varieties. In total, 62 polymorphic alleles were amplified using the three primers P-Tst-1, P-Tst-3 and P-Tst-6. The recorded pattern of markers was stable and reproducible. The analyses were repeated three times and identical results were always obtained. The level of polymorphism varied from 11% to 79% depending on the respective primer. All analysed varieties could be reliably distinguished after multivariate statistics have been applied to the data obtained by the PCO and UPGMA analyses. The best resolution of individual varieties was obtained if all three primers were evaluated as a complex. The use of retrotransposon-based markers appears to be suitable for the differentiation of large sets of potato samples and should be an eligible complement to other molecular markers used in potato variety identification such as Simple Sequence Repeats (SSR) and Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms (AFLP).

Lucerne (Medicago sativa L. var. Palava), harvested at four successive dates over a 30-day period, was evaluated for chemical composition (dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, ether extract, crude fibre, nitrogen-free extract, neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre, acid detergent lignin), amino acid contents and intestinal digestibility in dairy cows. Dry matter (r = 0.78), organic matter (r = 0.95), crude fibre (r = 0.91), neutral detergent fibre (r = 0.94), acid detergent fibre (r = 0.79) and acid detergent lignin (r = 0.48) presented positive linear correlation coefficients (r) with growth stage, whereas crude protein (r = -0.96), ether extract (r = -0.86) and nitrogen-free extract (r = -0.70) showed negative relationships. Total essential amino acid content decreased (r = -0.94) from 84.1 to 55.3 g/kg of dry matter with maturity, with r-values higher than -0.90 obtained between growth stage and contents of lysine, methionine, threonine and valine. With the exception of tyrosine (r = -0.68), r-values between growth stage and individual non-essential amino acids were all higher than -0.90. Total amino acid (r = -0.98) and nitrogen (r = -0.99) contents presented comparable tendencies with successive sampling times. Whereas no definite trends were detected for the amino acid composition of rumen incubated (16 hours) lucerne samples, the intestinal digestibility of total essential (r = -0.78), total non-essential (r = -0.58) and total (r = -0.69) amino acids as well as nitrogen (r = -0.99) decreased with growth. However, due to a small sample size (n = 4), most linear relationships between constituents and growth stage were insignificant. It can be concluded that, although limited in the sample size, this report presents information on the decrease in amino acid contents and intestinal amino acid digestibility as growth proceeds in lucerne (var. Palava) produced in the Czech Republic, which could be utilized in the feeding of ruminants.

Genetic variation in three Croatian coldblood horse populations was analysed using a sequence analysis of the proximal part (nt 15 498-15 821) of the D-loop region of mtDNA. Twenty unrelated horses were chosen from the Posavina horse and the Croatian Coldblood breeds and fifteen horses from the Murinsulaner horse population. Sequencing of the proximal part of the mtDNA D-loop region revealed 26 polymorphic sites representing thirty haplotypes which were clustered into eight haplogroups. A wide variety of mitochondrial haplotypes of the analysed horse breeds were clustered into eight different haplogroups. Two haplogroups (D and F) were specific to Posavina horse, five haplogroups were shared among the Croatian Coldblood and Murinsulaner horse, the fact that can be explained by selection strategy at the beginning of the 20^th century and possible gene flow between the two populations. These results indicate the presence of many ancient maternal lineages with high diversity in mtDNA. The genetic information based on mtDNA typing has a great importance for the future breed conservation strategy, especially for the critically endangered breed such as Murinsulaner horse.

Using the tests of methanogenic activity (TMA) changes in methane yield (Y_CH4) and anaerobic degradability (D_c) of organic matter of feeds and excrements were studied in an experimental group of six horses while complete analytical methods were applied (N-compound matters, proteins, non-protein N-compound matters, fat, nitrogen-free extract, ash, crude fibre, organic matter, NDF, ADF, hemicelluloses, cellulose, lignin and chemical oxygen demand COD) and the material balance was determined. The horses utilised 48.8% of organic matter of feeds in dry matter while the daily weight of droppings was 21 kg with 5.20% of dry matter and 4 kg of urine with 7% of organic matters. It is important that the theoretical methane yield per 24 hours corresponding to the organic matter of ingested feeds which was transferred to excrements is 1.771 m³ CH₄ at 0°C and 1 013.25 hPa while the actual daily methane yield of droppings is 1.739 m³ CH₄ at 0°C and 1 013.25 hPa, i.e. practically identical, because the yield from urine organic matters was not included in the actual daily methane yield. Because the anaerobic degradability of the used feed mixture and horse droppings is practically identical, it is obvious that besides the enteric fermentation according to the reaction CO₂ + 4 H₂ → CH₄ + 2 H₂O by hydrogenotrophic methanogens no classical anaerobic digestion takes place in the digestive tract of horses; it means that the horse breeding sector is not a factor contaminating the atmosphere by methane.

: Indole-3-carbinol (I3C) was found to have possible anticarcinogenic, antioxidant and anti-atherogenic effects on the organism. So far, its influence on metabolic pathways has been unknown. This work was the first attempt to determine the carbohydrate and lipid metabolism changes in vivo after administration of 150 mg/kg b.wt./day I3C to male rats. Additionally, the aim of this trial was to evaluate the direct effect of I3C on basal and hormone-induced lipogenesis and lipolysis in isolated rat adipocytes at concentrations 1, 10, 100 μM in vitro. We can corroborate that adipocytes are susceptible to the direct action of I3C. The incubation of adipocytes with I3C at the three above-mentioned concentrations resulted in its influence on restriction of glucose entry into adipocytes in the basal as well as insulin-stimulated conditions. However, it was observed that I3C at these concentrations strongly intensified basic and epinephrine-stimulated lipolysis. I3C also has a significant influence on metabolism in vivo. Its administration to rats caused a significant increase in the content of triglycerides and a decrease in glycogen in the liver. The considerable augmentation of glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol in high-density lipoprotein and insulin with a concomitant decrease in FFA concentrations was noted in the blood serum. I3C did not alter phospholipids, total, free, esterified cholesterol in the serum and the liver cholesterol. The results obtained in vivo and in vivo indicate that the effect of I3C is adverse for the majority of metabolic parameters which were investigated. The most important finding in this study is the effect of I3C on liver steatosis and that the observed lower lipogenesis at higher lipolysis in fat cells may be involved in the mechanism.

: Economic weights (EW) for the Slovak dairy production system were calculated in Holstein, Slovak Simmental, and Slovak Pinzgau breeds under a direct support regime using a bio-economic approach. EW were calculated for three scenarios (A: without agricultural subsidies; B: agricultural subsidies included in revenues and C: agricultural subsidies included in feeding costs). Quota-free milk production was assumed in all scenarios. The base price of milk was corrected according to real fat, protein and somatic cell content. Under the given economic and production conditions, only the Holstein system in scenario A was economically profitable. All simulated systems were profit-making when agricultural subsidies were taken into account (B and C). No influence of subsidies on EW of traits in scenario B was found. Most of the evaluated traits (especially milk and functional traits) showed higher marginal economic weights when subsidies were considered in feeding costs (C). Regardless of the scenarios, milk components were of higher relative economic importance for Holstein cattle than for Slovak Simmental and Slovak Pinzgau cattle. The relative EW of mature weight of cows and daily gain of calves mostly declined in scenario C. A meaningful effect of direct subsidy and milk production level on the economic efficiency of Slovak Simmental and Slovak Pinzgau cattle was found. Handling direct subsidy in scenario C seems to be suitable methodology to avoid the underestimation of EW for milk and functional traits.

The objective of this experiment was to test a hypothesis that L-carnitine supplemented diet would improve semen characteristics in 6 adult crossbred AI boars (Hampshire × Pietrain). The control and the tested diet were identical except the tested period (8 weeks) when the diet was supplemented with 2 g of L-carnitine per boar per day. The semen was collected regularly weekly by a gloved-hand technique. Semen volume, sperm motility and concentration, proportion of alive sperm cells and aspartate aminotransferase (AspAT) activity of semen were determined immediately after the semen collection once every two weeks. Sperm survival rate, morphologically abnormal spermatozoa, seminal plasma mineral components and free amino acid concentration, L-carnitine concentration in semen plasma and in sperm cells were determined after the sample storage (-20°C) at a later time. The differences ascertained between the average values of semen characteristics in the control vs. tested period did not prove a true and unambiguous positive effect on boar semen parameters by dietary supplementation of L-carnitine as our data show in our study: volume (239.11 vs. 250.50 ml; P 0.518), sperm concentration (301.67 vs. 350.83 × 10³/mm³; P 0.309), sperm progressive motility (66.94 vs. 70.00%; P 0.409), morphologically abnormal spermatozoa (29.00 vs. 27.46%; P 0.802), daily sperm cells output (9.86 vs. 11.71 × 10⁹; P 0.206), proportion of alive sperm cells (72.56 vs. 74.13%; P 0.484), survival spermatozoa ability maintenance (43.29 vs. 38.68%; P < 0.01), mineral components in the seminal plasma (Na-, K-, Ca-, Mg-, Zn-; P from 0.138 to 0.968), AspAT activity (in semen plasma - 132.50 vs. 128.31 mU/10⁹ spermatozoa; P 0.830, in sperm cells - 147.37 vs. 119.01 mU/10⁹ spermatozoa; P 0.146), semen plasma amino acid concentration - a significant positive effect of L-carnitine in lysine only (0.79 vs.1.17 μmol/100 ml; P < 0.01), L-carnitine concentration (in semen plasma 255.40 vs. 259.97 mg/l; P 0.884, in sperm cells - 1 110.68 vs. 883.58 mg/l; P < 0.01). In conclusion, the studied indicators of semen quality were not significantly enhanced by dietary supplementation of L-carnitine in adult AI boars.

Maintenance of garlic (Allium sativum L.) genetic resources has had a long tradition in the Czech Republic. The collection was founded in 1951 and its current holder is the Crop Research Institute, Department of Vegetables and Special Crops in Olomouc. The collection consists of 613 genotypes. The oldest genotype was acquired in 1954. The collection has been evaluated according to the Descriptor list for Allium spp. (IPGRI 2001). 17 characters of the Descriptor list were supplemented with 5 additional characters. The photos of all garlic genotypes were taken. The genotypes were divided into the three main morphological groups according to the ability to produce the scape: the first group with the scape (bolting) - 300 genotypes, the second part without the scape (non-bolting garlic) 205 genotypes and the third part presents semi-bolting garlic - 108 genotypes. The last morphological type has bulbils in the different parts of the pseudostem.

Northeastern part of Anatolia is a gene center of grapevine and a wide diversity of Fox grapes grow here. Viticulture and some grapevines in the Black Sea Region (in the north of Turkey) are on the verge of extinction; several types and varieties grown in this region have never been described and did not survive till present. For the past 10 years vineyards and grapevines in the Black Sea Region have been studied. In the present study, eighteen grapevines of foxy taste grown in the Artvin and Rize provinces were described. An ampelographic description of young shoot, mature shoot, young leaf, mature leaf, berry, bunch and seed were carried out using the OIV (Office International de la Vigne et du Vin) list for grapevine cultivars and Vitis species. However, several other parameters of the cultivars were measured for evaluation.

Genetic variability among 41 accessions of red pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) was assessed using eight microsatellite markers. Three of the microsatellite markers (Hpms 1-1, Hpms 1-168, and Hpms 1-274) had uniform spectra in all the analyzed plants. Two to eight alleles were detected for the remaining loci. In total, 28 alleles were detected, i.e. 3.5 alleles per one microsatellite locus on average. The highest number of different alleles was detected with Hpms 1-5 (8 alleles) and Hpms 2-21 primers (7 alleles). Molecular data were complemented with morphological measurements according to the descriptor list for the genus Capsicum. A dendrogram based on our genetic analysis suggests a high level of similarity between some of the accessions presumed to be distant and, at the same time, genetic variability between accessions of the same or similar name. These results show the possibility of duplicities in the current Czech collection of red pepper genetic resources.

Vegetative propagation of forest tree species is of great importance not only for breeding programmes but also for the conservation of valuable populations of tree species. Important is also a possibility of improving the genetic quality of established stands. Beech is a tree species that can substantially increase the stability of forest ecosystems. Minimal information is available about the ontogenesis of rooted cuttings of beech in forest stands for the time being. In our experiments that were gradually established since 1993 we acquired the first significant results of the evaluation of health status, phenological phenomena and growth of these plants. Our findings indicate that it is possible to use rooted cuttings as an element stabilising man-made forest stands including the transferred genetic quality. The evaluation of the 2^nd generation rooted cuttings of beech also provided positive results.

A survey of forest nutrition was carried out in Natural Forest Region (NFR) No. 40 Moravskoslezské Beskydy. The reason for this survey was the gradually worsening state of forest stands in this region and especially in a part of it - in the Jablunkov Pass. Air pollution was the suspected cause of the unfavourable development. According to methodology established for the survey of forest nutrition, the samples of soil and assimilatory organs were collected at 375 sampling sites. The spatial distinctness of Jablunkov Pass was expressed on the basis of selected soil characteristics (quantity of organic material, exchangeable pH, content of total nitrogen, zinc, lead, chromium, cadmium) and of the contents of chemical elements (total nitrogen, magnesium, zinc, lead, chromium, cadmium) in two-years-old Norway spruce needles. These analyses were done by the software Statistica. The medians of concentrations of elements in two-years-old Norway spruce needles in the area of NFR except Jablunkov Pass are: Zn - 34, Pb - 0.71, Cd - 0.15 and Cr - 0.38 (mg/kg). In the area of Jablunkov Pass: Zn - 43, Pb - 12.1, Cd - 0.25 and Cr - 0.41 (mg/kg). Particular attention was paid to the content of heavy metals both in the whole area of NFR and in the area of Jablunkov Pass particularly. The spatial homogeneity is disturbed by the influence of air pollution there. Markedly higher contents of zinc, lead and cadmium are found in the whole soil profile, in the case of chromium in the forest floor only. The distribution of heavy metal contents in the soil profile is influenced by the quantity and quality of organic matter and by the altitude of sampling sites. The higher values of medians of zinc, lead and cadmium contents are found in the area of the Pass. Chromium is an exception with the highest contents found in the southern part of NFR. The medians of concentrations of elements in the forest floor of Norway spruce stands in the area of NFR except Jablunkov Pass are: Zn - 70.6, Pb - 88.6, Cd - 6.4 and Cr - 0.69 (mg/kg). In the area of Jablunkov Pass: Zn - 103, Pb - 138, Cd - 8.8 and Cr - 1.02 (mg/kg). The spatial distinctness of the area around the Jablunkov Pass is confirmed by the evaluation of the data of forest nutrition survey. Particularly, it consists in the high contents of phytotoxic heavy metals. The exceptionally high pollution of this area can be a cause of the physiological weakness of trees with following attack of the honey fungus.

The paper deals with the use of European beech in the reconstruction of substitute species stands and in the regeneration of existing spruce stands in the air-polluted region of the north-eastern Krušné hory Mts. (air-pollution damage zones A, B, forest altitudinal vegetation zones 6 and 7, acidophilic sites). Twenty stand situations were analyzed during the study. The study objective was to compare the growth of European beech plantations in the Krušné hory Mts. with the growth of plantations of the same age in similar sites in the unpolluted region of the Bohemian-Moravian Upland (air-pollution damage zones C, D, forest altitudinal vegetation zone 6, acidophilic site). Each plant was assessed for eight growth and visually classified parameters and traits. Results of the survey showed that in the existing air-pollution and climatic situation, it is possible to switch to normal (shelterwood) beech management of higher elevations in the north-eastern Krušné hory Mts. The stands of substitute species and the current stands of Norway spruce may effectively eliminate injuries caused by late frost.

Broadleaved-Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis) mixed forest is a dominant native vegetation type in the eastern Eurasian Continent. We intended to examine the implications of high-intensity timber harvesting (ca 70% of stand volume) for the sustainable management of a mixed forest ecosystem. We measured trees at three sites: control without cutting, older-cut site cut in 1987 and newer-cut site (cutting in 1997). There were significant differences in structure and composition between these three sites in 2003. There were 4,441 trees of 14 species with basal area 56 m² at control plot, 6,314 trees of 16 species with basal area 9 m² at newer-cut site and 8,438 trees of 21 species with basal area 31 m² at older-cut site (all on the area of 1 ha). The high-intensity timber harvesting system helped promote natural regeneration and the growth of small trees but it also allowed light-demanding tree species to invade into the forest. Dominant position and suitable diameter distribution of economically important species (Pinus koraiensis and Tilia amurensis) were maintained across the three sites. The existing timber harvesting appears to consider short-term economic values to a larger extent than long-term ecological values. To manage the broadleaved-Korean pine mixed forest for both timber production and biodiversity conservation, timber-harvesting intensity must be lowered.

Altitudinal studies has become of interest to ecologists concentrated on functional alterations aiming to clarify the effects of limiting factors. Nutrient element release from forest floor (FF) decomposition is suppressed by those factors such as low temperature, shortened vegetation period concluding FF accumulation at high elevation fields. To draw out a response to the FF decomposition issue, FF layers as leaf + fermentation (L + F) and humus (H) were collected from 37 representative sample plots along an altitudinal gradient (from 1,400 m to 1,710 m) on Kaz (Balikesir-Turkey) mountain. Mass, pH, organic matter (OM) and total nitrogen (Nt) contents of FF were investigated to explain the relation between decomposition and altitudinal effects. The results revealed that total FF mass and (L + F), (H) sub-fraction masses through elevation show an insignificant relation with the altitude. No significant difference was found between the altitudinal groups in the OM content of L + F. Besides there are significant negative correlations between OM contents (%) of L + F and H layers and altitude with the coefficient values 0.342 (P< 0.05) and 0.597 (P < 0.01), respectively. The Nt content of L + F layer also increases through the elevation revealing a medium correlation with altitude (0.368; P < 0.05). The increasing Nt and decreasing OM contents show better decomposition rates at higher sites regardless of the altitude induced climatic changes. We assume that the forest floor accumulation under tree canopies provides a better decomposition relying on the microclimatic environment mediated by tree canopies, in spite of the altitude.

The population dynamics of wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus) was studied in three forest complexes differing in food supply in the intensively managed landscape of southern Moravia. They included an old semi-natural floodplain forest dominated by oak (HL), production broadleaved forest with the predominance of oak and robinia (HA) and a pheasantry with various forest stands consisting of diverse species and age categories of trees with a quantity of additional food for additional feeding of pheasants and roe deer (RB). The population fluctuation within six-year monitoring was affected by seed years (acorn crops in 2003 and 2006), which resulted in an increase in the species population density in the next year. Statistically significant effects of the crop of acorns on the body weight of monitored species were also detected (P < 0.01, F = 1.44). Relative abundance differed significantly between the floodplain forest (HL) and RB and HA (P < 0.01). The two last-mentioned sites did not differ and only a trend of greater preference to the most variable biotope in RB was noted. It evidences the unsuitability of floodplain forest for the species. In spite of the food specialization in small seeds significant effects of the excess crop of acorns can result in a rapid increase in the Apodemus sylvaticus population which can then cause damage to the natural regeneration of oak or artificial regeneration by seeding although to a substantially smaller extent than the more harmful A. flavicollis.