Fulltext search in archive

This paper is focused on soil organic matter quality assessment in acid forest soils. Soil samples were collected in the Jizera Mountains region. Vegetation cover of sampling sites was formed by spruce or beech monocultures. Humus quality was assessed by the ratio of absorbances of pyrophosphate soil extract at the wavelengths of 400 and 600 nm (A400/A600). Humus fractionation was performed on selected soil samples. DRIFT spectra of individual fractions were measured. Higher pH and lower C and N contents were found in beech forest than in spruce forest. A400/A600 well correlates with C and N contents (r = 0.510*** and 0.615***, respectively). C and N content increases as to humus quality decreases. DRIFT spectra of fulvic acids turned out to be unsuitable for describing differences in humus quality. DRIFT spectra of humic acids and humin were hence more suitable. The difference between spruce and beech forest was found in 1514.cm-1 (C=C bounds of benzene rings) and 1550 cm-1 (N-H bounds in monosubstituted amides) bands intensities. Humic acids and humin coming from the O horizons of beech forest are relatively enriched by nitrogen functional groups. Values of humic acids aromaticity index did not differ between beech and spruce forests. DRIFT spectroscopy was shown as a possible method for detailed humus quality studying.

The origin of the differences in the water regime components of 0-0.6 m soil profile was identified in extensively managed permanent grasslands (PG, variants: once cut - 1C, twice cut - 2C, nocut - NC, mulched June - MVI, mulched July - MVII) using the method of the soil water balance (drainage lysimeters). The differences in the water regime of the experimental variants manifested themselves depending on adequate soil water storage in the period when the amounts of transpiring biomass in individual variants differed markedly: (i) at the beginning of the vegetation period, when the surface litter in the NC and 1C variants reduced the actual evapotranspiration (ETA), (ii) at the time of mowing and mulching (M), when these treatments (mainly M) increased the soil water supply by ca 10-20 mm per month and decreased the ETA values by 1-2.5 mm per day for about 2-4 weeks as compared to non-mown variants on the given date, and (iii) as a result of the presence of different agrobotanical groups with distinct transpiration intensity (leguminous plants with a higher transpiration intensity in the 2C variant compared to grasses). The post-M reduction in evaporation was compensated by a higher total transpiration resulting from an increase in the aboveground phytomass. The lowest water consumption with the highest supply to the groundwater resources was recorded in the NC and 1C variants. The 2C variant containing leguminous plants with high water requirements had the highest consumption of water for evaporation and the lowest amount of water runoff from the soil profile. The identification of the water regime differences in individual variants helped determine the appropriate PG management with the aim to increase the underground water levels in the protection zones of water resources. The 1C variant of management is recommended mainly in the source areas of groundwater with lower productivity soils. In the accumulation areas of water resources (floodplain areas) with a deep soil profile and highly productive grassland, the 2C variant is required; mulching, which would largely support the yielding capacity of grassland, should be avoided. Mulching may occasionally be used as a relatively suitable method for the sites with a low yielding capacity in the source area.

A 12-day incubation experiment with the addition of glucose to soils contaminated with persistent organic pollutants (POPs) was carried out in order to estimate the potential microbial activities and the potential of the soil microbial biomass C to degrade 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl) ethane (DDT), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The microbial activities were affected in different ways depending on the type of pollutant. The soil organic matter also played an important role. The microbial activities were affected particularly by high concentrations of PAHs in the soils. Soil microorganisms in the PAHs contaminated soil used the added glucose to a lesser extent than in the non-contaminated soil, which in the contaminated soil resulted in a higher microbial biomass content during the first day of incubation. DDT, DDD and DDE, and PCB affected the soil microbial activities differently and, in comparison with control soils, decreased the microbial biomass C during the incubation. The increased microbial activities led to a significant decrease of PAH up to 44.6% in the soil long-term contaminated with PAHs, and up to 14% in the control soil after 12 days of incubation. No decrease of PAHs concentrations was observed in the soil which was previously amended with sewage sludges containing PAHs and had more organic matter from the sewage sludges. DDT and its derivates DDD and DDE decreased by about 10%, whereas the PCB contents were not affected at all by microbial activities. Studies on the microbial degradation of POPs could be useful for the development of methods focused on the remediation of the contaminated sites. An increase of soil microbial activities caused by addition of organic substrates can contribute to the degradation of pollutants in some soils. However, in situ biodegradation may be limited because of a complex set of environmental conditions, particularly of the soil organic matter. The degradability and availability of POPs for the soil microorganisms has to be estimated individually for each contaminated site.

Soil water repellency has important consequences for ecological and hydrological properties of soils and usually retards infiltration capacity and induces preferential flow. This phenomenon has been known to occur on a wide range of sites under a variety of climatic conditions. The objective of this study was to investigate and characterize soil water repellency on forest sites with identical substrate and climatic conditions, differing in tree age and species. In the Vester Torup Klitplantage, an area comprising a conifer dominated forest plantation stocking on sandy deposits in a coastal setting near the Jammer Bay in north-western Jutland/Denmark, four different forest plots were investigated for water repellency effects four times in 2005. To measure soil water repellency, the water drop penetration time test and the critical surface tension test were carried out. Both tests revealed a seasonal variability in water repellency, exhibiting the highest water repellency for the upper 10 cm of the soil during the summer months, whereas the variability between the different plots seems to be less significant. There was no coherence between humus forms, thickness of litter layer and water repellency.

: The present study deals with a comparison between the pollutant concentrations in the samples of rime and of fog water (so-called deposited or occult precipitation) collected at the Milešovka Observatory. Although rime can be observed during a limited part of the year, it still has an important share in the total amount of precipitation and can contribute significantly to a local increase in pollutant loads. The total sum of the selected free ions in the rime water represents approximately a half of the total sum of the selected free ions in the fog water. The relative contents of free ions in the mean sample were different in rime and fog water with the exception of K⁺, Mg²⁺ and F- that did not show any significant variations.

: In November 2004, forest stands in the Tatra National Park (TANAP) were affected by windthrow and in July 2005, the wildfire broke out on a part of the affected area. The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of the windthrow and fire disturbances on soil microbial activity. Basal and potential soil respiration, N-mineralisation, catalase activity, soil microbial biomass, and cellulase activity were measured in soil samples taken from the A-horizon (depth of 0-10 cm) along 100 m transects established on 4 plots (reference site, burnt, non-extracted, and extracted sites) in October 2006. Some soil microbial characteristics exhibited a high spatial variability, especially microbial biomass and N-mineralisation. Significant differences in soil microbial characteristics (especially basal soil respiration and catalase activity) between plots were found. Generally, the highest microbial activity was revealed on the plot affected by fire. Soil microbial activity was similar on the extracted and non-extracted sites.

A total of 842 wild boar of differing ages, originating from 29 (37.7%) of the 77 districts in the Czech Republic, were examined during the hunting seasons from 2002 to 2005. Of them, 274 (32.5%) of the animals were wild specimens and 568 (67.5%) from game parks. Out of 786 animals, the following were included in the study: 668 piglets, 61 juveniles, 32 adult males and 25 adult females. A total of 2 704 samples from various tissues and faeces were examined: 309 separately collected faecal samples from 309 (36.7%) animals, 2 332 samples from various tissues and 63 faecal samples from 533 (63.3%) animals. Mycobacteria were isolated from 75 (8.9%) animals from 11 of the districts. Neither a causative agent of bovine tuberculosis, nor any other members of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex were isolated from any of the animals. From one (0.1%) animal, M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis of IS900 RFLP type A-C10 was isolated from intestinal lymph nodes, which was also isolated within the same district during other studies of cattle and free living ruminants. The causative agent of avian tuberculosis, M. a. avium (IS901+ and IS1245+), was isolated from 7 (0.8%) animals; among them tuberculous lesions were detected in intestinal lymph nodes, with gross tuberculous lesions visible on two animals. The causative agent of avian mycobacteriosis M. a. hominissuis (IS901- and IS1245+) was detected in lymph nodes without gross lesions in one (0.1%) animal. From 45 (5.5%) animals without lesions, atypical mycobacteria of the following nine species were isolated from pulmonary lymph nodes, small and large intestine, intestinal mucosa and faeces: M. fortuitum, M. chelonae, M. scrofulaceum, M. triviale, M. terrae, M. phlei, M. abscessus, M. flavescens, and M. smegmatis. Due to a high density of wild boar and their large migration radius, they can be viewed as a potential source for mycobacterial infections as well as other infectious agents.

The objective of this study was to probe the relationship between prevalence of selected principal mastitis pathogens and somatic cell counts in bulk tank milk samples. The sources of milk contamination were evaluated. The samples were collected from 298 dairy herds (with approximately 32 000 dairy cows). Only 48.3% of the bulk tank milk samples were free of contamination of pathogens of interest. Approximately 38.9% of the milk samples were contaminated with only one, 12.4% with two and 0.3% with three pathogens. The arithmetic mean of logarithmically transformed data of bulk tank milk somatic cell count rise in order: pathogen free, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus uberis, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus (5.381; 5.413; 5.495; 5.518; 5.563, respectively). The arithmetic mean differences between bulk tank milk somatic cell counts in pathogen-free and single-pathogen contaminated samples have revealed a significance for the Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus groups (P < 0.01). Using binary logistic regression, a statistically highly significant relationship (P < 0.001) has been found between the number of contaminations of bulk tank milk samples with mastitis pathogens and bulk tank milk somatic cell counts. The relationship allows the determination of the probability of finding relevant mastitis pathogens in bulk tank milk samples with different levels of bulk tank milk SCC. A 63% probability can be defined at a cell count level of 400 000/ml and 20% at a cell count level of 100 000/ml. Analysis may reveal the potential sources of the bulk tank milk sample contamination, i.e. infected mammary glands or the environment. The presence of high levels of contamination along with a low bulk tank SCC may suggest an environmental source of contamination. The study clarified that a potential source of bulk tank milk contamination by relevant pathogens (the environment or the mammary gland) may be elucidated and the probability of the contamination of bulk tank milk samples with mastitis pathogens predicted by the analysis of relationship between the bulk tank milk somatic cell counts and the number of mastitis pathogen contaminations.

This study was concerned with the development of induced septic shock in a laboratory rat using a series of measurements including body temperature, heart and respiratory rates, haematocrit value, red and white blood cell counts, differential leukocyte count, haemoglobin value, glycaemia, analysis of arterial blood gases, and serum levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6) during the first five hours. A total of 12 specific pathogen free (SPF) laboratory rats were used for the study. Septic shock was induced under general anaesthesia by introducing live E. coli (O18) into the jugular vein in the dose of 1 × 10⁹ per 100 g of body weight (group SESH). Clinical measurements and blood collection from a. carotis were performed just prior to, and then 1.5 and 5 h after the administration of E. coli. The control group (C) contained 9 SPF laboratory rats which received physiological saline only, at the same volume into the jugular vein, and blood collection followed according to the same scheme as above described for group SESH. The results of the experiment showed that changes in clinical, haematological and biochemical parameters could be detected as early as 1.5 hours after induction. These changes correspond with the activation of an inflammatory reaction and the development of metabolic acidosis. They are accompanied by a considerable rise in IL-6 already 1.5 h after the application of live E. coli and after 5 h the levels exceeded 2 000 pg/ml in all experimental animals. Our results clearly document the importance of IL-6 for the early detection of developing septic shock and of some less specific but routinely determined parameters such as white blood cell count and base excess.

The objective of this study was to investigate rumen fermentation, apparent digestibility of nutrients, and morphology of ruminal und intestinal mucosa in two cattle breeds of different metabolic type. From each breed six purebred German Holstein (H) bulls representing the secretion type and six Charolais (CH) bulls representing the accretion type were raised and fattened under identical conditions with semi ad libitum feeding of a high energy diet. The animals were used for a digestion trial started at nine months of age and animals were slaughtered at 18 months of age. Body weight (668 vs. 764 kg, P = 0.011), body weight gain (1 223 vs. 1 385 g/day, P = 0.043), and body protein gain (93 vs. 128 g/day, P = 0.001) were lower in H compared to CH bulls. Protein expense per kg protein accretion was higher in H bulls (13.8 vs. 10.2, P = 0.001). No significant differences were found in concentration and pattern of ruminal short chain fatty acid and in apparent digestibility of organic matter, crude fibre, and N-free extracts. There were no significant differencs in all morphometric traits of rumen mucosa between both cattle breeds. Compared to H, the villi of CH bulls were higher in duodenum (586 vs. 495 μm, P = 0.001) and proximal jejunum (598 vs. 518μm, P < 0.001), the crypt were deeper in duodenum (295 vs. 358, P< 0.001) and proximal jejunum (292 vs. 344 μm, P = 0.020). In contrast, the villi in ileum were higher in H (522 vs. 471 μm, P = 0.006). The weight of total small intestine, as percentage of total body weight, was 1.1 in H and 0.8 in CH (P = 0.002). The utilization of food crude protein was positively related to the duodenal (P = 0.001) and proximal jejunal villus height (P = 0.003) and to the duodenal crypt depth (P < 0.001) and negatively related to weight of small intestine (P = 0.004). It is concluded, that the higher growth potential and feed efficiency in CH bulls compared to H bulls is not caused by differences in digestion processes, but in size of small intestine, and morphology of small intestinal mucosa. Obviously the duodenum and proximal jejunum of CH bulls adapt to increase the absorptive surface due to the increase in nutrient demand.

One hundred and eighty (180) day-old broiler chickens were used to investigate the effects of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) on growth performance, carcass composition, and the serum concentrations of several lipid metabolic hormones and metabolic parameters (indicators). The broilers received the same basal diets, with DHEA added at 0 (control), 5 and 20 mg/kg feed. During the experimental period, broilers fed DHEA exhibited lower levels of triglycerides (TG), total serum cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) as compared to the control animals, but a marked increase in lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity. Adding DHEA to the diet significantly decreased serum concentrations of thyroxine (T₄), serum free triiodothyronine (FT₃), and serum free thyroxine (FT₄), but significantly increased the serum leptin (LEP) and glucogon (GLU) levels in male broiler chickens. However, female broiler chickens showed pronounced differences in LEP, FT₃ and FT₄ only, while there were no differences in the other three metabolic hormones (T₃, T₄ and GLU). Overall, these results indicate that DHEA improves lipid metabolism through the regulation of metabolic hormones and metabolic parameters, while not adversely affecting growth performance in broiler chickens.

There exists no energy policy in the European Union, but rather a whole series of long-term goals setting its strategic orientation. Until 2000, when the Green Book named "Towards the European Strategy of Energy Supplies Securing" was accepted, no real debate on the strategy of energy was held in the EU. The Green Book represents a key document of the European energy policy and it originated as a consequence of the fears of the European Committee regarding the growing energy dependence on the energy resources imports, from the politically not stable parts of the world. Among the three key points of the energy strategy, there belong stable supply of energy, acceptable energy prices and environment protection. With regard to the deepening European integration and interconnection of the individual member states economies, the decisions of one country also have an energy impact on the other states. Therefore, the cooperation among the individual members is necessary.

The level and structure of cigarettes taxation are considered to be very discussed field in these days by the effect of preference trends of taxation of consumption at the expense of direct taxation, stressing the health risks of consumers of tobacco products, externalities caused by this consumption and by the effect of existence of distortions in the market with the tobacco products in the EU states. It is possible to achieve various aims in the field of fiscal and agricultural policies of state, consumption of cigarettes, protection of national market and in the other field by the regulation of excise duty imposed on cigarettes in the EU states. The question is, in frame of excise duty imposed on cigarettes in the EU member state, whether this tax should be imposed through specific rate, ad valorem rate, or by their combination. The choice between these options depends on the laid down aims of tax policy in each EU member states.

The rules of the European Union suppose the value added tax as the only general excise tax. The need for harmonization of this tax in the existing EU member states is obvious, but the results in this field are not entirely convincing. Also the provision of services is a problematic field among others in the implementation of value added tax. It is essential to examine the issue of the value added tax, in this case, both the possibilities of the use of the self assessment system of the value added tax by the recipient of the service compared to the accounting of service including the value added tax by a provider of this service, even if the provider of service from the EU member state shall have a permanent establishment in other member state of the customer, but this establishment is not involved in the provision of the service, as well as the inclusion of services within the so-called extended guarantee to the taxable or exempt fulfilment, when the subject provides the technical support and the assistance to its customers, such as in the case of failures of agricultural machinery, which the provider had supplied to a subject in other member state. On the basis of empirical research, it is needed to assess the results of the harmonization efforts, to identify and recommend the direction in which the European Union should take in this field. The comparison of the individual European Union countries is important here. Value added tax is, regarding its features, still an unsurpassed excise tax, even if it has some weaknesses. The technique of the selection of this tax enables to discover the paid tax at all stages of treatment and it is very appropriate, due to its features for the use in international trade. It is therefore necessary to ensure the sufficient clarity, lucidity and equal conditions for players from the European Union on the basis of the development and adaptation of the rules of the value added tax set at the European Union level within each European Union country.

Latin America has very good conditions for microfinance; the macroeconomic growth which Latin America had shown in the recent years created favourable conditions for the microfinance institutions' favorable conditions and its development. Profitability of the microfinance sector presents an attractive market for the financial institutions which already have a have strong position in the market. The purpose of this work is to focus on the current situation and performance of the microfinance sector while identifying some of the reasons that affect the microfinance institutions in this region. The work also provides a view on the microfinance industry development to get a better description of the sector. The microfinance institutions are earning an undeniable importance in the process of the regional development and represent an important factor in the alleviation of poverty and insecurity for large segments of the population. The work is based on information from relevant sources that allow us to identify the current status of microfinance in Latin America, especially in these times when the crisis affects also the region's economic dynamism.

The absence of good agricultural and manufacturing practices in the production and postharvest handling of fresh produce, such as green asparagus or green onions increase the contamination risk by biological hazards like Salmonella. The objective of this work was to investigate the efficacy of chlorine (200 and 250 ppm), hydrogen peroxide (1.5% and 2%), and lactic acid (1.5% and 2%) sanitisers during different exposure times (40, 60, and 90 s) on the reduction of Salmonella enterica subspecie enterica serovar Typhimurium in inoculated fresh green asparagus and green onions. Washing with clean water only reduced < 1 log10 CFU/g in both vegetables. The most effective sanitiser evaluated for fresh green asparagus and green onions disinfection appeared to be 2% lactic acid reducing Salmonella growth close to 3 log₁₀ CFU/g. Hydrogen peroxide was the least effective agent for Salmonella Typhimurium reduction. No effect was observed of the exposure time of inoculated product to sanitiser up to 90 seconds. These results confirm that lactic acid could be used as an alternative for fresh green asparagus and green onions sanitation.

Handling with genetically modified organisms (GMOs) is regulated namely in EC. Laboratories often use polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based screening methods to monitor the presence of GM particles in food commodities as a cost effective approach. The reliability was tested of such screening using 35S CaMV promoter as the target sequences. Soya grown from non-GM cultivar as declared by a seed company was investigated after the harvest, transport to the silo, and before processing. The results based on PCR and real-time PCR analysis clearly showed that, the contamination with debris of other species, dust during transport, storage, and other kind of handling led to contamination with detectable amounts of Cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV). Impurities are allowed by EC regulations but may, as we have shown, interfere with the analytical procedures based on PCR. The identification of 35S CaMV promoter and NOS terminator in food with uncertain history and no approved specific events may indicate unknown GMOs and perhaps emergency situation.

The effects of inulin HPX and maltodextrins, and also the potentially probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum 14 strain, used separately and in combination in white cheese production, on the gastrointestinal microflora of Wistar rats was investigated. The prebiotic addition to the cheese was 2.5%, whereas probiotic and synbiotic cheeses contained at least 10⁷ CFU/g of live L. plantarum cells. The counts of Bifidobacterium sp., Lactobacillus, coliforms, and the most probable number of anaerobic proteolytic bacteria were evaluated. After a 10-day feeding experiment, significant changes (P < 0.05) were noted in the most probable number of anaerobic proteolytic bacteria spores, which was the highest in the group receiving a diet with the cheese containing the potentially probiotic strain and inulin HPX. A short-time ingestion of low doses of prebiotics or synbiotics did not alter the counts of Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and coliforms in healthy rats.

The aim of the present work is to evaluate the impacts of four different sterilising modes (110°C 100 min, 115°C 32 min, 120°C 10 min, and 125°C 3.2 min - with a constant lethal effect on microorganisms) on some chemical (pH, total and bio-available lysine, and ammonia content), microbiological, and sensory (shade and acceptability) properties of processed cheese depending on the lactose additions (0.0-2.0% w/w). All sterilising modes used were sufficient to inactivate the microorganism groups observed (total number of microorganisms, colony forming units of yeasts and/or moulds, number of spore-forming microorganisms). The falling sterilisation temperature kept for an adequately prolonged period of time caused darkening of the processed cheese and a decline of their acceptability. Consequently, greater losses of lysine and ammonia content increase occurred when the sterilisation temperature decreased. Compared to non-sterilised products, the smallest changes were detected in the cheese treated with temperatures 125°C for 3.2 min, and 120°C for 10 minutes. The decrease of the processed cheese quality was more apparent with the growing lactose concentration.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the carcass weight and the level of skatole in boar back fat samples with descriptive sensory profiles (trained sensory panel) immediately after heating the fat samples (warm). A weak correlation was found between the carcass weight and skatole level in fat (P > 0.05). Between skatole levels in the fat of boars, whose carcass weight was below 70 kg, and of those with the carcass weight equal or above 70 kg, there was a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05). The average content of skatole in the fat tissue of the boars < 70 kg, (0.18 ± 0.09 mg/kg fat, respectively) was below the commonly used respective thresholds for tainted meat (0.20 mg/kg fat), 53% of the samples showed the values of ≤ 20 mg/kg, and 73% of the samples the values of ≤ 25 mg/kg. In the group ≥ 70 kg (0.40 ± 0.39 mg/kg fat, respectively), 80% of the samples revealed the values of ≥ 20 mg/kg, and 66% of the samples the values of ≥ 25 mg/kg. Our results show that a positive, compelling and statistically highly significant correlation exists between the skatole level and the sensory assessment of skatole intensity in fat.

Multiplex PCR was developed and optimized for simultaneous detection of wheat leaf rust resistance genes Lr26 and Lr37. The presence of the genes was analyzed in 21 winter wheat cultivars registered in the Czech Republic. Gene Lr37 was detected in four tested cultivars (Bakfis, Biscay, Nicol, Mulan), gene Lr26 occurred only in one cultivar (Etela) and three cultivars (Clarus, Orlando and Rapsodia) were found to carry both these genes. Data obtained by PCR markers were compared with results of greenhouse and field tests. Seedling reactions of cultivars possessing Lr26 to seven different leaf rust isolates conformed to the results obtained by the marker analysis, however, there were found some discrepancies in the detections of Lr37, which could be detected in greenhouse seedling tests only with difficulties.

In 2005, 2006 and 2008 the virulence of wheat leaf rust population was studied on Thatcher near-isogenic lines with Lr1, Lr2a, Lr2b, Lr2c, Lr3a, Lr9, Lr10, Lr13, Lr15, Lr17, Lr19, Lr21, Lr23, Lr24, Lr26 and Lr28. Samples of leaf rust (141 in total) were obtained from different parts of Slovakia. Resistance gene Lr9 was effective to all tested isolates except three isolates from 2008. No virulence was found to Lr19 and genes Lr24 and Lr28 were also highly effective. Low incidence of virulence to Lr2a was observed. Sixty-five winter wheat cultivars registered in Slovakia were tested with seven leaf rust isolates in the greenhouse. Cultivar Bona Dea was the most resistant of all.

Resistance of 31 winter wheat varieties (bred in 6 European countries) to Fusarium head blight (FHB) was evaluated in field trials lasting for three years (2007, 2008, 2009) after artificial inoculation with Fusarium culmorum. The data on deoxynivalenol (DON) content were supplemented by symptom scores and determination of % of Fusarium damaged grains and % reductions of thousand-grain weight and grain weight per spike due to infection. These varieties and also 120 advanced breeding lines from the Úhřetice Breeding Station, SELGEN company were examined for the presence of gibberellic acid (GA) insensitive semi-dwarfing genes to evaluate their effect on FHB. The conditions of experimental years highly influenced the performance of all characters. The highest production of DON occurred in 2008 at a high temperature and high moisture content during the infection period. In all years the moderate resistance to accumulation of DON (at the level of Swiss variety Arina) was detected in the Czech varieties Bakfis, Federer, Baletka, Samanta and Sakura. Among these varieties, Federer showed a low accumulation of DON at a relatively higher symptom expression and greater reduction of grain weight per spike, but the other four varieties and the reference variety Arina expressed resistance in all the examined traits. The varieties Pitbull, Cubus, Kodex and Bagou were found to be highly susceptible to FHB. The presence of the dwarfing allele Rht-D1b resulted in a significantly higher mean symptom score and also in a higher affection of the other traits. Nonetheless, the analysis of frequency distributions in symptom scores showed the presence of resistant lines also among the GA insensitive lines, but with a lower frequency than in the group of GA sensitive genotypes. A relatively greater effect on manifestation of the disease had plant height, and therefore it is suggested that the adverse impact of Rht-D1b on FHB resistance could be to a high degree excluded by opting for taller Rht-D1b genotypes.

The proportions of landraces in the Czech collection of wheat genetic resources significantly differentiates among wheat species, 4.2% in bread, 77.6% in emmer, and 80.0% in the einkorn wheat collections. A set of 10 selected emmer wheat landraces has been characterized by high molecular weight glutenin subunits (HMW-GSs). They were evaluated for 3 years in field trials, and described by grain quality parameters. Emmer wheat accessions differ considerably in the polymorphisms of HMW-GSs. Out of the total of 10 studied emmer wheat landraces, 5 accessions appeared to be homogeneous in the electrophoretic patterns of HMW-GSs; they were formed by a single glutenin line. Much higher crude protein content was detected in all of the emmer wheat accessions, in comparison with the control bread wheat cultivar. The proportion of this important component varied between 15.5% and 22.2%. On the other hand, SDS sedimentation, an important parameter of bread making quality, was very low (1.2-4.4 ml); and a similar situation has been recorded in the gluten index. Based on such results, the emmer wheat landraces can be considered potentially more suitable for other purposes than for the preparation of bread (e.g. for different grain mixtures, purée, etc.).

The German Federal Gene Bank at the Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK) in Gatersleben comprises ca. 148 000 accessions of crop plants and their wild relatives. Among these, material from Albania and Greece is represented with ca. 1100 and more than 2700 accessions, respectively. IPK's collection of Albanian germplasm is the world's largest collection, while IPK's Greek germplasm collection is the third largest holding of Greek crops and their wild relatives. The largest part of this material (ca. 200 and 1600 accessions from Albania and Greece, respectively) originates from two collecting expeditions carried out by Hans Stubbe, the founder of the Institute for Cultivated Plant Research, and other German collectors during the Second World War, in 1941 (ca. 700 accessions) and 1942 (ca. 1100 accessions). Stubbe's expeditions are described with respect to the regions visited, species collected, plus a comparison between the original collections and their present state in the IPK Gene Bank is provided. A formal scientific report about the results of these expeditions had never been published before. The material from these expeditions can be freely requested from the IPK Gene Bank, after signing a Material Transfer Agreement.

Two sets of winter wheat landraces and obsolete cultivars were studied in three-year field experiments, and compared with 3 modern control cultivars. The higher spike productivity in modern cultivars could mainly be attributed to an increased number of grains in a spikelet and harvest index (HI), whereas thousand grain weight (TGW) has only a slight effect. Landraces and old cultivars proved to have a higher content of crude protein. Spike productivity characteristics, except for TGW, showed a negative correlation with the crude protein content in the grain. The number of kernels in a spikelet strongly affected the spike's productivity, whereas the TGW has only half the effect. The mean yield of four modern cultivars was 51% higher than the mean yield of 31 landraces and obsolete cultivars. Regression analysis proved the much stronger response of modern cultivars to environment (b = 1.63), then was the response of old cultivars (b = 0.87). Different responses to environments were found within the set of 31 landraces, as well. We could also identify potentially valuable donors of earliness and winter hardiness among the old cultivars. High crude protein content (up to 18%), and other valuable quality characteristics, were rather frequent. In both sets, HMW Glu-subunits were described, and we have additionally studied 67 selected lines. Among them, 10 lines showed the crude protein content of 17.5% to 18.3% (where the gluten index and Zeleny test varied from 28.5 to 54.0 and 36.8 to 61.7, respectively). High values of all quality characteristics showed lines gained from the cultivars Mindeszentpusztai (HUN), Szekacz 19 (HUN), Bartweizen linie a (AUT), Viglašská červenoklasá (CZE), as well as some others.

Pig oocytes matured in vitro were parthenogenetically activated using nitric oxide donor SNAP (2mM). Continuous treatment successfully activated the oocytes only after more than 12 hours of exposure. Pulsatile treatments during which oocytes were repeatedly exposed to 2mM SNAP for a short time (10, 20 or 30 minutes) were more efficient with regard to the activation rate, even when the total exposure time did not exceed 4 hours. Parthenogenetic development was very limited after continuous treatment with 2mM SNAP. A significantly higher proportion of developing parthenogenetic embryos was observed after the pulsatile treatment (development to the morula stage 0 vs. 18%; development to the blastocyst 0 vs. 7%; P < 0.05). However, this developmental rate was significantly lower (P < 0.05) than the development induced by conventional activation treatment with calcium ionophore (development to the morula stage, 23%; development to the blastocyst stage, 18%). When we combined pulsatile SNAP-treatment with the effect of protein kinase inhibitor 6-dimethyl aminopurine (6-DMAP) (2mM 6-DMAP for 2 hours) or with the inhibitor of protein synthesis cycloheximide (CHX) (10 µM CHX for 2 hours), we observed a significant increase (P < 0.05) in the activation rate when compared to the respective pulsatile SNAP-treatment without 6-DMAP or CHX (63 vs. 78% of activated oocytes for 6-DMAP; 63 vs. 83% of activated oocytes for CHX). However, the development of parthenogenetic embryos was not enhanced when the pulsatile SNAP-treatment was combined with 6-DMAP or with CHX.