Fulltext search in archive

The objectives of this study are to determine a trend of the radial growth at breast height (b.h.) and to compare the radial growth of trees of younger and older generations in the XX century for fir (Abies alba Mill.), beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) in the Świętokrzyski National Park. In the investigated area fir, 41 to 200-300 years of age at breast height, gradually regenerated its radial growth after a very strong decline during 1971-1990, and most likely the process of vitality reduction and death of its stands of various age is slowly coming to an end. Pine showed a systematic decrease in the radial increment during 1885-1994, and there were no distinct symptoms indicating a change of this unfavourable trend. Beech showed no significant decrease in the radial increment during 1885-1994. In the Świętokrzyski National Park the differences in the radial growth between younger and older generations were noticeable only in the case of beech. The radial growth of trees of different ages was very similar in the case of fir and pine.

A monitoring system for Cameraria ohridella males based on a synthetic sex pheromone was tested in the Czech Republic, Germany, France and Greece. From the obtained data on the insect phenology we concluded that in Central Europe C. ohridella typically has three generations per year. The pheromone monitoring can be used to detect the pest when it appears in uninfested areas and is also suitable to determine population densities.

From 2000 to 2001 the population dynamics of Psammotettix alienus Dahlb. were recorded using a sweep-net or a biocoenometer. The investigations were carried out in Zscherben near Halle (Middle German Dry Region). The imagines of the first generation of P. alienus could be observed for the first time at the beginning of May (2000) and at the end of May (2001), respectively. According to our results, in this area three generations of P. alienus are developed. In both years of our observations the barley-strain of Wheat dwarf virus (WDV) occurred. The main important infections appeared in autumn. Furthermore, during the whole period of our investigations the percentage of viruliferous individuals which were caught was recorded by means of a biological test. In June this percentage achieved 84.0% (2000) and 76.7% (2001), respectively. In the course of summer months of both years the percentage of viruliferous P. alienus decreased. In autumn of the year 2000 an increasing portion followed once again. However, in the year 2001 a continual reduction from > 70% in June to < 5% in late autumn could be observed.

The fertilising experiment was set up in 1968 on the mountain meadow (720 m a.s.l.) in Czarny Potok near Krynica (20°8' E, 49°4' N). The experiment was conducted on the acid Cambi soil and comprised objects fertilised with two nitrogen forms and two doses against the background of PK fertilisation, the untreated object, and plots with unilateral P and N fertilisation. The paper concerns 30 years of investigations (1968-1997) of the effect of different NPK fertilisation on the dynamic of yields and the meadow sward quality against a background of the same treatments. The dynamic of the botanical composition was presented as well as the dynamic of the grassland yield potential with systematic mineral fertilisation and liming. The application of nitrogen fertilisation with the rate of 90 N.ha^-1 + PK under mountain conditions and systematic liming of the meadow enables to maintain or increase production over the long period, to decrease the production risk and to prevent degradation of the environment and natural resources.

The effect of addition of treated sewage sludge on the accumulation of Zn in plants was tested in pot experiment. The additions of eight months preincubated sewage sludge at temperature of 20°C under aerobic and anaerobic conditions with addition of peat and straw were tested. Two different combinations were designed: first consisted of 50% sludge + 35% peat and 15% straw, and second was made of 50% sludge + 5% peat and 45% straw (expressed as dry matter). Three different soils Chernozems, Luvisols, and Fluvisols and three sludges were tested in the experiment. Oat (cv. Pan) was planted as experimental crop. All treatments were fertilized by NPK. Green biomass of oat was harvested and analyzed. At treatments with addition of both composted sludges pH dropped down causing higher mobility of Zn in sewage sludge. Oat grown in these treatments contained higher amount of Zn compared to untreated soils. The application of anaerobically treated sludge led to increased Zn content in biomass compared to aerobically incubated one. Predominant effect on Zn accumulation in plants was determined by tested soil. The highest content was determined in plants grown on Fluvisols. The biomass yield was more affected by source of sewage sludge than by the soil type used. Treatments amended by anaerobically incubated sludge showed tendency to higher biomass production due to their higher content of nitrogen and carbon.

Field experiments were conducted in the maize-growing region on heavy gleic fluvisol from 1974 to 2000. Three variants of straw management (straw harvested, incorporated into soil and burned), two variants of soil tillage (conventional plough tillage to 0.22 m, shallow disc tillage to 0.12-0.15 m) and three variants of fertilization (30, 60 and 90 kg N.ha^-1) were studied. After conventional tillage, the highest yield was obtained in the variant with burned straw (5.50 t.ha^-1), followed by the variant with straw incorporated into soil (5.40 t.ha^-1) and the lowest after harvested straw (5.01 t.ha^-1). At shallow tillage, lower yields were assessed in all variants of straw management in comparison with conventional tillage (after straw burning 5.07 t.ha^-1, incorporation into soil 4.66 t.ha^-1 and harvest 4.54 t.ha^-1). The ranking of variants was identical to that in inversion tillage; however, the yield increased more after straw burning in comparison with its incorporation into soil. Yields increased regularly along with increasing rates of nitrogen. If long-term effects of straw incorporation on yields and yield trends were evaluated (in comparison with straw harvest), statistically significant decrease in yields was assessed after shallow in contrast with increase in yields after deeper straw incorporation.

Chromosomes of potato (Solanum tuberosum) are terminated by telomeres, which are formed by tandemly repeated [TTTAGGG]n oligonucleotide sequence. The total length of blocks of telomeric DNA has been known to vary largely among plant species and their varieties, and also among individual chromosome arms within a single nucleus. To check for such differences in potato varieties, which could be of a possible use in genotyping, we performed pulsed-field gel electrophoretic analysis of terminal restriction fragments in selected potato varieties. We found a typical range of telomere lengths of 20-60 kb in most analysed varieties. In one of analysed varieties (Monalisa), telomeres of wider span (up to 80 kb) have been observed. Most of restriction enzymes (PvuII, HaeIII, TaqI) produced a resulting smeared hybridisation pattern of telomeres. When using BglII, however, a doublet hybridisation band could be observed. This may reflect differences in composition of telomere-associated sequences at different chromosome ends.

Superoxide dismutase (SOD) isoenzymes of the rumen bacterium Streptococcus bovis 4/1 were studied. Native PAGE showed a single band of Mn-SOD, unaffected by 10 mM cyanide or 5 mM hydrogen peroxide under both aerobic and anaerobic growth conditions. When the metals were removed from the growth medium by Chelex 100, the addition of manganese increased enzymatic activity, while addition of iron inhibited SOD activity. Changes in Mn-SOD and glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) activities evoked by paraquat and increased values of TBARS indicated that these enzymes were not able to sufficiently prevent oxidative stress at given paraquat concentrations.

The paper studies the effect of a single use of a textural fraction of dolomitic limestone (5.1 t per ha) on soil reaction (pH/KCl and pH/H2O) and the content of exchangeable Ca and Mg (in the soil layer of 0-30 cm or in F, H and A horizons) during a 6-year experiment under a mature Norway spruce stand and a 4-year experiment on a clear-felled area. The increase in pH culminated in the 3rd or in the 3rd-6th year of the experiment. Maximum effects were achieved applying the fine fraction of a particle size £ 1 mm. The coarse fraction of a particle size > 1 mm showed virtually negligible effects. The increase in Ca and Mg content culminated in the last 6th year of the experiment. Maximum effects were achieved applying fine fractions again. The effect of the coarse fraction was also virtually negligible. After 6 years, ma-ximum increase in all values under study occurred in the upper narrow F horizon while the increase rapidly dropped downwards.

The molecular basis of organ specificity in plant diseases is little characterised. Downy mildew of Arabidopsis caused by the oomycete Peronospora parasitica is characteristically a leaf disease. Resistant host genotypes recognise the pathogen in a gene-for-gene dependent manner and respond with the production of H₂O₂ and the execution of a genetically programmed hypersensitive cell death (HR). We inoculated the roots of Arabidopsis genotypes Col-0, Ws-0 and Wei-0 with the NOCO and WELA races of the pathogen and compared the responses with those observed in infected leaves. Combinations of incompatible genotypes of host and pathogen showed the expected responses of an oxidative burst and the HR in leaves but, surprisingly, roots showed no signs of active defence and appeared completely susceptible to all the P. parasitica isolates tested. RT-PCR showed that the R genes RPP1 and RPP13, which mediate resistance in leaves to P. parasitica isolates NOCO and WELA, respectively, were expressed in leaves as well as in roots. Similarly, NDR1 and EDS1, two components of RPP1-mediated gene signalling pathways, are also expressed in both tissues. Thus, we show for the first time that expression of R genes and at least some of the known downstream components of the signalling cascade are not sufficient for the induction of avirulence gene-mediated defence mechanisms.

Small G-proteins (RAC and RHO) are known to be involved in regulation of superoxide (O₂^*-) production and the assembly of actin fibres. These processes are known to be crucial for accessibility and inaccessibility of barley cells to the biotrophic fungus Blumeria graminis f.sp. hordei (Bgh). Using a candidate RT-PCR approach six Rac-related cDNA-clones were isolated from barley. The transient knock-down of RacB led to a remarkably lower penetration efficiency of Bgh into susceptible barley lines (Mlo/Ror1). Surprisingly the inhibition of RacB expression had no effect in the double mutant line A89 (mlo5/ror1). This led us to the assumption that the RacB-dsRNA effect is dependent on functional ROR1 (such as mlo5-mediated resistance). Vice versa, overexpression of constitutive active RACB-V15 in the susceptible line Pallas resulted in hypersusceptibility to Bgh. Thus, we conclude that RACB is a signal transduction protein functional in the accessibility of epidermal barley cells to Bgh.

In late August of 2001 a population of Metcalfa pruinosa (Say, 1830) consisting of several dozens of adults and larvae was observed in a nursery of ornamentals at Brno-Bystrc. The species occurred mostly on young twigs of cultivars of Thuja occidentalis L., Juniperus communis L. and Sorbus aucuparia L. but also Lilium spp. and singly on other various wood and herbal ornamental plants. The damage was rather of an aesthetic kind: young twigs were covered by 5-10 cm long spots of waxy fluff produced by the larvae. The pest is native to North America and was introduced in the late 1970's to Italy, from where it spread to southern France, Slovenia and southern Austria. The Brno population might have been imported, in the egg stage, on ornamental shrubs from Italy. The polyphagous pest is very common in Southern Europe, causing damage especially on fruit trees by the secretion of honeydew that, being colonised by Capnodiaceae moulds, inhibits the transpiration. The species could stay permanently in theCzechRepublic or could be repeatedly imported again.

The development of soil limiting values of the protection of the quantity and mainly quality of the crop production tends from empiric values towards critical values, based on ecotoxicity. We present an attempt to derive transfer functions by the means of multiple regression analysis. The substitution of trace elements contents in crops in the prediction equations for fodder or food standards or phytotoxicity limits satisfies the present ecotoxicological demands. We preferred polyfactor relations to simple ones. The exceeding of reference values must be verified by the determination of the hazardous transfer in the field. Therefore the reference values are called testing values. They were derived especially for Cd, Pb, As, Cu, Zn, Ni and Mn. For some trace elements, only protective values can be set up (especially for Cr, Hg, but also for Tl, Be, V). They reflect minimum values that guarantee growing crops without any risks. Experimental data (pot trials) were compared with results obtained in field investigations. The resulting critical values were also compared with the values proposed in Germany.

Leaf samples from 12 peach cultivars (Prunus persica [L.] Batsch.) (Early Crest, May Crest, Flavor Crest,Sun Crest, Fayette, Katherina, Loadel, Andross, Everts, May Grand, Firebrite and Fairlane) grafted on four peach root-stocks were analyzed for their nutrient content. The analysis of variance for leaf nutrient concentrations indicated very significant effects and interactions among cultivars and rootstocks. The rootstock effect on the absorption of nutrient elements was higher for Ca, K, P, Mg, N, and lower for Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn, and B. Generally cultivars grafted on GF 677 had higher N, K, Fe, Cu and lower Zn, Mn, and B, while leaves from cultivars grafted on wild seedlings were found to contain higher Mg and lower P, K, Fe concentrations. Leaf B and Ca were higher for cultivars grafted on Sant Julien GF 655/2, while cultivars on Damas GF 1869 had higher P, Zn, Mn and lower N, B, Ca, Cu concentrations. Leaf N was lower for Fayette on all four rootstocks and significantly different from all other cultivars. Leaf P was lower for Everts and higher for Katherina. Lower concentrations were observed in Early Crest for Fe and Zn, in Andross for Mn, and in Loadel for B, while Flavor Crest had higher concentrations of all these elements. Leaf Zn was the highest for Sun Crest on wild seedling and the lowest for Early Crest on the same rootstock. Similarly leaf N was the highest for Katherina on Damas and the lowest for Fayetteon the same rootstock. Also leaf Mg was the highest for Fayette on Damas and the lowest for Fairlane on Damas. Peach tree mortality was the highest for Damas 1869 and lowest for Sant Julien. Also tree mortality was highest for Early Crest and Sun Crest and lowest for May Grand, Firebrite, and Katherina. The observed trends in the leaf nutrient composition, as regards the cultivars, rootstocks and their interactions, emphasize the importance of these factors on a new peach orchard establishment and macro-microelement fertilization.

An analysis is made of the root system morphogenesis and architecture in several tens of European mountain ash trees aged up to 60 years at seven different sites. Although the root system variability is considerable, certain dependences can be derived. European mountain ash forms an anchoring root system. Limiting factors of the root system morphogenesis are the groundwater table (roots do not penetrate into soil horizons affected by underground water), prevailing direction of wind (elliptic root system develops in the wind direction), and the slope (in the uphill direction the roots are shorter, exhibit the more or less horizontal growth and reach into deeper soil horizons than roots growing in the downhill direction). An unambiguous correlation was found between the rooting depth of anchor roots and the number and reach of lateral roots (the longer the anchors, the fewer the lateral roots and the smaller their reach). The shorter the anchor roots, the more intensive the branching of not only the anchors themselves but also of superficial roots.

In three investigated stands the highest increment (8.8 m3/ha per year, i.e. 1.5% of the actual stand volume, measured at the end of the control period) was reached by Jawornik I stand in the initial period of the growing up stage, and Tworylczyk stand in the advanced growing up stage (7.4 m3/ha per year, i.e. 1.2% of the actual stand volume). Jawornik II stand, in the optimum stage, the aging phase, had the lowest increment (3.9 m3/ha per year, i.e. 0.7% of the actual stand volume). The process of a natural volume loss was the most intensive in Tworylczyk stand (7.6 m3/ha per year), a little less intensive in Jawornik II stand (7.1 m3/ha per year), and the least intensive in Jawornik I stand (5.8 m3/ ha per year). The analysis of tree loss, recruitment, and increment, and the relations between these processes, can form the basis for a conclusion that stable stands developed in the Carpathian primeval beech forests in the years 1988-1998. Such steady processes can be used for the development of a stable, multifunctional model of the forest managed by the selection system, or the Swiss irregular shelterwood system in the Carpathian beech stands of a similar structure.

Limited information on the resistance mechanisms in Lycopersicon spp. to Oidium neolycopersici is still available. Macroscopically the resistance is characterized by a very low amount of mycelium development and a lack of sporulation. The leaf surface did not effectively inhibite conidium germination, however significant differences in germ tube and appressorium development were recorded. A large variation was observed in host tissue response. The prevailing resistance mechanism was hypersensitivity (HR). Considerable changes of peroxidase and catalase activities during pathogenesis were detected among tested wild Lycopersicon spp. There was positive correlation between increasing of peroxidase activity and extent of necrosis. Histochemistry showed large differences in production of superoxid ions, H₂O₂ and peroxidase in Lycopersicon spp. with various level of resistance.

A fast neutron mutant in Arabidopsis (Columbia) was identified that exhibits enhanced downy mildew (edm1) susceptibility to several Peronospora parasitica isolates, including the RPP7-diagnostic isolate Hiks1. The mutation was mapped to chr.4 and physically characterised as a 35kb deletion spanning seven genes. One of these genes restored wild-type resistance to all of the P. parasitica isolates. This gene (AtSGT1b) encodes a predicted protein that is orthologous to yeast SGT1, originally described as a key regulatory protein in centromere function and ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis. AtSGT1b contains three tatratrico-peptide repeats at the N terminus followed by a bipartite "CS" (CHORD containing Sgt) domain and an SGT specific (SGTS) domain at the carboxyl terminus. Altered expression of this gene is being investigated in Arabidopsis and Brassica olarecea to determine its potential use for crop improvement.

Traditional way of growing buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum L.) in Slovenia is stubble-crop production, but grown as a full-season crop it yields more. Genotypes that are adapted to stubble-crop system may not necessarily be the best adapted for the full-season crop. The objective of this study was to determine yield performance of two buckwheat genotypes under stubble-crop and full-season production system. The experiments (randomised block design) were conducted in Podravje region with two common determinant buckwheat genotypes (land race population and cultivar Darja) in 1997 and 1998. Buckwheat grown as a full-season crop had a greater leaf area index, more flower clusters, more developed seeds and 42% higher yield than the stubble-crop buckwheat. Although cultivar Darja had 10% less flower clusters than the land race population, the number of flowers and the number of developed grains were higher. The 35% higher grain yield of cultivar Darja was associated with larger leaf area index than land race population (4.0 vs. 2.3). Cultivar Darja outperformed the land race population under full-season crop production, whereas the yield difference between the two varieties was not significant under the stubble-crop production. These results suggest that the best yielding buckwheat genotypes should be determined separately for stubble-crop and/or full-season production system.

The objective of the study was to assess public goods coming from agriculture. Decisions about subjects of the assessment was the first step which was followed by the choice of suitable methods in view of data availability. The choice came out mainly from the most significant agricultural subsidies in the framework of public finance extent and were introduced as multifunctional agriculture maintenance (landscape maintenance, grassing, vulnerable farming in protected landscape areas and national parks etc.). Landscape maintenance was considered as the most relevant and it was quantified by direct valuation method (contingent valuation method). The other public goods were assessed by indirect valuation methods (opportunity costs, replacement costs, prevention costs).

The mycoflora was investigated under the conditions of climax spruce stands in the Krkonoše Mountains in relation to wood decomposition. The areas under observation have been affected more or less by air pollution since the eighties. The average mass of deadwood found on the plots is 124 m³ per ha - the mass of fallen trunks is about 32 m3 per ha, mean value from total average. About 128 species of macrofungi were identified that besides others included 43 species of wood-decaying fungi. Also 54 mycorrhizal species were identified. Among the mycorrhizal fungi about 10 species were dominant, such as Laccaria laccata (Scop.: Fr.) Cooke, Lactarius helvus Fr., Lactarius mitissimus Fr., Lactarius rufus (Scop.) Fr., Russula emetica (Schaeff.: Fr.) Pers. and Russula ochroleuca Pers. etc. Concerning the volume of decomposed wood on monitored plots in climax spruce stands, the prevalent wood-decaying fungi are brown rot fungi. The proportion of brown rot fungi in wood decomposition is 60-95% of deadwood mass on the plots of climax spruce stands. A dominant species is Fomitopsis pinicola (Sw.: Fr.) P. Karst. causing the brown rot. Concerning the group of white rot fungi, the most important is Stereum sanguinolentum (Alb. & Schw.: Fr.) Fr., participating by 17% in wood decomposition on plots damaged by deer.

Sissoo (Dalbergia sissoo, Roxb.) is a nitrogen fixing leguminous tree species with natural habitat in the lowland region of Nepal called Terai up to an altitude of 1,000 m. For the last few years, this economically important tree species has been dying rapidly in the plantation forests. On the contrary, its status in the natural forest in riverine areas has been unknown yet. The paper compares the nutrient status of natural and healthy sissoo forest with declining plantation sissoo one. It is evident from this study that both stands do not differ very much with respect to their soil and plant nutrients. Therefore it was concluded that the waterlogging of soil was the main factor responsible for the decline of plantation sissoo forest.

An experiment with five different tillage systems and their influence on physical properties of a silty loam soil (Albic Luvisol) was carried in northwest Slavonia in the period of 1997-2000. The compared tillage systems were: 1. conventional tillage (CT), 2. reduced tillage (RT), 3. conservation tillage I (CP), 4. conservation tillage II (CM), 5. no-tillage system (NT). The crop rotation was soybean (Glycine max L.) - winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) - soybean - winter wheat. Differences between tillage systems in bulk density, total porosity, and water holding capacity and air capacity were not significant in winter wheat seasons. In soybean seasons, significant differences between some tillage systems were recorded in bulk density, total porosity, air capacity and soil moisture. The deterioration trend of physical properties was generally increasing in the order CM, CT, CP, NT and RT. The highest yield of soybean in the first experimental year was achieved under CT system and the lowest under CP system. In all other experimental years, the highest yield of winter wheat and soybean was achieved under CM system, while the lowest under RT system.

In birch (Betula pendula Roth) stands of the Děčín sandstone uplands (northern Bohemia) 55 species of leafhoppers were captured using photoeclectors, ground traps and shaking down onto sheets (23,855 specimens of larvae and imagoes). The dominant representatives of the grass and herb undergrowth in birch stands are Jassargus allobrogicus, Anoscopus flavostriatus, Neophilaenus lineatus, Hyledelphax elegantula, Diplocolenus bohemani, Streptanus brevipennis, Macustus grisescens, Planaphrodes bifasciata and Cercopis vulnerata. A heavy abundance of the dominant Oncopis flavicollis and the less abundant O. tristis, weakens birch growth due to the leaf-sucking activities of the insects.

Viroids as the smallest pathogenic circular single-stranded pathogenic RNAs form populations of quasi-species, whichhas been recently identified by thermodynamic methods like TGGE pre-selection and heteroduplex analysis. It was foundthat replication under thermal stress led to enormously high level of viroid mutagenesis. Mostly multiple mutants havingnon-random distribution of base changes were found. A specific "hot spots" were identified in the regions, wherea characteristic "pathogenicity domains" are localised in different viroids of the pospiviroidae family. Specific viroidmicroevolution was observed upon artificial inoculation of non-host plant species. Our results suggest that viroid propagationunder physiological stress can be assumed as important factor, which is among others, responsible for an appearanceof viroid quasi-species in the nature. Evolution and new viroid patotypes could accumulate due to environmental stressincluding various pollutants may be a potential danger for cultured plants.

Water regimes of extensively used grasslands (one cut per year, two cuts per year, no cut, mulching) were determined and compared by drainage lysimeters in 1998-2000. Although the botanical composition and yields of experimental swards were different, there was no statistically significant difference in their water regime (only the soil moisture content of no-cut variant was significantly higher than in other variants). A determinant factor for the water regime of grasslands (GR) is the sum of rainfall over the growing season while the GR water regime is influenced by land use immediately after the cut. Water runoff from the soil profile 0.0-0.60 m (water supply to the groundwater level) was found to be negligible in the growing season, a substantial groundwater recharge occurs in an off-season period and/or at the beginning of growing season. Mulching was not proved to reduce evaporation. The best type of management providing for the economical water regime appears to be a one-cut variant. Relationships between botanical composition and GR water regime are also described.

The paper widely introduces European experience in wild cherry breeding because it is the first one from a prepared series of articles aimed at wild cherry breeding in the Czech Republic. Beginnings of wild cherry breeding program for the Czech forestry are described. Plus trees were certified, seed orchards, clone archives, progeny and clonal tests were established. Clones were tested for fl owering of grafts in reproductive plantations. Progenies and clones were tested for growth parameters in progeny and clonal tests. Progenies and clones in every breeding plantation were tested for damage by aphids.

B. salicis was monitored in willow stands, sampling trees with and without watermark disease. The study focused on Salix alba and S. fragilis. B. salicis - presence was shown not to be restricted to diseased trees. With a B. salicis-specific PCR, B. salicis was frequently detected in the wood of healthy willows. This phenomenon was further studied with PCR-DGGE of endophytic bacterial populations in healthy and diseased willow. B. salicis concentrations were fluctuating during the year, synchronized with tree activity. Water stagnation in the wood as in winter was associated with a high B. salicis concentration, while the sap stream in active trees drained B. salicis from the wood vessels towards the leaves. We concluded that disease risk can not be assessed by testing the presence of B. salicis.

Decreasing numbers of tourists to the Czech Republic point at a weakening competitive position of Czech destinations during the most recent years. For many communities, tourism may be a short-lived economic dream when understanding of tourists´ perceptions and travel motives is lacking. The two objectives pursued in this study are 1) an identification of the positions of competing destinations and 2) an a-posteriori segmentation with psychographic variables. Market segmentation becomes the crucial factor in the strategic design process of target marketing. Like many other markets, tourism markets do not respond homogeneously to marketing activities. Subdividing visitors into useful groups may provide a basis for competitive advantage. Our study establishes taxonomy of visitors to Southern Moravia. The study tries to overcome well-known insufficiencies of single segmentation approaches by exploiting the advantage of the multivariate nature of combined push factors, pull factors, and other factors of more restrictive nature (i.e. time and money). The segmentation task employs multivariate data analysis techniques such as factor analysis, cluster analysis and multi-dimensional scaling. Recent research on the European Vacation Style Typology is incorporated.