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Pyometra is a widely detected, chronic infection of the uterus. One of the complications of this infection is renal disease. Kidney biopsy, urinary biomarkers and blood tests were done to detect pyometra-associated renal disease. To our knowledge, no reports are available describing values for renal Doppler measurements in the bitches with pyometra. Doppler ultrasonography is a relatively new method used for evaluation of the renal diseases. The aims of this study were to determine whether renal vascular resistance does increase in dogs with pyometra and to make an early diagnosis of renal disease in dogs with pyometra. Eighteen bitches diagnosed with pyometra and ten healthy bitches were evaluated. Mean values for renal resistive index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) were 0.65 ± 0.02 and 1.73 ± 0.09 for dogs with pyometra; 0.55 ± 0.03 and 1.18 ± 0.03 for the healthy ones, respectively. Of these, four animals had increased RI values and fourteen had an increased PI level. In conclusion, renal vascular resistance determined by renal RI and PI, was increased in some dogs with pyometra. In early detection of the disease intrarenal PI values were more sensitive than intrarenal RI.

The occurrence of fungal pathogens, associated with cumin production of Turkey, was determined during 2011 and 2012. A total of 379 isolates were classified as Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cumini, F. solani, F. acuminatum, F. equiseti, F. sambucinum, F. avenaceum, Macrophomina phaseolina, Alternaria burnsii, A. alternata, A. infectoria, Embellisia sp., and Rhizoctonia solani. Pathogenicity tests showed that F. oxysporum f.sp. cumini, F. solani, F. equiseti, M. phaseolina, A. burnsii, and A. alternata were highly pathogenic. A. burnsii and F. oxysporum f.sp. cumini were the major risk factors for cumin cultivation in Turkey. To our knowledge, this is the first report on F. oxysporum f.sp. cumini, F. solani, F. equiseti, M. phaseolina, and A. alternata in Turkey.

Damage by the cottony cushion scale Icerya purchasi (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Monophlebidae: Iceryini) was found on Rosmarinus officinalis at the locality Suchohrad in Slovakia. Icerya purchasi is a cosmopolitan plant pest of warmer climates. In Central Europe it is a pest of glasshouses. It is the first observation of the cottony cushion scale (at least short-term) occurrence in the outdoor conditions in Slovakia.

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a disease of small grain cereals caused by Fusarium species. The pathogens affect spikes and kernels, resulting in reductions of yield and its quality. The present study was conducted to evaluate variation in the FHB resistance of wheat F₂ hybrids derived from 16 crosses between winter wheat cultivars of various origin and with different susceptibility to FHB. Plants were inoculated with a conidial suspension consisting of a mixture of F. culmorum, F. graminearum and F. avenaceum isolates. After harvest 1000-kernel weight, number of kernels per spike and kernel weight per spike were evaluated in inoculated and control plants. Disease symptoms were observed on kernels of infected plants and the percentage of Fusarium-damaged kernels (FDK) was calculated. The data were statistically evaluated using uni- and multivariate analyses. A significant influence of genotype and treatment on all observed characteristics was detected. Contrasts between control and inoculated plants showed that inoculation lowered the mean values of all the yield-related traits significantly (in the statistical sense). Results of uni- and multivariate analyses enabled us to find three cross combinations which exhibited a low FDK percentage and simultaneously a relatively low reduction of 1000-kernel weight after inoculation. They may be promising for breeding wheat with improved resistance to FHB.

The experiments were conducted in four locations in Serbia: Valjevo, Kucevo, Nova Pazova and Surduk in 2012 and 2013. A working hypothesis that growing conditions would not affect the rutin content in buckwheat leaves was set up. The content of rutin in leaves of buckwheat was determined by the HPLC/DAD technique, using the external standard calibration method. Out of the basic biometric parameters, average value, variance, and the variation coefficient were estimated. Results were processed by the analysis of variance for the factorial experiment. The analysis of variance showed existence of significant differences in the rutin content, over locations, but only in the first year of testing. The average content of rutin in the first and the second year was 3.30% and 2.61%, respectively, and in both years of testing it amounted on average to 2.82%. The variation in the rutin content was larger in the second year of testing. On the other hand, this variation was lower in the first year (5.3-29.0%) in comparison to the second year (16.2-28.6%). Relatively lower rutin contents were recorded in samples collected at lower-altitude locations.

The effects of thermal manipulation (TM) during late ostrich embryonic development on hatchability, body weight, biochemical and hormonal changes, and the ability of hatching chicks to cope with thermal challenge in days 6-8 of age were examined. At 35 days of incubation, two hundred fertile eggs were weighed and divided into two equal groups with five replicates. The first group was exposed to 36.5°C and 25% relative humidity (RH) (control), while the second group was exposed to 38.5°C and 45% RH for 3 h daily in days 35-37 of incubation (thermal manipulation). At days 6-8 of age, the hatched chicks from each treatment were randomly divided into two groups: control group (exposed to 32 ± 1°C), and thermal challenge group (exposed to 40 ± 1°C for 3 h daily). Hatchability rate was significantly lower with high incubation temperature as compared to the normal incubation temperatures. Embryonic TM and thermal challenge in days 6-8 of age reduced significantly total protein, albumin, and triiodothyronin concentrations and elevated uric acid, creatinine, triglycerides, and glucose concentrations as compared with the control. The level of corticosterone was significantly higher in the thermal challenge group as compared to the control. In conclusion, exposing the ostrich embryos to TM (38.5°C) during late embryonic development induced physiological changes that may represent epigenetic adaptation to TM. The same mechanisms are employed for increasing the ability to improve thermotolerance post-hatch.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the levels of cis- and trans-isomers of resveratrol and piceid contained in the shoots, leaves and tendrils of six grapevine varieties and three locations processed under two different drying conditions. The highest trans-resveratrol content was found in the shoots; trans-piceid was contained in lesser amounts (7%) and cis-forms only in very small amounts (~1%). In leaves, both forms of piceid were dominant, while in tendrils trans- and cis-forms of piceid were dominant in samples dried in the laboratory oven at 40°C. Pinot Noir differed from other varieties with a high trans-resveratrol amount. Growing location affected trans-resveratrol levels. Our results suggest that the trimmed clippings might be used as a valuable and inexpensive source of stilbenes. Clippings preserved by drying might be further processed to nutraceuticals or as an additive to the feed.

The objective of this study was to compare, in client-owned patients, the analgesic effects of the centrally acting analgesics tramadol and buprenorphine in continuous intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA) with propofol. The study included forty dogs aged two to seven years and weighing 6-27 kg undergoing prophylactic dental treatment. The animals were classified into ASA (American Society of Anaesthesiologists) I. and II. risk groups. One group of dogs received intravenous administration of tramadol (2 mg/kg) and the second one buprenorphine (0.02 mg/kg) 30 min prior to sedation induced by midazolam (0.3 mg/kg) and xylazine (0.5 mg/kg) i.v. General anaesthesia was induced by propofol (2 mg/kg) and maintained by a 120-minute propofol infusion (0.2 mg/kg min). Arterial blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, saturation of haemoglobin with oxygen, body temperature and deep pain sensation elicited by haemostat forceps pressure on the fingers were recorded at ten minute intervals. The tramadol group of dogs showed significantly better blood pressure values (P < 0.001), minimal tendency to bradycardia (P < 0.05) and respiratory rate (P < 0.001), without any negative effects on oxygen saturation. Significantly better deep pain sensation was achieved in the tramadol group (P < 0.001). Blood gas/acid base profile analysis showed a non-significant increase in the tramadol group of dogs. In conclusion, in comparison with buprenorphine, tramadol provided significantly better results with respect to degree of analgesia, as well as the tendency towards cardiopulmonary complications arising during anaesthesia. Significantly better analgesia and a lower depressive effect of tramadol on vital functions allows better control and management of the continuous intravenous propofol anaesthesia.

The Alpine ecosystem is very sensitive to climatic changes, which have an influence on glaciers, snow, vegetation and soils. The aim of this review is to illustrate the effects of global change on the Alpine soil ecosystem, which is an optimal marker to record them. The manuscript enhances our understanding of the global change effect on the Alpine environment: on morphology, on ice, on vegetation and points out how the cycles of soil nutrients equilibrium have been changed with a direct effect on soils that support plant species. The changes in cryosphere, glacier reduction and periglacial environment as glaciers retreat, decrease in the snow cover extent and earlier snowmelt, determine an effect on soils (on the structure, organic matter and humus forms, soil processes and soil types) from the top of the Alpine horizon to the bottom. The processes induced by climate change (such as erosion and tree line shifting) have a direct effect on water balance that can be observed on soil profile characters with an effect on upward migration, change in phenology, extensive losses of species. The equilibrium of the biogeochemical cycles has been changed and this has a direct effect on soils that support plant species.

The occurrence of both diseases was evaluated for four years in a selected orchard where 22 different apple progenies, totalling 699 seedlings were planted. During this period, no chemical protection against the diseases was applied in the orchard, and the incidence of the diseases was rated using a 9-point scale (from 9 = not infected to 1 = very highly infected). For the finalisation of the results, each seedling was characterised by the highest rate of infection from all four years of the evaluation. The lowest mean level of mildew infection equal to 7.47 was observed in the progeny of Resista × McIntosh Wijcik. Concerning the scab, the best was the progeny of Resista × Karmína having a rating equal to 8.27. The highest level of segregation of seedlings having joint resistance to both diseases was found out in the progenies obtained by crossings of HL665 × HL782 and Resista × HL447.

Many studies show that the consumption of juices rich in polyphenols may increase serum antioxidant capacity, improve blood lipid profile, and endothelial function. The relation between the consumption of chokeberry juice and changes in the antioxidant capacity, blood lipid profile, and endothelial function as important indicators in the assessment of cardiovascular risk were determined. The study was conducted on a group of 11 healthy volunteers, who consumed chokeberry juice for three weeks. The research included determination of serum antioxidant capacity, blood lipid profile analysis, and measurements of endothelial function. The 3-week consumption of chokeberry juice significantly increased serum antioxidant capacity, and the best results were observed just after one week of the experiment. However, there was no significant change in the blood lipid profile, except for the persons with a higher level of triglycerides, in whom the consumption of chokeberry juice reduced these compounds to normal values. The endothelial function was normal in all patients and did not significantly change during the study.

The present study was undertaken to sequentially fractionate nickel (Ni) in soils of divergent physicochemical characteristics and evaluate the contribution of different fractions towards plant uptake. For this, fifteen bulk surface (0-15 cm) soil samples were collected from the cultivated fields of northwestern Indo-Gangetic alluvial plains. A pot experiment was conducted with these soils to assess the contribution of soil Ni fractions to plant uptake using soybean as test crop. Results showed that residual Ni was the most dominant fraction in soil constituting 3.19-63.6% of total Ni. The water soluble plus exchangeable Ni accounted for only 0.70-4.04% of total soil Ni. Organically bound Ni varied from 1.60-6.85% of total Ni; these values are relatively lower as compared to those reported for temperate soils. Correlation studies showed that the free iron oxide (Fe₂O₃) and soil organic carbon correlated with various fractions of Ni in soil. Water soluble plus exchangeable and organically bound are the dominant fractions which contributed positively and manganese oxide (MnO₂) bound and residual fractions contributed negatively towards the phytoavailability of Ni in soil.

The effect of organic, mineral and combined organic and mineral fertilization of soils on the winter wheat yields and nutrient contents in soils was evaluated in long-term field experiments. Two sites with different soil characteristics were evaluated - Lukavec u Pacova (cambisol) and Ivanovice na Hané (degraded chernozem). The type of fertilization influenced wheat yields. Nutrient uptake by winter wheat was higher under nitrogen (N) fertilization, which resulted in a negative balance of phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) and to a decrease of nutrient contents in the more fertile soils at Ivanovice na Hané. Two soil tests (Mehlich 3 method and NH₄-acetate method) were used to determine P and K availability. The mineral nitrogen fertilization negatively and significantly affected NH₄-acetate extractable concentrations of nutrients in the soils and these were lower in comparison with concentrations of P and K determined by Mehlich 3 method. Relative availability of P in alkaline soils from Ivanovice treated with mineral N increased while the soil pH decreased.

Knowledge of genetic relationship is an important control mechanism for animal performance-testing schemes. Genetic relationship between and within pig herds was calculated for two dam breeds, Czech Large White (CLW) and Czech Landrace (CLA). The impacts of different field data types (production and reproduction) and various numbers of generations within the pedigrees on genetic relationship were studied. The degree of genetic relationship between analyzed herds was generally low. It ranged from 1.01% (for CLW based on reproduction data and considering three generations of ancestors within the pedigree) to 2.57% (for CLA based on production data with seven generations of ancestors in the pedigree). In contrast, relationship within herds was high and ranged from 16.62% to 44.69% (when three and seven generations within the pedigree were taken into account, respectively), both for production data of the CLA breed. When considering the type of data, an impact on the observed genetic relationship between and within herds was found. Slightly higher genetic relationship between herds was determined in both breeds when using production data (1.64%) compared to reproduction data (1.40%). In contrast, a negligible influence between herds on genetic relationship was found from the number of ancestors' generations included into the calculations. That was especially so after five or six generations. Our results show that the relationship between herds is population specific and, consequently, must be analyzed on a case-by-case basis. Knowledge of genetic relationship between and within herds should be taken into account in regard to the complexity of genetic evaluation.

Genetic variation of striped stem borer Chilo suppressalis populations in Guilan and Mazandaran provinces in Iran was studied in 2010 by means of RAPD markers. Collected 45 samples from 19 locations (representing 17 counties in Guilan province and 2 counties in Mazandaran province) were classified into four groups of populations: three population groups corresponding to the west, centre, and east of Guilan and one population group from the west of Mazandaran. RAPD PCR analysis showed that Chilo suppressalis populations in Mazandaran are genetically different from the Guilan populations while the western populations of Guilan are genetically separated from the two other populations. The central and the eastern populations of Guilan exhibit some similarities with those of Mazandaran and the similarities are more obvious between the eastern populations of Guilan and the western population of Mazandaran. The population from the centre of Guilan showed the highest level of intra-population genetic variation possibly due to wider rice cultivated area and/or due to higher sample size. The results showed a high level of genetic variation in Chilo suppressalis populations in the two provinces in Iran. In spite of the model species is a widely distributed pest, the study indicated that the samples originated in populations with a different genetic make-up.

Differentially expressed transcript derived fragments (TDFs) of bovine pituitary gland tissue at different developmental ages of Limousine and Hereford bulls were identified by cDNA-AFLP technique. Study revealed comparatively higher differentially expressed transcripts in 6-month Limousine bulls and 12-month Hereford bulls. The BLASTn/p analysis identified 3 and 21 predicted genes which gave significant e-values for Limousine and Hereford respectively, in assembled Bos taurus genome. The identified predicted genes expressed in bovine pituitary gland showed their mapped positions on bovine chromosomes: BTA2, 3, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12, 15-23, 26, and 28, respectively. Results based on TDF annotation identified 10 sequences that have BLAST hits to known annotated bovine genes and 14 sequences to unannotated contig regions in the latest gene Ensembl database Btau_4.0. Two breed specific predicted target genes were validated by qRT-PCR. Within and between breeds, qRT-PCR results revealed highly significant differences in the expression levels of bovine euchromatic histone-lysine N-methyltransferase 1 (EHMT1) and NCK adaptor protein 2 (NCK2) predicted genes. Obtained results conclude that cDNA-AFLP is a reliable technique for studying within breed age dependent gene expression patterns.

By the means of Land Consolidation is understood, in accord with law No. 139/2002 Coll., spending of funds on land consolidations and land offices, provided the accessibility of grounds in public interest. Land consolidations also ensure the conditions for improvement of the ecosystem, protection and reclamation of land resources, waterway management and the increase of the ecological stability of landscape. All mentioned measures are collectively called the Common Measures, rural roads being one of the most significant of these measures as far as the ground accessibility is concerned. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and the Central Land Office (MZe, ÚPÚ) statistics, for instance in 2008, over 707.4 million CZK was spent on the common measures projects from the public funds. Of this sum, 82 per cent was spent on financing of the land accessibility projects - rural roads and objects on them. The Cost & Benefit Analysis (CBA) method was applied. The analysis explains step by step what benefits the investment projects bring and to whom, as well as what and from whom it takes something away. Thus defined effects and impacts are aggregated, converted into financial flows and included in the calculation of criteria indicators. These calculations enable to make decision whether the concerned project is in its consequences generally contributive. There is a difficulty in the method - it is applied ex-ante, which usually leads to the exaggerated input parameters, which may be significantly affected by a number of variable effects (time factor, socio-economic impacts, inflation rate, etc.). The ex-post application of the method cannot be objectively used due to the absence of the statistically processed input data for the analysis. Such data must be collected during the operational period of the realized investments. This is caused by the fact that these analyses consider lifetime of these investments in terms of 25-30 years. The ÚPÚ statistics, however, say that the operational period of most of realized common measures has not reached one half of their lifetime yet. The ex-ante analysis enables to evaluate the possible difficulty and the general benefit of projects, including their impact on the broad spectrum of subjects.

The depth of sampling is an important factor for evaluating soil stability. The objective of this study was to test soil aggregate particle-size fractions and soil organic carbon (SOC) in water-stable aggregate by vegetation restoration through 0-60 cm soil profile. We collected soil samples in 30 years old Robinia psendoacacia (Rr); Platycladus orientalis (Po); Pinus tabulaeformis (Pt); abandoned land (Ab), and slope cropland (Sc), which were separated into > 2, 2-1, 1-0.25, 0.25-0.053, and < 0.053 mm fractions. The > 0.25 mm water-stable aggregates (WSA) and mean weight diameter (MWD) were calculated in 0-60 cm soil depth. Results showed that soil aggregate fractions (> 0.25 mm) of four vegetation types were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in 40-60 cm soil depth under Po, Pt, and Ab compared with Sc and the SOC distribution in macro-aggregates (> 0.25 mm) under Rr, Po, Pt, and Ab was higher more than 37.7, 92.4, 92.5, 79.1%, respectively in 40-60 cm compared with Sc additionally, > 0.25 mm WSA and MWD was significantly higher in Pt soil in 20-40 cm, 40-60 cm soil depth (P < 0.05). The results demonstrated that soil stability was enhanced and SOC content was increased after converting slope cropland to forest, especially under Pt forest that greatly influenced the subsoil.

The purpose of this study was to analyse the microbial diversity in the caecum of geese using a 16S ribosomal RNA gene (rRNA) clone library approach. A total of 160 clones and 124 clones were sequenced and phylogenetically analysed from the contents and mucosa of the caecum of Yang Zhou geese, respectively. The result indicated that there was a rich variety of bacteria in the caecum contents. Forty-six operational taxonomic units (OTUs) based on a 98% similarity criterion were classified in the contents of goose caecum, as compared to 29 OTUs based on a 97% similarity criterion in the mucosa of goose caecum. The sequences were assigned to 7 and 5 groups in the contents and mucosa of goose caecum, respectively. Contents of goose caecum were dominantly occupied by Clostridia-related species (58.7%) with other abundant sequences being related to Bacteroidetes (26.9%) and Erysipelotrichi (11.2%). Gammaproteobacteria (59.6%) and Clostridia (20.1%) were predominant in the mucosa of goose caecum.

Open habitats in closed forests are formed by various biotic and abiotic factors. These new habitats differ from their former parent stands in light conditions and vegetation structure facilitating their colonisation by heliophilous insects. We studied interseasonal differences (2010 and 2011) in the Orthoptera assemblages on eight clearcuts in beech forests. Using a sweeping method, altogether 20 species were recorded on the clearcuts in the first year, 26 in the second. In the second year, species number and abundance were higher in all orthopterans and also in the suborder of grasshoppers (Caelifera). In the crickets (Ensifera), interseasonal differences in the species number and abundance were not significant. The species composition differed among the plots also within individual years. In the second year, the frequency increased in 22 species (84.6%) while it decreased in four. We suggest that the ground-dwelling Caelifera species are better bioindicators of the deforested plot colonisation than the arbusticolous Ensifera.

With increasing mechanization of forest harvesting operations the impacts on soil have increased quite dramatically. The objective of this paper was to examine the relationship of slope and soil loss. This research was carried out in parcels 14 and 26 of the third district of Nav-Asalem forest in the north of Iran. Erosion plots were 75, 150 and 225 m² with two slope classes. After each rainfall event the amount of runoff was measured; then, a sample was taken to determine the weight of soil loss. The results of correlation analysis by Pearson's test between soil loss and slope classes, soil loss and slope length showed that there was a significant (P < 0.05) and positive correlation between the mentioned factors. Also, linear regression between soil loss, slope length and slope gradient was significant. It could be concluded that studying and underlying factors that increase soil loss such as soil type, rainfall intensity, should also be taken into consideration in future. Skid trail construction and skidding should be limited to the slope of < 20%; machine traffic should be restricted. The above-mentioned conclusions can be applied to proper harvesting and management of forest ecosystems.

The set of 7 flowering plant species (Anethum graveolens, Calendula officinalis, Centaurea cyanus, Fagopyrum esculentum, Foeniculum vulgare, Tagetes patula and Vicia faba) was compared for their attractiveness to natural enemies such as ladybeetles (Coccinellidae), hoverflies (Syrphidae), ichneumon wasps (Ichneumonidae) and predatory bugs (Orius spp.) during the years 2008-2010. The trial was held in an organic open field located at the Faculty of Horticulture of Mendel University in Brno, Lednice, Czech Republic. The software Canoco (RDA analysis) was used in order to see the relations between plant and insect communities. Flowering plants A. graveolens, C. cyanus, C. officinalis, F. vulgare and F. esculentum were found to be the most attractive for the evaluated beneficial insects. The most abundant beneficial insects were hoverflies (56₂₀₀₈, 154₂₀₀₉, 1324₂₀₁₀) and ladybeetles (65₂₀₀₈, 116₂₀₀₉, 511₂₀₁₀) followed by predatory bugs (14₂₀₀₈, 47₂₀₀₉, 138₂₀₁₀) and ichneumon wasps (20₂₀₀₈, 14₂₀₀₉, 82₂₀₁₀).

Optimum standardized ileal digestible (SID) tryptophan (Trp) to lysine (Lys) ratio was estimated for 67-96 kg barrows fed low protein diets supplemented with crystalline amino acids (AA). One hundred and fifty Yorkshire × Landrace barrows, with an average initial body weight (BW) of 67.3 ± 3.2 kg, were used in a 28-day feeding trial. All dietary treatments were based on corn, wheat bran, and soybean meal and were formulated to provide 10.5% crude protein and 12.6 MJ/kg metabolizable energy. The dietary SID Lys was set at 0.61% ensuring that Lys was marginally deficient for barrows of this weight range. Graded levels of crystalline l-Trp were added to the basal diet to produce diets providing SID Trp to Lys ratios of 0.131, 0.164, 0.197, 0.230, and 0.262. There were improvements in weight gain (linear and quadratic effect P < 0.01) and feed intake (linear effect P = 0.04) with increasing dietary SID Trp to Lys ratio. Increased SID Trp to Lys ratio resulted in a decrease in the serum urea nitrogen (SUN) content (linear and quadratic effect P < 0.01). The serum concentration of Trp increased with increasing dietary SID Trp to Lys ratio (linear effect P = 0.03, quadratic effect P = 0.08). Estimates of the optimum SID Trp to Lys ratios were 0.203, 0.197, and 0.214 for weight gain, feed conversion ratio, and SUN, respectively, using a broken-line model while a quadratic model produced optimum SID Trp to Lys ratios of 0.251, 0.224, and 0.249 for the same parameters. The results of this experiment indicate that the SID Trp to Lys ratio for finishing barrows is at least 0.203, which is higher than the SID ratio of Trp to Lys currently recommended by the National Research Council (NRC, 2012).

The effects were evaluated of different factors on the level of spontaneous (SPO) and induced (IND) lipolysis as defined by the content of free fatty acids (FFA) in milk. Milk samples were collected at monthly intervals throughout the year from both morning and evening milkings either individually in a milking parlour (SPO; n = 10) or from the bulk tank (IND; n = 10). The data were analysed using SAS 9.1. More intensive SPO was observed from March to May with higher FFA contents (+0.034 to +0.523 mmol/100 g of fat; P < 0.05-0.01), and also from September to November (+0.077 to +0.292 mmol/100 g of fat; P < 0.05). More intensive SPO was also detected in the evening milk than in that coming from morning milking (+0.062 to +0.556 mmol/100 g of fat; P < 0.05-0.01). SPO measured immediately after milking was affected by the season and time of milking. The content of FFA characterising IND in bulk milk (0.33-1.10 mmol/100 g of fat) was higher (P < 0.05-0.001) than that due to SPO in individual samples (0.21-0.86 mmol/100 g of fat), especially in those from evening milking compared to morning milking (+0.10 to +0.47 vs. +0.12 to +0.22 mmol/100 g of fat; P < 0.05-0.001).

One of the key goals of the Thematic Strategy for Soil Protection is to maintain and improve soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks. A decline of SOC stocks is politically perceived as a serious threat to soil quality and functions. A suitable tool for acquiring the information on SOC stock changes is modelling. The RothC-26.3 model was applied for long-term modelling (1970-2007) of the SOC stock in the topsoil of croplands of Slovakia. Simulation results show a gradual increase in the SOC stock in the first phase of modelling (1970-1995) mainly due to higher carbon input in the soil. A significant linear correlation (r = 0.4**, n = 275) was found between carbon input and the final simulation of SOC stock. A close relationship between the SOC stock and soil production potential index representing the official basis for soil quality assessment in Slovakia was also determined and a polynomial relationship was found which describes the relation at the 95% confidence level. We have concluded from the results that balanced or positive changes in the SOC stock dynamics that are important for sustainable use of soils could be influenced positively or negatively in Slovakia by political decisions concerning the soil management. Moreover, the soil production potential index can be used as soil quality information support for such decision-making.

We report a feasibility study for expressing the LTB protein (Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin B subunit) via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). We produced five regenerated plants obtained on the selection medium supplemented with an antibiotic. Stable integrations of the LTB gene into the genome of these plants were confirmed by Southern blot hybridization. Western blot analysis showed that only two of the five T₀ transgenic tomato plants expressed the pentameric LTB protein in the fruits. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay indicated that these two plants synthesized the LTB protein bound specifically to GM1 ganglioside, suggesting that the LTB subunits formed active pentamers. The LTB protein produced in tomatoes can be a potential candidate for inexpensive, safe, and effective plant-based vaccines.

The effect of slope on runoff volume was evaluated on skid trails in the natural forest in the north of Iran. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between runoff volume and slope in order to control runoff and skid trail maintenance by using water diversions. Two levels of slope > 20% and < 20% were studied in adjacent parcels in district 3 of Nav in Asalem. Treatment plots with three replications were established on skid trails after skidding and the runoff volume was recorded after duration of 3 rainfalls. The results showed that there was a positive and significant correlation between slope steepness and runoff volume, and between runoff volume and slope length (P < 0.05). Also, regression analysis results showed that there was a linear relation between runoff volume, slope length and slope steepness. Effective recommendations to control and decrease runoff volume are precise scheduling of skid trail designing, construction, maintenance and limiting skid trails to a longitudinal slope of less than 20% and rehabilitation of skid trails by using water diversions.

The efficiency of the application of microbial preparations enhancing soil properties as well as the diversified fertilization of spring wheat nitrogen was evaluated in the field experiment. Factors of the experiment referred to the levels of nitrogen fertilization: 0, 40, 80, 120 and 160 kg/ha as well as the application of microbial preparations, namely, Proplantan (disaccharide, and polysaccharide, lactic acid, carotene, riboflavin, thiamine, amylase, sea salt, minerals), Effective microorganisms (milk bacteria, photosynthetic bacteria, yeast, actinomycetes, moulds) and UG_max microorganisms (lactic acid bacteria, photosynthetic bacteria, nitrogen-fixing bacteria, actinomycetes, macro- and microelements). The quantity of N_min in the soil layer of 0-0.9 m ranged in respective years from 72.8 to 98.5 kg/ha before the spring wheat seeding and from 58.6.8 to 68.2 kg/ha after the crop was harvested, whereas the amount of N mineralization ranged from 18.9 to 53.3 kg/ha. Grain yields of wheat developed at a high level from 3.26 to 8.31 t/ha. To create the biomass, spring wheat plants absorbed nitrogen ranging from 78 kg N/ha in objects not fertilized to 184 kg N/ha in objects fertilized with the dose of 160 kg N/ha, and the share of nitrogen accumulated in the seeds amounted on average to 82% of the total uptake of that element. The highest N use efficiency, N physiological efficiency, N agronomic efficiency and N apparent recovery fraction were detected in objects fertilized with the dose of 40 kg N/ha. Each increase in the level of nitrogen fertilization affected lowering of the values of evaluated fertilization efficiency ratios.

Virulences to powdery mildew resistances in barley cultivars mostly carrying unknown resistances were determined in 2009 and 2010. Random spore samples of the airborne pathogen populations originating from winter and spring barley fields were obtained by means of a mobile version of a jet spore sampler by travelling across theCzech Republic. In total 301 isolates were studied, 55 differentials carrying mostly unknown resistances were used and 80 pathotypes were found, of which 26 representing 73.1% of isolates were detected in both years. Virulence frequencies showed a wide range from 0% to 100%. Complexity of the 2010 population slightly increased, mostly due to increasing frequencies of virulence to new resistances, whereas the complexity of virulences to resistances in most other differentials decreased. Pathotype 00027 was the most abundant (10.0%). Diversity of the 2010 population considerably increased due to changes in virulence frequencies.

Thirty-three pear cultivars and selections of potential interest to pear producers and plant breeders in the Czech Republic were tested for relative field susceptibility to the fire blight (Erwinia amylovora) over five years. Level of fire blight susceptibility was evaluated according to the extent of lesion development on the shoot tips after artificial inoculation in experimental plots under insect proof nets. Old cvs Alexander Lucas (as resistant standard), Conference (as moderately resistant standard) and Beurré Bosc (as susceptible standard) were included in the tests. The 33 pear cultivars and selections were tested, only one of them was highly resistant (3.0%), 3.0% were evaluated as resistant, 12.1% moderately resistant, 36.4% moderately susceptible, 18.2% susceptible and 27.3% highly susceptible. Breeding selection US 625-63-10 was the only highly resistant pear genotype (necrosis of shoots of 0-7.0%). Resistant genotype group (necrosis 7.1-13.0%) comprised US 625-63-4. Moderately resistant genotypes (necrosis 13.1-25.0%) included cvs Alexander Lucas, Alfa, Bohemica and HL 31-50-31. Highly susceptible genotypes (necrosis more than 80.1%) included cvs Vonka, Karina, Bona, Decora, Elektra, Milka, Regina, Alice and TE 4763. The remaining genotypes were moderately susceptible (necrosis 26.1-60.0%) and susceptible (necrosis 60.1-80.0%).