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Fermentable sugars (the total of glucose, fructose, and sucrose), sorbitol content, dry matter content, and titrable acidity were monitored in fruits of 16 new plum cultivars from the harvests in 2004-2007. General linear model of two-factor grouping with testing of significance of simple contrasts with LSD method was used for statistical evaluation of plum cultivar chemical characteristics. Based on these results the tested cultivars were further divided into groups as regards their future processing into prunes, damson cheese or distillates. The traditional cultivar Italian Prune, grown in parallel, was used as the reference standard. Cultivars Gabrovská, Chrudimer, Elena, Hamanova, and President showed the best results and can be recommended for the production of distillates as well as prunes and damson cheese. Katinka, Anna Späth, and Veeblue are preferable for the production of distillates. Valjevka and Čačanska lepotica are suitable for processing into prunes and damson cheese. The substandard values of the parameters of concern were determined in Čačanska najbolja, Hanita, and Voyageur. Cultivars Bluefree, Stanley, and Valor were then valuated as the worst ones.

Nitric oxide (NO) is a biological signaling molecule that plays a crucial role in oocyte maturation of mammalians. It is generated by the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) enzyme from l-arginine. Although the effect of NO has been shown in oocyte maturation of some species, there is no report about its effect on the in vitro maturation of sheep oocyte. So, this study aimed to investigate the importance of NO/NOS system in the in vitro maturation of ovine oocytes. Different concentrations of L-NAME (a NOS inhibitor) (0.1, 1 and 10mM) were added to maturation medium to evaluate the effect of inhibiting NOS on cumulus expansion and meiotic resumption of sheep oocytes. After 26 h culture, low and medium concentrations of L-NAME (0.1 and 1mM) had no significant effect on cumulus expansion, however, its higher concentration (10mM) decreased percentage of oocytes with total cumulus expansion as compared to control (P < 0.05). The extrusion of the first polar body was also suppressed in a dose-dependent manner, so that the addition of 10mM L-NAME to maturation medium significantly stopped oocytes in GV stage (P < 0.05). Moreover, to confirm the results and to evaluate if this effect is reversible, 0.1mM sodium nitroprusside (SNP, a NO donor) was added only to the maturation medium which had the highest concentration of L-NAME (10mM). The concomitant addition of NOS inhibitor with NO donor reversed the inhibitory effect of L-NAME on cumulus expansion and meiotic maturation. These results indicated that NO/NOS system is involved in the maturation of sheep oocytes.

Laboratory-produced alginate-bead inoculum of ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi Cortinarius sp. and Gomphidius glutinosus, fungal commercial products ECtovit^® and Trichomil^®, bacterial commercial product BactoFil B^®, and commercial rooting stimulator Vetozen^® were applied to a peat-perlite (1:2, v:v) rooting substrate of Norway spruce stem cuttings collected from 4-year-old nursery-grown seedlings immediately before the insertion of cuttings into the substrate. The application of beads free of fungi and the substrate without an additive were the other treatments. The cuttings were rooted in vessels (60 cuttings per vessel, 180 per treatment) placed in a glasshouse and arranged in a randomized complete block design. The cuttings were estimated for one growing season (approximately for 26 weeks) after their insertion into the rooting substrate. Rooting % of the cuttings ranged from 45 (mycelium-free beads) to 75 (control) according to treatments, 64 on average. No significant differences among treatments were found in % of ECM morphotypes, total ECM colonization of roots (%), and growth parameters of shoots and roots of the cuttings. The applied microbial additives were not sufficiently efficient to form treatment-related ectomycorrhizas that were formed by naturally occurring ECM fungi. Inoculation by the ECM fungus Cortinarius sp. and application of Trichomil had a partial stimulative effect on the shoot growth of cuttings. Shoot and root growth parameters were not significantly correlated with total ECM colonization, except for a negative dependence of the root number in Trichomil treatment. A higher concentration of K but lower concentrations of Ca and Mg in Ectovit treatment than in the other treatments were detected.

Conversion of coniferous monocultures to more stable mixed stands is one of the crucial tasks of present forestry in the Czech Republic. One of the factors hampering this process is the activity of small rodents that can cause severe damage to young plantations in winter. Little knowledge is still available of the ecology of small mammals in the forest environment and of the factors influencing their distribution and extent of damage. In order to acquire relevant information on rodent impacts on forest regeneration, we mapped the cumulated damage to forest plantations in 13 regions within the Czech Republic in 2007 and 2008. We checked 19,650 trees of eight species on 393 plots. Broadleaves were affected by browsing much more than conifers (20% and 4%, respectively). Of the monitored species, beech was damaged the most frequently (26% individuals). Browsing intensity differed among the regions (6-60% browsed individuals). The least damaged were the plantations at the altitudes below 400 m a.s.l.; on higher located plots the browsing intensity showed no trend. The proportion of damaged trees increased with plantation age up to 6 years, then it did not vary significantly. This study has confirmed that rodents are an important factor with a negative influence on the regeneration of broadleaves. Bark browsing in young trees is affected by several factors and the prediction of damage is complicated. Further research should improve the prediction of the bark browsing threat to young plantations and at the same time the efficiency of protection against rodent-caused damage.

Growth and timber production of 28 poplar clones were evaluated. A set of clones was derived from14 clones newly bred in Forestry and Game Management Research Institute in the Czech Republic, eight well-known cultivars of Populus × euroamericana planted in Europe and imported to the Czech Republic, two standard cultivars 'I-214' and 'Robusta' (Populus × euroamericana). Four clones of Populus deltoides were added to the test set. Tree spacing was 4 × 4 m. Stem diameter, tree height and stem volume production were evaluated in 6-years-old trees. Based on the results, it was concluded that the yield of four clones was higher than that of standard cultivar 'I-214'. Standing volume of two P. deltoides clones and one new Czech P. × euroamericana clone varied in the range of 77-121 m³.ha-¹.

To better understand how water stress and availability affect the enzyme activity and microbial communities in soil, we measured the changes of organic carbon (OC), bacteria and fungi populations, and endoglucanase and exoglucanase activities in a semiarid soil treated with air-dried primary sewage sludge at a rate of 20 g/kg. The water potentials established for soil incubation were: saturation (SA, 0 bar), field capacity (FC, -0.3 bar), and permanent wilting point (PWP, -15 bar). An irrigation treatment was a drying-rewetting cycle (DWC) between -0.3 to -15 bars. After 0, 20, 60 and 90 days of incubation soils were sampled for analysis. The addition of sewage sludge increased soil OC, endoglucanase and exoglucanase activities significantly. The effects of soil moisture, incubation time and their interactions on OC, and endoglucanase and exoglucanase activities in soil were significant. During 20 days of incubation, OC, endoglucanase and exoglucanase activities decreased significantly. Soils incubated in DWC and FC compared to soils incubated in SA and PWP had lower OC contents due to organic matter mineralization. Organic C, exoglucanase and endoglucanase activities significantly increased with increasing soil water potential. The activities of exoglucanase and endoglucanase in soils incubated in SA were significantly higher than those in soils incubated in PWP.

The domestic population of walnut (Juglans regia L.) in Serbia is highly heterogeneous as a result of many centuries of propagation from seed. This paper describes variation observed in this population over the past four decades. The date of budbreak showed a 50-day range, and the date of leaf drop a 32-day range. Average nut weight ranged from 3.3 g to 29.0 g and the kernel percentage from 26.2% to 64.3%. The number of female flowers per inflorescence ranged from 1 to 32 and the number of nuts per cluster from 1 to 15. The majority of Serbian walnut seedlings had inferior traits, although a few genotypes with excellent traits were also found. Five superior selections have been released as cultivars, and additional selections await official release. To date, over 1,000 ha of orchards have been planted in Serbia using these walnut cultivars and selections.

The influence of selected semen extenders on the motility of frozen-thawed dog spermatozoa has been clearly demonstrated in several studies, although there are no reports indicating the effect of swim-up purification on sperm viability in this species of mammals. Therefore, this study was aimed at investigating phosphatidylserine (PS) externalization and necrosis in sperm after variable lengths of time of in vitro incubation after swim-up purification. Dog semen samples were collected from (i) ten dogs aged six months to 1.5 year, (ii) ten dogs aged six to eight years, and (iii) ten dogs aged 11 to 13 years. A flow cytometric method was employed to evaluate dog sperm viability in animals of different age groups after employment of a swim-up (SU) purification technique. After SU spermatozoa were incubated for 15, 30, 45 and 60 min in Sperm-TALP medium. We observed an increase in the number of viable sperm (double negatives) after 15 min of incubation compared to sperm undergoing PS externalization and late necrotic sperms (P < 0.001) in each group of dogs. We also found a higher number of early necrotic sperm after 60 min of in vitro incubation (P < 0.001). The amounts of late necrotic sperm and cells with PS externalization were similar among animals of different age groups. We show for the first time that most viable sperm are recovered after an in vitro incubation step of 15 min (control samples in this study) because as the time of incubation increases so does the number of degenerated or damaged cells. The higher number of early necrotic cells after 60 min of in vitro incubation may be a special feature of this species and may result from the induction of necrosis in the sperm. This knowledge may be used in future experiments for the preparation of spermatozoa following in vitro fertilization in dogs.

The agro-forestry system is one of the best known indigenous practices for livelihood. In view of instant decline in the rainfed hill agro-forestry system the present study was undertaken in the hilly villages of Uttarakhand state of India with the major objective to assess the status and effects of various factors on this centuries old indigenous agro-forestry system. The survey documented a total of 26 herbaceous food crop species and 21 woody species that were raised by farmers in the selected villages of Uttarakhand. A total of 37 plant species available in the agro-forestry system and used for curing various ailments by traditional healers were also documented during the survey. The major cereals produced by farmers were Oryza sativa L., Echinochloa frumentoacea Link., Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertner and Triticum aestivum L. The indigenous system of cropping was locally called as Baranaja that revolved around the production of > 12 varieties of crops. Besides food, the species grown in the agro-forestry system were used for multiple purposes. Water scarcity, migration of youth in search of employment and changing socio-economic and climatic conditions were some of the major reasons for declining agro-forestry system and abandoning the agricultural land.

A 10-20% decrease in annual precipitation is predicted in the Mediterranean basin, and in particular to the Iberian Peninsula, with foreseen effects on the exchange of soil-atmosphere greenhouse gases (GHGs; CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O). To simulate this scenario, we setup an experimental design in the particularly dry period of 2008-2009 using rainfall exclusion and irrigation, to obtain plots receiving 110% (538 mm), 100% (493 mm) and 74% (365 mm) of the natural precipitation. Soil CO₂ fluxes showed a strong increase from summer to autumn as a consequence of increasing soil heterotrophic respiration that resulted from rewetting. Fluxes of N₂O were negligible. According to our data, soil was a permanent CH₄ sink independent of the soil water content (in the range between 6-26% WFPS - water-filled pore space) and of soil temperature (in the range of 7-28°C), supporting the concept that seasonally dry ecosystems (Mediterranean) may represent a significant sink of atmospheric CH₄. The study provides evidence that the 26% decrease or 10% increase in the ambient rainfall from annual precipitation of ca 500 mm did not significantly affect soil functionality and had a limited impact on soil-atmosphere net GHGs exchange in evergreen oak woodlands in southern Portugal.

The effect of salt stress on physiological response of hydroponically grown tomato fruit was investigated. Fruit growth rate, water status, cuticle permeability and induction of blossom-end rot (BER) of tomato fruit were considered for this study. Salt stress was applied by using Ca salt treatment and it plays an important role on all parameters studied in this experiment. Fruit growth rate, predawn water potential, osmotic potential and cuticle permeability were significantly lower in treated plants than in control plants. On the other hand, tissue turgor of control and treated fruit showed almost similar values 12 days after flowering (DAF). This result indicated that turgor was osmotically regulated in fruit under stress condition. Fruit growth rate was found to decline from 12 DAF and eventually ceased when BER externally appeared on fruit surface at the age of 19 DAF in this experiment. The reduction of growth rate coincided with the reduction of water potential in fruit tissue due to salt stress. Although BER externally appeared at 19 DAF anatomical investigation showed that intercellular air space becomes discoloured at least one week before external symptoms appeared on fruit tip. Different levels of cuticular permeability indicated that the deposition of cuticular wax on fruit surface was enhanced by the salt stress condition in tomato fruit. Since, BER was found to appear on fruit tip under high calcium concentration in solution it can be concluded that calcium deficiency was not the only the cause of BER in tomato, rather salt stress might alter metabolic activity in developing tomato fruit.

A micturition problem appeared in an eight year-old mare at the third month of pregnancy. Symptoms intensified during the course of pregnancy and, at the end of the tenth month, the foetus was aborted. Labour was ordinary with normal presentation, position and posture, yet there was a formation about the size of an ostrich egg. The structure was spontaneously pushed out of the genital tract during expulsion of the foetus. Examination of the structure showed that it was a urolith which measured 13 × 10 × 7 cm (circumference measured along the long axis amounted to 31.5 cm, and along the transverse axis to 26 cm) and weighed 803 g.

This paper evaluates the impact of long-term supplementation of different forms of zinc (Zn) and selenium (Se) on the content of these substances in the blood and hair of goats. Two analogous supplementation experiments were performed. 37 goats divided into four groups were used in the first trial with the Zn supplementation. Group A (n = 10) was a control group (with no Zn administered). A further three groups (B, C, D) were supplemented with Zn in various forms. Group B (n = 9) with zinc oxide, Group C (n = 9) with zinc lactate and Group D (n = 9) with zinc chelate. The second trial with Se supplementation was carried out on 20 goats divided into four groups. Group E (n = 5) was a control group. The other three groups were administered Se. Group F (n = 5) was supplied with a selenium lactate-protein complex, Group G (n = 5) with sodium selenite and Group H (n = 5) with selenium yeast. Three months later blood and hair samples were taken from all animals and Zn and Se concentrations were determined in whole blood, plasma, and hair. Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity was determined in the Se supplementation trial group. At the end of the trial the Zn concentrations in plasma and whole blood were without major differences between the groups. The plasma concentration of Zn did not increase from the initial value at the start of the trial. In hair the average concentration of Zn was 95.2-100.0 mg/kgin all groups. No conclusive relation was confirmed between the values of Zn in hair and its concentration in blood. The Se concentration in whole blood (µg/l) at the end of trial in supplemented groups (F - 188.8 ± 24.6; G - 197.2 ± 10.9; H - 190.1 ± 26.3) was significantly higher (P < 0.01) than in the control group (E - 103.1 ± 23.5). Similarly, the activity of GSH-Px (µkat/l) was significantly higher in all supplemented groups (F - 872.3 ± 94.8; G - 659.5 ± 176.4; H - 839.8 ± 150.8) than in the control group (E - 379.1 ± 63.5). Se content in hair (µg/kg) was higher also in all trial groups (F - 242.3 ± 41.5; G - 200.5 ± 46.9; H - 270.0 ± 106.8) than in the control group (E - 174.7 ± 38.0). However, it was significantly (P < 0.05) higher only in Group F. A conclusive correlation was identified between the Se concentration in whole blood and its content in hair (r = 0.54; P < 0.05; n = 20). Based on the results it can be concluded that none of the supplemented forms of Zn increased its concentration in blood, plasma and hair. On the other hand, the administration of Se led to an increase in the Se concentration in blood, increased the activity of GSH-Px in whole blood and the Se content in hair. Based on the proven correlation and regression relation between the Se concentration in blood and its content in hair, hair can be considered as a suitable material for the diagnosis of long-term Se status in goats. Goats with sufficient Se status are those that have more than 160 µg/kg of Se in hair dry weight.

The presented paper covers the preliminary studies on microwave inactivation of honey enzymes described as diastase number (DN). All the investigations were done on commercially available honey from Polish local market. Microwave processes were compared to the conventional ones. In the case of conventional conditions, the constant rate of diastase enzyme inactivation was estimated using the first order kinetics. In the case of microwave heated samples, it was impossible to establish the rate constant; however, the investigation proved the suitability of such kind of processing for short-term thermal treatment of honey.

The objective of this study was to estimate heritabilities and genetic correlations of lactational and daily somatic cell scores with descriptive and linear type traits in Polish Holstein-Friesian cows. Data were: test-day somatic cell scores and conformation evaluations of 24 599 primiparous cows, daughters of 802 sires. Cows calved from 2006 to 2007. The lactational somatic cell score was calculated as the average of four test-day somatic cell scores at least. The daily somatic cell score was the test-day somatic cell score closest to the date of type evaluation. A multi-trait animal model was used to estimate genetic parameters. (Co)variance components were estimated by a Bayesian algorithm via Gibbs sampling. The heritability of lactational somatic cell score was 0.20 and it was much higher than that of daily somatic cell score (0.13). Heritabilities of type traits were high to moderate for height at rump (0.46), size (0.39), overall conformation score (0.30), two linear rump traits (0.28-0.29) and three linear teat traits (0.26-0.29). The genetic correlation between lactational and daily somatic cell scores was 0.84. In many cases, daily somatic cell score showed higher genetic correlations with type traits than lactational somatic cell score. Descriptive udder and feet and legs scores were genetically correlated negatively with both lactational (-0.22 and -0.20) and daily somatic cell scores (-0.28 and -0.33). Somatic cell traits were genetically correlated positively with rump angle (0.21 and 0.19) and negatively with fore udder height (-0.26 and -0.29), udder depth (-0.23 and -0.17) and central ligament (-0.14 and -0.16). Due to higher heritability, direct selection for lower lactational somatic cell score would be more effective than selection for lower daily somatic cell score. The magnitude of obtained heritabilities and the favourable genetic correlations indicate that the selection utilizing some type traits could improve the resistance to mastitis.

The article discusses the prediction of the agrarian employment development in Slovakia in the new programming period, i.e. in the perspective of 2014-2020. The introduction covers the analysis of the current state in 2009 when 65.3 thousand of persons were employed within agriculture. The development of employment in the target years will be characterised by the increased number of self-employed persons, the increased social polarisation between the owners of enterprises or managers and agricultural employees. The class of the socially degraded agricultural pensioners characterised by income deprivation will be formed. Under the influence of the EU CAP reform, the decline in agrarian employment in the less-productive Northern districts of Slovakia and significant spatial changes in labour force distribution are being expected in dependence on the productive conditions of the agricultural production.

The goal of the experiment was to compare the effect of supplementation of inorganic and the new organically bound (lactate-protein selenium complex) form of selenium (Se) in feed for goats. The 31 goats were split into three groups: control (C) without Se supplementation, AN group administered sodium selenite, ORG group administered lactate-protein selenium complex (Selene Chelate, Agrobac, Czech Republic) produced by cultivation of Lactobacillus acidophilus on a substrate containing natrium selenite. The total Se intake in goats was 0.15 mg in group C, and 0.43 mg in the groups AN and ORG. The effect of Se supplementation was assessed based on the determination of Se concentration and the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in whole blood. Samples were taken before the beginning of Se supplementation, 14 and 30 days after the start of supplementation, and then two and three months after the beginning of supplementation. Average Se concentrations in the blood of goats in individual groups (C, AN, ORG) before the start of supplementation were 109.6 ± 34.3, 117.5 ± 34.7, and 105.4 ± 43.6 μg/l respectively, and the activity of GSH-Px in whole blood was 745.3 ± 289.2, 810.7 ± 280.4, and 791.0 ± 398.1 μkat/l respectively. While in group C goats neither the Se concentration nor the GSH-Px activity changed substantially during the experiment, in the goats in the experimental groups there was a statistically significant increase (P < 0.01) in both Se concentrations and the GSH-Px activities. At the end of the experiment Se concentrations in the blood of AN and ORG groups amounted to 168.5 ± 12.2 and 168.8 ± 26.8 μg/l. The GSH-Px activities in goats supplemented with Se also increased significantly over the course of the experiment (at the end of the experiment it was 1178.0 ± 127.3 in the AN group and 1030.1 ± 152.3 μkat/l in the ORG group), and the difference between the groups was significant (P = 0.038). Regarding the dynamics of GSH-Px activity changes during the monitored period, a markedly quicker increase in GSH-Px activity was recorded in the AN group - one month after the beginning of Se supplementation, compared to three months after the beginning of Se supplementation in the ORG group. The results thus show that the effects of supplementation with selenite and the lactate-protein selenium complex are similar with regard to Se status, but that the increase in GSH-Px activity occurred much faster with selenite, which therefore appears to be a more biologically available form of selenium for creation of biologically active selenoproteins.

Seventeen winter wheat cultivars registered in the Czech Republic were tested for reaction to common bunt in 2-3 year field trials. Bunt infection of resistant checks Globus and Bill varied between 4.1% and 10.6%; the highest infection in cv. Pitbull reached 85.9%. Of the recently registered cultivars Nikol has a relatively low bunt incidence (26.9%). In addition to bread wheat seventeen triticale, seven durum wheat cultivars, two spelt wheat cultivars and one emmer wheat cultivar were tested in the field and some of them also in the greenhouse. Bunt infection of durum wheats was lower than that of bread wheat cultivars. All seventeen tested triticale cultivars were resistant. The reaction of emmer wheat cultivar and spelt wheat cultivars to common bunt was lower than that of susceptible bread wheat checks.

A multiple-lactation random regression model was applied to test-day somatic cell score (SCS) records from the first three lactations of Czech Holstein and Fleckvieh cows. For Holstein, the data included 26 314 cows, with 244 953, 76 188 and 26 153 test-day records in the first, second and third lactation, respectively. For Fleckvieh, the data included 24 061 cows, with 223 421, 93 358 and 31 305 test-day records in the first, second and third lactation, respectively. The linear model for SCS included the following factors (for the given parity): fixed herd-test date effect, fixed regressions on days in milk within the age-season class, random regressions for the animal genetic and random regressions for the permanent environmental effect of the cow. Third-degree Legendre polynomials were used for all regressions. Gibbs sampling was used to generate samples from the marginal posterior distributions of the model parameters. The resulting daily heritability ranged from 0.08 to 0.11 in the middle part of lactation and it increased only slightly with parity. Extremely high values (0.25, 0.21) observed especially at the beginning and end of the third lactation for Holstein might be caused by the "end-of-range" problem. The average daily heritabilities computed for the part of lactation between 45 and 255 days in milk (DIM) were in the range from 0.10 to 0.14. Daily permanent environmental variances were higher than the genetic variances and daily residual variances decreased with DIM. The residual variances in early lactation increased with lactation number. For both breeds, the highest genetic correlations computed for the part of lactation between DIM 45 and DIM 255 were obtained between the second and third lactation (0.95). The lowest daily genetic correlations of SCS in the same DIM between different lactations occurred at the beginning of lactation, especially between the first and third lactation. The permanent environmental correlations for selected DIM were lower than the respective genetic correlations.

The accelerated laboratory tests can evaluate the properties of new biodegradable fluids under relatively short time. These test results are the ground for the continuity of the tests under operation conditions in machine. The paper presents the test of new biodegradable hydraulic fluid type "Environmentally responsible tractor transmission oil" by designed special test device. The test evaluation was realized by technical state of concrete hydrostatic pump UD 25 which is used in tractors Zetor Forterra. This pump was loaded by cyclic pressure loading during the test with tested fluid. The evaluated parameter was flow efficiency of hydrostatic pump which reached the value 7.3% after the test. The reached value hints a high quality of the tested fluid (the limit value per standard is the flow efficiency decrease - 20%).

Farmers' preference study and informal seed dissemination was carried out through farmer participatory variety selection (PVS) during 2006-2007 to 2008-2009 by the Wheat Research Centre (WRC), Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Dinajpur, Bangladesh, in collaboration with CIMMYT. Four varieties including widely grown Shatabdi and four advance lines including Ug99 tolerant BAW 1064 were tested in mother-baby trial approach in 8 villages in each year. Mother trials were researcher designed but farmer managed. However, baby trials were designed and managed by farmers themselves. Preference scores of 30 farmers for varieties were recorded two times viz., pre and post-harvest stages. Farmers' preferred BAW 1064 owing to its 10% yield superiority over the widely grown Shatabdi variety, bolder white grains, larger grains/spike, non-lodging behaviour, earliness and resistance to diseases. This variety was found moderately resistant to Ug99 in Kenya. BAW 1064 was released as BARI Gom 26 in March 2010. After three years of PVS work, 19.4 t seeds reached informally to 969 farmers of 24 PVS villages from only 252 kg source seeds supplied for trials. In 2009-2010, seed production of this variety was done in 44 ha; 33.8 ha in 111 farmers' fields and 10.2 ha in research stations. Around 150 t seeds were produced that are being used for further testing and multiplication in 2010-2011. Seed dissemination through PVS was much faster than official approach of Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation (BADC). Hence, for selection and dissemination of CIMMYT developed Ug99 tolerant lines, farmer-participatory approach is being deployed.

The hygienic indicators and chemical composition of Prgica cheese produced from raw and pasteurised milks as well as the microbiological quality of dry red pepper used in the cheese production were investigated.. Prgica cheeses and originally packed dry red peppers were collected from five family farms and five vacuum-packed Prgica cheese samples were purchased from the supermarkets. Significantly lower fat (P < 0.01), protein, and total solids contents (P < 0.0001) of artisanal Prgica cheese in comparison to Prgica cheese purchased from the supermarkets were detected. Two samples of cheese produced on family farms and three samples purchased from the supermarkets had high numbers of yeasts and moulds. The yeasts Mucor sp. and Candida famata, and moulds Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus ochraceus, were detected in dry red pepper. The results showed that there was potential yeast and mould contamination among the Prgica cheeses produced from raw milk, as well as Prgica cheeses purchased from the supermarkets, produced from pasteurised milk under controlled conditions, also contained high numbers of yeasts and moulds probably due to contamination by dry red pepper used in their production.

The effects of land use practices on soil fauna, especially earthworms, are poorly known in coastal saline agricultural soils. Here we compare earthworm communities in six types of land use practice in the coastal region of China's Bohai Bay, namely uncultivated saline soil, two orchard (pear and winter jujube) lands, man-made forests (chinese ash), vegetable land and cropped land (maize). In addition, we recorded selected physicochemical properties of the soil. Soil organic matter content and total N were significantly higher under pear orchard and vegetable land than under the other land use practices, and their lowest values were observed from uncultivated saline soil. Vegetable land and pear orchard land showed a significantly higher abundance of earthworms than the other land use practices, whereas no earthworm was found in uncultivated saline soil. The sites under individual practices supported one to three earthworm species. Aporrectodea trapezoides species was present under four types of land use practice, and the biomass of this species accounted for more than 60% of the community. Vegetable land and pear orchard land supported richer earthworm community than the other land use practices, dominated by Aporrectodea trapezoides and Drawida japonica. These preliminary results indicated that land use practices have substantial effects on the abundance and composition of earthworm communities in saline soils.

A field study was conducted to ascertain the effect of three zinc (Zn) levels: 0, 20 kg ZnSO₄/ha and 20 kg ZnSO₄/ha + foliar spray of 0.5% ZnSO₄, on wheat grain Zn content and factors contributing to or hindering in its bioavailability. Increasing Zn levels were established as serviceable in improving the nutritional status of genotypes. Soil application + foliar spray proved to be paramount for all the traits leading to an 80% increase in grain Zn content, 61.3% in methionine content and a decrease of 23.2% in phytic acid as an average of all genotypes and both years. The genotype UP 2382 was found more suited to Zn fertilization in allocating Zn and maintaining a lower phytate to Zn molar ratio.

The effects of methanolic extract of Dracaena arborea on mean testicular weight, mean cauda epididymal sperm reserve, and testicular morphology were evaluated. A total of sixty mature male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into three equal groups. The first group (A) received distilled water while the other two groups (B and C) received orally the methanolic leaf extracts of Dracaena arborea in two doses (100 and 500 mg/kg, respectively) daily for 84 days. Following oral administration of the extract, mean testicular weight, mean cauda epididymal sperm reserve, and testicular morphology were determined on days 28, 42, 56, 70, and 84. The extract produced a significant and dose-dependent increase (P < 0.05) in the sperm number. There was also a significant increase (P < 0.05) in the mean testicular weights on days 70 and 84 of the extract administration. The testicular morphology remained unchanged while further testicular histology examination revealed increased spermatogenesis. It was concluded that the methanolic leaf extract of D. arborea has fertility enhancing properties.

Functional capacity is the physical ability to perform a defined task. In humans it can be evaluated by using exercise testing, for instance sub-maximal exercise tests. Walking tests are widely used variations of sub-maximal exercise tests and in human medicine are considered to be realistically related to daily physical activity and prognosis in patients with heart failure. The aim of this study was to assess a sub-maximal exercise test in dogs with varying degrees of heart disease. The 6-minute walking test was used to test the functional capacity in healthy dogs and dogs with heart disease (degenerative mitral valve disease). Three groups of untrained owned dogs were compared. Two groups were dogs had mild and moderate degenerative mitral valve disease (ME-1 and ME-2, respectively) and the third group comprised healthy dogs with the same age and size conditions. Both groups of dogs with mitral valve disease walked shorter distances during 6 min (control 448.92 m; ME-1: 406.89 m; ME-2: 350.04 m). The influence of the test on the heart rate, electrocardiography and blood pressure was also evaluated. Although the 6-minute walking test has already been tested in healthy dogs, dogs with chronic pulmonary disease and dogs with artificially induced heart disease, this is the first time that this test has been validated in elderly dogs with naturally acquired heart disease. Thus, we demonstrate here that this test can be used reliably for assessing functional capacity in dogs with heart disease.

Interest in conifer-broadleaf mixedwood forests has greatly increased due to continuous demand for hardwood products and a shift towards more biological or ecosystem-based management. In British Columbia, more than 30% of the productive forest land is a conifer-broadleaf mixture and current forest regulations are more conifer biased rather than maintaining a mixed-species condition. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of paper birch on white spruce growth. Spruce growth data from 10 to 18 years old complex stands indicate that radial, height, and stem volume was not impacted by retaining up to 3,000 stems.ha^-1 of birch. Similarly, growth and yield model projections suggest spruce-birch stands would be more productive up to a threshold birch density (3,000 stems.ha^-1) than pure spruce stands. At a 4% real interest rate, the removal of birch from these stands does not appear to be warranted as an investment. The results suggest that instead of encouraging uniform broadleaf removal across conifer plantations, mixed species management strategies could enhance the forest productivity, stand diversity and resilience.

This paper describes the forest fire dynamics in the city of Sanming in Fujian province, China, from 2000 to 2009 with a view to understand the number of fires and burned areas in different counties. It also includes the spatial-temporal distribution of fires and application of the Canadian Forest Fire Danger Rating System (CFFDRS). Daily forest fire data was provided by the Department of Wildfire Prevention of Sanming Forestry Bureau. FWI calculator v.7.0.2.76 was used in this study for analysing the weather parameter data. The results showed that a total of 818 fires and burned areas of 8721.16 ha were found during the study period of 10 years. However, the highest and lowest forest fires were found in Youxi county and Sanming district, respectively. Most of the fires with large burned areas occurred at 2 p.m. Moreover, occurrences of fires were found the highest and lowest in March and June, respectively. Based on FWI calculation, the highest danger rating value was found in March, 2009. This study proposes that it would be possible to manage regular forest fire occurrences through the application of CFFDRS. Finally, to plan the fire prevention and management in southern China and other tropical countries, this system has a great opportunity for further implementations.

To investigate the effects of returning wheat straw to croplands on soil compaction and nutrient availability, this trial was designed: (1) planted crops without fertilization (NF); (2) natural land without human activities (CT); (3) applied mineral fertilizers in combination with 7500 kg/ha wheat straw (WS-NPK); (4) applied mineral fertilizers in combination with 3750 kg/ha wheat straw (1/2WS-NPK); and (5) applied mineral fertilizers alone (NPK). It is found that, compared with NPK, the soil bulk density in 1/2WS-NPK and WS-NPK both decreased by more than 10% in the 0 cm to 15 cm layer, and by 6.93% and 9.14% in the 15 cm to 20 cm, respectively. Furthermore, in contrast to NPK, the soil available nitrogen in the 0 cm to 25 cm layer in 1/2WS-NPK and WS-NPK were higher by 17.43% and 35.19%, and the soil available potassium were higher by 7.66% and 17.47%, respectively. For soil available phosphorus in the depth of 5 cm to 25 cm, it was higher by 18.51% in 1/2WS-NPK and by 56.97% in WS-NPK, respectively. Therefore, returning wheat straw to croplands effectively improves soil compaction and nutrients availability, and the improvement in soil nitrogen and phosphorus availability is closely related to the amount of wheat straw.

Soil samples were collected at both jointing and maturing stages of maize and wheat to compare the effects of 4-year no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) on seasonal variations of microbial biomass carbon (C), metabolic quotient, and invertase activity in a sandy loam soil in North China. Soil invertase activity significantly increased (P < 0.05) from summer to spring of the next year and then significantly decreased (P < 0.05) from spring to summer. With a delay of about 3 months, soil microbial biomass C and basal respiration altered in a similar pattern, while microbial metabolic quotient changed on the contrary. Compared with CT, the NT practice significantly increased (P < 0.05) soil organic C content, and tended to result in higher soil microbial biomass C and invertase activity, as well as lower soil microbial metabolic quotient, especially at the jointing stage of maize. Our results indicated that NT might play an important role in the improvement of soil microbial efficiency, especially at the maize seedling season.