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The ability of phenolic acids (gallic, gentisic, protocatechuic, syringic, vanillic, ferulic, caffeic, and sinapic; 600 mg/kg) to protect α-tocopherol was tested during the heating of sunflower oil on a hot plate set at 180°C and was compared with the ability of these phenolic acids to slow down the formation of polymerised triacylglycerols (TAG) in the same conditions. The half-life of α-tocopherol (calculated as the time needed for the α-tocopherol content to decrease to 50% of the original value) was extended significantly by gentisic, caffeic, and gallic acids (from 1.16 h to 1.77 h, 1.78 h, and 2.26 h, respectively), while the formation of polymerised TAG was slightly suppressed only by gallic acid.

The effect of supplementing dietary selenium (Se) and vitamin E was investigated in 330 24-week-old laying hens. The hens were fed a basal diet containing Se and α-tocopherol at 0.11 and 26 mg/kg, respectively, or a diet supplemented with Se at 0.3 mg/kg and vitamin E between 0 and 625 mg/kg. Se was supplied as Se-methionine or sodium selenite. The eggs were collected for analysis during the third, seventh and eleventh weeks of the experiment. Supplementation of either form of Se significantly increased the Se concentration in egg yolks and whites, with a more pronounced effect caused by Se-methionine. The egg yolk α-tocopherol concentration paralleled the dietary α-tocopherol concentration. At a high dietary α-tocopherol concentration (632 mg/kg), the retinol content in egg yolks from hens fed Se-methionine increased significantly. Supplementation of Se-methionine significantly increased the α-tocopherol content in the eggs in the third and seventh weeks of the experiment. A moderate decrease in yolk cholesterol was observed in hens fed Se-methionine and α-tocopherol at 119 mg/kg. The concentration of products from lipid peroxidation (thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, TBARS) in egg yolks increased marginally during the refrigerated storage of the eggs for 2 weeks. The effect of dietary vitamin E on TBARS formation was generally small, although a more significant effect was observed at the highest dose tested.

In the years 1987-1993 research aimed at the qualitative and quantitative composition of insects inhabiting the cones of Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) was carried out in the area of the Tatra National Park (Poland) for the first time. Approximately 72 thousand specimens of insects were obtained, representing 50 species from 8 orders. Kaltenbachiola strobi (Winn.), Plemeliella abietina Seitn. and Cydia strobilella L. were among the most frequently occurring species. The entomofauna of ripening, ripe and old, already lignified cones was determined, and among the insects found trophic groups were distinguished and, consequently, characterized by means of the following ecological indexes: constancy, dominance and species diversity. The qualitative and quantitative composition of spruce (P. abies) cone entomofauna was changing along with the development of the cones, due to the periods of occupancy and leaving the cones by species of varied bioecology. The entomofauna of ripe cones was characterized by higher species diversity (42 species) than that of ripening cones (25 species) and old cones (26 species).

The primary purpose of this article is to discuss the trade practices used by retail chains from the point of view of the possible solutions of conflicts between the members of the distribution channel, which have an influence on selling prices for the end users. It is based on the knowledge of the theory of the transaction cost analysis, which makes it possible for the members of the distribution channel to make decisions on the number of forms of the organization in order to realize their activities successfully. In this framework and using the example of milk, the article shows the trade practices of retail chains to improve the relationships manufacturer - retailer in the Slovak consumer market.

Chlorpropham is employed worldwide as an anti-sprout chemical to the harvested potato tubers during storage. A simple and precise analytical technique is developed for routine estimation of the sprout suppressant from a large number of potato samples supplied from commercial stores demanding quick analysis. Chlorpropham is extracted completely from potato tubers by intelligent reflux extraction followed by quantification using GC-FID (Gas Chromatography-Flame Ionization Detector) equipment. In this article, the performance of the technique is compared with the lengthy extraction/cleanup process, and the results are validated as per one-way analysis of variance. The recommended technique is found to offer rapid, accurate, and reliable analytical results with ease in handling a large number of samples constituting a wide range of residual chlorpropham levels often found in a complex structural commercial potato stores.

Changes in genetic diversity of peas bred in the Czech Republic and in former Czechoslovakia since the mid-20^th century were analysed using 38 molecular marker loci, including retrotransposons and microsatellites, differentiating a total of 84 alleles. Both marker types were comparably effective in revealing the genetic diversity, with a high correlation (r = 0.81), although the pairwise genetic distances of each marker type differed. In total, 175 accessions, selected from the Czech pea gene bank collection and representing the pea cultivars collected or bred in the country, were divided into three groups according to their date of sampling or variety registration. The first group contained 70 old cultivars and landraces collected prior to 1961. The second group contained 46 cultivars released from 1961 to 1980. The third group contained 59 cultivars released between 1981 and 2004. In spite of the decline in several diversity measures, differences in allele frequencies and even allele loss in three microsatellite loci were recorded over the 70-year period, while these differences between the groups were not statistically significant. In addition, genetic heterogeneity was detected in 29 accessions (15%). This indicates that although no genetic erosion could be observed since then, it is important to monitor the genetic diversity, furthermore it highlights the vital role of germplasm collections for the crop diversity conservation.

Mountainous areas represent regions with specific soil cover pattern that is naturally given by an altitudinal gradient. The objective of our study was to describe the soil cover development on the altitudinal gradient under changed environment given by man-planted vegetation and acidification. The studied area is characterized by spruce monoculture planting that replaced the original broadleaf natural vegetation and high load of anthropic acidification. The common hypothesis considering the sequence of Dystric Cambisol-Entic Podzol-Haplic Podzol with increasing altitude was not proved. The results of our study indicate that the influence of spruce vegetation causes the occurrence of Haplic Podzols at low altitudes where the natural soil formation does not induce their development. Results showed that the vegetation type can overrule other altitude-related soil-forming factors. The conversion of natural broadleaf and mixed forests to spruce monocultures leads to the expansion of podzolization process to lower altitudes.

A three day-old Japanese black calf was admitted with a history of abdominal distension and absence of defecation. Dilated loops of the small intestine and hypoplasia of the colon and rectum was observed upon a contrast radiographic examination in the standing position. At necropsy atresia coli with undeveloped rectum and patent anal opening was found. We conclude that a contrast radiograph in the standing position is useful for diagnosing atresia coli in such cases.

The morphology and biology of immature stages and the distinguishing characters of generations in summer are briefly reviewed. The time of migration of the overwintered generation and the use of the median flight time are given. The longevity of overwintered adults, and the start and course of oviposition by overwintered females were observed mainly during June and July. The interval between adult emergence and flights from carrots appears to be very short, 2-3 days. Departure from developmental summer host plants culminates at the beginning of September. The sex ratio of the overwintered generation is not persistent, since it is usually female-biased. In emerged adults in summer the ratio is 50:50, with weak protandry. The systemic action of sucking for the curling of leaves was found by Láska already in 1964. Inliterature records, both subspecies of Daucus carota dominate as developmental hosts, more recently Coriandrum sativum was shown to be more suitable than Petroselinum hortense. Norway spruce, and to a lesser extent other conifers, are predominantly mentioned as overwintering shelter plants. It is not clear how overwintering occurs in regions without coniferous forests, and only undefined shrubs or trees are given in the literature. The first damage was reported inDenmark about in 1896, spreading from about 1918 over just a few years to the other Fennoscandian countries, and later in some other European countries. The spring migration is discussed, which occurs in central and northern Europe on the same date, perhaps explicable by the orientation of this pest or its particular populations to long days, despite the climate and phenology of each region. It is hypothesised that a particularly aggressive race evolved inSjaelland (Denmark) at the turn of the nineteenth and twentieth century, which later spread to other regions of northern and centralEurope.

Ten-year results of the practical immunity investigation of apricot cv. Harlayne are presented. Two-year-old trees of cv. Harlayne were inoculated by chip-budding with six different strains and isolates of Plum pox virus (PPV). PPV inoculated trees grew in the field and were evaluated from 2001 to 2011. No PPV symptoms appeared in the leaves of cv. Harlayne within ten years (2002-2011), and within eight years (2004-2011) in the fruits and stones. None of the six isolates of three different PPV strains was detected in the leaves and fruits by ELISA. Suckers of the rootstock Prunus myrobalana developed around cv. Harlayne trees in 2005-2011 were symptomless and ELISA was negative within seven years. New trees of cv. Harlayne obtained from tested trees by budding on PPV susceptible apricot rootstock MVA-2 in 2007 were PPV free from 2008 through 2011. The presence of PPV was proved by ELISA neither in leaves of cv. Harlayne nor in rootstock MVA-2.

Soil arsenic (As) levels are particularly high in parts of China, where wheat and rape are widely grown. Understanding the effects of As concentration on the growth of these two major crops is of significance for food production and security in China. A pot experiment was carried out to study the uptake of As and phosphorus (P), and the soil As bioavailability at different growth stages of wheat and rape. The results indicated that winter wheat was much more sensitive to As stress than rape. Wheat yields were elevated at low rates of As addition (< 60 mg/kg) but reduced at high rates of As concentrations (80-100 mg/kg); while the growth of rape hadn't showed significant responses to As addition. Phosphorus concentrations in wheat at jointing and ear sprouting stages increased with increasing soil As concentrations, and these increases were assumed to contribute a lot to enhanced growth of wheat at low As treatments. Arsenic did not significantly affect P concentrations in rape either. The highest As concentrations in wheat shoot and rape leaf were 8.31 and 3.63 mg/kg, respectively. Arsenic concentrations in wheat and rape grains did not exceed the maximum permissible limit for food stuffs of 1.0 mg/kg. When soil As concentration was less than 60 mg/kg, both wheat and rape could grow satisfactorily without adverse effects; when soil As concentration was 80-100 mg/kg, rape was more suitable to be planted than wheat.

A three-year-old intact female Great Pyrenees underwent total knee replacement for the treatment of osteoarthritis. The dog contracted septic arthritis 10 weeks following the procedure. Treatments including implant subtraction, debridement of tissue, and insertion of bone cement with antibiotics into the joint space were completed in the joint cavity. A temporary external skeletal fixator was used to stabilise the joint for four weeks. A second attempt at total knee replacement failed due to severe muscle contracture and bone loss. Therefore, it was decided to perform arthrodesis as a salvage procedure. At the 17 month follow-up examination, the patient was able to use the limb while standing and at all gait speeds. Based on these findings, two-stage arthrodesis can be a viable salvage procedure for infected total knee replacements.

The life cycle operation phase of John Deere 1490D energy wood harvester from the aspect of energy audit and environmentally negative influence caused by emissions were evaluated. Energy audit quantifies energy used in the form of fuels and oils as well as energy expended for manufacture, transport and distribution of these fuels and oils. Emissions produced by operation are determined according to the consumption of fuels and oils based on emission factors. We also made a comparison of the general calculation of costs based on data provided by the manufacturer with costs ascertained in real operating conditions. The costs are divided into purchase, operating and other costs. Total costs are subsequently converted into unit costs according to the assumed productivity of the machine, its estimated lifetime, and the mean real throughput of the machine. The machine throughput, and thus also its operating economics, is greatly dependent on the character of the processed material, its stem volume, moisture, way of dendromass preparation, and operator's skills. Energy use was calculated at 74.4 MJ.FU^-1 (functional unit) related to fuel consumption and 13.4 MJ.FU^-1 related to the consumption of oils. The total energy use of the life cycle operation phase of the slash bundler was determined as 87.8 MJ per each bundle produced. The real productivity of the machine in the given operating conditions was several times lower than the productivity indicated by the manufacturer.

The aim of this study was to investigate the wood density of Turkish hazel (Corylus colurna L.), an introduced species in the Czech Republic. Sample trees coming from a Czech site were tested for basic wood density and oven-dry density according to Czech national standards. Four sections were taken from each tree to evaluate the variability of wood density along the stem height and along the stem radius. The mean values for the basic density and the oven-dry density were 544 kg.m^-3 and 627 kg.m^-3, respectively. The results show that the highest density can be found in the bottom part of the tree, followed by a decline with the increasing height of the stem. For the radial direction from the pith to the bark, the pattern of density variability was more complex, reaching its highest value close to the cambium. Practically no correlation between annual ring width and density values was found out.

Sugarcane plant samples affected by the disease pokkah boeng were collected from the major sugarcane producing areas in Iran. Fifty isolates of Fusarium verticillioides were recovered from diseased sugarcanes. Results of pathogenicity tests revealed that all isolates were pathogenic to sugarcane. Four hundred and eighty-five nitrate non-utilising mutants were generated from F. verticillioides isolates. Media used for nit mutant generation included potato dextrose agar, minimal medium and Czapeck agar amended with 1.8%, 2%, 2.5%, and 3% potassium chlorate. Nit mutants were divided into three phenotypic (nit1, nit3, and nitM) classes based on their growth on different nitrogen sources in the culture media. Among the isolates tested, 280, 115 and 90 nit1, nit3, and nit M were generated, respectively. Nit mutants were used to force the heterokaryon formation to determine the distribution of VCGs and their relation to pathogenicity and geographic origin. Forty-eight VCGs of F. verticillioides were isolated from sugarcane. Forty-six of the VCGs were represented by a single isolate, whereas the remaining two comprised two isolates. None of the VCGs was common.

The prevalence, distribution, and antibiotic susceptibility of Staphylococcus aureus was investigated in ready-to-eat (RTE) salads, the environment, and the personnel of a salad producing plant in Greece. Staphylococci were isolated from 27% of the samples. Apart from three isolates which were sensitive to all antibiotics, all the others exhibited resistance from two up to five antibiotics. None of the isolates was resistant to oxacillin. Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis showed no genetic relation between the human and salad isolates while one RAPD clone of S. aureus predominated among the salad samples. The results suggest that an effective application of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) is needed along the food production chain to prevent the contamination of RTE foods.

Field experiments were conducted at two different locations (Barani Agricultural Research Institute Chakwal and farm field Talagang, district Chakwal) for two crop-growing seasons in northern rainfed Punjab, Pakistan to assess the yield and micronutrient uptake of chickpea (Cicer arietinum). The treatments were four combinations of two levels of sulfur (15 and 30 kg/ha) from two sources (gypsum and ammonium sulfate) and a no-sulfur control. Application of sulfur resulted in a significant increase in seed yield up to 17% over control. Ammonium sulfate was a more efficient source of sulfur as compared to gypsum at both the locations. Sulfur application resulted in a significant increase in micronutrient uptake by plant; however effect of sulfur application on soil pH at the end of experiment was not significant. Availability of soil zinc and copper increased with sulfur application at the end of two year experiment. Tissue copper and iron and soil available copper and iron correlated negatively with soil pH. Sulfur should be applied to chickpea grown under rainfed conditions in order to increase seed yield, to improve nutritional composition of product and to enhance efficiency of other fertilizers.

In this contribution actual results of the Czech national ring tests of disease resistance in wheat are presented that are performed at 3-5 locations each year. Special attention was paid to possibilities of increasing resistance to rusts, powdery mildew, Fusarium head blight and brown leaf spot diseases. New sources of resistance to the above-mentioned diseases were detected and described. Achievements and prospects of wheat breeding for resistance to these diseases, as well as to other important diseases and pests (common and dwarf bunt, eyespot and stem base diseases, barley yellow dwarf virus, orange wheat blossom midge) are discussed.

In association mapping, haplotype-based methods are generally regarded to provide higher power and increased precision than methods based on single markers. For haplotype-based association mapping most studies use a fixed haplotype effect in the model. However, an increase in haplotype length raises the number of parameters in the model, resulting in low accuracy of the estimates especially for the low-frequency haplotypes. Modeling of haplotype effects can be improved if they are assumed to be random effects, as only one parameter, i.e. haplotype variance, needs to be estimated compared to estimating the effects of all different haplotypes in a fixed haplotype model. Using simulated data, we investigated statistical models where haplotypes were fitted either as a fixed or random effect and we compared them for the power, precision, and type I error. We investigated five haplotype lengths of 2, 4, 6, 10 and 20. The simulated data resembled the Danish Holstein cattle pedigree representing a complex relationship structure and QTL effects of different sizes were simulated. We observed that the random haplotype models had high power and very low type I error rates (after the Bonferroni correction), while the fixed haplotype models had lower power and excessively high type I errors. Haplotype length of 4 to 6 gave the best results for random model in the present study. Though the present study was conducted on data structure more frequent in livestock, our findings on random vs. fixed haplotype effects in association mapping models are applicable to data from other species with a similar pedigree structure.

An experiment with laying hens and broiler breeders of two ages (young 22 vs. 36 weeks, old 83 vs. 64 weeks) and at temperatures of 20 and 28°C was carried out to evaluate the interactions between oviposition time (7:30; 11:30, and 15:30 h), age, and temperature on the one hand and egg quality on the other. A significant interaction (P ≤ 0.011) was determined in oviposition time. The highest number (25.8%) of eggs was laid at 7:30 h by young laying hens kept at 20°C and the lowest (3.7%) by young layers at 15:30 h kept in the same temperature. Time of oviposition was delayed by age and a higher temperature. Egg weight was significantly influenced by production type (P ≤ 0.001; 60.5 vs. 68.1 g), age (P ≤ 0.001; 59.4 vs. 69.3 g), oviposition (P ≤ 0.001; 66.5, 63.7, 62.8 g), and temperature (P ≤ 0.022; 65.1 vs. 63.6 g). The significant three-way interaction of age, oviposition, and temperature in Haugh unit score (P ≤ 0.013) and four-way interaction of production type, age, oviposition, and temperature (P ≤ 0.05) in specific gravity show that rather than by a single factor the valuable characteristics of egg quality are considerably affected by a combination of factors.

This study was carried out to detect the distribution of antibiotic-resistant genes in Escherichia coli isolates from slaughtered commercial chickens in Iran by PCR. The investigated genes included aadA1, tet(A), tet(B), dfrA1, qnrA, aac(3)-IV, sul1, bla_SHV, bla_CMY, ere(A), catA1 and cmlA. According to biochemical experiments, 57 isolates from 360 chicken meat samples were recognized as E. coli. The distribution of antibiotic-resistance genes in the E. coli isolates included tet(A) and tet(B) (52.63%), dfrA1, qnrA, catA1 and cmlA (36.84%) and sul1 and ere(A) (47.36%), respectively. Nine strains (15.78%) were resistant to a single antimicrobial agent and 11 strains (19.29%) showed resistance to two antimicrobial agents. Multi-resistance which was defined as resistance to three or more tested agents was found in 64.91% of E. coli strains. The results indicate that all isolates harbour one or more of antibiotic resistance genes and that the PCR technique is a fast, practical and appropriate method for determining the presence of antibiotic-resistance genes.

Studies were undertaken to investigate the composition, structure and diversity of four different types of North Mongolian montane forest near the southern border of the taiga. These forest types, classified as willow-poplar, larch-birch, spruce-fir and Siberian-pine forests, were found to be significantly different with respect to the elevational gradient. In the study area, two fire regimes could be distinguished at lower and drier elevations, frequent surface fires resulted in less diverse forests comprising coniferous species, which in their adult form were found to be fire-resistant, burn-colonizing and light-demanding deciduous tree species. In contrast, the forests colonizing the moist, higher elevations and shaded slopes had a higher diversity of tree species with greater basal area, higher proportion of deadwood, and more regenerating trees; here the coniferous shade trees experienced infrequent but destructive treetop fires. Overall, our results showed that the four forest types differed in composition according to the tree species, diameter and height classes.

The aim of the paper was to evaluate the efficiency of winter rape growing which is based on the calculations and an analysis of production and economic indicators in the given branch. The development analysis of yields per hectare, costs, revenues and production profitability was carried out over the years 2003-2009 in the Agro Žlunice and it was compared with the results of the Czech Republic as a whole. In the enterprise, it deals with the traditional growing technology with a higher intensity of the intensification factors inputs in growing. Yields per hectare in the farm reached very favourable values which supported the stable position of the enterprise in the market with this agricultural commodity. It is possible to see a competitive advantage in the level of the per hectare yields. An average yield in the joint-stock company from 2003 to 2009 was 4.34 t/ha and an average yield in the CR over the last seven years was 2.9 t/ha. The enterprise's yield is by 1.44 t per ha higher compared to the average yields in the CR. In comparison of the average costs per hectare over the evaluated period in the enterprise and in the CR - in the enterprise, the costs were by 2.71% higher comapred to the CR (the enterprise 21 991 CZK/ha, the CR 21 394 CZK/ha). However, the enterprise Agro Žlunice, a.s. reached in comparison of the cost per 1 tonne of production by 31.31% lower costs than is the CR average. The amount of expenses incurred was compensated by high yields per hectare which the enterprise reached and thereby it improved the profitability of growing of this crop-plant. The highest share in the total costs belonged to direct material costs. The share of material costs in the enterprise over 7 years was 55.28%. Among the direct material costs, there are mainly seeds, fertilizers and chemical prophylactics. From the indicators of production profitability, there are expressed the profit achieved per 1 t of seedsfrom 1 ha of the area under crop and cost profitability. The profitability indicators considerably fluctuate during the evaluated years in the monitored enterprise and in the CR in dependence on the fluctuation of the seed price.

Globalisation is at the beginning of the new century a double-edged weapon: a strong driving force of economic growth, the development of new technologies and the growth of the level of living in the poor as well as rich countries, but also a controversory process which damages national sovereignty, undermines the local culture and traditions and presents a threat of the economic and social non-stability. The key question of the 21^st century then is, whether the states will be able to keep the process under control or whether they will become its victims.

Choke of grasses caused by Epichloë typhina occurred in 2008 and 2009 in more than 25% of grass seed stands of timothy (Phleum pratense and P. nodosum); a lower incidence was reported in orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata). A decline in disease incidence in 2010 was caused partly by a reduction in the total area of grasses grown for seed production and partly by a decrease of older grass seed stands. The incidence of choke in timothy varieties Odenwälder and Pampas was very high; they differed statistically from the other 24 grown cultivars. No difference was found among 21 varieties of orchard grass. The highest incidence of choke was observed in varieties Comer and Dolina (timothy) and Amera (orchard grass). The incidence of choke in cultivated varieties of Phleum spp. and D. glomerata was affected by stand age (the incidence of the disease in timothy was recorded in 13% of stands in the first cropping year and in 50% of stands in the fifth cropping year). Choke disease occurred in all regions where the species were grown for seed.

The objective of the study was to determine the relationships between age of the goat and faecal egg counts, liver enzymes, and minerals in the wet and dry seasons in male and female Nguni goats of South Africa. Fifty-six female and forty male Nguni goats were used for the study. Faecal and blood samples were collected once in the dry (August) and wet (January) season. Faecal egg counts (FEC) were determined by the modified McMaster technique while trematodes were determined by the sedimentation method. Blood was analyzed for phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine transaminase (ALT), creatine kinase (CK), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) levels. Faecal egg counts were significantly higher in the wet compared with the dry season. Most (P < 0.05) of the goats were within the reference values for calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium in both seasons. Phosphorus concentrations were significantly affected by age with higher levels in the young (2.1 ± 0.06) compared to the adult (2.0 ± 0.03) goats. Alkaline phosphate was significantly affected by age with higher levels in young than in mature goats. Higher AST, CK, and GGT concentrations were recorded in the wet compared to the dry season (P < 0.05). Higher CK and AST were recorded in male than in female goats while for ALP, the values were higher in female than in male goats. Linear negative relationships (P < 0.05) existed between age and ALP, phosphorus, and FEC, while quadratic relationships existed between age and strongyles and Strongyloides egg counts. Calcium was linearly related (P < 0.05) to FEC, while CK was related to FEC in a quadratic fashion. Age of the Nguni goats can be used to predict faecal egg counts, phosphorus, and ALP levels.

The research was aimed to estimate above- and below-ground carbon stock in Tankawati natural hill forest of Bangladesh. A systematic sampling method was used to identify each sampling point through Global Positioning System (GPS). Loss on ignition and wet oxidation method were used to estimate biomass and soil carbon stock, respectively. Results revealed that the total carbon stock of the forest was 283.80 t.ha^-1 whereas trees produce 110.94 t.ha^-1, undergrowth (shrubs, herbs and grass) 0.50 t.ha^-1, litter fall 4.21 t.ha^-1 and soil 168.15 t.ha^-1 (up to 1m depth). The forest in the study area is a reservoir of carbon, as it has a good capacity to stock carbon from the atmosphere. To realize the forest sector potentiality inBangladesh, the carbon sequestration should be integrated with the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) carbon trading system of the Kyoto Protocol.

There is a sufficient global potential to produce the food required to feed the world population on the global level. Despite this, the number of hungry people worldwide was 925 million in 2010. Developing countries account for 98% of the world undernourished people and have a prevalence of undernourishment of 16%. Food security increasingly depends on non-agricultural factors like energy, trade and finance. The negative economic and social impacts of food, energy and the global economic and financial crises showed the vulnerability to poverty. High and rising food prices further undermined the food security and threatened the livelihoods of the most vulnerable by decreasing their already limited purchasing power. The main step in reducing poverty and hunger in developing countries is to invest in agriculture and rural development. Scaled-up investments in social protection that focus on nutrition and health are also crucial for improving the lives of the poorest people.

Sheath rot of rice and leaf blight of wheat caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae are the important bacterial pathogens of rice and wheat in Iran. The randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) method was used to investigate the genetic diversity of 60 strains of P. s. pv. syringae obtained from rice and wheat in different growth stages. Cluster analysis by UPGMA method showed that strains were grouped into two clusters. The AMOVA analysis indicated that about 18% of the total genetic variation existed between two populations of rice and wheat, which showed the lack of host specialization in P. s. pv. syringae strains among rice and wheat. We confirmed that high genetic heterogeneity existed in the P. s. pv. syringae strains which are detectable by RAPD analysis, and that molecular and statistical analysis of RAPD fragments can be used both to distinguish between strains and to determine relatedness between them.