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The collection and sale of asparagus (Asparagus racemosus Willd.) is a major source of income for Praja and Tamang castes around the Royal Chitwan National Park (RCNP) in Nepal. However, the forests where asparagus is harvested are becoming depleted threatening the livelihood of collectors. To address this issue, at sustainable harvesting practices, the research reported here applied the contingent valuation method (bidding game) and estimated the average willingness to pay (WTP) of collectors to two asparagus collection scenarios. In the first scenario, if forests under the Department of Forests jurisdiction were managed for sustainable harvesting at 1995 rates, the average WTP of collectors was 4.4 NR/kg. In the second scenario, if the forest in the RCNP is managed in such a way that both the current harvesting rate of asparagus is sustained and they are legally allowed to collect asparagus at the present rate, the average WTP of collectors was 8.35 NR/kg. Consequently, there is a good chance of earning revenue for the government and sustaining the livelihood of asparagus dependents by the sustainable management of the Department's and the National Park's forests and giving legal permissions to collect asparagus from the National Park, which would have happened anyway but with financial and legal risks to collectors.

The degree of the beech bark necrotic disease was evaluated in three selected localities in southern Poland, in different orographic complexes, Beskid Sądecki, Beskid Niski, and Bieszczady. The degree is expressed by means of the stem necrotising index (I_SN ), crowns necrotising index (I_CN ), and whole tree necrotising index (I_NWT ). The values of the indices laid in the following limits: I_SN 0.73-0.84%, I_CN 0.12%-0.51%, and I_NWT 0.84%-0.90%. The current status of the beech necrotic disease in Southern Poland can be considered as favourable. The values of I_SN recorded in Southern Poland were lower by 30% than the average I_SN for whole Slovakia. We also recorded the frequency of selected insect pests (Bucculatrix ulmella Zeller, Cryptococcus fagi Bärensp., and Ectoedemia liebwerdella Zimm.), which act in the beech stands as vectors of the necrotic disease. With C. fagi, we recorded a high frequency reaching even 100%. In contrast, we did not at all observe the occurrence of B. ulmella and E. liebwerdella, which are common in the beech stands in Slovakia, as well as in Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria. In the localities studied, we recorded the occurrence of two species of parasitic fungi of the genus Nectria (Fr.) Fr. causing the beech bark necrotic disease, viz. Nectria cosmariospora Ces et De Not. and N. galligena Bres. ex Strasser.

This paper uses a dynamic, partial equilibrium econometric model to analyze the impact of the 2003 CAP reform and changes of exchange rate on agricultural markets and agricultural incomes in Slovakia. We evaluate three scenarios: (1) baseline scenario with no change in agricultural policies (Single Area Payment Scheme and top-ups are assumed until 2015), (2) CAP reform scenario with full decoupling from 2007 and with modulation from 2013, and (3) exchange rate scenario. In the baseline scenario, production increases. Consumption increases with some exceptions (like pork). Agricultural income rises significantly in the baseline scenario. The full decoupling has a minor impact on agricultural markets relative to the baseline. Weak Euro would lead to higher prices and higher production but lower consumption. Change in the exchange rate causes substitution in consumption of certain commodities due to the relative price changes.

The common denominator of all rather different names and understandings of it (the problem of the "model of man and society development", problem of the "lack of the civilisation concept" etc.) is that there is no clear understanding regarding the question of the perspective approach (or approaches), the relevant basic development trends of humankind in the material as well as non-material sphere, i.e. in the basic question of many philosophers "Who are we, whence and where are we going". We mention only some of the problems, which are at present directly connected to the "problem of the future of man". These are the problems from the sphere of all-human social, ethical, humanitarian and cultural aspects of the human civilisation development, which are today (but need not be already in the near future) in the centre of attention: the problem of social inequality extension, the problem of spreading epidemics and drug abuse, the problem of the uncontrollable migration and city agglomerations growth, the problem of terrorism.

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of foliar urea applications on quality, growth, mineral content and yield of broccoli under field conditions in 2003, 2004 and 2005. Broccoli cultivars AG 3317 and AG 3324 were treated with foliar urea applications at different concentrations (0.0, 0.4, 0.8 and 1.0%). Foliar applications of urea, especially 0.8 and 1.0% resulted in larger heads, weightier heads and plants as well as higher plants. Conversely, the greatest head and leaf dry matter contents were obtained with no fertilizer-nitrogen application. SPAD chlorophyll readings that were measured in the third year increased with elevated urea concentrations. In regard to the nutrient content, it can be interfered that soil nitrogen fertilization and foliar urea applications increased the content of almost all nutrients in leaves and heads of both broccoli cultivars in three experiment years. Generally, the greatest values were obtained from 1.0% urea application for both cultivars. It results from the study that for optimum yields 0.61 and 0.96% concentrations of urea sprays could be successfully used to obtain better growth and yield in broccoli cultivars AG 3317 and AG 3324, respectively.

A pot greenhouse experiment was performed to determine the effect of contamination with nickel interacting with other heavy metals on the microbiological properties of soil. The study was conducted on samples of soils classified under natural conditions as typical Eutric Cambisol developed from heavy loamy sand and typical Eutric Cambisol developed from light silty loam. Soil material was contaminated with nickel in the amount of 50 and 200 mg Ni²⁺/kg. The treatments with 200 mg Ni²⁺/kg were additionally contaminated with other heavy metals (Zn²⁺, Cu²⁺, Pb²⁺, Cd²⁺, Cr⁶⁺), in the amount of 50 mg/kg soil. The following treatments, in which the soil was contaminated with heavy metals applied alone or in combinations, were compared in the study: Ni, Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd, Cr, NiZn, NiCu, NiPb, NiCd, NiCr, NiZnCu, NiZnPb, NiZnCd, NiZnCr, NiZnCuPb, NiZnCuCd, NiZnCuCr, NiZnCuPbCd, NiZnCuPbCr, NiZnCuPbCdCr. The experiment was carried out in four replications. A microbiological analysis was performed on days 28 and 56. The tested crop was oat. It was found that the impact of particular heavy metals on microbiological properties of soils depended on their type, interactions between nickel and zinc, copper, lead, cadmium and chromium (VI), date of analysis and soil species. Soil contamination with heavy metals reduced the population size of Azotobacter spp. The counts of other microbial groups, i.e. copiotrophic bacteria, spore-forming copiotrophic bacteria, oligotrophic bacteria, spore-forming oligotrophic bacteria, ammonifying bacteria, nitrogen immobilizing bacteria, cellulose-decomposing bacteria, Arthrobacter spp., Pseudomonas spp., actinomyces and fungi, showed varied susceptibility to heavy metals.

In the present study, the effects of fungicide Aliette WG 800 [80% fosetyl-Al (aluminium tris-o-ethyl phosphonate)], widely used against Phytophtora infestans on tomatoes grown in greenhouse in Turkey, were studied on the morphology and viability of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) pollens. The fungicide was applied to tomatoes grown in greenhouse at recommended dosage (200 g/100 l water) and at double the recommended dosage (400 g/100 l water). The fungicide caused changes in the morphological structures of tomato pollens. Some pollen morphological structures that are not observed in the control group were encountered in the pollens in equatorial view and in polar view at 200 g/100 l treated groups. On the other hand, pollen viability level decreased as the dosage increased. Especially, non-viable pollen types such as wrinkled pollen or pollen with abnormal shape were encountered in the fungicide groups. It was expected that the pollen fertility as well as yield would decrease in future.

We tested the germicide activity of 1% Chloramin BM, 1% Incidin Plus, 1% Lysoformin 3000, 0.2% Mikasept KP, and 2% Sekusept Forte against viruses in suspension (suspension test) and dried onto a surface (carrier test). The agents of the porcine encephalomyelitis (Porcine teschovirus, strains CAPM V-86, CAPM V-37), Aujeszky's disease (strains CAPM V-166, CAPM V-327) and vesicular stomatitis (strains CAPM V-499, CAPM V-331) were used as model viruses. After 30 min contact time in both the suspension and carrier tests, the Porcine teschovirus was 4 lg inactivated only by Mikasept, which was thus the only disinfectant to meet the standard. The other disinfectants decreased the viral titre insufficiently. Under the same conditions, Aujeszky's disease virus was inactivated by at least 4 lg by all the tested disinfectants except for Chloramin BM which decreased the titre of CAPM V-166 only by 3.75 lg in the carrier test. For the inactivation of Vesicular stomatitis virus Chloramin BM and Mikasept KP were tested. Both the disinfectants reliably decreased the viral titre in both the suspension and carrier tests. Our results show that the inactivation of a surface-bound virus is more difficult than its inactivation in suspension. We confirm the high resistance of non-enveloped viruses (Porcine teschovirus) to chemical inactivation.

The Pinus mugo complex (P. mugo Turra sensu lato, and/or species aggregate or group - P. mugo agg., including its internal as well as external aggregate hybrids) is an important fragment of European dendroflora. For its high variability this complicated group has not been solved in taxonomical terms satisfactorily yet. Most problems are mainly caused by a large amount of taxa of uncertain value described in the past, which often more or less overlap or are based on insufficiently researched and unsuitably interpreted characters. Such facts coincidently cause further problems in applied disciplines. Specialized European literature already contains a large amount of information referring to individual taxa of this complex. Much information is listed under various, often commonly not known or not used scientific names. In order to make the information available and useful, it was necessary to collect the most frequent names used in the past and to assort them in a tabular manner into a convenient synoptic schedule respecting the present concepts of the complex and assign them with the present most commonly used names.

This study was designed to evaluate basic tree characteristics of Quercus dalechampii Ten. and Quercus polycarpa Schur and to find out differences between them. Total height, height of crown base and diameter at breast height were measured before tree felling. Cut stems were visually checked for heart rot on their basal parts. Diameters were measured on each stem in 1 meter long sections from the base to the point of life crown setting. Average values for both species were compared by t-test. The total height was proved to be statistically different; the height of crown base and diameter at breast height were quite similar for both species. Q. dalechampii Ten. was proved to be of larger stem diameter from the tree foot to the 3^rd height meter; the diameter of Q. polycarpa Schur was superior from that height upwards. However, the most significant interspecies difference was found in a number of stems affected by wood-rot fungi as Q. polycarpa Schur turned out to be less resistant than Q. dalechampii Ten.

The paper deals with the current trends in development of communication infrastructure which is, above all, represented by high-speed Internet connection (broadband). It is focused on conditions of the Czech Republic; or more precisely, on its rural areas, including possibilities of further development in the following period in context of trends in the world, in the OECD and the EU countries.

This paper deals with the problems of destination management. It focuses on describing the crucial principles of destination management and consecutively on proving the functionality of these principles in practice in an area with a high potential for tourism development. In the selected South-Moravian region (JMK), we have explored whether an existing organization of destination management can be found in this region (DMC Destination Management Company) and to which extent it participates in the management and efficient development of tourism. To reach the set targets, we have used a secondary analysis of current data, a depth interview with a destination agency manager and an orientation questionnaire survey among business subjects. The results have shown that the level of cooperation between the destination agency in the JMK and the subjects of tourism is not on such a level and not as intensive as proclaimed by the South-Moravian Tourist Authority (CCRJM - the organization established with the aim of destination management in the JMK). For example, 50% of the addressed subjects have not been aware of the existence of this organization and only 10% of the companies have been addressed to cooperate with the CCRJM. The insufficient cooperation of public and private sectors appears to be the weakest segment. This causes an inconsistent presentation and isolation in preparing projects for the region development. It is the task for destination management, a new organization of tourism, to find the way how to cope with these difficulties and how to make the JMK a unified and quality destinations that would be attractive for tourists.

Electron microscopy was used to detect the presence of virus particles or inclusions in growth tips and parenchymatic cells of leaves of plum, apricot and peach trees artificially infected with Plum pox virus (PPV). Typical pinwheels were found in ultrathin sections of leaves of PPV infected plums, apricots and peaches. Filamentous particles or their aggregates approximately 750 nm long were found in ultrathin sections of growth tips of plum, apricot, and peach shoots with a diameter of 0.5 mm. Pinwheels were never present in embryonic cells. No virus particles were found in ultrathin sections of growth tips of PPV infected plum, apricot and peach shoots of 0.2 mm in diameter. Embryonic cells of growth tips up to 0.2 mm in diameter are PPV free. PPV particles are present in growth tips at a distance 0.2-0.5 mm from the top; the virus is probably multiplied in this part of the growth tips.

Formerly arable luvic chernozem set aside for ten years (1997-2006) with different herbaceous cover (grass, legumes and their mixtures) and agronomical practices (mulching and cut/harvesting) was studied. The experimental plot was maintained as black, spontaneous and controlled fallows from 1997 until July 2003 (BD period). In July 2003 the plots were desiccated by glyphosate herbicide and were run as a black fallow until August 2004 (AD). The last period (AG) was characterized by monoculture of Italian ryegrass cut/harvested twice a year until October 2006. The experimental soils were characterized with 18 parameters. Mulched plots in all periods (BD, AD and AG) were evaluated as highly microbial active plots. The black fallow (BD) permanently maintained by glyphosate herbicide was the lowest in biological parameters. The desiccation caused a highly significant increase (P < 0.01) of nitrates in topsoil, but in following period (AG) their significant decrease was detected. Desiccation enhanced carbon immobilization into microbial cells especially on mulched and cut/harvested sites (BD, AD). Due to mulching accumulation of soil organic matter highly significantly increased (P < 0.01). This induced a highly significant (P < 0.01) increase in the basal respiration (AD, AG) as the soil organic matter accumulated in the period BD was intensively mineralized.

The disease caused by Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) belongs to the most destructive diseases of tomato all over the world. Therefore, tomato has been subjected to many breeding efforts, including the incorporation of resistance to the virus. Recently emerged approaches, ideas and technologies could affect the future direction of the virus resistance breeding. In particular molecular techniques have provided opportunities in the form of linked molecular markers to speed up and simplify the selection of host resistance genes. Transformation of an inbred tomato line with the TSWV nucleoprotein gene cassette resulted in high levels of resistance to TSWV that have been retained in the hybrids derived from the parental tomato line. These and other techniques offer great opportunities for improving the virus resistance and, therefore, it is time to reconsider the future direction of resistance breeding in tomato. The effort has been made to review available sources of resistance, conventional breeding methods, marker-assisted selection, pathogen-derived resistance and transgenic resistance approaches in this paper.

Out of the total number of 434 horses that underwent colic surgery, small intestine was operated in 195 (44.9%) patients, caecum in 10 (2.3%) horses, large colon surgery was performed in 196 (45.2%) cases and small colon surgery in 14 (3.2%) horses. In 12 patients (2.8%) two different parts of the gastrointestinal tract were affected simultaneously, one horse suffered from peritonitis, torsion of the uterus developed in two mares and three animals had negative surgical findings. Of 434 horses, 371 (85.5%) survived. After small intestinal surgery, 159 patients (81.5%) recovered from anaesthesia and were discharged home as well as seven horses (70%) after caecal surgery, 175 horses (89.3%) after large colon surgery and 14 horses (100%) following small colon surgery. 75 out of 103 horses (72.8%) were discharged home after the small intestinal resection and 89 of 98 horses (90.8%) with small intestinal problems where no resection was needed. In total, 43 of the patients that underwent one surgery did not survive the immediate postoperative period. The most frequent lethal complications in horses following the small intestinal surgery included peritonitis (five horses) and paralytic ileus (four horses) and in horses with large colon problems it was typhlocolitis (six cases). Relaparotomy was indicated in 41 of 434 horses (9.4%) that recovered from colic surgery. 21 out of the 41 (51.2%) relaparotomised colic patients were released from the clinic. All successfully repeated surgeries were carried out to overcome primary small intestine ileus problems, and in 14 of these cases (66.7%) resection and anastomosis were performed. The most common finding, diagnosed in 9 of 21 reoperated horses, was paralytic ileus. Of 20 relaparotomised horses that did not survive, three animals were lost after the introduction of anaesthesia, nine horses were euthanised after the abdominal cavity revision, one horse did not recover after the surgical procedure and seven horses did not survive the postoperative period. In 15 of 20 dead horses, the cause of the first surgical intervention was small intestinal ileus, in other four horses there was a large colon problem and in the last patient, it was a stomach disease. In 13 of 15 (86.7%) horses with small intestinal problems and in three of four (75%) patients with large colon disease, either resection or bypass was performed. In the remaining four non-surviving horses of 20 relaparotomised ones, peritonitis and/or adhesion formation was diagnosed at the second surgery, in three horses anastomosis complications were the main problem. Peritonitis or paralytic ileus led to death or euthanasia in four of seven horses that recovered after relaparotomy.

Broadleaved-Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis) mixed forest is a dominant native vegetation type in the eastern Eurasian Continent. We intended to examine the implications of high-intensity timber harvesting (ca 70% of stand volume) for the sustainable management of a mixed forest ecosystem. We measured trees at three sites: control without cutting, older-cut site cut in 1987 and newer-cut site (cutting in 1997). There were significant differences in structure and composition between these three sites in 2003. There were 4,441 trees of 14 species with basal area 56 m² at control plot, 6,314 trees of 16 species with basal area 9 m² at newer-cut site and 8,438 trees of 21 species with basal area 31 m² at older-cut site (all on the area of 1 ha). The high-intensity timber harvesting system helped promote natural regeneration and the growth of small trees but it also allowed light-demanding tree species to invade into the forest. Dominant position and suitable diameter distribution of economically important species (Pinus koraiensis and Tilia amurensis) were maintained across the three sites. The existing timber harvesting appears to consider short-term economic values to a larger extent than long-term ecological values. To manage the broadleaved-Korean pine mixed forest for both timber production and biodiversity conservation, timber-harvesting intensity must be lowered.

On the 1^st of January 2009, the Slovak Republic should implement the Euro currency and enter the European Monetary Union. The implementation of the Euro currency is in currently the most important theme in our country. Business companies will benefit most, but they will also bear most of the single-shot costs. Up to 80% of the costs are constituted by the adaptation of information systems (IS). At the end of the year 2007, only 14% of Slovak companies were prepared in the terms of the Euro adaptation in IS. This condition of the business sector is very important and also alarming. Accelerated preparations of the changes in IS are needful, but this project is highly complicated, primarily in big business organizations. The quality of the realized project and the continuous transmission of IS will be a critical point of the firm success on the Slovak and European markets.

Several fusarioid microorganisms were isolated as potential pathogens of hop (Humulus lupulus L.) but their virulence was not proved in inoculation trials in field conditions. Molecular search for other possible pathogens was then performed. Using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (TRFLP), Gibberella pulicaris (anamorph: Fusarium sambucinum) was identified as a probable cause of the hop wilting. The primary cause of the disease is wounding of hop crowns by feeding of rosy rustic moth (Hydraecia micacea) caterpillars or by defect pruning and other unfavourable circumstances. The specific primer HLf1 was designed that can be used to detect the pathogen in soil and in damaged plant tissues.

The frequent presence of rye translocation 1B/1R in common wheat is well known as well as its unfavourable effect on bread-making quality. These translocated materials make up more than one tenth of all wheat varieties registered in the Czech Republic and due to their lower technological value they are predominately used for livestock feeding in spite of the lack of information about their desirability for monogastric animals. Our study was aimed at a general effect of 1B/1R translocation, including other grain characteristics in model feeding tests with laboratory rats. Triennial evaluation of selected chemical and technological characteristics of winter wheat grain, including feeding characteristics in the model set of 18 DH lines with/without 1B/1R translocation, confirmed a highly significant effect of year on evaluated parameters. Wheat lines with the presence of 1B/1R translocation showed a significantly higher value of relative viscosity, crude protein content and higher proportion of the albumin + globulin fraction. This was manifested negatively in the technological characteristics of the gluten index (GI) and the Zeleny sedimentation test of these wheat lines. Detected values of relative viscosity, grain hardness (PSI) and albumin-globulin fraction were significantly influenced by the genotype of the wheat line. The relationships of evaluated grain characteristics to the results of feeding test were not unequivocal. The presence of 1B/1R translocation significantly decreased the values of balance in these characters: net protein utilization (NPU) and biological value of proteins (BV), however the effect of the 1B/1R translocation on protein efficiency ratio (PER) was not confirmed. Correlation analyses showed low mutual relationships among the parameters of balance and growth tests. A lower but significant positive correlation of the albumin + globulin fraction and a negative correlation of storage proteins with growth parameter PER were also observed. It is possible to summarize that individual relation between albumins + globulins and gluten protein composition of grains influenced the values of PER more significantly than the presence of 1B/1R translocation.

The appearance of fruits and vegetables has a major influence on the perceived quality. Therefore, colour is one of the most important quality parameters in consumers' preferences. Fruits differently exposed to the sun differ in colour, frequently looking unripe and reach full maturity just on handling or transport, some still green and appearing unripe. Oranges, carrot, red beet, and parsley were used for the study of the quality estimation. Different nets used for the packing of fruits were tested. The measurements of lightness and chromaticity parameters were performed according to L*a*b* system. The red net used for the packing of oranges caused a decrease of the lightness parameter L* for all stages of fruits maturity. However, some unripe and bright oranges, through the use of a red net, looked more mature. The chromaticity parameter a* is the most influential factor affecting the human perception of the fruit colour. The red net improves this parameter significantly, thus unripe yellow oranges become more saturated, changing the perception of colour to the predicted range. The colour is insignificant for the net, however, it is important for the classification and quality assessment by humans.

In the present study and research work, land suitability evaluation (qualitative classification) was made for the Bilverdy research station of the Islamic Azad University in East Azarbaijan for wheat, barley, alfalfa, maize and safflower. The Simple Limitation Method (SLM), the Limitation Method regarding Number and Intensity (LMNI) and the Parametric Methods (PM) such as the square-root and the Storie methods were used. The landscape, climate and soil and characteristics that influence suitability of the land for particular crops have been combined according to the adopted methodology. Economic factors were excluded and moderate level of management was assumed. The results of different methods show that the most important limiting factors are climate, pH, organic matter (OM), gravel, salinity and sodicity, taken either alone or in combination. For safflower, the cation exchange capacity (CEC) can be added to these factors. Evaluation by the SLM and LMNI methods result in similar suitability classes, which confirms previous findings by other researchers for the same crops. However, in many cases the use of parametric methods, especially the square-root method, turned to be more realistic in distinguishing separate suitability classes. This study not only compares different methods and their results but also evaluates the suitability of the study area for particular crops. According to the square-root method, the area can be recommended as marginally suitable for cultivation of wheat, barley, alfalfa and safflower and is expected to yield about 40-65% of optimal production.

Maintenance of garlic (Allium sativum L.) genetic resources has had a long tradition in the Czech Republic. The collection was founded in 1951 and its current holder is the Crop Research Institute, Department of Vegetables and Special Crops in Olomouc. The collection consists of 613 genotypes. The oldest genotype was acquired in 1954. The collection has been evaluated according to the Descriptor list for Allium spp. (IPGRI 2001). 17 characters of the Descriptor list were supplemented with 5 additional characters. The photos of all garlic genotypes were taken. The genotypes were divided into the three main morphological groups according to the ability to produce the scape: the first group with the scape (bolting) - 300 genotypes, the second part without the scape (non-bolting garlic) 205 genotypes and the third part presents semi-bolting garlic - 108 genotypes. The last morphological type has bulbils in the different parts of the pseudostem.

: A 3-year-old Doberman Pinscher was referred to the Clinic for Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, Veterinary Faculty of Ljubljana for cardiologic examination due to lethargy, inappetence and lateral abdominal wall oedema. The dog had been treated at the primary veterinary practice for tooth granuloma two days before the presentation. During the course of the disease a presumptive diagnosis necrotizing fasciitis was ascertained and Serratia marcescens organism was isolated from the ventral body wall tissue, from the wound in the oral cavity and other organs in the body. Systemic signs developed concomitantly with the progression of the local disease. Due to grave prognosis the dog was euthanised. This is the first report of a necrotizing fasciitis in a dog caused by S. marcescens and also the first one suspected to occur after the dental procedure.

The paper deals with the use of European beech in the reconstruction of substitute species stands and in the regeneration of existing spruce stands in the air-polluted region of the north-eastern Krušné hory Mts. (air-pollution damage zones A, B, forest altitudinal vegetation zones 6 and 7, acidophilic sites). Twenty stand situations were analyzed during the study. The study objective was to compare the growth of European beech plantations in the Krušné hory Mts. with the growth of plantations of the same age in similar sites in the unpolluted region of the Bohemian-Moravian Upland (air-pollution damage zones C, D, forest altitudinal vegetation zone 6, acidophilic site). Each plant was assessed for eight growth and visually classified parameters and traits. Results of the survey showed that in the existing air-pollution and climatic situation, it is possible to switch to normal (shelterwood) beech management of higher elevations in the north-eastern Krušné hory Mts. The stands of substitute species and the current stands of Norway spruce may effectively eliminate injuries caused by late frost.

The paper evaluates the development of the tree numbers, secondary stand and species composition on eight partial control plots in Klepačov where the conversion of even aged forest managed under the system involving coupes to selection forest has been implemented within the framework of a long-term project. The plots capture various stages of conversion. Plots A, D, and H still possess structures nearing the forest of age classes. The assessment was made of the measurements taken in 1974, 1994, and 2004. Tree numbers on the partial control plots in the diameter degrees 10-70+ decreased in the first inventory period as compared with both the model situation and the initial situation in 1974 due to increased felling volumes in that period. The felling and the subsequent opening of stands resulted in a rapidly developing regeneration, which manifested itself by the increase in the number of trees in diameter degrees 2 and 6 above the values given by the model curve for these diameter degrees. In the second inventory period, tree numbers in these diameter degrees were lower by 11% as compared with the model situation and slightly lower as compared with the initial situation. Moreover, the results of the survey show that the forest stands under the selection system of management are massively invaded by broadleaved species, namely the beech and that danger exists that broadleaves will dominate in the future. This is generally considered undesirable because the quality of broadleaved stems in the stands under the selection system is low.

A new probiotic, bacteriocin-producing strain of Enterococcus faecium EF9296 (isolate of our laboratory) was used in grass ensiling as an inoculant. The antimicrobial effect as well as the nutritive quality of silage was evaluated along with the aerobic stability test. Grass was ensiled with EF9296 strain (10⁹ colony-forming units per gram of fresh material) and the silage without EF9296 was also prepared. The silages were processed in 1-litre plastic bottles. The samples were collected at days 0-1 (start of experiment), 7, 14 and 105 of ensiling to check the microbial status and chemical parameters of silage. At the end of ensiling period (day 105) the silages were subjected to an aerobic stability test for 7 days. The EF9296 strain survived and colonized the silage in sufficient counts (10⁹-10¹⁰ cfu/g). The total counts of enterococci and lactic acid bacteria were increased. In the silage inoculated with EF9296 strain, a reduction in E. coli, enterobacteriae, staphylococci and Bacillus-like bacteria was noted mainly at day 7 and 14 of ensiling. Moreover, the counts of Listeria and moulds were reduced during the aerobic stability test. The silage inoculation resulted in a more rapid drop of pH, higher level of lactic acid and in a decrease in the concentration of acetic and butyric acid. The effect of E. faecium EF9296 on the value of pH was prolonged until the end of the experiment (including the aerobic stability test, below 4.3). During the whole ensiling period an increase in DM content in the experimental silage was detected. The E. faecium EF9296 strain represents a promising silage additive to produce silage of good quality and/or to prevent silage contamination.

The purpose of the pilot project Senotín (1993-2000) was to prove the methods of revitalization of sub-mountain headwater area (0.38 km²) in the Novobystřická Vysočina Highland (610-725 m a. s. l.) in the Czech Republic. This area was tile-drained and ploughed in 1985. Seven underground clay shields newly constructed in 1995 stopped the function of the tile drainage. Four balks prevented the surface and subsurface runoff. These adaptations improved water retention capacity of the whole catchment, which is demonstrated using an example of runoff formation in the revitalized area. A typical storm rain (total 15 mm, duration 5.6 h, max. intensity 4 mm/20 min) and the consequent runoff was analysed, including the role of the soil in the runoff retardation and water retention. The runoff started in two hours since the rain beginning. The retention reached 98% of the rain total. The runoff lasted for 85 h. The concave-upward shape of the falling hydrograph limb indicates that the maximum retention capacity of the studied catchment is high.

Gerbera has gained popularity in the past few years in many countries of the world and it is in great demand in the floral industry as cut flower as well as potted plant due to its beauty, colour, long vase life, and ability to rehydrate after long transportation. The most commercial cultivars are propagated through vegetative means by multiplication through divisions of clumps; however, the multiplication by this method is too slow to be commercially viable. To commercialize this crop and to meet the growing demand for planting material, tissue and organ culture techniques are being used as alternative methods for propagation in many countries. Most of the work has been carried on plant regeneration by adventitious organogenesis from capitulum, shoot tip, leaf, petiole and other parts of the plant. Attention should be paid to improve the technology to achieve 100% success in all species/cultivars to meet growing demands of the growers globally. From the literature, it is evident that gerberas are highly amenable to in vitro studies, as various explants were found to favourably respond to different culture media with different types and concentrations of growth regulators.