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The toxicity of three concentrations (5%, 10% and 20% w/v) and spraying schedules (2, 4 and 6 weekly applications) of an extract from West African black pepper, Piper guineense, for managing two major post-flowering pests of cowpea, Vigna unguiculata, was investigated in two cropping seasons at the Research Farm of the Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria. The insect pests were the larvae of Maruca vitrata (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and the cowpea coreid bug, Clavigralla tomentosicollis (Hemiptera: Coreidae). The higher concentrations (10% and 20% w/v) and more frequent applications (4 and 6/week) significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the numbers of the two insect pests compared to the untreated control in both years. Pod damage was significantly reduced and grain yields consequently increased in treated plots compared with the other extract treatments and the untreated control. West African black pepper extract applied at higher concentrations and more frequently could play an important role in integrated management of pests' infestations on field cowpea managed by limited resource farmers in third world countries.

The exclusive pre-selective effect of BLAD carriers reproducing in the exposed Holstein-Friesian cattle population prompted to search for the candidate gene variants of high quality of milk performance traits within the bovine ITBG2 gene or loci linked with bovine ITBG2 gene. Theoretical considerations indicated that the &Idquo;silent mutation" C→T localized at the position of 775 bp of the gene encoding the CD18 subunit might be a potential QTL marker of high milk productivity. An association study between the polymorphism of SNP 775C>T, and the diversification of milk performance traits was carried out on the progeny of four bulls with genotypes BL/TL and 775C/T and one bull with genotypes TL/TL and 775C/T. The results documented statistically significant differences in the protein content percentage of milk in two half-sib families of bulls with BL/TL and 775C/T genotype and one half-sib family of bull with TL/TL and 775C/T genotype. It was further concluded that the polymorphism of SNP 775C>T was found to be a more efficient QTL marker than that of D128G, since in all the analysed milk performance traits for half-sib families higher values of the F coefficient were obtained for the SNP 775C>T mutation in comparison with D128G.

The freezing point (FP) was established in 48 bulk tank samples of raw and 48 samples of pasteurized goat milk that were collected in the course of lactation. Alongside, non-fat solids (NFS) content was monitored. Milk freezing point measurements were carried out using the thermistor cryoscope method in compliance with the standard CTS 570538 (1998). The mean freezing point of raw milk was found to be in an interval of -0.5513 ± 0.0046°C, variation ranged from -0.5466°C to -0.5567°C, with higher values in the spring months and a drop at the end of lactation. FP corresponded to the NFS content. The average freezing point of goat milk heat-treated on the farm to the temperature of 72°C over a period of 20 s was -0.5488 ± 0.0046°C, pasteurisation brought an average increase in FP by 0.0025°C.

This study was aimed at monitoring the relative and absolute stand heterogeneity of total carbon, total nitrogen and C/N ratio in Ah-Ae-Btg-Bt horizons of Gleyic Luvisol on one mountain meadow divided into two study plots: one moderately (once a season) mown (plant community of the Nardo-Callunetea class) and one abandoned for about 12 years (plant community of the Molinio-Arrhenatheretea class). The heterogeneities were evaluated more than 2 months after the mowing of the moderately mown meadow at the end of July 2005. Relative stand heterogeneity was expressed using coefficient of variation (CV), absolute stand heterogeneity using the differences between maximum and minimum value. When both meadows were taken into account, the relative stand heterogeneity of total carbon in individual horizons was < 65%, < 73% (total nitrogen), and < 93% (C/N). Lower relative and absolute stand heterogeneity of these parameters was mostly on the abandoned meadow. Relatively higher differences of stand heterogeneity between the meadows were evident in deeper parts of the soil (horizon Btg) and the lowest mainly in horizon Ah (or Bt). The accelerated accumulation of dead organic matter in the autumn caused the natural difference of these inputs not to be substantially eliminated by the presence or absence of mowing. Accelerated eluviation of organic compounds of higher nitrogen content significantly (P < 0.05) decreased the C/N ratio in the Bt horizon (n = 6-8) of the abandoned meadow.

Quantitative real-time RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) assay was developed for the detection and quantification of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) in clinical samples from persistently infected cattle. qRT-PCR was optimized to quantify the number of BVD virus copies using Light Cycler^® detection system and intercalation fluorogenic dye SYBR Green I. A universal set of primers was selected from a highly conserved 5' untranslated region (5'UTR) to detect BVDV type I and II simultaneously. Quantification of BVDV cDNA was accomplished using a calibration curve generated from 10-fold serial dilutions of standard plasmid DNA in the range 1-10⁸ copies/μl. Analysis of 290 bp amplicons enabled monitoring of the viral RNA/BVDV level in a total of five BVDV strains (BVD-NADL, A03/3004, DB03/2943, KA04/3124, KV05/3412) and sixteen bulk milk samples, and in bovine sera of persistent carriers originating from Czech farms, as well as in a batch of calf serum for cell culture. Melting temperatures of amplicons (Tm) of BVDV strains of the same genotype group I as the NADL reference strain showed variability of the thermal points, however significant differences were observed in Tm values between the representatives of genotype group I and II. Low concentrations of BVD virus in bulk milk samples were also qualitatively identified by conventional RT-PCR. Highly reproducible data were obtained as the coefficients of variation of threshold cycles values in intra-assay and inter-assay were less than 0.85% and 2.76%, respectively. The results give enough evidence of suitability of qRT-PCR assay for quantitative analysis of BVDV in clinical samples.

The Velvet Revolution in November 1989 in the former Czechoslovakia opened the way to the renewal of the democratic political system. One of the most visible aspects of the Czech political development consisted in the renewal of the essential functions of elections and political parties. On the local level, however, the political process - as well as in other post-communist countries - continued to be for a long time influenced by the remains of the former centralized system wherein the local administration used to be subjected to the central state power. Municipal elections took hold in these countries, however, the local government remained in the embryonic state and a certain absence of real political and economic decision-making mechanism on the local level continued to show. The public administration in the Czech Republic had to deal with the changes in the administrative division of the state, the split of the Czechoslovak federation as well as the fragmentation of municipalities whose number increased by 50 percent. Decision making mechanisms on the local and regional level were suffering from the incomplete territorial hierarchy of public administration and from the unclear division of power between the state administration and local administration bodies. Only at the end of the 1990s, the public administration in the Czech Republic started to get a more integrated and specific shape. Citizens participation in the political process represents one of the key issues of representative democracy. The contemporary democracy has to face the decrease in voter turnout and the low interest of citizens to assume responsibility within the political process. The spread of democratising process following the fall of the iron curtain should not overshadow the risk of internal weakness of democracy. The solution should be looked for in more responsible citizenship and citizens political participation. The degree of political participation is considered (together with political pluralism) to be the key element of representative democracy in general terms, as well as of democratic process on the local and regional level. The objective of this paper is to describe the specifics of citizens local political participation in the Czech Republic and to show the differences between rural and urban areas. The paper concentrates on voting and voter turnout but deals also with other forms of citizens political participation.

The paper analyses the evaluation of agricultural and farm support in the OECD countries and its differentiated development in the respective countries. This is important, because the effect of subsidies on production, trade, income as well as environment, directly depends on the way how this subsidies are disbursed to the farmers. Another object of the analysis are the differences in the level of support between different commodities that may lead to deformations.

The influence of various forms of farming on unmanaged grasslands was monitored with regard to the accumulation of the above-ground biomass (litter + mulching) and its influence on the leakage of rainfall and the amount of elements in lysimetric waters. In 2001-2005, the highest accumulation was observed in variants 1× mulched in the later term and on green fallow (on average 2.11-1.13 t of dry matter/ha). In comparison with the control site, a conclusive increase always occurred. An interannual increase of dry matter amounted to 0.4-5.2% of the total above-ground biomass. A negative correlative dependency on rainfall leakage on this material was discovered; at a depth of 0.4 m 4-10% of the rainfall leaked, but it had a significant influence on the wash out of Ca, Mg and S. The leakage of water affected a wash out of N_min, P, K, Ca, Mg and S more than the weight of dry matter of the above-ground biomass. With the exception of P, the elements showed a downward tendency over five years. The above-mentioned forms of farming annually increased the accumulation of the above-ground biomass by 0.05-0.16 t of dry matter/ha; however, they do not endanger underground waters by washing out minerals. After a five-year period, a disturbance of the ecological stability of grassland did not occur.

The effect of 24-epibrassinolide and 28-homobrassinolide on seed germination and seedling growth of radish (Raphanus sativus L.) was studied under cadmium toxicity. The impact of brassinosteroids (BRs) on free proline levels and the activity of antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT; EC 1.11.1.6), peroxidase (POD; EC 1.11.1.7), superoxide dismutase (SOD; EC 1.15.1.1), ascorbic peroxidase (APOX; EC 1.11.1.11) and guaiacol peroxidase (GPX; EC 1.11.1.7) in radish seedlings under Cd toxicity was evaluated. The effect of BRs on the activity of ascorbic acid oxidase (AAO; EC 1.10.3.3) and lipid peroxidation in radish seedlings challenged with Cd stress was also investigated. BRs supplementation alleviated the toxic effect of the heavy metal and increased the percentage of seed germination and seedling growth. Out of the two substances, HBL was found to be more effective than EBL in stress alleviation. HBL (3µM) alleviated the toxic effect of the heavy metal and increased the percentage of seed germination by 57% over Cd and 20% over unstressed control. Similarly supplementation of HBL (3µM) caused an increase of 156%, 78% and 91% in length, fresh weight and dry weight of seedling, respectively, over Cd treatment alone. The amelioration of seedling growth by BRs under metal toxicity was associated with enhanced levels of free proline. The activities of antioxidant enzymes CAT, SOD, APOX and GPX were increased in the seedlings from treatments with Cd along with BRs. Brassinosteroid treatment reduced the activity of POD and AAO in heavy metal stressed seedlings. Lipid peroxidation induced by Cd was found reduced with the supplementation of BRs. The results obtained in the study clearly indicated the ameliorative influence of brassinosteroids on the inhibitory effect of Cd toxicity.

A total of thirty-four Czech Fleckvieh (CF), Charolais (CH) and Charolais × Czech Fleckvieh (CH × CF) bulls with an average weight of 284 kg were included in the experiment and fed ad libitum two mixed diets: MS (based on maize silage) and LCS (based on legume-cereal and lucerne silages) with different concentrations of dietary energy until slaughter at the target live weight of 600 kg. The CF bulls consumed more dry matter (DM) of feed daily than the CH bulls (P < 0.05) and gained weight less efficiently than the CH × CF and CH animals (P < 0.01) during the entire experiment. The killing-out percentage was lower in the CF than in the CH × CF and CH (P < 0.05). The CH bulls received a higher score for carcass conformation and a lower score for carcass fatness (P < 0.01) than the CF bulls, had lower proportions of kidney and cod fat (P < 0.01) than the CH × CF and CF bulls, and produced the highest percentage of high-priced meat (P < 0.05) and the lowest percentage of separable fat (P < 0.001). The bulls on the MS diet were younger than the others at the end of the experiment (P < 0.01), gained weight more rapidly (P < 0.001), consumed less DM (P < 0.001) daily, utilized nutrients more efficiently over the entire experimental period (P < 0.001), and had a higher proportion of internal fat than the LCS bulls. It can be concluded that purebred CH bulls were superior to the other breed groups in most of the traits observed. The intensive diet based on maize silage increased average daily gains, reduced the time needed to achieve the target slaughter weight, and improved the feed efficiency of bulls.

In vitro experiments were conducted to study the effect of NaHCO₃ (alkalinity) stress on saplings of Morus alba (cv. Local and Sujanpuri) cultured from nodal explants. For shoot multiplication 2.5 mg/l of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) with 0.3 mg/l gibberellic acid (GA₃) were used and root formation was induced with 1.0 mg/l of indolebutyric acid (IBA). NaHCO₃ salt was added to the culture medium in three concentrations, i.e. 3.57, 20.0 and 59.0mM that increased pH to 6.2, 7.2 and 8.2, respectively. The increased salt concentration affected survival and growth parameters, subsequent cultures promoted them. The cultured biomass was analyzed for proline, protein, sugars and chlorophyll content. The results indicate an increase of proline, protein and sugars; however, they declined at higher concentrations of NaHCO₃. A decrease of chlorophyll was observed at all stress regimes.

The root-plant ratio is one of the important parameters for planting stock quality. We suppose that the ratio is one of the driving variables for the growth performance of new plantation in the forest. The study summarises data on the volume of major parts of 4 years old wild cherry trees. An allometric analysis of different parts of plants in relation to the growth performance of wild cherry trees was done. The results show a close positive relationship between the volume of the whole root system and aboveground biomass. The same is true of the fine root proportion in the root system. Data also document that the efficiency of root system is not decreasing during the root development - at least in the investigated period. The same results were obtained for fine root efficiency. Data confirm the importance of the root-plant ratio for the growth performance of new plantation in the forest provided that harmful factors are not at a limiting level.

This article describes the problem of forest reclamation of settling basins after industrial processing of manganese ore and pyritic shale at the age of 20-30 years. Soil properties of anthropogenic soil (overlaid layers, deposited sediments), nutrition state of assimilation organs, vitality of aboveground organs of tree species were investigated by instant visual evaluation using recommended macromorphological criteria and architecture of the Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) root system.

Agribusiness has made many important contributions to the Turkish economy. These conributions related to meeting of the nation's food demand, creating added value, increasing and diversifying exports and increasing employment. While the relative importance of the Turkish agriculture sector decreases over the years, in the economy, agribusiness still preserves its place and developments. This paper assesses the contribution of agribusiness to the economy during the period 1994-2004, in terms of production and export values and the firms working in this area. Within the agribusiness, the most stable and best-developed industries were food and textile in the period concerned. Changes in the economy influences agribusiness but the basic problem that affects it is development is the integration with the agricultural sector. That is the downstream relations, which is not the desired level at all.

In the autumn of 2006 and summer 2007 the coreid species Leptoglossus occidentalis Heidemann, 1910 was detected in the Czech Republic for the first time as a new alien insect species. It is native to North America, where it causes important seed losses on coniferous trees, especially pines. From Europe it is known since the end of the last century, when it was introduced to Italy. Its repeated finding could indicate a vital population of this species in the Czech Republic, not only introduced individuals.

The mechanism of cisplatin effect has been well examined in in vitro models of malignant cell lines, but has never been studied on plant cell lines. When plant cell suspension culture of Nicotiana tabacum BY-2 was treated with cisplatin a decrease of viability with its increasing concentration was observed as well as the mitotic index. The structure of nuclei has also been changed in dependence on cisplatin concentration.

The genetic diversity of 35 yellow-seeded Brassica napus L. accessions originating from China, Czech Republic and Poland was assessed by means of Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) markers based on multiplex PCR using multi-colour fluorescent-labelled primers. Five brown-seeded accessions originating from China and France were selected as outliers. In total, 632 peaks were generated by AFLP reaction using 18 primer combinations. Only distinctly polymorphic markers among them were scored. In total, 242 polymorphic markers were detected with an average of 13.4 markers per primer combination. The AFLP analysis separated forty studied accessions into Chinese and European groups by UPGMA clustering and Principal Coordinates Analysis (PCA). The grouping of accessions based on the cluster analysis and PCA was generally consistent with known pedigree information and geographic origin. Notable geographical divergence was found between Chinese and European yellow-seeded accessions. This information is useful for yellow-seeded hybrid breeding and encouraging breeders to exchange their germplasm as to enlarge the genetic diversity of breeding accessions.

Experiments were conducted on calves divided into three groups, 6 animals in each, to determine the influence of the intake of non-acidified and acidified milk replacer on the level of acid-base homeostasis in venous blood. The milk replacer was supplied at a dose of 700 g dry matter in 8 l of the liquid in two feedings. The milk replacer was acidified by adding formic acid to ensure the concentration of 0.2% in milk replacer. Venous blood was collected before feeding and 1, 2, 4, and 6 hours after feeding. The samples were analyzed for blood pH, actual bicarbonate HCO₃^- (mmol/l), base excess BE (mmol/l), partial pressure of carbon dioxide pCO₂ (kPa) and partial pressure of oxygen pO₂ (kPa). Significant changes were observed in calves fed acidified milk of albumin type. The mean daily values of acid-base parameters in these calves were significantly lower in comparison with animals fed non-acidified milk replacer and reached the following levels: pH 7.343 ± 0.032 (P < 0.05), HCO₃ 24.49 ± 2.13 mmol/l (P < 0.01), BE 1.11 ± 1.97 mmol/l (P < 0.001). A similar tendency but of a more pronounced decrease in values was recorded in the group of calves fed acidified milk replacer of casein type: pH 7.312 ± 0.022 (P < 0.01), HCO₃^- 21.73 ± 0.75 mmol/l (P < 0.001), BE 96 ± 0.86 mmol/l (P < 0.001). In relation to the time after feeding the group of calves fed non-acidified milk replacer showed a rising tendency in the level of metabolic components (HCO₃^-), compensated by respiratory regulating mechanisms (rise in pCO₂) conducive to the maintenance of optimum blood pH level. The group of calves fed acidified milk replacer (formic acid 2 ml/l) of the albumin type showed metabolic acidosis with subsequent gradual adjustment and compensation by means of metabolic (HCOHCO₃^-) rather than respiratory regulation mechanisms. The calves fed acidified casein type milk replacer displayed metabolic acidosis with insufficient metabolic regulation and more intensive respiratory compensation (decrease in pCO₂). Concurrent investigations of the abomasum acidity and blood acid-base homeostasis reflected the joint action of both the acidifying effect of formic acid and significantly lower production of bicarbonate (HCO₃^-) related to the intake of acidified milk and the tendency to the development of metabolic acidosis.

Two year trials at the Horticultural Faculty in Lednice (part of the Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry Brno) evaluated six cultivars of endive (Cichorium endivia L.): 3 cultivars of C. endivia L. var. crispum (Markant, Midori, Protos), and 3 cultivars of C. endivia L. var. latifolium (Malan, Maral, Nuance). At harvest time, the nutritional composition was evaluated: levels of vitamin C, minerals (K, Na, Ca, Mg), chlorophyll, dietary fibre, dry matter and nitrates. In addition, a single plant weight and yield were measured. It was observed that the cultivars of C. endivia var. crispum contained significantly higher quantities of dietary fibre and dry matter than those of C. endivia L. var. latifolium. Nitrate levels were significantly higher in the leaves of C. endivia L. var. latifolium cultivars. Except for vitamin C and dietary fibre, it was observed that all the investigated parameters varied significantly from one year to the next. Out of the six cultivars of endive, the Maral cultivar showed the highest average yield per 100 m² (662 kg).

Blood sera from 71 dogs were examined for specific IgG antibodies against Lawsonia intracellularis using the indirect immunofluorescent antibody test. The dogs were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of gastrointestinal disease, which could potentially be associated with L. intracellularis. In the group of dogs with gastrointestinal disease (n = 54), 40 dogs were positive (74.1%). Most positive dogs suffered from chronic or intermittent diarrhoea. In the group without signs of primary gastrointestinal disease (n = 17), antibodies were found in 13 dogs (76.5%). The overall positivity was 74.7%. These results indicate that dogs may be an important host species of L. intracellularis.

Studies were carried out in southern Poland during 2002-2006 in Scots pine stands under the effect of an outbreak of pine shoot beetles. The qualitative aspects of beetle feeding in tree crowns, studied on the basis of fallen shoots collected on experimental plots, are presented in this paper. The beetle numbers affected the age distribution of damaged shoots and the proportion of multiple attacks. The proportions of one-year-old shoots and the numbers of shoots with more than two attacks increased in the marginal part of the stand in the year of intensive feeding of beetles and in the subsequent year. A similar proportion of shoots with two attacks in both stands under investigations in individual study periods, with no relation to beetle numbers, does not permit to use this characteristic for forecasting purposes. The average length of tunnels in shoots attacked once reached 20 mm at maximum. The average length of tunnels (measured from the place of shoot disruption) was greater in shoots with two attacks than in shoots with a single one (P < 0.0001). The difference was not significant (P = 0.3429) only in stand B during the study season 2004-2005. The majority of the tunnels made in apical portions of shoots with two attacks damaged the tissue of apical shoots. The distance between the base of the second tunnel and the shoot apex in shoots with two attacks, and its significant (P < 0.01) linear relationship with the length of beetle tunnels, indicated a high nutritional quality of apical portions of shoots.

Production of food and beverages is one of the Czech traditional branches of processing industry. The article tries to describe the model prediction on the sector structure development oriented on labour and personal costs in food industry sector up to 2013 and it is based on the continuous monitoring of these indicators in the period 2000-2005. Except regress analysis of time orders, there was used the method of exponential smoothing. With regard to certain antagonistic tendencies, i.e. the lasting fall of the number of workers in the monitored period but at the same time the growth of personal costs, there were projected separate predictions of these indicators up to 2013, aimed namely at the set of companies with 20 and more employees. The prediction of the selected data up to the year 2013 is based on the running results of the Research Plan of the Research Institute of Agricultural Economics (VÚZE). The probable development of the number of workers and personal costs in the individual branches of food industry is characterised.

The valuation of assets is a relatively challenging activity as well as a scientific discipline having an impact on the amount of the reported assets and economic result process. The report deals with the issue of valuation of the tangible fixed assets in the accounting entities compiling the financial statements pursuant to the Czech national legislation and in conformity with the requirements of the International Accounting Standards IAS/IFRS and US GAAP. The substantial differences in the definitions and valuation of the tangible fixed assets in these systems have been determined, indicating the impact on the economy of the accounting entity, both at the primary acquisition and as at the day of the closing of books. Attention has also been paid to the possibilities of recording the value decreases and to subsequent expenses. The analysis of legal regulations was completed with the analysis of the financial statements from selected economic entities. As per the international standards, the main difference consists in the possibility of component depreciation of tangible assets or, on the other hand, the possibility of group depreciation, in the differences in valuation in the event of acquisition paid for and of acquisition by one's own production and in the possibility to consider the costs of disposal of assets. The subsequent expenses are also construed in a different manner: as per the Czech regulation, they are construed as repairs and maintenance. The substantial difference in comparison with the Czech regulation consists in the possibility of re-valuation of assets upwards as well as the method of actual value determination.

Greenhouse trials were conducted during 2005 to investigate the effect of six soil applied herbicides on common cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium L.) sowed at a depth of 4 cm and 7 cm, and determine the potential injury to maize by the herbicides and the influence of sowing depths. The efficacy of all herbicides was high, regardless of sowing depth and, generally, the coefficient of efficacy ranged from 86.3% to 100.0%. Most of the herbicides had no significant phytotoxic effect on maize plant density/container, height and fresh weight of maize. Exceptions were Atranex-90WDG and Cyatral-SCZ, which caused serious injury to maize (33% and 37%, respectively) if seeded at a depth of 7 cm, and significantly reduced height and fresh weight of the plants.

The influence of N-S fertilizers on the copper content in the inter oilseed rape plants was studied in field experiments. The evaluation involved two treatments of a single rate for the first spring fertilizer application with 100 kg N/ha in the AN treatment (nitrochalk) and 100 kg N/ha + 50 kg S/ha in the ANS treatment (ammonium nitrate and ammonium sulphate). A positive influence of the ANS fertilizer on the copper contents in different parts of plants was determined. The highest Cu concentrations were determined in the leaves and inflorescences, the lowest ones occurred in the stem. The concentration of Cu ranged within the interval of 1.56-8.75 mg Cu/kg of dry matter depending on the growth period and the part of the plant. No differences in copper content were determined in the seeds of individual treatment. The highest uptake in the above-ground parts of the plants was recorded in the green pod period and amounted to 57.4 g Cu/ha for the ANS treatment.

An experiment was conducted to determine effects of wheat bran (WB) phytase on production performance and nutrient utilization in laying hens. Three hundred and seventy-five Lohmann hens at 32 weeks of age were randomly allotted to treatments of fifteen hens per pen with five pens per treatment. Five experimental diets were formulated. Diet one (control) contained 0.19% inorganic phosphate (Pi) from dicalcium phosphate. On the basis of diet 1, diet 2 and 3 were formulated to contain WB 5% and 10%, respectively. In diet 4 and 5, the WB was fixed at the level of 10% with Pi level adjusted to 0.14% in diet 4 and completely replaced with 500 U/kg microbial phytase in diet 5. The results showed that treatment three improved egg yield (P = 0.142), feed conversion ratio (FCR) (P = 0.011), utilization of crude protein (CP) (P = 0.060) and total phosphorus (tP) (P < 0.001), and serum Pi concentration (P = 0.016) compared with the control. Ten percent of WB replacing 0.05% Pi did not influence either egg yield or nutrient utilization. Compared with the control, treatment five improved FCR (P = 0.011) and utilization of CP (P = 0.060) and tP (P < 0.001), but did not influence either performance or serum parameters. The current study suggests that wheat bran could be used successfully in laying hen diets and wheat bran and microbial phytase supplemented together could replace inorganic phosphate completely.

The paper is a contribution to the research on problems of thinnings in mixed (spruce-fir-beech) stands situated in the 5^th forest altitudinal zone (beech with fir) in the central part of Slovakia. The research was carried out on two series of permanent research plots established in 1972. Each of the series consists of three partial plots where one plot was tended by free crown thinning in the framework of whole-area tending. On the second plot a non-whole-area tending was realised while the third ones were left without planned silvicultural treatment as controls. Dynamic changes in tree species composition, stand structure, qualitative and quantitative production including silvicultural analysis of seven thinning interventions were evaluated for a period of 29 years. A special attention was paid to development of future crop trees which are the main bearers of stand quality and quantity. The changes were compared with respect to differences between the plots with whole-area and non-whole-area long-term silvicultural treatment and the control plot (without treatments).

Studies were carried out during 1987-1997 in four stands situated in the lower mountain zone, and representing the association Carici-Fagetum abietetosum (sample plots Facimiech and Walusiówka) and the community of a transitory character between Dentario glandulosae-Fagetum and Carici-Fagetum (sample plots Gródek and Przelecz Sosnów). The greatest volume increment was found in a pure fir (Abies alba) stand of Facimiech (9.4 m³/ha/year, i.e. 1.4% of actual stand volume determined in 1997) being in the optimum stage, phase of aging and regeneration, and the smallest one stand of Gródek (5.3 m³/ha/year, i.e. 0.9% of actual stand volume) being in the growing up stage, phase of selection forest. The stand of Przelcz Sosnów was characterized by the greatest mortality of trees (volume of loss, i.e. 13.5 m³/ha/year). In this stand of a transitory character between the growing up and optimum stages, due to rapid mortality of fir the break up of the stand took place, and in consequence the growing up stage, phase of a little diversified stratified structure was developed. Volume of recruitment was the greatest in the stand of Facimiech, i.e. 0.05 m³/ha/year. In three fir (Abies alba)-beech (Fagus sylvatica) stands the proportions of fir and beech in stand increment differed from their proportions in stand volume. The percentage of fir in volume increment was smaller, and that of beech greater, than their percentages in stand volume. Processes of increment and mortality of fir and beech pointed to a progressive process of changes taking place in stand species composition, expressed by the increase of beech and the decrease of fir. The knowledge about values of loss, recruitment, and increment, expressed by the number of trees and volume units, may be of help in determination of the amount of cut in productive and protective forests managed according to a close-to-nature silviculture.

In this paper, we describe and compare the employment, wages and prices in the agricultural and other rural sectors in Central and East European countries. Together, we point out the lack of statistical information limiting the possibilities of the comparison. We comment the marked decrease in both production and employment in these sectors during the transition period. Together with low wages and the unfavourable development of the relation between the purchase and producer prices, this situation causes the retardation in the growth of the living standard of the rural population, in comparison with other sectors of the national economy. Therefore, the necessity of restructuring agricultural production arises, and first of all, the multifunctional character of the agriculture and the development of non-agricultural activities must be supported by the rural municipalities. It concerns, of course in different rates, all discussed countries.

The main purpose of this paper is to investigate the opportunities for further expansion in the segment of the functional food as highly innovative products based on market segmentation done from the consumer perspective. The survey analysed consumers and their relationship to Functional Food. The relationship between nutrition and health was evaluated as well as their trust towards some actors in the field of food, e.g. producers and retailers and their promotion claims on the one side and medical doctors and nutritional consultants and their advices on the other side. Germany, Poland, Spain and England were the analyzed countries of this survey. About 600 consumers have been interviewed. Afterwards they were grouped into five segments of buyers and three groups of non-buyers of Functional Food.