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From the experimental study of fertilization renovation (after its three-year absence) on production capacity of seminatural grassland in the area of Strážov Hills (Middle Slovakia, height above see level 640 m, association Lolio-Cynosuretum Tx. 1937, time of experiment 1997-1999) it follows that yearly application of doses 60-120 kg N(+PK)/ha leads to a rapid renovation of production feat at high yield stability and production effects by infused nutriens (increase of yield 15.3 or 13.6 kg dry matter/kg NPK, 23.1 or 19.1 kg dry matter/kg N). Within the dose interval 120-240 kg N(+PK)/ha, the values of average production 1 kg N (8.64 kg dry matter) fall to almost one half in comparison to the interval 60-120 kg N(+PK)/ha, and when compared to the dose interval 0-60 kg N(+PK)/ha, they fall to almost one third. When alternating applications of nutrients in particular years (PK-NPK-PK, PK-0-PK, N₆₀PK-N₁₂₀PK-N₂₄₀PK) the yield variation in time (V_x = 25.56-43.64%) increases enormously in comparison to habitual application of the same nutrient doses (V_x = 5.26-10.42%).

Processing of milk for higher value-added products and milk food chain safety require prevention of higher occurrence of microorganisms that can produce spores. It is important to carry out prevention already during raw milk production by farm hygienic measures. The above-mentioned microorganisms can jeopardize the quality and safety of milk foods. This is the reason why the knowledge of factors, interrelationships and possibilities of milk contamination is assumed. The occurrence of hygienically important groups of microorganisms in mixed rough fodder (F) in feeding trough, in excrements (E) and in bulk milk (M) was investigated on seven farms with a good level of milk yield, management and hygienic conditions for three years in summer (S) and winter (W) feeding seasons. The data set was well balanced in terms of other possible farm factors (such as height above sea level, breed of dairy cows and so on). In total 70 samples of each mentioned material were collected. The investigations were focused on counts of thermoresistant bacteria (TRB), total counts of bacilli (TBA), frequency of occurrence of Bacillus cereus (BCE) and Bacillus licheniformis (BLI), and counts of other bacilli (OBA) in all mentioned materials and on the frequency of occurrence of main mastitis pathogens Streptococcus agalactiae (SAG) and Staphylococcus aureus (SAU) in milk. The means of parameters did not exceed the defined standard limits, in particular in raw milk that was suitable for direct human consumption in raw state or for processing for milk products without heat treatment according to relevant EU food legislation. The variabilities of hygienic parameters were relatively high: from 179% (TBA) to 315% (TRB) in F; from 178% (BLI) to 350% (TRB) in E; from 117% (TBA) to 459% (SAG) in M. S increased TRB in F (P > 0.05). Counts of bacilli were well balanced between S and W. S increased BLI in E (P < 0.05), an opposite trend was observed in BCE. The season did not influence SAG and SAU in M. Higher (P ≤ 0.01) counts of BCE were in S, the trend was opposite for BLI (P ≤ 0.05). The season effect on the occurrence of technologically and hygienically difficult microorganisms was not confirmed in general for M, F and E of dairy cows. Regression analysis of the investigated parameters was done. There were significant positive correlations between bacilli and TRB in F as well as in E (correlation coefficients from 0.32 to 0.65; P ≤ 0.01). The relationships between TRB and occurrence of bacilli in M were less close (0.30; P ≤ 0.05) than in F and E. No significant relationships were found between TRB and occurrence of main mastitis pathogens in milk (SAG r = -0.14 and SAU r = 0.11; both P > 0.05). It confirmed the high pasteurization efficiency at liquidation of mentioned pathogens. The relationship SAU × SAG in M was 0.23 (P < 0.05). It suggests a simultaneous effect of dairy cow health state on the occurrence of both pathogens. The majority of significant relationships (from 0.26 to 0.76; from P ≤ 0.05 to P ≤ 0.001) was in F × E within TRB, BLI, OBA and TBA. 7% to 58% of the changes in E were dependent on changes in F. The occurrences

The relationships among soil microbial biomass, pH and available of heavy metal fractions were evaluated in longterm contaminated soils during an incubation experiment with the amendment of zeolite (natural clinoptilolite) and the subsequent addition of glucose. The values of pH after the addition of glucose decreased during the first day of incubation approximately at about one unit and corresponded with the maximum increase of microbial biomass. The available heavy metal contents extracted by H₂O, 1 mol/l NH₄NO₃ and 0.005 mol/l DTPA increased during the first two days of incubation. Only a few significant relationships were found between the available metal contents and pH or microbial biomass. This fact could be ascribed to the different dynamics of the microbial biomass, pH and metal availability after glucose addition, when the highest metal contents during the incubation were usually reached one day later in respect to the greatest changes of pH and microbial activity. In comparison to soils without zeolite addition, the variants with natural clinoptilolite showed lower heavy metal contents in all used extractants with the exception of Cd which in H₂O extracts tended to increase.

During 1997-1999 the injury caused by insect herbivors and mortality of plants of field penny-cress (Thlaspi arvense L.) was studied on an early fallow field at Prague-Ruzyně. The highest abundance of the weed (102 plants per m2) was recorded in 1999, the lowest (27 plants/m2) in 1998. Nearly all plants (100% in 1997 and 1998, 94% in 1999) were injured by flea beetles (Phyllotreta spp.). Injury was greatest (> 50%) in younger seedlings. Mortality was low in 1997 (17.1%) and 1999 (15.8%), but high in 1998 (94%) because of concurrent drought. Herbivory and drought may kill a large proportion of seedlings and thus change the composition of the weed community.

The Pb, Zn and Cd phytoextraction potential of 14 different plants was assessed in a chelate induced phytoextraction experiment. In the used soil heavy metals mainly reside in carbonate, organic matter, and residual soil fractions. The addition of a chelate, 5 mmol/kg ethylenediamine-tetracetic acid (EDTA), increased the proportion of phytoavailable Pb, Zn and Cd in the soil (dissolved in soil solution and exchangeable from soil colloids), and also their uptake by tested plants up to 48 times (Sinapis alba), 4.6 times (Raphanus sativus oleiformis), and 3.3 times (Amaranthus spp.), respectively, compared to the control. The biodegradable chelate ethylenediamine-disuccinic acid (EDDS) was generally less effective (tested on a selection of 4 plant species), except for Cannabis sativa. In a treatment with 10 mmol/kg EDDS, Pb, Zn and Cd concentrations of 1053 ± 125, 211 ± 16 and 5.4 ± 0.8 mg/kg, respectively, were measured in the biomass of Cannabis sativa and were 105, 2.3 and 31.7 times higher, respectively, than in the control treatment. The calculated Pb phytoextraction potential of Cannabis sativa amounted to 26.3 kg/ha.

The objectives of this study were to assess post-hatch development of chickens treated in ovo with the aromatase inhibitor YM511. A total of 137 eggs coming from artificially inseminated hens were at first injected in the albumen with either DMSO alone (54 eggs injected, control group) or with DMSO + aromatase inhibitor (YM511, 1 mg/egg, 83 eggs injected, treated group) and then incubated under standard conditions. Out of the 24 chicks hatched in the treated group, 16 were genetic males (ZZ) and 8 were genetic females (ZW). By 26 weeks of age, secondary sex characteristics of females (cloaca, comb, wattles, song, feathers of hackle and tail) progressively transformed into a male phenotype. Using CT-scanner technology in these 8 birds, the presence of irregular testis-like masses positioned in the antero-ventral portion of the kidneys was observable, an indication that reproductive organs had also been affected by the treatment.

The measurements of soil CO₂ efflux in a Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) forest stand are reported for a 6-month period (from May 1^st to October 26^th 1999). Forest floor CO₂ efflux was measured at four positions using a portable infra-red gas analyser (LI-COR), operating as a closed dynamic system and connected to a portable soil chamber. Soil CO₂ efflux was measured 3-4 times per month. Soil temperature at a depth of 5 cm was recorded during the whole period with an interval of ten minutes. An exponential regression was used to describe the relationship between soil temperature and soil CO₂ efflux. On the basis of this relationship Q₁₀ values were calculated. The averaged value of Q₁₀ for the studied Norway spruce forest stand was 3.74.

A possible influence of low growth temperature on the photochemical activity of isolated mesophyll chloroplasts was studied in three biotypes of kochia [Kochia scoparia (L.) Schrad.] that showed either double resistance to both atrazine and acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitors (Bubny biotype), resistance to ALS inhibitors but not to atrazine (Jihlava biotype), or sensitivity to both types of herbicides (Karlín biotype). Plants 5 or 12 weeks old since the date of sowing were examined. The Bubny biotype displayed the lowest values of Hill reaction activity (HRA) among all biotypes examined, and a significantly lower activity of Photosystem (PS) 1 compared to the Karlín biotype; this applied both for the control and low temperature-grown plants and for both plant ages studied. The comparison of HRA and PS1 activity in the Jihlava and Karlín biotypes showed lower values of both parameters for the Jihlava biotype. The HRA of plants grown at low temperature conditions was usually only slightly lower compared to the control plants of all three biotypes examined. The activity of PS1 in the kochia biotypes grown under low-temperature conditions increased markedly and significantly compared to the control plants; this increase was slightly higher in the atrazine-sensitive biotypes Jihlava and Karlín than in the resistant biotype Bubny. The differences between resistant and susceptible biotypes in the HRA diminished under low-temperature conditions whereas the differences in PS1 activity increased.

The aims of this study were: 1. to determine the effect of dexiccation treatment on the physiological quality of Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) seedlings by measurements of electrolyte leakage from the root system; b) to test the use of hydrogl STOCKOSORB^® for protection of the root system of spruce seedlings during their transplanting. The results showed that desiccation treatment significantly affected the rate of electrolyte leakage (34% leakage for control seedlings and 53% in contrast with seedlings after 5 hours of desiccation). Likewise, significant differences were found in height and root collar increments after the first vegetation period that decreased with the duration of desiccation treatment. The values of electrolyte leakage also increased with the duration of desiccation treatment for seedlings treated with hydrogel. On the other hand, the rate of electrolyte leakage was lower after 5 hours of stress factor than in untreated seedlings. The height and root collar increments were higher in seedlings treated with hydrogel for all variants. The obtained results showed a possibility of using the measurement of electrolyte leakage from the root system to determine the physiological quality of Norway spruce seedlings. The rate of electrolyte leakage over 40% signals the physiological damage to the root system of spruce seedlings. Next, the results confirmed the need of protection of seedling roots during handling. The seedlings without hydrogel had 35% height and 26% root collar diameter increment after two-hour desiccation stress. On the other hand, the same seedlings with STOCKOSORB had 42% height and 48% root collar increment.

Resistance to powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis (DC.) E. O. Speer f.sp. tritici Em. Marchal) in Aegilops crassa Boiss., Ae. ventricosa Tausch, Ae. biuncialis Vis., Ae. triuncialis L. and Ae. cylindrica Host was tested at the stage of primary leaves in the years 2000 and 2001. All plants of Ae. ventricosa, Ae. biuncialis and sample No. 9 of Ae. cylindrica repeatedly showed a susceptible reaction after being inoculated by all powdery mildew isolates used. In contrast, plants of Ae. crassa, sample No. 8 of Ae. cylindrica and all samples (No. 13, 21, 22, 24 and 26) of Ae. triuncialis were resistant to all isolates. Samples No. 5, 6, 7, 19 and 23 of Ae. cylindrica contained resistant and susceptible plants in both years. Virulence to these samples ranged from 3% to 18%. Cluster analysis using DNA microsatellite markers showed that the accessions are arranged in groups based on taxonomic relationship but not on basis of resistance. Plants susceptible to powdery mildew at the juvenile stage showed satisfactory adult plant resistance.

Blood haematology and plasma chemistry profiles were examined in a group of ten 17 months-old green iguanas two minutes before propofol administration (10 mg/kg of body weight) and two minutes after recovery from anaesthesia. The induction time was very short (35.50 ± 22.54 s), the recovery time was 21.50 ± 7.44 minutes. At five and fifteen minutes of anaesthesia there was a considerable drop in the heart rate. The most marked drop, however, was noted during the tenth minute. Following the administration of propofol green iguanas showed marked changes in the respiratory frequency that were not accompanied by any changes in the levels of SpO₂. RBC (1.06 ± 0.08 vs. 1.21 ± 0.06 10¹²/l) were decreased with a high significance (P < 0.01) two minutes after recovery from the propofol anaesthesia. At the same time there was a significant (P < 0.05) decrease of haemoglobin concentration (76.70 ± 13.39 vs. 83.73 ± 9.24 g/l) and PCV (0.34 ± 0.04 vs. 0.36 ± 0.04 l/l) as well as a significant (P < 0.05) increase of WBC (7.95 ± 3.38 vs. 5.20 ± 2.52 10⁹/l), heterophils (3.14 ± 1.48 vs. 1.43 ± 0.43 10⁹/l) and basophils (0.60 ± 0.53 vs. 0.23 ± 0.17 10⁹/l). The following parameters increased two minutes after anaesthesia with a high significance (P < 0.01): plasma concentration of total protein (55.12 ± 5.94 vs. 49.02 ± 3.54 g/l), uric acid (231.07 ± 77.69 vs. 157.58 ± 60.58 µmol/l), AST (1.23 ± 0.52 vs. 0.67 ± 0.34 µkat/l), TAG (3.37 ± 1.11 vs. 1.48 ± 0.78 mmol/l), phosphorus (2.29 ± 0.38 vs. 1.85 ± 0.35 mmol/l). The increase in plasma calcium levels (3.51 ± 0.11 vs. 3.21 ± 0.23 mmol/l) was significant at the level of P < 0.05. All the measured values were within the reference range of healthy green iguanas.

This paper follows previous papers published by the authors. All the papers are concerned with standard direct payments, the system of administration of direct payments approved for 2004 and their impact on the economy of agricultural enterprises farming in different production areas. The impact of different ways of using additional payments for the years 2005 and 2006 are compared in this report. Attention is mostly paid to ways of the maximum adaptation to the Reform of Common Agricultural Policy.

The article stresses the importance of analysing the inflow of foreign direct investments to the countries of the Visegrad Group. In this context, what is shown is the attractiveness of the CEE countries, including the Visegrad Group, in terms of the FDI location; and there are also other factors depicted, which determine the attractiveness of regions for foreign investors. The EU accession gave the Visegrad Group countries new opportunities to attract FDI; the point is to take advantage of these opportunities. Actions at both national and regional level are constantly needed in order to enhance the location attractiveness, since the VG countries need capital to modernize their economies. The quality of the investments attracted is also crucial, as the "modern" ones will create stable bases for the economy modernization and for building of a sustainable competitive advantage.

During 4 years, 27 cultivars and breeding lines of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) were tested in small plot experiments for resistance to powdery mildew fungus. The most resistant were Frimegu, RE9607, Runal, Asset, Folke and Wasmo. The cultivars Asta (Pm2,6) and Vlasta (Pm2,6 and another not determined specific gene or minor genes of resistance) fall into resistant cultivars. It seems that the specific genes of resistance Pm2 and Pm6 are still very effective against the present Czech population of powdery mildew on wheat. Resistance of the cultivars Hereward and Tarso, having the gene of resistance Pm8, can be ascribed to an additional undetermined gene that is effective only in mature plants. The cultivars Mikon and Ramiro with partial resistance had a higher infection type and disease severity than resistant cultivars, but lower disease severity than the susceptible cultivar Kanzler.

Pea seeds were swollen in solutions with different concentrations of cytokinin benzyladenine (BA). As compared with controls, a low concentration of BA (0.05 mg/l) did not affect the growth of stems and roots of twelve-day-old seedlings but concentrations of 0.20-4.00 mg/l showed an inhibiting effect; this inhibition was proportional to the concentration of BA. In controls the ratio between the lengths of stems and roots was equal to 1.14, while in seedlings influenced by BA in concentration of 0.20 mg/l its value was significantly lowered to 0.91. Also in six-day-old pea seedlings cultivated under in vitro conditions, BA concentrations of 0.70 and 3.30 mg/l inhibited the growth of roots and epicotyls and significantly increased the production of ethylene (by 150 and 330%, respectively). Three hours after the amputation of the root of five-day-old pea seedlings the level of cytokinin trans-zeatin increased in the apical part of the stem. Within the interval of 48 hours after the amputation of the root the concentration of this plant hormone gradually decreased again. The initial increase in the zeatin level in the stem indicates that the absence of the root induces a reduction of growth-inhibiting effects of roots, which negatively influences the zeatin level in the stem apex at the beginning of germination.

A set of quality parameters (crude protein content, Zeleny sedimentation test, wet gluten content, gluten index, albumins + globulins content, gliadin content, sum of glutenins, proportion of albumins + globulins in crude protein and relative viscosity) was tested in 17 doubled haploid (DH) wheat lines differing in the presence or absence of 1B/1R translocation. The presence of 1B/1R translocation (allele Gli 1B3) affected the significantly higher content of albumins and globulins and significantly lower value of gluten index. Nevertheless, a certain translocation influence on the other parameters (Zeleny sedimentation test; relative viscosity; proportion of albumins + globulins in crude protein) was also registered. The deteriorative effect of the 1B/1R translocation on indirect technological grain parameters was confirmed more markedly in gluten index than in Zeleny sedimentation test. A high number of significant differences between lines was found in Zeleny sedimentation test, content of glutenin, content of albumins + globulins and their proportion in crude protein. In spite of lower variability between lines relative viscosity showed a high dependence on genotype and was indifferent to the other quality parameters.

The effect of some factors (genotype, sex, litter size, age of dam at lambing, month of lambing and year of birth of lamb) on the growth of lambs - crossbreds between the Improved Wallachian (IW) and East Friesian (EF) breed was evaluated in operating conditions during two successive years. Three genotypes were evaluated: IW 50 EF 50, EF 75 IW 25 and EF 87.5 IW 12.5. The evaluation of the effect of genotype on growth showed that this factor did not have a significant effect on the majority of growth traits under study. In the period from birth to 100 days of age the highest daily gain was found in IW 50 EF 50 (263 g). The daily gains of EF 75 IW 25 and EF 87.5 IW 12.5 in this period were lower but identical (244 g). Age of dam had a significant effect on the majority of growth traits under study. Sex of lamb had a significant effect on body weight at 100 days of age and also on the majority of daily gains under study. The factors litter size, month of lambing and year of lamb birth were the most significant sources of variation of daily gains. As far as the non-genetic factors were concerned, the highest daily gains from birth to 100 days of age were recorded in males (259 g), in singles (260 g), in lambs from 4-years-old ewes (269 g), in lambs born in January (263 g) and in lambs born in the first year of evaluation (256 g). The analysis of phenotypic correlations indicated that body weight at birth showed a positive and highly significant (P ≤ 0.01) effect on the majority of growth traits under study. All phenotypic correlations between individual body weights were positive and high (P ≤ 0.01). The majority of phenotypic correlations between individual daily gains under study were also positive and high (P ≤ 0.01).

At present the laying hen rearing is transformed into alternative housing systems which include a deep litter system. As for the poultry nutrition, the replacement of animal protein with vegetable protein in poultry feed is applied. Therefore, in an experiment we evaluated the quality of eggs from laying hens in the cage system as compared to the deep litter system with vegetable protein substituted for animal protein in their feed. 72 ISA Brown laying hens were placed into the experiment. 36 laying hens were kept in the deep litter system and 36 laying hens were kept in conventional cages for laying hens. For the period of 9 months, 36 eggs from the group in the deep litter system were examined, always at intervals of five weeks (i.e. 8 × 36 eggs) and so were 36 eggs from the group in the cage system (i.e. 8 × 36 eggs). We found out that in the deep litter system the mean egg weight was higher (P < 0.01), shell weight was lower (P < 0.01), egg albumen was higher (P < 0.01), yolk weight did not differ (P > 0.05), yolk cholesterol was higher (P < 0.01), yolk colour was darker (P < 0.05), shell strength did not differ (P > 0.05), all in comparison with the cage system of laying hen keeping. The results of the experiment show that where vegetable protein was substituted for animal protein in the nutrition of laying hens, there were differences in the quality of eggs from laying hens kept in the deep litter system and eggs from laying hens kept in the cage system.

Two self-sterility systems, self-incompatibility (SI) and cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) were used to verify their suitability for hybrid breeding of cauliflower. The possibility of reproduction of SI and CMS lines in isolation cages using insect pollinators were proved. The best results in reproduction of SI lines derived from the cultivar Montano were achieved by spraying with 3% NaCl solution in the evening and using bumblebees as pollinators. The mean weight of seeds per plant attained approximately 5 g. Two CMS lines bred from cultivars Brilant and Fortuna achieved seed set per plant after honeybee pollination with their fertile analogues 0.8 and 2.0 g, respectively. The yield of F1 seeds in hybridization experiment based on SI was 1.8 grams per plant of SI mother line. In hybridization based on CMS, the yield of F1 seeds per CMS plant was 2.3 grams. The F1 hybrid of SI line Montano × self-pollinating line from cv. Fortuna showed to be the best combination in a preliminary field trial.

A total of 842 wild boar of differing ages, originating from 29 (37.7%) of the 77 districts in the Czech Republic, were examined during the hunting seasons from 2002 to 2005. Of them, 274 (32.5%) of the animals were wild specimens and 568 (67.5%) from game parks. Out of 786 animals, the following were included in the study: 668 piglets, 61 juveniles, 32 adult males and 25 adult females. A total of 2 704 samples from various tissues and faeces were examined: 309 separately collected faecal samples from 309 (36.7%) animals, 2 332 samples from various tissues and 63 faecal samples from 533 (63.3%) animals. Mycobacteria were isolated from 75 (8.9%) animals from 11 of the districts. Neither a causative agent of bovine tuberculosis, nor any other members of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex were isolated from any of the animals. From one (0.1%) animal, M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis of IS900 RFLP type A-C10 was isolated from intestinal lymph nodes, which was also isolated within the same district during other studies of cattle and free living ruminants. The causative agent of avian tuberculosis, M. a. avium (IS901+ and IS1245+), was isolated from 7 (0.8%) animals; among them tuberculous lesions were detected in intestinal lymph nodes, with gross tuberculous lesions visible on two animals. The causative agent of avian mycobacteriosis M. a. hominissuis (IS901- and IS1245+) was detected in lymph nodes without gross lesions in one (0.1%) animal. From 45 (5.5%) animals without lesions, atypical mycobacteria of the following nine species were isolated from pulmonary lymph nodes, small and large intestine, intestinal mucosa and faeces: M. fortuitum, M. chelonae, M. scrofulaceum, M. triviale, M. terrae, M. phlei, M. abscessus, M. flavescens, and M. smegmatis. Due to a high density of wild boar and their large migration radius, they can be viewed as a potential source for mycobacterial infections as well as other infectious agents.

The paper describes the regime and dynamics of the soil moisture content of sandy soils in Záhorská lowland during different growing seasons. Research plots are situated near Kamenný mlyn, approximately 3 km from Plavecký Štvrtok and 8 km southward from the town of Malacky. Changes in the soil moisture content are described by soil moisture constants (MCC, PDA, WP) and its relation to atmospheric precipitation and to the character of undergrowth is shown. The low water-holding capacity of sandy soils and their high drainage together with dense root system do not allow the sufficient saturation of soil during the growing season. The low wilting point value (2%) leads to the consumption of all available water in the soil. The most frequent is the semiarid interval of soil moisture (PDA -WP) with reduced availability of water to plants (> pF 3.1). The arid interval (< WP) occurrence on hot summer days results in a decrease in transpiration and assimilation intensity of plants, their physiological weakening and premature fall of assimilation organs.

In Slovakia, soil acidification remains an environmental and forestry related issue despite a sharp decrease in the S02. Recent monitoring of critical acid loads of Slovak forests show that around one third of Slovak forests are directly affected by acidification. In this situation, an increased biomass extraction from forests for energy generation purposes, considered by some decision-makers, poses a serious threat to geobiochemical cycles and may further aggravate the effect of the emissions on soils. In other parts of the country however, the drop in pH value means a soil degradation in sense of soil forming processes rather than in reference to forest production. This fact is also confirmed with the values of growing stock in Slovak forests, continually increasing since 1920.

Czech settlement structure as well as the structure of public administration on municipal level is extremely disintegrated. Besides a great number of very small villages - small settlement units - there exists a big share of very small municipalities with self-government. Those municipalities can and often do cooperate in voluntary associations, which can transfer some of their competencies by a specific municipal treaty. This paper is focused on the discussion of possibilities and limits of cooperation among rural municipalities. Different forms of existing collaboration are discussed and possibilities of new forms of municipal collaboration are drafted, including the possible presumed and real dangers of such collaboration.

In the course of a 3-year study the natural occurrence of storage diseases in ambient air storage with 1 to 2°C was evaluated on samples of 30 cultivars and advanced selections that were harvested from orchards with and without the use of fungicide treatments. Based upon the frequency of occurrence, bitter rot and grey mould were the most common diseases in this study followed by blue mould and brown rot. Fungicide treatments applied in the orchard with integrated plant protection reduced total fruit rotting with different cultivars two to four times. Significant losses caused by rotting usually took place in the last quarter of the normal storage life of each cultivar, but in the case of samples treated with fungicides it was mostly during the last month. Cultivars Angold, Gala, Florina, Melodie and Meteor proved to be partially resistant to the storage diseases, but the smallest shares of rotted fruits were recorded on apples of Zuzana andMelrose. Still, five advanced selections proved not to be so affected by fruit rotting asMelrose and Zuzana, from which HL 237 and HL 390 were the most remarkable. The majority of selections with resistance to storage diseases as well as Zuzana cv. contain Glockenapfel cv. in their pedigree.

This paper presents the latest information about the supply of iodine to meet its requirements in hens of laying type, on the basis of iodine content in egg yolk and about the importance of eggs as an iodine source in human nutrition. The Sandell-Kolthoff method was applied to determine iodine content in the yolk of eggs from 9 large flocks (54 eggs) and 16 small flocks (96 eggs) in 2004, and from 10 large flocks (135 eggs) and 15 small flocks (114 eggs) in 2005. Iodine content was also determined in the albumen of 70 eggs. In 2004, the iodine content in the yolk of eggs from large flocks was 1 014.1 ± 356.6 while in 2005 it amounted to 1 663.8 ± 1 179.7 µg/kg fresh matter (P < 0.01); the respective values for the yolk of eggs from small flocks in 2004 and 2005 were 307.1 ± 255.7 and 519.5 ± 508.2 µg/kg fresh matter (P < 0.01). Compared to 1996, in 2005, the iodine content in yolk increased by 123.7% in large flocks, and by 19.2% in small flocks. The iodine content in albumen was 16.2 ± 9.7 µg/kg fresh matter, and it accounted for 2.6-5.0% of the total iodine content in 1 egg. The correlation coefficient between iodine contents in yolk and albumen was r = 0.67. In the Czech Republic, 1 egg from large flocks contains on average 31.2 µg iodine while 1 egg from small flocks contains 10.0 µg. Eggs from large flocks cover 7-14% and from small flocks 2.2-4.4% of the daily iodine requirement in adults. Iodine concentrations exceeding 2 500 µg/kg yolk fresh matter in large flocks were measured between week 32 and 60 of the laying cycle and with daily intake of 0.116-0.132 mg iodine per hen.

Dothistroma needle blight Mycosphaerella pini E. Rostrup and its anamorphic stage Dothistroma septospora (Dorog.) Morelet was detected for the first time in the territory of the Czech Republic in a consignment of imported plants of Austrian pine Pinus nigra Arnold in 1999. In 2000, it was also found on Pinus nigra in an open planting in a plantation of Christmas trees by the village of Jedovnice near Brno in South Moravia. In the Czech Republic, Dothi-stroma needle blight was identified on 13 species of pine. Pinus nigra Arnold and Pinus mugo Turra are the most frequent hosts. In addition to these species, Dothistroma needle blight was observed on Pinus ponderosa Douglas ex Lawson, Pinus jeffreyi Grev. et Balf, Pinus banksiana Lamb., Pinus contorta Douglas, Pinus rotundata Link, Pinus leucodermis Ant. and Pinus sylvestris L. Finds on Pinus aristata Engelm., Pinus rigida Mill., Pinus heldreichii H. Christ. and Pinus cembra L. var. sibirica (Du Tour) G. Don. are a certain rarity. These species are not mentioned anywhere as potential hosts of Dothistroma needle blight. As for the species of other genera Picea pungens Engelm., Picea abies L. Karst. and last but not least Picea schrenkiana Fisch. & C. A. Mey were also observed as hosts. The host range of Dothistroma needle blight recorded in papers is noted as well.

In the present development of a knowledge society and with the increasing impact of knowledge on economic growth, case studies have become vehicles of knowledge which can both store and transfer it. Knowledge based case studies describe the best practices as well as solutions of complex problems. Knowledge in case studies is described in both written and symbolic form. The content and form of knowledge based case studies should be in mutual equilibrium. Knowledge based case studies are both descriptions of methods and algorithms as well as narratives. As narratives, they should have a relevant literary quality. Case studies can involve mass media into their structure and use simulation techniques as well as techniques of entrepreneurial games. Case studies can thus be both dynamic and flexible. Users can personally influence the behaviour and evolution of the process. They can choose their role in the process and can also change it whilst performing the solution. Social, cultural and traditional values are respected during all steps leading to solutions of problems. Ecological aspects and conditions of sustainable development are taken into account when solutions are analysed, recommended and accepted. Case studies present the best practices which enable users to provide benchmarking examples of their own solutions. Data bases of case studies should provide more dimensions containing descriptors which characterize the studies. In the following article, six descriptors will be recommended: domains, objectives, critical success factors, indicators, the best practices explanations and case characteristics. These enable to sort out, categorize, classify and stratify studies in a data base and are helpful in assessing their quality. A vertical structure of the data base facilitates classification and ordering of studies according to subject areas. A horizontal structure of the database enables classification of case studies from the user point of view.

In 1995-1997, the population dynamics of the flea beetles Chaetocnema tibialis and Phyllotreta vittula, associated with Amaranthus retroflexus (wild species) and Amaranthus caudatus (cultivated species), were studied at the locality Nitra-Malanta (48°19'N, 18°09'E) in south-western Slovakia. On both plant species, the number of C. tibialis adults was usually very low until the beginning of July. During July the number of C. tibialis increased, but sooner on cultivated amaranth. An increased number of C. tibialis adults was observed on both amaranth species until the middle of September. The results showed that amaranth plants are a very important reservoir of C. tibialis during summer. P. vittula was a common flea beetle on amaranth during the whole summer, but its numbers never exceeded more than 10 adults per 25 plants. Low temperatures in winter had a negative effect on populations of C. tibialis on both amaranth species and also on populations of P. vittula on A. retroflexus. The lower the precipitation was in July, the higher were the populations of C. tibialis on both amaranth species and the populations of P. vittula on A. retroflexus.