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The consumption of the organic food in the Czech Republic is, in spite of its permanent growth, still on a very low level. The reasons are both on the side of supply and demand of organic food. The reasons on the side of the supply are especially the insufficient amount and the structure of the organic products. Demand is not met especially in the case of the livestock products, further also in the fruits, vegetables, bread, pastry and others. The lack of the organic food is solved by imports. The important factor is also the lack of the processing capacities, especially for meat and dairy products. The sale is provided under the way of short-term contracts. The prices that the organic farmers get for their products fall short of the quality of products. The main distribution channels are the supermarkets. The organic products are here, however, only the marginal products. For the increase of the supply, the advertising and advertisement should be intensified. The demand is obstructed especially by the low consumer awareness, while the consumers are not sufficiently familiar with the quality of the organic products and are not willing to pay higher price for the higher quality of foodstuff.

Carbon and nitrogen transformations in soil are microbially mediated processes that are functionally related. The fate of C and N was monitored in a clay-textured soil (Typic Haplocambid) which was either unamended (control) or amended with various plant materials at the rate of 10 g residue C/kg soil. To evaluate C mineralization, soils were incubated for 46 days under aerobic conditions. Nitrogen mineralization/immobilization was evaluated at the end of eight-week incubation experiment. All CO₂ evolution data conformed well to a first-order kinetic model, C_m = C₀ (1 - e^-Kt). The product of K and C₀ (KC₀) was significantly correlated with some chemical and biochemical properties of the plant residues, including N concentration (r = 0.83, P < 0.001), C:N (r = -0.64, P < 0.05) and lignin:N (r = -0.81, P < 0.001). Among the plant residue composition characteristics, N concentration (r = 0.96, P < 0.001), C:N (r = -0.69, P < 0.01) and lignin:N (r = -0.68, P < 0.01) were significantly correlated with the net rates of N mineralization/immobilization (N_m/i).

The apparent uptake of mineral nitrogen (N_min) from top- and subsoil layers during the growth of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was studied in Prague-Ruzyne on clay loam Chernozem soil in years 1996-2003. Two (N0, N1) and three treatments, unfertilized (N0), fertilized with 100 kg (N1) and 200 kg (N2) nitrogen per hectare were observed in years 1996-2000 and 2001-2003, respectively. The apparent uptake of nitrogen from soil layers was calculated from the changes of N_min content between sampling terms. Most of available mineral N in the soil down to 90 cm was almost fully depleted between tillering and anthesis in treatment N0. The uptake from subsoil layers was delayed and it continued during the period of grain filling in fertilized treatments. Nitrogen fertilization reduced utilization of N from subsoil. The apparent uptake of N from the zone 50-120 cm ranged from 21 to 62 kg N/ha in N0 and from 15 to 60 kg N/ha in N1 in years 1996-2000. In years 2001-2003 the corresponding values (50-130 cm) were 24-104 kg, 43-130 kg and 29-94 kg N/ha in treatments N0, N1 and N2, respectively. The uptake from 120 (130)-150 cm was around zero in a half of experimental years, and it reached at maximum 12 kg/ha in N0 in 1997. There was a strong linear relation between the amount of N_min in spring and the depletion of nitrogen from the zone 50-120 (130) cm, R² = 0.94, 0.91 and 0.99 in N0, N1 and N2, respectively.

The quality of produced milk and piglet growth were investigated in three groups of lactating Large White sows fed three mixtures containing different levels of lysine, threonine and crude protein. Piglets were weighed immediately after delivery and then in weekly intervals. At the age of 21 days the litter weight was the highest in group B (67.96 kg; P < 0.05), i.e. in the group with the highest dietary content of amino acids. Milk from lactating sows was sampled and analysed. An increased level of dietary amino acids became evident in milk at the first milk sampling (i.e. three days after delivery), when the content of lysine and threonine in milk was significantly the highest in group B (lysine 11.96 g/16 g N; threonine 6.72 g/16 g N; P < 0.05). The level of amino acids in milk and the differences between groups diminished in the following samplings. The changes of crude protein in milk were similar.

In addition to the results published in the first communication (Opitz von Boberfeld et al., 2006) this paper presents crude protein, energy (ME) and ergosterol concentrations of autumn saved herbage at different sites in Central Germany, Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic. Within these sites, the influence of the factors pre-utilisation and winter harvest date was tested over three consecutive years. Related to the different climatic conditions of the sites, crude protein concentrations of the growths pre-utilised in July varied from 149 g/kg in November to 134 g/kg of dry matter (DM) in January. The influence of climatic conditions was different on each location and varied depending on the year. Generally, the consistent effect of the factor "site" related to altitude could not be observed. While the energy concentrations decreased with advancing winter and partly reached the values below 6 MJ ME/kg of DM in January, the ergosterol concentrations increased. The results demonstrate that under Central European conditions autumn saved herbage, pre-utilised in July, could provide adequate quantity and quality for suckler cows until December. Afterwards, the utilisation of preserved forages becomes essential.

In an orchard trial that was established in the spring of 1999 on M 9 rootstock at the spacing of 4 × 1 m, eleven new apple cultivars bred in Holovousy (Angold, Julia, Nabella, Primadela, Produkta, Resista, Rubinstep, Rucla, Selena, Vysočina and Zuzana) were evaluated in comparison with three standard varieties (Gala, Golden Delicious and Jonagold) and another two with resistance to scab (Rosana and Topaz). In the first three years, the incidence of scab and mildew was evaluated under limited chemical protection. In 2000-2005 on each of 10 randomly selected trees of each cultivar, the time of flowering and optimum harvest ripening were recorded, flower set and fruit sets were rated, yield per tree and weight of 10 fruit samples were measured. Trunk diameter was measured between 2002 and 2005. The early summer apple Julia had the healthiest state and it was recommended for organic growing. Selena was the most precocious, the least vigorous and had the highest crop efficiency. The highest annual yields per tree were recorded with Produkta, but this cultivar had the highest proportion of trees with biennial bearing. Primadela achieved the highest cumulative yields, whereas Angold brought the largest fruits on average. With the obtained results, the evaluated cultivars were characterised by some important features or recommendations for growers.

The process of leukocyte cytolysis and the manifestations of apoptosis and secondary necrosis of neutrophil granulocytes (hereafter only "neutrophils") were studied on four virgin heifers after the induction of leukocyte influx into the mammary gland and after their lavage in in vitro conditions. Phosphate buffered saline, muramyl dipeptide and a lipopolysaccharide were used for influx induction. Cytolysis and apoptosis were induced with heat stress, ultraviolet irradiation and spontaneous aging for 24 hours. The cytolysis was detected indirectly by determining the lactate dehydrogenase activity in the cultivation medium after the enzyme was released through cell lysis. The neutrophil apoptosis was detected using flow cytometry and two staining methods (i) simultaneous staining with Annexin V labelled FITC and propidium iodide and (ii) with SYTO 13. It was found that leukocytes of the mammary gland of virgin heifers undergo spontaneous aging during in vitro incubation. The fraction of lysed leukocytes rose in the course of the in vitro incubation and reached 21% up to 34% after 4 hours and 73% up to 79% after 24 hours, depending on the inductor of influx used. From among them, phosphate buffered saline resulted in the lowest incidence of cytolysis, the lipopolysaccharide in the highest incidence. The differences in the effect of influx inductors on leukocyte cytolysis became manifest during the first 4 hours of incubation in particular; the differences between inductors became insignificant after 24 hours. Heat stress, unlike ultraviolet irradiation, resulted in a significant increase in the fraction of lysed leukocytes. Ultraviolet radiation induced neutrophil apoptosis in a dominant way, while the effect of influx inducers and/or of the staining method used for flow cytometry had no effect. Heat stress also induced neutrophil apoptosis but to a lower extent than ultraviolet irradiation. Spontaneous leukocyte aging during the in vitro incubation resulted in an increasing share of apoptotic neutrophils depending on the duration of incubation. An increase in the share of necrotic neutrophils was only significant after influx induction with the lipopolysaccharide, but not after induction with buffered saline. Highly significant correlation between the percentage representation of apoptotic neutrophils and the percentage proportion of lysed leukocytes was shown, both after influx induction with phosphate buffered saline, and with the lipopolysaccharide and after both staining techniques (r = 0.767; 0.932; 0.966; 0.922). Statistically significant correlation was demonstrated between the proportion of necrotic neutrophils and the share of lysed leukocytes only after influx induction with the lipopolysaccharide (r = 0.579; 0.765). After the influx induction with phosphate buffered saline and staining with Annexin V and propidium iodide, statistically significant negative correlation between the percentage share of necrotic neutrophils and the percentage of lysed leukocytes (r = -0.653) was demonstrated. Thus it means that situations can occur when the more leukocytes succumb to cytolysis, the smaller the share of necrotic neutrophils that can be detected with flow cytometry. One can state that the in vit

The paper deals with the study of bionomics and population dynamics of Ips typographus (L.) in the area of the Praděd National Nature Reserve (NNR). Data were collected on the basis of detected feeding marks, beetles caught in traps, and also according to the frequency of occurrence or increase in the number of standing dead trees killed by the bark beetle attack in localities where sanitation felling was not performed. Finally, evaluation of the present condition of forest stand and population dynamics of Ips typographus was carried out. The results showed that the stands currently occur in the stage of disintegration when the role of the bark beetle is irreplaceable. Based on the research findings, the management of the bark beetle was proposed that would enable to achieve so-called regulated disintegration of natural spruce forests in the area of the Praděd NNR.

The effects of soil conditioners Frisol, TerraCottem, Bi-algeen, and fertilisers Silvamix Forte and Cererit on the welfare of Austrian pine were observed in a seven-year experiment on Loket spoil bank. Simultaneously the economic aspects of growing the Austrian pine until the stage of established plantation were examined. The application of products one year and a half after planting did not cause seedling mortality. The elongation growth of young plants conditioned by the application of Silvamix Forte and Frisol was statistically significant whereas these effects manifested themselves in the second year: they persisted till the end of the experiment for Silvamix Forte, and for three years in total for Frisol. The other products - TerraCottem, Bi-algeen and Cererit - also showed generally better, though statistically insignificant results as compared to those of the control plants. The elongation growth for all products culminated in the fifth year and then declined. The stem diameter growth for the best products reached its maximum in the second year. Regarding the overall height growth after seven years, the average number of the highest plants on the experiment location was on plots treated with Silvamix Forte; these plants exceeded the control plants by 46.2 cm. Pines treated with Frisol were higher by 23.4 cm. However, the application of soil conditioners and fertilisers to the given location proved economically ineffective because there was no need to improve the soil at the location, the same applies to mowing and hoeing since almost no forest weed grew there and the substrate surface remained well-aerated and porous.

The conception of the agricultural politicy of the Czech Republic is in accordance with the European model of agriculture, and one of this politicy pillars has been concentrated on the development of the multifunctional agriculture. In this contribution, several findings from the solution of the research project QF 4142 have been summarised in a synthetic form. It introduced financing and support programme of the rape methyl-esther (RME) and mixed fuel production. In the article, the availability and economic potential of the renewable energy sources till the year 2010 are shown primarily. The RME and the bio-diesel form an important part of the biomass in the Czech Republic. We describe in brief the RME characteristics in the year 1997-2004 in the following fields: production and support of the RME and mixed fuel. We have the capacity of the RME production 150 000 t in the Czech Republic with the average costs 20 CZK/l RME.

This study was performed to determine the influence of fermented goat and cow milk produced by the use of Bifidobacterium longum Bb-46 on pathogenic Serratia marcescens and Campylobacter jejuni strains. The correlation between the inhibitory effect and some fermentation parameters (the number of viable probiotic cells and pH of fermented milk) was also determined. Bifidobacterium longum counts and pH values were also measured in milk samples during fermentation. The results showed that the inhibitory effect of Bifidobacterium longum Bb-46 fermented goat milk on Serratia marcescens increased with the fermentation time. The highest inhibitory effect of fermented cow milk occurred in the middle course of fermentation. Statistically significant correlation between the inhibition degree of Serratia marcescens growth and pH values of fermented goat milk was noted as opposed to the correlation between the inhibition degree of Serratia marcescens growth and pH values of fermented cow milk which was not statistically significant. All samples of goat and cow fermented milk exhibited inhibitory effects on the growth of Campylobacter jejuni.

In 2001-2004, the influence of various ways of farming unmanaged grasslands on the mineral nitrogen content in lysimetric waters was monitored. Field trials with 11 variants were performed 420 m above sea level, at depths of 0.2 and 0.4 m, 4-5 times annually. The average amount of N_min released per ha per year in lysimetric waters ranged from 0.84 to 5.12 kg. The upper layer to a depth of 0.2 m had a higher content. The conclusive difference, in comparison with properly farmed control, was with the black fallow and in the variant where fallow followed mulching. With the exception of this method of farming the pratotechnics of unmanaged grasslands - mulching did not increase the load of rhisosphere, either by the overall mineral nitrogen, or by the concentration of N-NO₃^-. Even by using fallow for a four-year period, a conclusive increase in the content of N_min was not observed.

The effect of nitrogen fertilization on root length (RL) distribution of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was investigated. The study was conducted in Prague-Ruzyne on clay loam Chernozemic soil in the years 1996-2003. Two (N0, N1) and three (N0, N1, N2) treatments, unfertilized (N0), fertilized with 100 kg (N1) and 200 kg N/ha (N2) were studied in 1996-2000 and 2001-2003, respectively. Nitrogen rate 100 kg/ha had no effect on RL in soil layers (P > 0.1) in years 1996-2000 and 2002-2003 and there was not significant interaction between N treatment and soil layer except for year 1998 (P < 0.01). Nitrogen fertilization affected RL distribution significantly (P = 0.013) only in 2001 due to reduction of root growth in subsoil layers in treatment N2 (200 kg N/ha) in comparison with N0 and N1. The effect of N fertilization on total RL in rooted soil volume was insignificant. There was a significant effect of year on total RL (P < 0.01) but not of interaction of year and N treatment. Roots reached, with the exception of two years, the depth between 100 and 130 cm. Nitrogen fertilization (N1) had no effect (P = 0.59) on rooting depth (RD) in years 1996-2000 but there was a significant effect of interaction between year and N fertilization on RD (P < 0.01). In the second experimental series (2001-2003) N fertilization rate 200 kg N/ha significantly reduced maximum RD (P < 0.01) in comparison with N0 and N1. The year had highly significant effect on RD.

Artificial reproduction with and without hormonal treatment was performed in females of the common gudgeon (Gobio gobio L.) to assess the suitability of this cyprinid species as a fish model for embryo-larval cytotoxic tests. Considering sperm immobilisation tests, the solution for tench was utilizable. The clearing solution designed for the observation of embryonic development in the European catfish was also found suitable for the common gudgeon embryos. The egg and embryonic mortality, embryonic development, hatching and survival rate were examined. Ovulation occurred in 89% of females after the application of the carp pituitary (5 mg/kg) but embryonic mortality reached nearly 100%. The highest embryonic mortality in females with hormonal treatment was observed within 24 hours of development. On the other hand, the reproduction of females without the application of hormonal stimulation was nearly completely successful with mean mortality 60%. The hatching of embryos of females without hormonal stimulation occurred (average values) 71 hours after fertilization and lasted 65 hours. Embryonic development finished within 176 hours. Our pilot study demonstrated that the eggs of common gudgeon were suitable for embryo-larval tests from the 7^th to the 8^th embryonic developmental stage.

The aim was to determine the conversion of alimentary substances of laying hens (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) into the production of eggs and to determine the emission of nitrogen, air pollution by dust and microorganisms in accordance with different technologies of layer rearing. The studies were conducted in 6 poultry houses. The birds were kept in premises in cage batteries BKN-3, "Spech", OBN-1, OBN-3 or on littered floor. It was found out that there was 1.6 times more dust in the air of poultry house where laying hens were kept on litter and the total number of bacteria was 2.4 times higher than in the bird cages (P < 0.001). The laying hens assimilated 21.95-28.42% of nitrogen, 19.63-31.25% of phosphorus, 6.04-8.33% of potassium for egg production and weight gains when feed is balanced. If cage technologies are applied, over a year, there is a loss of 6.7 ± 1.4% of nitrogen through the excrements because of nitrogen emission. When the technologies of littered floor are used, there is a loss of 18.5 ± 4.8% of nitrogen extricated with the excrements (P < 0.025). When the birds were kept in cages, 0.059 ± 0.011 kg of nitrogen per each bird evaporated because of ammonia emission, while in the case of littered floor - 0.227 ± 0.126 kg of nitrogen.

Anthropogenic soils are formed by human activities. The contents of potentially risk elements are one of the most important criteria of the exploitability of such soils for the agricultural production. The aim of this paper is to assess the contents of the selected potentially risk elements in 16 areas of the Sokolov region, including 5 reclaimed areas and 11 natural soils. 116 sampling locations were analysed in total. Another aim is to analyse the relationships between the elements, using multivariate statistical methods. The contents of the risk elements studied were in most cases under the limit values. In some cases, as with Pb, they were very low compared to the limit values. In the principal component analysis, four components explaining 74% of total variability were selected. The first component (30.2% of variability) showed strong correlations with Mn, V, Ni, and Cu contents. The second component (15.8% of variability) correlated with As and Be. The third component (14.3%) correlated with Pb and Cd. The fourth component (13.7%) correlated with Zn and Cr. The mean scores of each area were projected into the component plots, which enables the assessment of the relative importance of each group of elements in each particular area. The reclaimed and the natural soils are clearly distinguished. It can be concluded that the contents of the risk elements studied do not currently present any important problem in the reclaimed areas. Nevertheless, the situation should be further monitored.

This paper deals with an evaluation of the economics in two commercial plum orchards which were established between 1993-1997 using dense tree-spacing and modern principles of orchard management. This evaluation was conducted in 1994-2004 with the following cultivars: Bluefre, Common Prune, Čačanska lepotica, Čačanska najbolja, Gabrovska, Hamanova, Opal, President, Ruth Gerstetter,Stanley, and Valjevka. Orchard establishment costs, pruning costs, annual orchard operating and pest management costs and returns up to 11 years of growth are given. A denser planting had a positive influence on total yields per hectare with higher returns. Costs per ton of fruit mostly varied between 4 and 7 thousand CZK, whereas farmer prices fluctuated between 7.6 to 13.6 thousand CZK per ton. The highest returns after seven years of growth from one hectare were exhibited by the cultivar President on rootstock St. Julien A in the spacing 4 × 2.5 m followed by the cultivar Stanley on rootstock Myrobalan and the same spacing.

Viruses cause many diseases in plants, animals, and humans. They are strict intracellular parasites with cellular specificity. Viral particles can be transmitted by different routes, such as contaminated food and water. People usually get infected orally, after ingestion of products contaminated during processing or subsequent handling or preparation. This review article is focused on the most severe foodborne viruses specific for humans, of the following genera: Norovirus, Enterovirus, Hepatovirus, Astrovirus, and some others. Methods for detecting viruses in food and strategies for preventing virus transmission via food are also discussed.

The aim of this study was to reveal morphological and morphometrical properties of the sacculus rotundus (SR) and ileum in the Angora rabbit. For this purpose, a total of thirteen adult healthy Angorarabbits of both sexes were used. At the level of the junction of the ileum and SR, the ileum invaginated into the SR by protruding in 9 Angorarabbits, but joined directly the SR in 21. Numerous aggregate lymph follicles located just under the tunica serosa formed outstanding macroscopic polygonal areas on the external surface of the SR. In the inner wall of the SR, irregular projections were seen grossly. The saccorotundocecal orifice was found to be bordered laterally by two folds facing the cecum. These folds enclosed small polygonal spaces with mushroom shaped protrusions. The mean lengths and weights of SR and ileum in male were larger than those in female, and the related values also had statistical significance (P < 0.05). Compared with the ileum, the SR had short and thick villi, had a large amount of crypts and aggregated lymphoid follicles, and had a much thicker wall and much wider lumen. The crescent-like-hollows were detected between the lamina propria and the apical portions of the lymph follicles. The results from this study are thought to shed light on future studies on the digestive system and proper diagnosis of pathological disorders related to it in the Angora rabbit, and to contribute to the present morphological knowledge on the SR and ileum in this species.

The article investigates the socio-economic importance of collection and use of non-wood forest products (NWFP) for inhabitants in the Czech Republic (CR) in 2005 and brings a comparison with former investigations and research projects. The research project consisted of these parts in 2005: 1. Analysis of hitherto performed research projects and their results in 1999-2003, 2. Investigation of quantities and values of NWFP collected in 2004 and 2005, 3. Specific investigation of socio-economic importance of NWFP collection and use. The results of respective investigations prove NWFP collection being quite important for the inhabitants of the CR. The importance consists in the material value of picked commodities on the average annual level higher than 3,000 mil. CZK. Nevertheless, collecting NWFP is considered as a very important recreational activity. Only a small part of the population collecting NWFP (about 12%) collects NWFP to save money.

The paper is focused on the analysis of the wine demand and chosen factors which influence the wine demand in the Czech Republic, in Slovakia, in Austria, and in Germany. In the Czech Republic, the wine consumption per inhabitant went up slightly in 1994-2003, the wine demand has a rising trend. The wine demand has the rising trend in Germany as well. In Slovakia, the year wine consumption per inhabitant decreased by 14.9% from 1994 to 2003; in Austria by 7.7%. There is a downward trend of development in these countries. The influence of the analyzed factors on the development of the wine demand is different in the particular countries. The dependence is possible to follow at the total level of incomes in comparison with the consumer's price of wine.

The paper is focused on the actual problems of agricultural producers' incomes. Currently these become one of the monitored descriptors of maintaining of social stability in agriculture and in the countryside. There is not judged the height and the income development in the article, but the attention is paid to their structure. Concretely, the relation between incomes, which come from the entrepreneurial activity of producers, and the supports, which farmers get in the frame of the Common Agrarian Policy, is monitored. The aim is to draw attention to the possibility of a certain future disproportion towards strengthening of subsidiary means in the total incomes, which could dampen the own entrepreneurial activities. At the same time, it is necessary in this context to solve also methodological aspects of income level monitoring in agriculture. The European Union (Eurostat) makes available several variants of monitoring. Nevertheless, it is essential that the methodology was unambiguous and transparent, so that the incomes in agrarian sector could be unambiguously quantified. Last but not least, the attention is called to a strong influence of the knowledge approach within fulfillment of the European agricultural model.

"The International Year of Microcredit 2005 underscores the importance of microfinance as an integral part of our collective effort to meet the Millennium Development Goals. Sustainable access to microfinance helps to alleviate poverty by generating income…" (Kofi Anan). One of the important factors which influence disbursement of public debts in the LDCs are Microfinancing institutions. The article characterizes the progress of discharge of bankrupt from the macroeconomic point of view, and in the situation for microfinancing industry. One of the main question is when and under what conditions it is the suitable to accelerate the transformation of informal MFIs to formal institutions. In the conclusion, the basic conditions and hypothesis, which are necessary for functioning of formal MFIs, are mentioned.

Molecular and immunological methods were applied for detecting the Ganoderma disease of coconut. Polyclonal antibodies (PAbs) raised against basidiocarp protein of Ganoderma were used. For the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, the primer generated from the internal transcribed spacer region one (ITS 1) of ribosomal DNA gene of Ganoderma, which produced a PCR product of 167 bp in size, was used. Apparently healthy palms in two coconut gardens were tested for Ganoderma disease by ELISA test using basidiocarp protein antiserum. Field trials were laid out in these early-diagnosed palms for the management of the disease. Based on the ELISA results, Pseudomonas fluorescens + Trichoderma viride with chitin amended treatments arrested the multiplication of the pathogen and within 6 months showed an optical density (OD) below the level of infected plants. Integrated Disease Management (IDM) and fungicide tridemorph treated palms showed OD values below infection level within 7 months, and T. harzianum and P. fluorescens + T. viride treated palms showed OD values below infection level in 8 months.

The risk of Pb contaminated soil after treatment with different remediation techniques was assessed. Soil vitrification (microwaves) reduced Pb orally available from the stomach and intestinal phase measured by a physiologically based extraction test. Solidification of Pb (Slovakite) did not reduce the concentration of orally available Pb and increased the Pb uptake by Thlaspi goesingens for 2-times compared to plants grown on the original soil. Soil extraction with 40 mmol/kg EDTA removed 57.6% of Pb. However, the concentration of orally available Pb and Pb uptake by T. goesingens increased. The concentration of mobile soil Pb also increased for 14-times measured by a toxicity characteristic leaching procedure. Soil leaching with 10 mmol/kg biodegradable chelator [S,S] ethylenediamine disuccinate and using a horizontal permeable reactive barrier for Pb accumulation from the washing solution removed 17.8% of Pb, but increased Pb uptake by T. goesingens by 3-times and slightly increased the concentration of Pb in the intestinal phase. Leaching did not significantly effects Pb availability from the stomach phase or Pb mobility.

The aim of the study was to determine the response of soil enzymes such as dehydrogenases, urease and acid and alkaline phosphatases to heating oil contaminating (0.0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1.0, 1.5% of soil) the experimental soil supplemented with lime and used for cultivation of yellow lupine of the Markiz variety. An increasing contamination of soil with heating oil stimulated the activity of dehydrogenases and acid and alkaline phosphatases but had a toxic effect on yellow lupine. Lime supplements did not have a significant effect on an average activity of soil dehydrogenases. However, such soil treatment had a significant effect on urease. Increasing heating oil doses in lime-supplemented soil stimulated urease activity, whereas in lime-free soil urease activity was inhibited. The activity of acid and alkaline phosphatase was lower in limed soil than in lime-free soil. The activity of dehydrogenases, urease and alkaline phosphatase in the soil with lupine cultivation was significantly higher than in the unsown soil.

Soil organic carbon (SOC) is the most often reported attribute and is chosen as the most important indicator of soil quality and agricultural sustainability. In this review, we summarized how cultivation, crop rotation, residue and tillage management, fertilization and monoculture affect soil quality, soil organic matter (SOM) and carbon transformation. The results confirm that SOM is not only a source of carbon but also a sink for carbon sequestration. Cultivation and tillage can reduce soil SOC content and lead to soil deterioration. Tillage practices have a major effect on distribution of C and N, and the rates of organic matter decomposition and N mineralization. Proper adoption of crop rotation can increase or maintain the quantity and quality of soil organic matter, and improve soil chemical and physical properties. Adequate application of fertilizers combined with farmyard manure could increase soil nutrients, and SOC content. Manure or crop residue alone may not be adequate to maintain SOC levels. Crop types influence SOC and soil function in continuous monoculture systems. SOC can be best preserved by rotation with reduced tillage frequency and with additions of chemical fertilizers and manure. Knowledge and assessment of changes (positive or negative) in SOC status with time is still needed to evaluate the impact of different management practices.

An improved protocol for Brassica protoplast culture and plant regeneration was developed. Isolated protoplasts from four-weeks-old in vitro shoot tip culture of Brassica oleracea var. botrytis cv. Siria F1 and Brassica napus doubled haploid of breeding line OP-1 were cultured at a density of 9.8-11.2 × 10⁴ protoplasts/ml in darkness at 25°C in a modified medium containing 2% glucose, 0.25 mg/l 2,4-D, 1 mg/l BAP and 1 mg/l NAA. The first divisions of protoplasts were observed on the third day of culture in B. oleracea and on the fourth day in B. napus. The protoplast cultures were diluted with low osmotic medium on 7^th and 11^th day. The frequency of dividing cells was about 80% in B. oleracea and 50% in B. napus. After one month, the microcalli of approximately 0.5-1 mm in size were transferred into an induction medium with various combinations of growth regulators. Minimum duration of enzyme treatment time and extended dark period in the initial phase of culture increased the survival rate of protoplasts. Organogenesis started when the calli enlarged in size on an induction medium (1 mg/l NAA, 0.02 mg/l GA₃, 1 mg/l 2iP) with 2% sucrose and 0.8% agar. Regeneration frequency of calli was found to be 69-75% in B. oleracea and 2-3% in B. napus. Well-developed shoots were transferred for rooting to a half-strength MS medium without growth regulators. More than 100 B. oleracea regenerants were transferred into soil, and they produced normal heads and set seeds. This very simple procedure is efficient and suitable mainly for B. oleracea var. botrytis and represents a background for fusion experiments.