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Monitoring of species spectrum of true bugs (Heteroptera) on apple trees without pest management was conducted in 2010-2011. Two sites were selected - an abandoned orchard and a road alley near the village of Velké Bílovice (Břeclav district, Czech Republic). The capture of true bugs with a fogger device (Pulsfog) on five selected trees in each site was performed. The effective substance deltamethrin at concentration of 0.0025 g/l was applied to the tree crowns. Three collections (28/4, 20/5, and 9/7) in 2010 and two (11/5 and 23/6) in 2011 were done. Out of 55 detected species of true bugs, 43 species occurred in the alley and 29 in the orchard. Thirty-two species were predatory or partly predatory (58.18%), 22 species were phytophagous (40%), and one mycetophagous (1.82%).

The hygienic indicators and chemical composition of Prgica cheese produced from raw and pasteurised milks as well as the microbiological quality of dry red pepper used in the cheese production were investigated.. Prgica cheeses and originally packed dry red peppers were collected from five family farms and five vacuum-packed Prgica cheese samples were purchased from the supermarkets. Significantly lower fat (P < 0.01), protein, and total solids contents (P < 0.0001) of artisanal Prgica cheese in comparison to Prgica cheese purchased from the supermarkets were detected. Two samples of cheese produced on family farms and three samples purchased from the supermarkets had high numbers of yeasts and moulds. The yeasts Mucor sp. and Candida famata, and moulds Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus ochraceus, were detected in dry red pepper. The results showed that there was potential yeast and mould contamination among the Prgica cheeses produced from raw milk, as well as Prgica cheeses purchased from the supermarkets, produced from pasteurised milk under controlled conditions, also contained high numbers of yeasts and moulds probably due to contamination by dry red pepper used in their production.

Information provided in the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) portal database of the European Commission on "crustaceans and products thereof" for Bangladesh during 2000-2012 was investigated to analyse the trends of occurrences. A total of 159 (10.56%) notifications (alert - 40; border rejection - 47; information - 72) were recorded for Bangladesh against a worldwide 1505 notifications. During the period 120 (20.27%) notifications were identified for residue of veterinary medicinal products against 592 notifications recorded in the portal. Forty-eight consignments were re-despatched to Bangladesh while 11 consignments were destroyed at the European border as a consequence of the notifications by the European countries.

The phenomenon of chromatin migration was observed during microsporogenesis in an ethyl methane sulphonate (EMS) treated population of poppy, which is an important medicinal plant. Cytomixis occurred through a cytoplasmic channel or by direct fusion of pollen mother cells (PMCs); the former was more recurring than the latter. The process was associated with irregular meiosis. PMCs with differing chromosome numbers from the normal diploid number (2n = 22) through cytomixis may lead to the production of aneuploid and polyploid gametes. An increase in the concentration of EMS had a positive effect on the percentage of PMCs showing cytomixis. In addition to cytomixis, other chromosomal abnormalities were also found. Cytomixis along with the related chromosomal abnormalities largely affected the post-meiotic products resulting in some pollen sterility.

To investigate the effects of returning wheat straw to croplands on soil compaction and nutrient availability, this trial was designed: (1) planted crops without fertilization (NF); (2) natural land without human activities (CT); (3) applied mineral fertilizers in combination with 7500 kg/ha wheat straw (WS-NPK); (4) applied mineral fertilizers in combination with 3750 kg/ha wheat straw (1/2WS-NPK); and (5) applied mineral fertilizers alone (NPK). It is found that, compared with NPK, the soil bulk density in 1/2WS-NPK and WS-NPK both decreased by more than 10% in the 0 cm to 15 cm layer, and by 6.93% and 9.14% in the 15 cm to 20 cm, respectively. Furthermore, in contrast to NPK, the soil available nitrogen in the 0 cm to 25 cm layer in 1/2WS-NPK and WS-NPK were higher by 17.43% and 35.19%, and the soil available potassium were higher by 7.66% and 17.47%, respectively. For soil available phosphorus in the depth of 5 cm to 25 cm, it was higher by 18.51% in 1/2WS-NPK and by 56.97% in WS-NPK, respectively. Therefore, returning wheat straw to croplands effectively improves soil compaction and nutrients availability, and the improvement in soil nitrogen and phosphorus availability is closely related to the amount of wheat straw.

Soil samples were collected at both jointing and maturing stages of maize and wheat to compare the effects of 4-year no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) on seasonal variations of microbial biomass carbon (C), metabolic quotient, and invertase activity in a sandy loam soil in North China. Soil invertase activity significantly increased (P < 0.05) from summer to spring of the next year and then significantly decreased (P < 0.05) from spring to summer. With a delay of about 3 months, soil microbial biomass C and basal respiration altered in a similar pattern, while microbial metabolic quotient changed on the contrary. Compared with CT, the NT practice significantly increased (P < 0.05) soil organic C content, and tended to result in higher soil microbial biomass C and invertase activity, as well as lower soil microbial metabolic quotient, especially at the jointing stage of maize. Our results indicated that NT might play an important role in the improvement of soil microbial efficiency, especially at the maize seedling season.

The study described in this paper was undertaken in order to assess the impact of different woody plants on the dynamics of phenolic acids in soil. The influence of plant litter on the amount of phenolic compounds occurring in soils beneath several deciduous and coniferous tree species was examined in pot experiments. The contents of endogenous methanol soluble free and conjugated phenolic acids in Norway spruce, larch, rowan and two species of willow were determined. We focused on the dynamics of water-soluble and reversibly bound phenolic acid contents in the upper layers of soil substrates in pots after the cultivation of studied woody plants.

The changes in total phenolics, hydroxycinammic acid derivatives, and antioxidant properties of spearmint after five drying treatments (convection oven drying, freeze-drying, microwave drying, and air drying with the sun exposure and without the sun exposure) were investigated. Phenolic composition of dried spearmint was analysed by spectrophotometric assays, while DPPH radical scavenging activity and Ferric reducing/Antioxidant power (FRAP) assay was used to measure the antioxidant properties. The results showed that freeze drying produced dried spearmint that had the highest total phenolics (34.6 ± 1.9 mg/g) content and the most potent antioxidant capacity (126.2 ± 0.4 mg/g for FRAP and 88.1 ± 5.9 mg/g for DPPH, respectively). On the other hand, spearmint that was dried by convection oven and microwave drying presented the lowest amount of phenolic compounds (12.0 ± 0.5 mg/g) and antioxidant potency (49.3 ± 0.7 mg/g for FRAP and 26.9 ± 1.6 mg/g for DPPH, respectively). This might be attributed to the fact that heat-sensitive phenolics were degraded or biotransformed at high temperatures. The loss of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity reached up to 60% compared to freeze drying.

The purpose of the trial was evaluation of follicular growth and endometrial folding in mares after human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) treatment in comparison with untreated mares during oestrus. In addition, the influence of follicle size at the time of hCG treatment on these parameters was evaluated. HCG (3000 IU) was administered intravenously in 17 mares bearing dominant follicles 35-40 mm in diameter (Group A) and in 13 mares with larger follicles (Group B). Ten mares with follicles ≥ 35 mm were untreated (Group C). Ultrasonographical examination of the mares continued in 6 h intervals until ovulation. Growth of the dominant follicle was faster in Group A than in Groups B and C (1.3 vs. 0.3 and 0.7 mm/6h, P < 0.05) but diameters of the preovulatory follicles were similar - 44, 48 and 44 mm in Groups A, B and C, respectively. Similarly, reduction of endometrial folding (on a three point scale) during observation was higher in Group A than in B and C (2.1 vs. 1.2 and 1.8, A : B P < 0.05) but endometrial folding values in the term before ovulation were not different (0.6, 0.9 and 0.6 in Groups A, B and C). A positive correlation between the speed of follicular growth and reduction of endometrial folding was found (r_s - 0.479, P = 0.003). Irregularity in follicle shape (the difference between the longest axis and its perpendicular axis) at the beginning of observation (3.3, 4.0 and 3.2 mm) was lower than before ovulation (7.4, 10.4 and 9.2 mm) in all groups (P < 0.01). The interval from the beginning of observation until ovulation was significantly shorter in Groups A and B versus C (37 and 31 vs. 103 h, P < 0.01). The results show that growth of dominant follicles after hCG is influenced by the size of the follicles at the time of treatment and correlates with reduction in endometrial folding as well as irregularity of follicle shape. Nevertheless, hCG treatment does not influence the size and shape of preovulatory follicles or endometrial folding immediately before ovulation.

Gliomatosis cerebri situated in the thoracolumbar and lumbosacral segments of the spinal cord was diagnosed in a Persian 10.5-year old tom cat. Clinical manifestation consisted of rump ataxy, weakened posture in the hind limbs, paraparesis, weakened spinal reflexes, no spinal hyperaesthesia or pain, and hypotonia of the urinary bladder. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a diffuse hyperintense signal in the thoracolumbar junction and in lumbosacral segments (L6-S1) of the spinal cord. Normal size, form and colour of the spinal cord were apparent at autopsy; however, changes in grey matter shape were recorded on some transversal sections of the spinal cord. Dense, diffuse infiltration of the grey matter and surrounding white matter by glia-like neoplastic cells was histologically demonstrated. Immunohistochemical examination did not enable specification of the origin of the neoplastic cells but their neuroectodermal histogenesis can be assumed. On the basis of MRI, histological and immunohistochemical examinations gliomatosis of the spinal cord was diagnosed.

The aim was to compare the efficacy, selectivity to sunflower and dissipation of three chloracetamide herbicides (acetochlor, metolachlor and pethoxamid) in dependence on precipitation after application. A small plot field trial was carried out with sunflower in Central Bohemia in 2010 and 2011. The remaining concentration of active ingredient in the soil of all studied herbicides was lower in the year with a higher temperature and a low level of total natural precipitation at the beginning of the growing season. Higher leaching of metolachlor and pethoxamid was recorded in irrigated plots. No leaching was found in the case of acetochlor. The highest leaching was found for metolachlor (9.2-25.5% in soil layer 5-10 cm). The highest phytotoxicity was found for acetochlor (9.8%) > pethox-amid (4.6%) > metolachlor (1.8%). The mean phytotoxicity in the irrigated plots was 6.9%, compared with 3.9% in the non-irrigated plots. The efficacy of the tested herbicide was affected by wet conditions. The highest efficacy on Chenopodium album, Amaranthus retroflexus, Echinochloa crus-galli and Solanum physalifolium was recorded after application of acetochlor and irrigation.

The purpose of the studies was to determine the microorganisms communities in the soil under scorzonera cultivation with the cover crops using. The greatest total CFU of bacteria occurred in the soil from the experimental combination where oat ploughed over in spring or autumn was the cover crops. The smallest total CFU of bacteria was obtained after ploughing over the mulch of tansy phacelia. The use of oats and spring vetch had a positive effect on the population of bacteria from the genera of Bacillus and Pseudomonas. The smallest CFU of fungi was obtained from the soil where oat constituted the mulch. Alternaria alternata, Fusarium oxysporum, F. culmorum, Haematonectria haematococca and Thanatephorus cucumeris were most frequently isolated from the soil. The most isolates of the enumerated fungi were obtained from the soil cultivated in a conventional cultivation and after ploughing over the mulch of tansy phacelia plants. The most antagonistic bacteria and fungi occurred in the soil after ploughing over the mulch of oat, while the least in the conventionally cultivated soil.

Growth and survival rates (specific growth rate - SGR; survival rate - S) of Barbus barbus L. were recorded in captivity during three years from the larval period (final body weight - W = 0.2 ± 0.03 g; SGR = 13.6 ± 1.1%/day and cumulative survival - S = 76.0 ± 2.5%) to the first reproductive season (W = 62.55 ± 13.5 g; SGR = 0.89 ± 0.05%/day; S = 59.3 ± 1.5%). Final body size and SGR were compared between both sexes. Females reached the significantly higher growth rate (SGR = 0.84 ± 0.01%/day) compared to males (SGR = 0.77 ± 0.01%/day). Early puberty was observed in 17 and 32 months old males and females, respectively. Multi-stripping activity was found out in both sexes during the first reproductive season. In total, 20%, 25.8%, 30.3%, 14.6% and 9% of females were stripped once, twice and three, four and five times, respectively. But all males produced sperm during the entire reproductive season. The highest and the lowest egg production was recorded in the middle (April) and at the beginning (March) of the reproductive season (2155 ± 925 vs. 1279 ± 298 eggs per stripping). The highest and the lowest sperm production was observed at the beginning (March) and at the end (May) of the reproductive season (7.9 ± 0.08 × 10⁹ vs. 1.9 ± 0.06 × 10⁹ per stripping).

Currently, recreation is the most common use of protected areas and there are scarce data on the users and their opinion. The research was focused on visitors to the Blaník Protected Landscape Area (hereafter referred to as PLA), a well-known recreational area where data on visitors, important for PLA management, are missing. Therefore, the aim of the paper is find out: what kind of visitors comes to the study area; the type of forest trails and tourist facilities the visitors prefer. A questionnaire survey of forest visitors was used. Results show that the visitors mostly prefer maintained trails. According to forest visitors' opinion, the most convenient facility to place near the forest tourist trail is the nature trail panels. Furthermore, based on the acquired data, it was possible to create a visitor's profile which is important for respective research and other case studies in similar areas, and for managers of protected landscape areas to comply with both the visitors' needs and the needs of the protected area.

Slovenia, like other developed countries, is characterized by the fact that the number of farm takeovers is decreasing and farms are not being transferred to successors in a timely manner. As an EU member state, Slovenia is entitled to financial incentives intended to halt or at least ameliorate this trend, but the situation is nonetheless not improving. This article proceeds from the hypothesis that economic factors are not the only ones that affect succession on Slovenian farms. The hypothesis was confirmed in a study limited to mountain farms. It was determined that, although economic factors have a significant effect on succession on Slovenian farms, at the same time other factors also affect this. Among these, the factors that stand out the most are those through which tradition or traditional thought and behavioral patterns are expressed, as well as the factors that express the standpoints, perceptions, and opinions of farm owners.

A particularly advantageous method of monitoring the flight and calculating the median was used. An example is given in order to understand better the calculation. The medians show that the timing is similar at different latitudes despite local phenological differences. The difference in median flight times between Finland and the Czech Republic was five days on average, but phenological differences are about a month, shown by a comparison of temperatures, the monitoring of buds on spruce, and by the stage of the carrot plants. During the attack by T. apicalis the carrot plants are younger towards north what is unusual in Psyllidae. In extreme north locations as Finland the genetic triggering for flight could not be realised by the strong declining of temperatures. Flight occurs here substantially later as to local photoperiodicity but is the earliest as to phenology, including carrot plants. The very small plants during flight are much more damaged here than the well-developed plants in central Europe.

The feasibility of metabolomic fingerprinting approach based on ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOFMS) was studied to assess its ability to discriminate between maize varieties, and to show the associations between them on the metabolomic level. The non-targeted metabolomic analysis was applied to assess the variability within two varieties grown under different environmental conditions and to characterise the association within a sample set comprising both conventional and transgenic (MON-ØØ81Ø-6) maize varieties cultivated under the same environmental conditions (locality). Typical metabolomic fingerprints were established for individual plants. The plants representing two varieties formed well separated clusters. Metabolomic fingerprints of the second sample set enabled their unambiguous discrimination. The differences in metabolomic fingerprints between maize varieties were identified and documented by grouping in PCA and/or CA. The results indicate a similar genetic basis of transgenic maize varieties as they descend from a MON 810 event. The results explicitly showed that the variability of the metabolites in MON 810 did not exceed the ranges measured within the conventional varieties, thus supporting the concept of substantial equivalence.

Juvenile cynomolgus monkeys are valuable models for studying human diseases. Reference data of clinical chemistry, haematology and blood coagulation parameters of juvenile cynomolgus monkeys are very important for clinical diagnosis and conducting research. In this study, 72 blood samples (obtained from 35 males and 37 females) and 20 blood samples (obtained from 10 males and 10 females) were used to determine normal data of clinical serum chemistry, haematological profiles and normal blood coagulation parameters in juvenile cynomolgus monkeys. Seventeen markers of clinical serum chemistry, twenty-nine markers of haematology and two parameters of blood coagulation were analysed. These data may provide valuable information for veterinarians and investigators using juvenile cynomolgus monkeys in research on disease treatment and in experimental studies.

Interspecies chemical communication is widespread among many groups of organisms, including vertebrates. Kairomones belong to a group of intensively researched substances, represent means for interspecific chemical communication in animals and bring benefit to the acceptor of the chemical signal. Important and often studied is the chemical communication between hosts and their ectoparasites such as ticks and other parasitic mite species. Uric acid is a host stimulus of the kairomone type, which is a product of bird metabolism, or secretions of blood-fed (ingested) ticks. Secretion of volatile substances with kairomone effect may depend on the health of the host organism. Another examined group is the haematophagous ectoparasite insects of the order Diptera, where in addition to the attractiveness of CO₂ a number of other attractants have been described. Specificity of substances in chemical communication can also be determined by their enantiomers. Detailed study of the biology of these ectoparasites is very important from a practical point of view: these parasites play an important role as vectors in a number of infectious diseases. Another area of interspecific chemical communication is the predator-prey relationship, or rather the ability to detect the proximity of predator and induce anti-predator behaviour in the prey. This relationship has been demonstrated in aquatic vertebrates (otter Lutra lutra - salmon Salmo salar) as well as in rodents and their predators. The substances produced by carnivores that induce behavioural response in mice have already been identified. The knowledge of interspecies communication (e.g., between host and parasite) is becoming a prerequisite in successful animal breeding and care.

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

In the past few years in Europe grass seed production declines. This tendency is especially pronounced in meadow fescue. Seed shedding and therefore yield losses are the problem in seed production. This can be reduced if seed of higher moisture contents is harvested. The impacts of drying temperatures of 70, 60, 50, 40 and 22°C on changes in dormancy and germination of seed harvested with moisture contents of 45, 35 and 25% were observed in the present study. The analysis was done immediately after seed drying, then three months later and eight months later. Seeds with the moisture content of 45% that were dried at 70°C were not dormant at all after harvest, but seeds were damaged, which resulted in reduced germination. Drying temperatures of 40°C and 50°C resulted in maximum germination of seed harvested with 45% moisture after three months. After eight months the best germination of all seeds was obtained at 22°C and 40°C. The seed ageing test confirmed faster deterioration of seeds harvested with higher moisture contents. Seed harvested with 25% moisture and dried at 22°C is the most suitable seed for longer storage.

Fraser fir (Abies fraseri) Christmas tree plantations in North Carolina are infested by root rot caused by Phytophthora cinnamomi. This disease kills almost 100% of Fraser fir material and leaves the soil permanently infested. Control crossings of Mediterranean fir hybrids Abies cilicica × Abies cephalonica with Abies fraseri were performed to ensure possibly resistant hybrid material of desired Christmas tree parameters. Pollen of various clones of A. fraseri was shipped to the Czech Republic by NCSU. Control pollinations were performed in April/May 2010 and 2011 in our hybridization seed orchards. Female strobili were isolated in the period of their highest receptibility. Cones were collected during September. Cones were dried and completely disintegrated. Basic parameters of cones and seeds were assessed for each seed lot. Seed samples of the individual seed lots were X-rayed for assessment of the final share of full seeds. In 2010, the most successful combination CZ2 × NC81 brought 7% of viable seeds. In 2011 the most successful combination was CZ2 × NC26 with 18% of viable seeds.

The antimicrobial activity of six plant extracts from Ocimum basilicum (Sweat Basil), Azadirachta indica (Neem), Eucalyptus chamadulonsis (Eucalyptus), Datura stramonium (Jimsonweed), Nerium oleander (Oleander), and Allium sativum (Garlic) was tested for controlling Alternaria solani in vitro and in vivo. In in vitro study the leaf extracts of D. stramonium, A. indica, and A. sativum at 5% concentration caused the highest reduction of mycelial growth of A. solani (44.4, 43.3 and 42.2%, respectively), while O. basilicum at 1% and 5% concentration and N. oleander at 5% concentration caused the lowest inhibition of mycelial growth of the pathogen. In greenhouse experiments the highest reduction of disease severity was achieved by the extracts of A. sativum at 5% concentration and D. stramonium at 1% and 5% concentration. The greatest reduction of disease severity was achieved by A. sativum at 5% concentration and the smallest reduction was obtained when tomato plants were treated with O. basilicum at 1% and 5% concentration (46.1 and 45.2 %, respectively). D. stramonium and A. sativum at 5% concentration increased the fruit yield by 76.2% and 66.7% compared to the infected control. All treatments with plant extracts significantly reduced the early blight disease as well as increased the yield of tomato compared to the infected control under field conditions.

Experiments on the preying capability of different stages of larvae of coccinellid and syrphid flies on the mustard aphid, Lipaphis erysimi (Kalt.), were conducted in a laboratory during the winter cropping seasons of 2009-2010 and 2010-2011. Results revealed that grubs of the Coccinella septempunctata Linn. preyed the highest number of mustard aphids (average 61.42 aphids/day) followed by Syrphus confrater Wied (34.81 aphids/day), Syrphus balteatus Deg. (32.26 aphids/day) and Ischiodon scutellaris Fab. (27.76 aphids/day) during their larval span. Among the larval stages of the coccinellid and syrphid predators, it was also analysed that the last juvenile stage of the predators was proved the mightiest devourer against the aphid L. erysimi. These predators could be used effectively for the management of L. erysimi on rapeseed-mustard crop.

The possibilities of improving starch/water batter foam properties by additions of inorganic and organic compounds, waste sawdust and waste paper pulp were investigated. The most suitable ratio between starch and water was set to 2:3. The best results were obtained when calcium stearate was added to the starch/water tray because it filled the matrix of the tray and improved the surface. The addition of calcium stearate and a low amount of waste paper pulp and/or waste sawdust also brought good results. Higher amounts of waste sawdust and calcium stearate did not produce the compact and smooth surface of starch trays. The addition of polyvinyl alcohol improved these parameters.

Subsoil compaction can result in unfavourable soil physical conditions and hinder the root growth of maize. The effects of deep tillage and conventional tillage on soil physical properties and root growth of maize were studied during 2010-2011 at two sites (loam at Hebi and clay at Luohe) in central China. The results showed that soil penetration resistance, bulk density, water content and root length density were significantly affected by tillage, soil depth and year. Deep tillage had lower penetration resistance and lower soil bulk density, but higher soil water content than conventional tillage across years and depths. Averaged over the whole soil profile, deep tillage not only significantly decreased penetration resistance and soil bulk density, but significantly increased soil water content and root length density on loam, while deep tillage only significantly increased the root length density on clay. We conclude that deep tillage on the loam is more suitable for the root growth of summer maize.

To investigate the effect of low soil pH caused by fertilization on soil available zinc in calcareous soil, this study was conducted based on a long-term experiment consisting of: (a) no fertilization (CT); (b) mineral fertilizer application coupled with 7500 kg/ha of wheat straw (WS-NPK); (c) mineral fertilizer application coupled with 3750 kg/ha of wheat straw (1/2WS-NPK); (d) mineral fertilizer application alone (NPK). Long-term fertilization results in a significant increase in soil DTPA-extractable zinc. However, the increased soil DTPA-extractable zinc is unavailable to crops and mainly confined to 0.25 mm > and 0.25 mm to 1 mm aggregates. Compared to CT, soil DTPA-extractable zinc under fertilization is more than 9.67% and 122.36% higher in 0.25 mm > and 0.25 mm to 1 mm aggregates, respectively. Furthermore, plant-available zinc in the 0-15 cm soil layer and wheat grain zinc are both significantly positive related to soil DTPA-extractable zinc in > 2 mm aggregates. Therefore, plant-available zinc in the 0-15 cm layer is closely associated with DTPA-extractable zinc in > 2 mm aggregates, and the low soil pH caused by long-term fertilization could not enhance plant-available zinc in the surface soil layer nor elevate wheat grain zinc concentration because of the occlusive effect of soil aggregates.

In this study, 254 Escherichia coli isolates from faecal samples of veal calves were evaluated for antimicrobial susceptibility using the disk diffusion method. During the experimental period, six mass antibiotic treatments were administered to the animals (about one treatment per month). The active principles used were oxytetracycline, colistin, tylosin, doxycycline, chlortetracycline, and sulphonamides. An extremely high resistance prevalence (> 70%) towards penicillin, sulphonamide, tetracycline, ampicillin, and spyramicin was detected. Sixty E. coli isolates could be defined as multiresistant, showing resistance to at least 6 antimicrobial classes. Subsequently, we evaluated the inhibitory effect of a species-specific probiotic against multiresistant E. coli, showing its beneficial action with large inhibition halos for 76% of the isolates. This suggests the potentiality of the probiotic, putting in evidence a clear advantage of its use in veal calves nutrition, in particular during the first phases, when the animals are more susceptible to severe enteric infections by E. coli.

The paper deals with the analysis of price changes of roundwood (spruce, fir and beech sawlog, fuelwood) and energy wood in Slovakia, Czech Republic and Austria during the period of 2008-+September 2011. At the beginning of the article, the authors identify the major factors influencing timber price trends such as legislation regarding technical standards for the quality grading of round wood, global economic recession, incidental felling and political influence. Consequently, detailed analysis of timber price changes in selected European counties is provided by means of line graphs. The results of the analysis revealed that demand for wood and wood products began to decrease in mid-2008. The most critical situation was in 2009, primarily in the softwood market, when prices bottomed out. However, recent trends indicate a gradual rise in timber prices. In the future, a slight increase of timber prices is expected, however other factors (such as economic development, lobbyist pressure, incidental felling and many others) may influence prices, which makes it difficult to predict their trend.

A growing need for the evaluation of prospects and sustainability of forest resources calls for the availability of harmonized data on forest distribution. We described and evaluated nine datasets providing such information: Corine LandCover, four European forest maps and four tree species distribution maps. Apart from providing a condensed overview of these datasets, we focused on the match between selected forest maps and forest management plans (FMPs) of Slovakia, which can be thought of as highly accurate information on forest distribution. The degree of match between forest and species area, within 306 forest administrative districts of Slovakia, was used as an indicator of accuracy. In addition, the match between the total forest and species area in Slovakia, given by FMPs and by evaluated datasets, was addressed. We found a high degree of match for the datasets on forest distribution (R-square 0.77-0.93, depending on the dataset), as well as strong agreement in total forest area (± 5%). Both indicators are worse in the case of forest type evaluation (coniferous and broadleaved). Poor results were obtained for tree species maps, which under- or overestimated species areas by tens of per cent, although differences were highly variable among species. The obtained results are valid mainly for temperate forests.