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Phytosterols and -stanols are added to food products because of their known ability to lower serum cholesterol levels. They are applied either in their free or esterified forms, i.e. as fatty acid esters. Sterols are known to form variety of oxidation products under exposure to heat, light and metal contaminants, for example in food processing conditions. Since these oxides may have adverse health effects, the oxidation process needs to be studied. Until recently, sterol oxidation studies have concentrated on following the formation of secondary oxidation products in free sterol and steryl esters, but little is known about the oxidation of steryl esters as intact molecules. The aim of this experiment was to study primary autoxidation of intact steryl ester by measuring hydroperoxide formation in bulk cholesteryl ester. Cholesteryl linoleate was maintained at 60°C for 0-72 h after which formed hydroperoxides were determined with normal phase high performance liquid chromatography connected to diode array detector (HPLC-DAD). Also peroxide value (PV) was measured to indicate the total amount of formed hydroperoxides. With HPLC method steryl ester -OOH's could be analysed as intact esters, without saponification. A gradient elution was performed with 0.3-10% methyl-tert-butyl ether (MTBE) in heptane followed by cleanup with 30% MTBE. Compounds were detected with DAD at wavelengths 206 nm and 234 nm. Peroxide value indicated that the formation of hydroperoxides reached the maximum after 12 h of prolonged heating. According to HPLC data, at this time point less than 10% of the hydroperoxide groups were located in the sterol moiety and more than 90% in the fatty acid chain. The proportion of sterol-OOH's increased as the heating continued; at 24 h 20% and at 48 h 30%. However, after 72 h no hydroperoxides were observed. In conclusion, oxidation of cholesteryl linoleate started in the fatty acid moiety and as the reaction progressed more of the sterol -OOH's were observed, though at all time points fatty acid -OOH's were dominating.

Three hundred Hyplus rabbits reared on a commercial farm were weaned at the age of 25 days and 300 rabbits were weaned at the age of 35 days. Early-weaned and conventionally weaned rabbits were assigned to three groups and fed diets supplemented with protected palm fat (PPF), coconut oil (CO) and an oil containing triacylglycerols (TAG) of caprylic and capric acid (Akomed R) at 10 g/kg. The principal fatty acids in these supplements were palmitic, lauric and caprylic acid, respectively. Diets were fed until slaughter at 77 days of age. Mortality of early-weaned rabbits fed the diet supplemented with oil containing TAG of caprylic and capric acid (23%) was significantly lower than that of rabbits fed PPF (45%), and non-significantly lower than mortality of rabbits fed CO (37%). Corresponding mortality rates in rabbits weaned at 35 days of age were 6, 14 and 16%. In all groups, the highest mortality occurred in the 2^nd and the 3^rd week after weaning. The final body weights of surviving early-weaned rabbits were not significantly different. In conventionally weaned rabbits, however, final body weight was significantly lower in rabbits fed PPF. It can be concluded that under practical field conditions early weaning represents a risk for animal health and leads to a high mortality of young rabbits. The negative effect of early weaning can be alleviated by commercially available TAG of caprylic and capric acid.

Objective of this work was determination of processing contaminant known as 3-MCPD (3-chloropropane-1,2-diol) in its free and bound form in breads with defined parameters of processing. Selected and analysed were 24 samples, which represented two sets of breads produced in bakeries equipped with a continual line. In all cases determinations were carried out for breadcrumb and crust separately. The first set of samples were wheat-rye breads produced chronologically in ten days in the bakery Michelská pekárna, slightly different in temperatures and times of baking. The second set contained 14 samples of wheat-rye breads with a content of rye flour less than 40% differing in the yeast type and acidity. These breads were produced in the bakery Kontinua. The fat content was determined in all samples by Soxhlet extraction. Free and bound 3-MCPD was determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method. Concentration of free 3-MCPD in samples was at interval < 9-54.5 μg/kg. Concentration of bound 3-MCPD was at interval 1.56-23.60 mg/kg of fat (i.e. 5.7-84.9 μg/kg of sample).

The objective of the study was to verify the hypothesis that GEN (genistein - phytoestrogen and an inhibitor of tyrosine protein kinase - TPK) effects on pig oocyte maturation and cumular cell expansion under in vitro conditions are connected with its estrogenic activity. Oocytes were cultivated for 24 hours up to the stage of the first meiotic metaphase (MI). Three different doses of GEN (13, 40, 80 µg/ml of medium) and also three doses of GIN, genistin, an analogue of GEN without effects on TPK, (80, 160 and 240 µg/ml of medium) were tested. To verify the reversibility of GEN effects, the oocytes were first cultivated for 24 hours with 80 µg of GEN per 1 ml of medium and then for another 24 hours without any GEN. GEN blocked pig oocyte maturation at the stage of the germinal vesicle (GV), depending on the dose. After rinsing out the GEN the oocyte maturation recovered, but with abnormalities (32%). GIN in a concentration of 80 µg/ml of medium induced a significant blockage at the GV stage (18%). With an increase in the GIN concentration, the number of oocytes blocked at the GV stage significantly decreased, but the abnormal maturation increased (up to 31%). GEN inhibited the cumular cell expansion in proportion to its dose. GIN had a less pronounced effect. As GEN and GIN effects demonstrate similar patterns, it is probable that estrogenic activity is involved.

The serum concentration and muscle residue of florfenicol following oral administration were evaluated in topmouth culter (Culter alburnus) under field conditions. Fishes were cultured in tanks and fed a commercial medicated diet containing 2000 mg/kg florfenicol in a single dose. The sampling was conducted at different intervals (0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 8, 10, 12, 16, 24, 36, 48, 72, 96, 120, 144, 168 h) after the cessation of medication. Drug analysis was carried out by HPLC. The maximum concentration (C_max) of 10.8 μg/g in serum and 4.2 μg/g in muscle were reached at the same time (t_max) of 8 hours. If the EU MRL value of 1.0 μg/g is quoted for the topmouth culter tissue, the extrapolation of the data indicated that it will be passed after a 40.6 h withdrawal period for florfenicol in topmouth culter muscle.

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of endothelin-1(ET-1) on pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) and pulmonary hypertension syndrome (PHS, ascites) morbidity in broilers. Two hundred and seventy of one-day-old Arbor Acre commercial broiler chickens were randomly allocated into two experiments. In Experiment 1, 40 broilers (28 days of age) were intravenously with five different dose groups of ET-1, and the PAP was measured from time 0 to 30 min. The results indicated that the PAP increased from time 0.5 to 5 min after the broilers were injected with ET-1 at concentrations of 24 ng/kg (Group T1), 120 ng/kg (Group T2), and 240 ng/kg (Group T3). When the broilers were injected with ET-1 at a concentration of 360 ng/kg (Group T4), the PAP decreased immediately from time 0 to 0.5 min but increased from time 0.5 to 10 min. The change from baseline (at time 0, before the injection) of PAP values from the four treatment groups were statistically compared with that from the control group (Group C). The statistical analysis has demonstrated that there is no significant difference of the changes from the baseline between Group T1 or Group T2 and control group (Group C). However, there are significant differences in the changes between Group T3 or Group T4 and control group (Group C). In Experiment 2, 230 broilers were divided into four groups: a control group (Group C, n = 50) and three treatment groups (Groups A, B, and D). The chickens in the two treatment groups (Groups A and B, nn = 60 each) were intravenously injected with ET-1 at 240 ng/kg and 360 ng/kg, respectively. Those in Group D (n = 60) were exposed to cool temperatures (10°C to 14°C). The PHS morbidity, right/total ventricular weight (RV/TV) ratio, PCV, plasma nitric oxide (NO), and PAP were recorded and statistically compared. The results showed that PHS mortality did not occur in Group C, and trends toward increases in PHS mortality in Groups A, B and D were not significant. The RV/TV ratio and PAP were higher in groups A, B and D than in group C. The values for PCV and plasma nitric oxide (NO) followed the same tendencies as the RV/TV ratio. The results suggest that ET-1 at higher doses (240 ng/kg to 360 ng/kg) can initiate pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular hypertrophy, leading to PHS in broilers.

For the monitoring of distribution and accumulation of phthalic acid esters (PAE) in animal tissues, samples of muscle, mesenteric fat (fat), skin and liver from broiler chicks ROSS 308 were used. The chicks were divided into four groups (50 chicks each). All the chicks were given commercial diets (complete feed, KKS) for broiler chicks (starter - BR1; grower - BR2 and finisher - BR3). The experimental diets were supplemented with vegetable oil (RV) with low (group N) or high (group V) phthalate contents, or animal fat with a high phthalate content (group Z). Neither the control diets (K), nor the grower (BR1) diets contained vegetable oils or animal fat. The N chicks were given the grower (BR2) and finisher (BR3) diets supplemented with 5% and 3% vegetable oil, respectively. The V chicks were given BR2 and BR3 diets with 5% and 3% vegetable oil, respectively. The Z chicks were given BR2 and BR3 diets with 5% and 3% animal fat, respectively. The chicks were fattened till 42 days of age. Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) were found in the tissues of chicks in all the experimental groups. The DBP content in the muscle ranged from 0.03 to 0.55 mg/kg, in the adipose tissue from < 0.20 to 2.56 mg/kg, in the skin from < 0.20 to 1.49 mg/kg, and in the liver from 0.03 to 0.13 mg/kg. The content of DEHP in the muscle ranged from 0.03 to 1.15 mg/kg, in the adipose tissue from 0.25 to 9.85 mg/kg, in the skin from < 0.20 to 4.68 mg/kg, and in the liver from 0.16 to 0.24 mg/kg. The highest concentrations of DBP of 1.28 ± 1.00 mg/kg of fresh sample (an average value from eight chicks) was determined in the adipose tissue of V chicks. The highest concentration of DEHP of 3.27 ± 2.87 mg/kg of fresh sample (mean of eight chicks) was also determined in the V group. The accumulation of DEHP was 3.2; 2.6 and 2.9 times higher than that of DBP in the muscle, adipose tissue and skin, respectively. The V and Z chicks showed higher phthalate contents (the sum of DBP and DEHP) in the adipose tissue, skin and liver than the K and N chicks.

Up to date business is managed by large-scale different rules that regulate how the business acts and how it is structured. We find the rules in law, regulation, business policy document, procedures manual, system documentation, memoranda etc. These reference resources may provide the specific basis for a rule or offer a background, context or explanation of the business rule. In the recent years, it has been discovered that business rules constitute an entire body of knowledge that has not been adequately addressed in either the analysis or design phases of the information system development. Typically, business rules have been buried in the program code or in the database structures. The article deals with the business rules approach and rule technology and helps to identify the business and technical opportunities they afford to the company. It offers the business process model and its integration with business rules. This approach could provide business analysts with an essential approach to understanding, redesigning and communicating what really happens in the business processes (in agricultural area). It serves to understand the business impact of any change in small and medium-sized organizations. We use the UML notation and its business model extension.

The presence of large plasmids in 30 Rhodococcus equi strains isolated from pig lymph nodes with granulomatous changes was investigated. Plasmid DNAs were isolated and digested with the restriction endonucleases BamHI, EcoRI, EcoT22I and HindIII for detailed comparison and estimation of plasmid sizes. A total of nine isolates were identified as intermediately virulent (VapB-positive), harbouring large plasmids of type 5 (n = 5) and four new variants that we tentatively designated as type 19 (n = 1), 20 (n = 1), 21 (n = 1) and 24 (n = 1). All isolates were subjected to genotyping with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). High genetic diversity was observed: 21 distinct genotypes were detected; five were found in multiple isolates and the others were unique. Isolates of the same plasmid type exhibited different PFGE profiles and vice versa. In a few cases, multiple strains from certain farms were analysed, the majority of which exhibited diverse PFGE profiles. Our findings demonstrate the presence of a wide variety of R. equi strains even in small confined environments such as farms. This is the first molecular epidemiology study of intermediately virulent R. equi isolates from Slovenian pigs.

The impact of a diet consisting mainly of "fast food" on the urinary excretion of glycation compounds compared to a usual diet was studied. 9 volunteers followed a well defined diet, starting with one day of individual diet of choice followed by four days of "fast food" embedded in two day periods of MRP-free diet. 24 h-urine samples were collected and analysed for contents of free Amadori product and pyrraline. Urinary excretion of the glycation compounds decreased by 70% to a basic level as a consequence of the MRP-free diet. The following "fast food diet" lead to an increase in excretion of both lysine derivatives, giving evidence for no significant differences between the urinary MRP contents after the individual diets and the "fast food diet". In summary, our data confirm, that urinary excretion of glycation compounds is affected by the daily diet. Consumption of a "fast food diet" did not lead to an increased urinary excretion of MRPs compared to the diets usually followed by the participants.

Bovine reproductive disorders are of growing interest from both economic and health standpoints. The role that fungi play in these processes is becoming increasingly important. Study of the seroprevalence of anti-Aspergillus antibodies in cow sera taken from herds with previous reproductive disorders is therefore of great interest. We used an indirect ELISA technique, that had shown suitable results in previous studies in other animal species. Thirteen percent of the 387 animals tested in the current study were positive, accounting for 41% of herds. When this technique was applied to the sera of two fetuses, that were aborted due to aspergillosis, a significant difference in anti-Aspergillus antibody levels was found compared with those in control sera. The ELISA technique was compared with PLATELIA and PCR for 24 ELISA-positive cattle sera; these assays resulted in only one and three positive results, respectively. In conclusion, the ELISA analysis showed a significant seroprevalence of Aspergillus antibodies in herds with previous reproductive disorders. There is therefore a need for more attention to be paid to Aspergillus in the differential diagnoses of these conditions and to improve preventive methods to effectively control this organism.

Using the tests of methanogenic activity (TMA) changes in methane yield (Y_CH4) and anaerobic degradability (D_c) of organic matter of feeds and excrements were studied in an experimental group of six horses while complete analytical methods were applied (N-compound matters, proteins, non-protein N-compound matters, fat, nitrogen-free extract, ash, crude fibre, organic matter, NDF, ADF, hemicelluloses, cellulose, lignin and chemical oxygen demand COD) and the material balance was determined. The horses utilised 48.8% of organic matter of feeds in dry matter while the daily weight of droppings was 21 kg with 5.20% of dry matter and 4 kg of urine with 7% of organic matters. It is important that the theoretical methane yield per 24 hours corresponding to the organic matter of ingested feeds which was transferred to excrements is 1.771 m³ CH₄ at 0°C and 1 013.25 hPa while the actual daily methane yield of droppings is 1.739 m³ CH₄ at 0°C and 1 013.25 hPa, i.e. practically identical, because the yield from urine organic matters was not included in the actual daily methane yield. Because the anaerobic degradability of the used feed mixture and horse droppings is practically identical, it is obvious that besides the enteric fermentation according to the reaction CO₂ + 4 H₂ → CH₄ + 2 H₂O by hydrogenotrophic methanogens no classical anaerobic digestion takes place in the digestive tract of horses; it means that the horse breeding sector is not a factor contaminating the atmosphere by methane.

Enteric neurons are able to alter their neurotransmitter content during adaptation to new artificial conditions. The aim of the present study was to investigate changes in vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), substance P (SP) and galanin expression during culture of myenteric neurons from the ovine abomasum. In order to accurately reflect the in vivo situation cryostat sections from the ovine abomasum were used. Cultured and non-cultured myenteric neurons were immunohistochemically stained with a mixture of antibodies raised against Hu C/D (neuronal marker) and VIP, SP or galanin. Double labeling revealed that Hu C/D-IR/VIP-IR myenteric neurons were very rare in cryostat sections (1.4 ± 0.2%) but significantly increased to 21.3 ± 1.7% when cultured for three days. A significant increase in Hu C/D-positive/VIP-positive myenteric neurons were also found in 6- and 9-days cultures (23.9 ± 1.9 and 24.5 ± 2.0%, respectively). In vivo, the expression of SP was found in 9.7 ± 1.0% of myenteric perikarya. After 3, 6 and 9 days of incubation the proportion of Hu C/D-IR/SP-IR myenteric perikarya significantly increased to 19.3 ± 1.3%, 22.3 ± 1.2% and 24.1 ± 1.7% (respectively). When compared to the in vivo situation the proportion of galanin-expressing myenteric neurons was unchanged after 3, 6 and 9 days of culturing. In conclusion, alterations in VIP and SP (but not galanin) expression occur during neuronal culturing. Our results supports the idea that both VIP and SP may act as factors which increase neuronal survival.

The influence of microwave heating (microwave oven Electrolux, 2450 MHz, 400 W) from 8 up to 24 min on the oxidation and fatty acid composition of lipids of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus) minced fish flesh were studied. The heating treatment at all conditions reduced moisture and therefore, increased lipid and dry matter contents. The isolated lipids were subjected to the following analyses: peroxide value, acid value and content of conjugated dienes (by absorbance at 232 nm). The free fatty acid content in the lipid fraction of the fish flesh was significantly reduced by cooking. Conjugated diene levels in fish muscle increased and peroxide values decreased for all cooked samples. Changes in fatty acids composition were only small.

This investigation aims to study the effects of germination conditions and extraction solvents on total phenolic content and antioxidant activities of Chiang Phatthalung a recommended rice cultivar in Southern Thailand. Chiang Phatthalung (Oryza sativa L.) was germinated by soaking in tap water at 25, 30, 35 or 40°C for 24 h and then dried and powderised before subjected to extract with various solvents and analyses. Amongs all extraction solvents used, including 50% MeOH + 0.1% HCl, water, 25% EtOH, 50% EtOH, 75% EtOH and 95% EtOH, rices extracted with 50% EtOH had highest total phenolic content and antioxidant activities (P < 0.05). It was noticeable that brown rice germinated by soaking in tap water at 25°C had highest total phenolic content and antioxidant activities as determined by DPPH-, ABTS-radical scavenging activity and ferric reducing antioxidant power (P < 0.05). In addition the results suggesting that total phenolic content and antioxidant activities of germinated brown rice were higher than those of brown rice (P < 0.05).

The article is focused on the importance of using the variant calculation methods in the management of companies' performance under the conditions of multifunctional agriculture. It mentions the difference between the calculations formed for the needs of valuating the production in the financial statements and the managerial calculations. Attention is paid to overhead costs in agriculture, their development is depicted with tables and graphs. The development of overhead costs during the time period of 1997-2006 is presented in crop production and outputs of wheat and rapeseed, in livestock production in Slovakia and in the outputs of cattle (6-24 months) and pigs (1-12 months). The fastidiousness of market environment of the globalized economies requires a gradual transformation from the classical calculation system into the managerial calculation system, which provides a multidimensional insight into the product as well as the market. The sequence of establishing the variant calculation methods is also introduced together with the reasons of under-valuating calculations in the managerial practice.

The paper examines development of Czech agriculture through profitability of the 10 chosen most important commodities (wheat, barley, rapeseed, sugar beet, potatoes, dairy cows - milk, cattle fattening, suckler cows, pigs fattening, poultry - fattening broilers) in the time horizon 2002-2006. The aim of the paper is to give an objective information about the influence of agrarian policy on the development of agricultural commodities, especially with reference to the comparison of changes in the pre-accession (period I = 2002-2003) and in the after-accession of the CR to the EU (period II = 2004-2006). This deals with the economic position of Czech producers related to the most considerable commodities of Czech agriculture through 2 indicators, profitability without supports (R-S) and profitability with supports (R+S). There was proved that profitability R+S in the period I was positive for most plant commodities while it was negative for most animal commodities. In connection with the membership of the CR in the EU, agricultural supports significantly increased for nearly all commodities as the consequence of applying the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) on Czech agriculture. Therefore, there were monitored in the period II important positive changes of the indicator R+S for most commodities. For the average of the Czech Republic, there were obtained the following values of R+S in the period I, resp. period II: wheat 2.6%, resp. 24.9%, barley 27.7%, resp. 39.8%, rapeseed -18.0%, resp. 23.4%, sugar beet 9.1%, resp. 41.4%, potatoes 10.5%, resp. 2.5% (the only one case of decrease), milk 2.1%, resp. 8.5%, fattening cattle -14.6%, resp. -3.6%, suckler cows -8.8%, resp. 19.7%, fattening pigs -5.5%, resp. -1.2%, fattening broilers -2.9%, resp. 0.1%.

Over 2004-2006, effects of mineral fertilisers (60 N + 30 P + 60 K kg/ha or 120 N + 30 P + 60 K kg/ha) and farmyard manure (12 or 24 t/ha) application on biological and chemical properties of soil were studied in seminatural grassland. The research trial was established at Radvaň site, central Slovakia (altitude 480 m, loamy to sandy-loamy Cambisol). These parameters were investigated during the growing seasons: CO₂ production, intensity of total N mineralisation (TMN), the rate of nitrification (NIT), total C content in microbial biomass (MB-C), C_ox, N_t, P, K, Mg and the humic acids to fulvic acids ratio (HA:FA). At the application of mineral fertilisers, the highest N rate significantly increased TMN and NIT, mainly in 2004 and 2005. The manure application showed the strongest effects on the biological parameters. The manure rate of 12 t/ha significantly increased the soil respiration in 2005 and 2006 as well as TMN and NIT throughout the research. The manure application increased also the soil pH, MB-C, N_t, Mg, P and C_ox.

Leafroll is one of the most important virus diseases of vineyards of Central Anatolia region. Grapevine leafroll associated viruses GLRaV-1 and GLRaV-3 are the most frequently encountered viruses related with leafroll disease of grapes. The effect of leafroll disease on yield and fruit quality was studied. The disease caused in the average 31.22% decrease of berry weights and 28.72% reduction in total soluble solids, while titratable acidity was increased by 24.39%. The reaction of local cultivars to mixed infections of GLRaV-1 and GLRaV-3 was evaluated and Parmak, Kara dirmit, Kara gevrek and Gül üzümü cultivars were considered to be the most sensitive local cultivars to GLRaV-1 and GLRaV-3.

: Cat oocytes have the unique ability to mature in vitro after temporary storage at 4°C which can provide opportunities to rescue oocytes from the ovaries of endangered felids after sudden death or medical ovariohysterectomy. It has been demonstrated that factors such as season, culture conditions and morphological quality of oocytes influence the meiotic competence of domestic cat oocytes. In the present study we determined the meiotic maturation rate and incidence of apoptosis or necrosis in domestic cat oocytes collected from ovaries stored at different temperatures. Nuclear status and the presence of the first polar body were evaluated by fluorescence DAPI staining. Cell death was detected using Annexin-V, a phospholipid-binding protein that detects translocation of phosphatidyl-serine to the outer cytoplasmic membrane. Most oocytes (77.5%) collected from ovaries immediately after ovariohysterectomy (control group) resumed meiosis and reached metaphase II. A similarly high percentage of oocytes underwent nuclear maturation after recovery from ovaries stored for 6 h at 4°C (68.6%) or at room temperature (55.5%), but the rate of maturation after recovery from ovaries stored for 24 h at 4°C was greatly reduced (15.3%) Not surprisingly, the highest percentage of apoptotic oocytes were seen in Group 3, and the lowest frequency of apoptotic oocytes were observed in Group 1. Correspondingly, Group 1 had the highest percentage of necrotic oocytes. Thus, our results indicate that storage of domestic cat ovaries at room temperature, even for a short time, can negatively influence the competence of oocytes to undergo nuclear maturation in vitro.

Small bowel transplantations (SBT) are increasingly performed to treat patients with irreversible intestinal failure or short-bowel syndrome. Histologic evaluation of small bowel allograft biopsies is important for the diagnosis of acute cellular rejection (ACR). A reliable serological marker of ACR after SBT is still unknown. Recently, citrulline was identified as a potential biomarker of reduced enterocyte mass. The aim of our study was to analyze rejection and plasma citrulline levels early after SBT in pigs. 24 pigs were used and divided into four groups. Group A, autologous SBT (n = 3) as a control group; Group B, allogeneic SBT with tacrolimus monotherapy (n = 7); Group C, allogeneic SBT immunosuppressed with tacrolimus and sirolimus (n = 8); and Group D, without immunosuppresion (n = 6). The observation period was 30 days. Mucosal biopsies were obtained on Days 0, 3, 5, 7, 10, 14, 20, 28 and simultaneously plasma citrulline levels were measured. ACR was classified according to standardized grading schema on a scale of indeterminate, mild, moderate, and severe. There were no significant differences in citrulline plasma levels between cases with mild ACR and indeterminate for ACR. A significant decline in plasma citrulline levels occurred in cases of moderate and severe rejection. Plasma citrulline levels constituted a marker of more advanced injury of small bowel epithelium.

Resistance of 31 winter wheat varieties (bred in 6 European countries) to Fusarium head blight (FHB) was evaluated in field trials lasting for three years (2007, 2008, 2009) after artificial inoculation with Fusarium culmorum. The data on deoxynivalenol (DON) content were supplemented by symptom scores and determination of % of Fusarium damaged grains and % reductions of thousand-grain weight and grain weight per spike due to infection. These varieties and also 120 advanced breeding lines from the Úhřetice Breeding Station, SELGEN company were examined for the presence of gibberellic acid (GA) insensitive semi-dwarfing genes to evaluate their effect on FHB. The conditions of experimental years highly influenced the performance of all characters. The highest production of DON occurred in 2008 at a high temperature and high moisture content during the infection period. In all years the moderate resistance to accumulation of DON (at the level of Swiss variety Arina) was detected in the Czech varieties Bakfis, Federer, Baletka, Samanta and Sakura. Among these varieties, Federer showed a low accumulation of DON at a relatively higher symptom expression and greater reduction of grain weight per spike, but the other four varieties and the reference variety Arina expressed resistance in all the examined traits. The varieties Pitbull, Cubus, Kodex and Bagou were found to be highly susceptible to FHB. The presence of the dwarfing allele Rht-D1b resulted in a significantly higher mean symptom score and also in a higher affection of the other traits. Nonetheless, the analysis of frequency distributions in symptom scores showed the presence of resistant lines also among the GA insensitive lines, but with a lower frequency than in the group of GA sensitive genotypes. A relatively greater effect on manifestation of the disease had plant height, and therefore it is suggested that the adverse impact of Rht-D1b on FHB resistance could be to a high degree excluded by opting for taller Rht-D1b genotypes.

It is estimated that world-wide existing germplasm collections contain about 7.5 million accessions of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture. Wheat (Triticum and Aegilops) represents the biggest group comprising 900 000 accessions. However, such a huge number of accessions is hindering a successful exploitation of the germplasm. The creation of core collections representing a wide spectrum of the genetic variation of the whole assembly may help to overcome the problem. Here we demonstrate the successful utilisation of such a core collection for the identification and molecular mapping of genes (Quantitative Trait Loci) determining the agronomic traits flowering time and grain yield, exploiting a marker-trait-association based technique. Significant marker-trait associations were obtained and are presented. The intrachromosomal location of many of these associations coincided with those of already identified major genes or quantitative trait loci, but others were detected in regions where no known genes have been located to date.

Grazing-induced variations in vegetation may either accelerate or reduce soil carbon storage through changes in litter quantity and quality. Here, a three-year field study (2005-2007) was conducted in Tibetan alpine meadow to address the responses of surface soil (0-15 cm) organic carbon (SOC) storage in the plant growing season (from May to September) to varying grazing intensity (represented by the residual aboveground biomass, with G₀, G₁, G₂, and G₃ standing for 100%, 66%, 55%, and 30% biomass residual, respectively), and to explore whether grazing-induced vegetation changes depress or facilitate SOC storage. Our results showed that: (i) Higher grazing intensity resulted in lower biomass of grasses and sedges, lower root biomass, and in a change in plant community composition from palatable grasses and sedges to less palatable forbs. (ii) Increased grazing reduced the SOC content and storage with only G₃ showing an SOC loss during the plant growing season. (iii) Soil organic carbon storage exhibited a highly positive correlation with the residual aboveground biomass and root biomass. Our results imply that a grazing-induced reduction in plant biomass productivity and changes in species composition would depress soil carbon storage, and that an increase in grazing pressure can lead to a gradual change of alpine meadow soils from being 'carbon sinks' to become 'carbon sources'.

In conifers and other plants with long reproductive cycles, transformed embryogenic tissues can serve as a convenient source of plant material for the testing of insecticidal or fungicidal transgene efficiency. In this report, transgenic embryogenic tissue was obtained after the transformation of somatic embryos of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) by Agrobacterium tumefaciens with the gus-intron chimeric gene. The stable integration of transgenes was confirmed by PCR and Southern hybridization. The transformation was successful only in a suitable embryogenic cell line sensitive to Agrobacterium. Out of the nine embryogenic lines tested only one gave transgenic callus.

The article presents the results from the monitoring analyses of the buying/selling prices of agricultural land in accordance with the deposited contracts in the Real Estate Cadastre in years 2001-2008. Agricultural land sales, land areas and market prices are observed and evaluated under the size structure of the sold estates and their anticipated further utilization in the counties Dunajská Streda, Topoľčany, Rimavská Sobota, Liptovský Mikuláš, Michalovce and Svidník and for all observed counties as a whole. By data analyzing and evaluating of the agricultural land purchases/sales, there was taken into consideration the fact that the average price of the sold estates is to a large extent influenced by their size, location and the purpose of further utilisation. The estates of small area characterized as agricultural land are selling for the highest prices, but they already figure in the development studies and the land-use plans of the villages or they are regarded as building estates in the future. Therefore, the sold estates were divided into two categories in accordance with the expected further land utilization. As the estates for further agricultural utilization, there were considered the estates with the area above 1 hectare of agricultural land. In the case of smaller estates, it is assumed that they will be of building, recreational, sporting or other utilization after the landowner change.

The leaf spotting disease complex is a major biotic constrain in enhancing grain production in the major wheat growing regions. Two leaf spotting diseases, tan spot, caused by an ascomycete fungus Pyrenophora tritici-repentis, and Stagonospora nodorum blotch besides causing average yield losses of 5-10%, cause significant losses in grain quality by red smudge, black point and grain shriveling. Conservation agriculture in combination with wheat monoculture involving cultivation of susceptible cultivars has resulted in frequent onset of leaf spots epidemics worldwide. Development of resistant wheat cultivars, in conjunction with crop rotation, will provide an effective, economical, and environmentally safe means of controlling leaf spot. International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Mexico has initiated major efforts to mitigate the threat of tan spot. Efforts include screening of wheat germplasm, identification of new sources of resistance, characterization of new tan spot resistance genes through classical and molecular genetic analysis, incorporation of resistance into adapted cultivars, and assessing the variability in the tan spot fungus. Screening studies reveal that elite CIMMYT germplasm has high level of resistance to tan spot caused by P. tritici-repentis race 1. These germplasm have diverse genetic make-up and the resistance is likely broad based. Association mapping studies done with CIMMYT germplasm reconfirmed the presence of previously identified genomic regions for tan spot resistance; however, novel genomic regions on long arm of chromosomes 6A and 7B have also been identified. Studies done to date indicate that CIMMYT germplasm possess high level diverse genetic based resistance to tan spot of wheat. Efforts are in place to develop desired wheat cultivars with tan spot resistance. Virulence studies indicate presence of P. tritici-repentis race 1 only with some variability in level of toxin Ptr ToxA produced in each of the 76 isolates studied.

In this experiment we proved an effect of dolomite limestone on chemical immobilization in soil contaminated by trace metals, namely Cd, Pb, and Zn. Primary, we set up lysimeter pot experiment to measure soil leaching without vegetation. Willow clone (S. × smithiana Willd) was cultivated in the second lysimeter pot as a new approach to monitor Pb, Cd and Zn leaching, which was affected by soil liming (used in 1% rate). At the time of both harvests, aboveground biomass increased significantly at the amended variant. After the second harvest aboveground biomass production increased by 80% in comparison with the first one, Cd and Zn concentration in biomass decreased 2-fold and 3-fold, respectively. Dolomite limestone as a process of liming: (i) restricted metals leaching from the soil substrate; (ii) reduced metal uptake by willow; and (iii) increased biomass production of willow. Liming also alleviated the plant stress imposed by risk elements resulting in better plant growth and lower levels of stress markers (total nitrogen content and the main amino acid metabolism parameters in the willow leaves) yet through different mechanisms.

The root system of six-year-old winter jujube (Zizyphus jujuba Mill. cv. Zhanhua) trees were manually pruned at 3, 5 or 7 times trunk diameter distance along both inter-row sides, to study the effects of root pruning on physico-chemical characteristics and biological properties of winter jujube rhizosphere soil. The results showed that the root pruning of 3 and 5 times trunk diameter distance increased the available nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium^[concentrations and pH values in the rhizosphere soil and decreased organic matter concentrations, the contents of amino acids, organic acids and total sugars in the root exudates, the populations of bacteria, actinomyces and fungi, and inhibited the activities of catalase, invertase and urease enzymes in contrast to the control in early stage when root pruning was applied. The determined indexes presented a reverse trend as those in early stage after new roots appeared. Compared to the control, the trees by root pruning had higher pesticides residues of the rhizosphere soil in the whole experiment. No differences were noticed between 7 times trunk diameter distance and the control. It is proposed that root pruning had greater impacts on physico-chemical characteristics and biological properties of the rhizosphere soil depending on root pruning intensity.

The objective of this study was to develop a superovulatory program based on synchronization of follicular waves with GnRH which could be applied regardless of the stage of the oestrous cycle. 36 heifers were subjected to this experiment and GnRH (Cystorelin, 200 µg) was applied between Days 0 and 7 (n = 15), 8 and 12 (n = 8) or 13 and 20 (n = 13) of the oestrous cycle. Four days after GnRH treatment, all follicles ≥ 6 mm of heifers (n) were either punctured (n = 21) or left intact (n = 15). All heifers were superstimulated from Day 6 to Day 10 after GnRH treatment with 320 mg Folltropin-V. In parallel, 21 heifers were superstimulated in a conventional manner (Days 8 to 12) and were used as controls. The homogeneity of follicular inventories among Stage-groups occurred within 4 days of GnRH treatment for follicles ≥ 7 mm but only 2 days after follicular puncture for follicles 4 to 6 mm. In response to the follicular puncture, the mean number of follicles 4 to 6 mm increased in heifers of the punctured group (P < 0.01). Following the superstimulation, the follicular (P < 0.01) and ovulatory (P < 0.01) responses were higher in the punctured group than in the nonpunctured group. The in vivo production of transferable embryos in the punctured group was similar to that of the nonpunctured group but it was lower (P < 0.01) than in heifers of the control group. In conclusion, results from the present study indicate that regardless of the stage of the oestrous cycle, the homogeneity of follicular inventories following the follicular synchronization is obtained using GnRH treatment and follicular puncture. The in vivo production of embryos was severely compromised in the present study with heifers. Causes of such reduction in the in vivo production of embryos are still unknown.