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The work objective is to differentiate rural land of Slovakia with aspect to the possibility of effective rye growing. The differentiation is based on pedo-climatic and production economic parameters. At soil categorization, correlation relationships between the site properties (soil and climatic conditions) and crop biological and agro-technological requirements were considered. Rye requirements were included into yield databases using the software filters in the way that the given site property excluded or limited rye growing, what was reflected in predicted production. The prediction was subsequently interpolated into four suitability categories: soils not suitable for rye growing, less suitable soils, suitable soils and very suitable soils. The database was formed and each of the Bonited Soil-Ecological Units (BSEU) was added in it as well as particular category of suitability for rye growing. By mediation of the Geographic Information System on BSEU distribution in Slovakia, the map of categories of soil suitability for rye growing was also generated. In Slovakia, there is 21% of farmland very suitable for rye growing, 23% suitable, 24% less suitable and 32% non-suitable soils for rye growing according to our calculation. In the paper, these categories are characterized in details and specified from the view of geographic, soil, climatic, productivity, economic and energetic parameters.

Forty-seven Kivircik ram lambs, aged 2 months, raised and managed under an intensive system were used to measure the development of testis diameter and length, and scrotum circumference, length and volume, and their association with the development of body growth. The effects of age and body weight of lambs, type of birth and dam age on the development of the five testicular parameters from weaning at 2-6 months of age were investigated. In ram lambs, the respective least-squares means of testis measurements: testis diameter, testis length, scrotum circumference, scrotum length and scrotum volume were 2.55 ± 0.099 cm, 5.83 ± 0.165 cm, 15.23 ± 0.650 cm, 7.24 ± 0.287 cm and 87.57 ± 5.921 cm³ at 2 months; and 2.99 ± 0.099 cm, 6.59 ± 0.164 cm, 14.24 ± 0.657 cm, 10.60 ± 0.290 cm and 157.49 ± 5.987 cm³ at 6 months. The effect of birth type on testis diameter and the effect of dam age on testis length were significant (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01), besides the effects of lamb age and live weight of lambs on the whole testis measurements were significant (P < 0.01).

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.

The possibility of the application of near-infrared spectroscopy to the analysis of the selected parameters of quality of the dairy products was followed. The contents of solids and fat, as well as pH in yoghurts (also the titrable acidity), milk semolina, and milk rice were determined. The samples were analysed by reference methods and by FT NIR spectroscope at integrating sphere within reflectance mode in the wavelength range of 10 000-4 000 cm^-1 with 100 scans. To develop the calibration model for the components examined, the partial least squares (PLS) was used and this model was validated by full cross validation. The highest correlation coefficients were found with yoghurt: 0.998 (solids), 0.989 (fat), 0.875 (pH) and 0.989 (titrable acidity), with milk semolina: 0.967 (solids), 0.983 (fat) and 0.992 (pH), and with milk rice: 0.987 (solids), 0.990 (fat) and 0.852 (pH). The results of this study showed the availability of NIR spectroscopy for a quick and non-destructive analysis of the dairy products.

The aim of the experiment was to compare the carcass composition of 20 Montbeliarde bulls (M) and 20 Czech Pied bulls (C). The carcass weight of the animals in one group varied minimally and was about 380 kg. The Montbeliarde bulls showed a higher growth rate, expressed by a significantly lower (P < 0.01) age at slaughter (562.6 vs. 626 days) while the live weight (682.9 vs. 690.6 kg) and carcass weight (380.4 vs. 382.6 kg) were comparable, which resulted in a significantly higher (P < 0.01) daily weight gain (1.142 vs. 1.045 kg) and net weight gain (0.676 vs. 0.615 kg). The Montbeliarde bulls showed a greater (P < 0.05) height at rump (144.0 vs. 140.2 cm), worse carcass conformation according to SEUROP (3.24 vs. 2.84), lower proportion of forequarter (44.7 vs. 45.7%) and higher proportion of hindquarter (55.3 vs. 54.3%). As for the carcass composition, no significant inter-breed differences were found in weights and proportions of shanks, meat trimmings, separable fat, bones, round, loin, filet, flank with rib, flank, shoulder and chuck. The Montbeliarde bulls had a significantly lower (P < 0.05) weight and proportion of neck (10.1 vs. 11.1 kg and 5.4 vs. 5.9%) and weight of brisket and rib (17.6 vs. 18.7 kg) and proportion of brisket and rib (9.4 vs. 9.9%, P < 0.01).

ISA Brown laying hens at 24 weeks of age, housed in laying battery cages, were used in this 4-group experiment. One group was fed a basal diet containing primarily maize, soybean meal and wheat. Selenium (Se) content of the basal diet was 0.07 mg/kg dry matter. The other hens received diets supplemented with Na₂SeO₃, Se-enriched yeast and Se-enriched alga Chlorella, respectively, in a concentration of 0.3 mg Se/kg. The experiment lasted twenty-seven weeks. Egg production, feed consumption, egg weight, physical parameters of egg white, yolk and egg shell were examined every third week and egg white and yolk Se content repeatedly. Se was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. All three sources of added Se increased the egg white and egg yolk Se content (P < 0.001). Selenium in the organic form increased further Se in the egg components compared to sodium selenite (P < 0.001). More Se was deposited in egg white than in egg yolk, especially in relation to the increasing time of the experiment. The increase of Se concentration in egg white corresponded with increasing egg white weight in both organic selenium sources (P < 0.05). Higher egg white thickness and better Haugh units were observed only in the Se-Chlorella group. Hens receiving the diet with Se-Chlorella also had better egg production compared to the basal diet (P < 0.05). Egg weight was significantly higher in the Se-Chlorella and Se-yeast groups compared to the basal diet and the diet with sodium selenite (P < 0.05). The Se-enriched alga Chlorella showed summarily best results.

Polyphenols are important antioxidant constituents of apples and they contribute positively to human health because they possess an antiradical activity. Fifteen apple varieties were analysed for their total polyphenol content (TP) by two methods - by Folin-Ciocalteau reagent (FC) and by EBC method with carboxylmethylcellulose/sodium ethylendiamintetraacetate (CMC/EDTA) and their antiradical activity (ARA) by DPPH method using stable free radical 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH.). TP and ARA were determined in freshly expressed apple juice and apples and obtained results were statistically evaluated. The differences between varieties were significant. The correlation between TP content determined by FC method determining all free aromatic hydroxyls and EBC method determining mainly ortho-aromatic hydroxyls was found with r = 0.73. The highest differences among analysed varieties were found for ARA values in both, juice and apples and for TP content determined by FC in apples. High polyphenol content was found in Jonagold, Jonalord, Melodie and Melrose varieties both, in apples and juices; on the contrary low TP contents were estimated in Gloster and Rosana varieties. The highest ARA levels were found inRajka,Bohemia andMelrose varieties, compared to low ARA levels found in apple fruits of Šampion and Topaz varieties.

An association between yield components and their direct and indirect influence on the grain yield of wheat were investigated. 24 breeding lines were tested in a randomized complete block experiment design with three replications. According to the results the phenotypic correlation among the traits and their path coefficient were estimated. Positive significant correlation coefficients were obtained for association between survival rate treatment I (0.35*) and III (0.34*), leaf venation (0.51*), stomatal frequency (0.39*), osmotic pressure (0.30*), flag leaf area (0.85*), number of tillers per plant (0.70*) with grain yield per plant at both phenotypic and genotypic levels. A negatively significant correlation between hygrophilic colloids (-0.15*) and epidermal cell size (-0.22*) with grain yield per plant was obtained at phenotypic and genotypic levels. Path coefficients were also computed to estimate the contribution of character to the yield. Path coefficient analysis revealed that flag leaf area (1.34), root/shoot ratio (0.51) and survival rate II (0.56) had the highest positive direct effects on grain yield, while hygrophilic colloids (-0.24) and osmotic pressure (-0.07) had a negative direct effect on grain yield. The results thus obtained suggested that flag leaf area is an important component of yield and hence needs a special attention in selection strategies.

In the period October 2002-September 2004 we examined 2 996 samples of faeces of piglets at the age of 2-47 days. Samples were collected as so called "composite" ones from the pen floor. Samplings were done in 8 herds in Ceske Budejovice district. One herd was kept on the slatted floor, the other herds were housed on litter. Coprological examinations were carried out within 24 hours after sampling, and Sheather's sugar solution was used. Average prevalence of the coccidium Isospora suis was 24.8%. Isosporosis prevalence in piglets was highest on day 13 of piglet age (46.3%) and at week 2 after birth (38.8%). With respect to seasonal dynamics of isosporosis the frequency of findings was highest in autumn 2002 (29.0%) and lowest in summer 2003 (20.0%). In infected piglets the presence of I. suis was detected most frequently in connection with watery diarrhoeas (39.0%) and least frequently in piglets with shaped faeces (19.0%). From the aspect of infection intensity most infections (58.2%) were weak and fewest infections (2.9%) were severe. Isosporosis occurred on all examined farms.

Soil infiltration capacity is one of the key factors in the soil protection against unfavourable effects of water erosion. The purpose of its measuring was to compare and evaluate the changes of the soil physical properties and of water infiltration into soil caused by different intensity of soil cultivation at two individual sites. The ploughing (PL), shallow tillage (ST), and direct drilling (NT) effects on the soil physical properties, water infiltration into soil, and soil surface coverage with the crop residua under the soil condition loamy Haplic Luvisol, with long-term growing of maize (Zea mays L.) - Agroservis, 1^st Agricultural, a.s., Višňové - and clay soil of Calcic Chernozem (Cooperative farm Klapý), were compared. Soil bulk density values in the variant with ploughing showed in the depth up to 0.20 m considerably lower values as compared with the variants shallow tillage and direct drilling. Nevertheless, in the subsoil layer the bulk density of soil in the variant with ploughing increased in comparison with other variants. The results were also confirmed by the cone index values. At the plots in Višňové the infiltration was evaluated utilising the double ring infiltrometer, and by means of the coloured water infiltration. The results revealed significant differences in the water infiltration rate at various stages of the soil loosening. The highest average values were recorded for ploughing (1.00 dm³/min). The lowest values were found for the shallow soil tillage (0.18 dm³/min). The variant with direct drilling showed values of 0.53 dm³/min. The coloured water infiltration evaluation showed a different character of water flow in soil. The variant with ploughing showed water saturation in the top layer, the variants with reduced tillage were characterised by vertical macropores and crack effects with the water drain into deeper layers. Ploughing proved its advantage for the short-term rainfall retention. Similar results were also brought in the evaluation on the plot with clay soil (Klapý). The loosening effect was evident during coloured water infiltration in the period of snow thawing. The loosed soil layer showed a significantly higher soil water holding capacity as compared with variants with reduced soil tillage. The result showed major differences in the water infiltration rate into soil and different characters of water infiltration into soil at different soil tillage.

We investigated chemoprotective effects of broccoli juice, treated with high pressure method, using 500 MPa for a period of 10 minutes. By the use of this method, the conservation of nutritionally important substances occurs (for example vitamins, polyphenolic compounds, glucosinolates and other constituent substances). We followed the inhibition of mutagenicity of the model mutagen, N-nitroso-N-methylurea (MNU), by means of in vivo micronucleus test. After fourteen-day application of broccoli juice (0.2 ml/10 g of body weight of mouse) and after a single administration of MNU mutagen (50 mg/kg), a statistically significant decrease (p < 0.01) occurred of the number of micronuclei induced by the application of MNU. Broccoli juice treated with high pressure therefore seems to have a preventive potential against MNU-induced micronuclei formation in BALB/C mouse bone marrow cells.

The study was aimed at determining potential differences in seed quality of spring and winter barley in relation to varieties (four winter and two spring barley varieties) and growing conditions (six locations, two years). Three tests were performed on each seed sample, i.e. (1) the standard germination test; (2) the low temperature and drought stress germination test and (3) the germination test in a salt solution. The effects of the factors of variety, provenance and year on seed vigour were estimated by the analysis of variance and Tukey's post hoc test. The germination of winter varieties was influenced by provenance, both measures of vigour (2 and 3) by year, and significant differences between varieties were found in all three traits. Spring varieties differed only in germination and vigour (3) in one year when the influence of provenance prevailed. The results show different effects of variety and provenance on seed vigour. This could be promising for the breeding of high vigour barley varieties. Some preliminary results were obtained by using controlled deterioration (CD) as a vigour testing method for barley. The suitable conditions seem to be the combination of 45°C and 24% moisture content for the period of 24 hours.

The imbibition of triticale kernels with a different degree of sprouting and with no visible sprouting symptoms was studied using digital image analysis and the classical weight method. Measurements were performed at two-hour intervals for the first 14 hours of imbibition, and at 24 and 26 hours. The area, perimeter, length and width of kernel images, and ten different shape factors were determined along with the weight of imbibing kernels. The germination capacity was determined on the seeds used for measurements. Kernels showing the lowest degree of sprouting were characterized by the highest rate of water uptake in comparison with the control. Most of shape descriptors were significantly correlated with kernel weight, especially image area (r = 0.688) and two shape factors (calculated on the basis of image perimeter and area) of S₉ and S₁₀ (r = 0.742 and 0.958, respectively), which makes them the best descriptors of image of imbibing seeds.

Two ruminally cannulated Jersey cows were used to determine in situ ruminal degradability and intestinal digestibility of raw (E0) soybeans and soybeans extruded at 145°C (E145), 155°C (E155) and 165°C (E165). The degradation of dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) was estimated using nylon bags suspended in rumen for 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 24 and 48 h calculating the effective ruminal degradabilities (ERD) for an assumed outflow rate of 0.06/h. Four extra sample bags were incubated for 12 h to determine CP digestibility using the mobile nylon bag method. Cows were fed a ration of 30% concentrate and 70% meadow hay. Soybean extrusion at all temperatures decreased the effective protein degradability significantly (P < 0.05). Soybean processing at the highest heat input (E165) decreased ERD (44.0%) in the rumen significantly while the values for E145 and E155 were similar, 50.8 and 50.3% respectively. Soybean extrusion at all tested temperatures was followed by a significant (P < 0.05) reduction in the proportion of the rapidly degraded DM and CP fractions a, and both the increased proportions and reduced breakdown rate (c) of the fraction b. The intestinal protein digestibility values of the rumen-undegraded protein of extruded soybean were somewhat higher, however the observed differences between treatments were not significant (P < 0.05). Estimated intestinal digestibilities were 87.2, 89.7, 92.0 and 92.6% for E0, E145, E155 and E165, respectively.

The effect of various storage temperatures (3 ± 2°C; 24 ± 1°C and -18 ± 1°C) on the formation of biogenic amines in the muscle tissue of four hybrid lines of carp (Cyprinus carpio) with respect to microbial contamination was studied. Biogenic amines were determined by fluorescence detection HPLC based on pre-column dansylchloride derivatization. The studied microbiological parameters included total plate count, coliform bacteria count and psychrotrophic bacteria count. Concentrations of biogenic amines (putrescine, cadaverine, spermidine, spermine, tyramine, histamine and tryptamine) determined in the muscle tissue of hybrids of individual lines varied depending on temperature and storage period. All four lines showed a significant increase (P < 0.01) in putrescine, cadaverine, spermidine, spermine and tyramine concentrations over 7-day storage at 3 ± 2°C (mean values 9.7 ± 9.5, 3.4 ± 4.2, 10.1 ± 13.4, 6.3 ± 2.1 and 26.2 ± 4.7 mg/kg, respectively). No histamine was detected throughout the storage period. A health-threatening level of histamine was detected in samples stored at 24 ± 1°C for 2 days, accompanied by marked sensory changes. The highest mean value was 333.0 ± 100.0 mg/kg. Higher levels reaching significance (P < 0.01) compared with fresh fish were determined for putrescine (91.3 ± 54.6 mg/kg), cadaverine (213.0 ± 83.7 mg/kg), and tyramine (138.0 ± 45.1 mg/kg). In samples stored at -18 ± 1°C for 3 months, the content of biogenic amines did not differ at the level of significance from the values determined in the fresh muscle tissue. Putrescine and cadaverine levels were the best correlates of growing bacteria count. Significant differences between individual hybrid lines of carp were detected at none of the storage temperatures, neither between individual biogenic amines nor between the microbiological indicators determined.

The objective of this study was to find out the amino acid composition of pig meat in relation to live weight and sex. In total 80 (40 barrows/40 gilts) finishing pigs of the final hybrid kept in the Czech Republic [(CL × CLW) × (D × PN)] = [(Czech Landrace × Czech Large White) × (Duroc × Pietrain)] were used in this experiment. The pigs were slaughtered at the average age of 168–171 days after birth, at the average live weight of 112.2 kg. The samples of meat were taken from the musculus longissimus lumborum et thoracis (MLLT) 24 hours post mortem and subsequently subjected to the chemical analysis. As for the essential and semi-essential amino acids (EAA/SEAA), the highest content was found out in lysine, leucine and arginine. Among the nonessential amino acids (NEAA) glutamic and aspartic acid were present. The highest values of threonine (6.81%), isoleucine (6.13%), leucine (9.21%), lysine (10.54%), arginine (7.88%), serine (6.13%), glutamic acid (15.65%), glycine (6.04%) and alanine (6.25%) were found out in gilts, of valine (6.36%) and proline (5.56%) in the group of barrows with the highest live weight, i.e. 115.1 kg and more. The highest value of phenylalanine (1.34%) was measured in the group with the lowest live weight. The indirect dependence between the content of amino acids and live weight was determined only for valine in gilts. The influence of live weight was found in proline and the influence of sex as statistically significant on the probability level P ≤ 0.05 was found in lysine. The highest/lowest values of water content in barrows as well as in gilts were measured in the group of 115.1 kg and more/105.1–115 kg live weight. 
A decreasing tendency of the content of intramuscular fat (IMF) was recorded with the increasing live weight. The values of water content, IMF and ash content were found to be significant on the probability level P ≤ 0.05 and P ≤ 0.01. In barrows with the growth of live weight the content of crude proteins also increased. In gilts the content of crude proteins reached the point of inflexion already in the group of 105.1–115 kg live weight. In the values of crude protein content the influence of live weight was not significant. With the growth of live weight the content of ash also slightly increased.

The separation of stillage was tested by means of the pilot plantARNO600-BIO using three-channel ceramic membranes with the pore diameter range from microfiltration to ultrafiltration (1.4 µm-5 kDa). The permeate from the last membrane step was able to be recycled as technological water. The best results were achieved in the arrangement of series using 0.2 µm membrane as the first step supplemented by ultra-filtration membranes (50 kDa and 15 kDa), predominantly, where the reduction of the chemical oxygen demand (COD) extended 80%. With this process, we try to get some advantages over the conventional process in terms of eliminating both land and energy costs for the wastewater treatment process and improving the quality of the discharge water. The main goal in this study is to analyse different separation steps and conditions to find both the best separation options for the decrease of the final volume of distillery stillage, and the way how to make the bio ethanol production more profitable.

The main objective of this research was to verify the effect of feed mixtures supplemented with clinoptilolite-containing ZeoFeed (at a level of 1% and 2%) on the performance traits of broiler chickens in the period of their growth. Experimental results confirmed a positive effect of clinoptilolite on the performance of chickens which was demonstrated by a highly significant increase in the average live weight (P ≤ 0.01) of broiler chickens at 40 days of age. The average live weight of broiler chickens was 2.24 kg (at a dose of 1%) and 2.28 kg (at a dose of 2%) with feed conversion of 1.84 kg (at a dose of 1%) and 1.95 kg (at a dose of 2%) while the average live weight of control broiler chickens was 2.12 kg with feed conversion of 1.83 kg. No differences between both groups were found in water consumption. Chickens in all monitored groups showed very good health and a very low rate of mortality (3.75% in control group, 1.25% at a dose of 1% and 3.75% at a dose of 2%). It follows from the experiments that the clinoptilolite-containing product may serve as a suitable feed supplement to feed mixtures for broiler chickens.

Fifteen sweet cherry cultivars and three rootstocks were evaluated within three years in two experimental orchards established in the same location in the autumn 2004. In one of them drip irrigation was applied in the periods of insufficient rainfall, i.e. from mid-April to mid-August. This irrigation distinctly increased the vigour of trees that was jointly expressed by trunk-cross-section area, total length of shoots and canopy volume. An increase of tree vigour was the greatest in trees on Mazzard, medium on P-HL-C and the lowest on Gisela 5 rootstocks. The trees on P-HL-C that grew without irrigation similarly as the trees on Gisela 5 grew significantly more vigorously when irrigation was applied. Considerable differences in the response to irrigation were also found among cultivars; it increased the vigour of Halka, Sylvana, Aranka and Burlat more distinctly, whereas the least response to irrigation was recorded in the Horka, Jacinta and Justyna cultivars. The vigour of Regina, Tim and Vanda cultivars grown on P-HL-C rootstock was more extensively increased by irrigation than if they grew on Gisela 5. Flower and fruit sets of irrigated trees were with a few exceptions significantly lower than those of trees without irrigation. Tamara, Sandra and Regina were the most vigorous cultivars in this study, whereas Tim and Skeena had the weakest tree growth. Practical aspects of these findings are briefly discussed.

An approximately 7-year-old 1.7kg, female Siamese cat with a history of a malocclusion and an inability to open its mouth was referred the Animal Medical Center, Chonbuk National University. The cat had shown signs since it was adopted four years earlier but the cause was not determined. The mandible was deviated 2 mm to left, the mouth could be opened only 2 mm and attempts to open the jaws caused considerable pain. Radiographs indicated new bone formation and a loss of joint space in the right temporomandibular joint(TMJ). 3-dimensional CT showed bony fusion and bone thickness in the right TMJ. The physical, 3-dimensional CT and radiographic examinations revealed right TMJ ankylosis. Under general anesthesia, surgical treatment was performed to remove the ankylosis block with subsequent interpositional arthroplasty using a temporalis myofascial flap. The patient showed distinct improvement in both the articular functionality and clinical signs.

The present paper is the first contribution from the biomass quantification series which is realized by Forestry and Game Management Research Institute in the Krušné hory Mts. (Northern Bohemia). This study is aimed at blue spruce substitute stands. Research was done within the blue spruce experiment Fláje II in the Krušné hory Mts. (800 m above sea level in the spruce forest vegetation zone, acidic category). Results showed that the aboveground biomass of the investigated substitute blue spruce stand without thinning amounted to approximately 56 thousand kg of dry matter per ha at the age of 22 years. Wood and bark of branches are the most important parts of the aboveground biomass (ca 40%). Needles and stem wood accounted for approximately 26 and 28% and stem bark only for 6%. At the age of 22 years, the investigated substitute blue spruce stand accumulated: N - 336 kg, P - 28 kg, K - 138 kg, Ca - 159 kg, Mg - 28 kg per hectare. Thinning with the consequent removal of aboveground biomass (54% of trees, 40% of basal area at the age of 16 years) represented a loss of ca 8.7 thousand kg/ha of total biomass, which contained 53 kg of N, 5 kg of P, 22 kg of K, 26 kg of Ca and 4 kg of Mg. The removal of biomass in areas previously degraded by acid deposition may result in the deficiency of Ca and Mg because of their low content in forest soil. On the other hand, thinning supported the faster growth of trees left after thinning and consequently faster biomass and nutrient accumulation.

In the locality Hnilé Blatá (the High Tatras Mts.), the structure was measured of root branches in the windthrown spruces (Picea abies [L.] Karst.). After cleaning the root plates, the number, diameter, and length of individual root branches were measured. Individual root branches were classified into twelve diameter classes - according to their diameters measured in the middle of the root branch length. We found out a high frequency of the root branches in the first three root-diameter classes; the values of the average frequency of root branches smoothly declined with their diameters increasing. We found out the lowest mean values of the root branch length in the first two root diameter classes. However, the values of total average length of root branches were the highest in the first root diameter class and these values continually decreased with increasing values of the root branch diameter. On the basis of the high values of root frequency and of total root length in the thinnest root-diameter classes, it seems that the spruce trees growing in gley soil form a similar root structure as those growing in podzolic brown soil.

The main aim of the article is to understand the influence of factors biasing purchase decisions connected with measurement of consumers' involvement. Consumption expenditures are purposefully subdivided according to the classification made by the Statistical Office of the European Communities. The performed survey showed that the most important factors biasing purchases of all commodity groups are products' characteristics and the perceived quality. Together with these goes the factor price, nevertheless for example for the commodity group health price did not appear in the scale of the perceived importance at all. Factor necessity of need proved to be significant for decision making about the purchase of all commodities with the exception of alcoholic drinks and tobacco and recreation. Former experience compared to that is not crucial for clothing and footwear and housing equipment and contents. For alcoholic drinks and tobacco, there has notably approved also the factor brand. These analyses enable disclosure of rules of consumer decision making and thereby definition which factors for individual commodities should be targeted by the help of the marketing doyens or where the gradual changes should be achieved.

The role of the water movement and retention during extreme runoff formation was demonstrated in the Modrý Důl catchment (Krkonoše Mts., Czech Republic). A cyclone, which moved from Hungary to Poland, caused an extreme rainfall (120 mm) and subsequent extreme runoff in August, 2002. The precipitation, discharge, air and soil temperatures, tensiometric pressure, and soil moisture were recorded. The maximum retention capacity of the catchment was evaluated (70 mm). Depending on the actual retention capacity and the precipitation amount, two situations were recorded: (1) the precipitation amount lower than the actual retention capacity where the precipitation was fully absorbed in the catchment and the discharge in to the stream was not influenced by rain, (2) the precipitation amount higher than the actual retention capacity where the precipitation caused a saturation excess of the soil profile, generating extreme outflow into the stream. Neither the soil cover in the catchment or fluvial deposits along the Modrý potok stream were able to retain the extreme rain and inhibit the catastrophic flood.

: A 3-year-old Doberman Pinscher was referred to the Clinic for Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, Veterinary Faculty of Ljubljana for cardiologic examination due to lethargy, inappetence and lateral abdominal wall oedema. The dog had been treated at the primary veterinary practice for tooth granuloma two days before the presentation. During the course of the disease a presumptive diagnosis necrotizing fasciitis was ascertained and Serratia marcescens organism was isolated from the ventral body wall tissue, from the wound in the oral cavity and other organs in the body. Systemic signs developed concomitantly with the progression of the local disease. Due to grave prognosis the dog was euthanised. This is the first report of a necrotizing fasciitis in a dog caused by S. marcescens and also the first one suspected to occur after the dental procedure.

The main task of the study was to investigate the growth conditions of silver fir natural regeneration in the Karkonosze Mts. (Poland). The paper examines the quantity and quality of light reaching the forest floor in stands of different canopies. The aim of the study was also to define the optimal site conditions for silver fir planting under stand canopy. Data on the natural regeneration and stand structure of each investigated stand were collected on circular plots in a grid of 15 × 15 m in 1999 and 2000. Biometric measurements of fir plants planted under various stand canopies were done three times (May 1999, autumn 2000 and 2001). It was found that the fir was not a dominant tree in all size classes from seedlings to saplings. Seedlings (both phases) of spruce, beech, sycamore and rowan occurred in all studied stands. The optimal conditions for fir development were found under larch canopy. That was demonstrated by the highest increment of height, diameter and offshoots. The worst conditions for fir growth were under beech and spruce canopy, which was indicated by the lowest diameter and height. The highest PAR was recorded under pine canopy, whereas the lowest one under beech canopy. Beech stand induced a lower R:FR ratio than the other tree species both on sunny and cloudy days. The highest R:FR ratio was found under the canopy of larch and pine stands.

The article presents the evaluation of multifunctionality of Czech agriculture and its individual farm categories in the period of 2003-2005. It compares the situation before and after the EU accession. The assessment is based on the set of indicators for the three elementary axes of multifunctionality: economic efficiency, relations to environment and relations to rural development. Applying the presented method of multi-criterion evaluation and during the period of 2003-2005 on average, the highest level of multifunctionality is found in the category of farms of physical persons with 101-300 ha (score 174) and the lowest level in the category of collective farms - cooperatives and joint stock companies (score about 115). However, compared with the pre-accession period, the collective farms show the highest growth of the score (by 17%) after the EU accession.

The objective of this paper is to show the mediation between citizens and political power by political parties in Czech rural areas. The position of political parties in rural municipalities is demonstrated in two perspectives. The top-down perspective is based on the distribution of several tens of thousands mandates in local municipal councils between political parties. The opposite perspective provides the bottom-up point of view - from the level of the individual municipalities, their party systems and party organisational structures. The analysis of the municipal election results reveals clearly that the role of political parties in local politics depends namely on the size of the given municipality. In this sense, the Czech Republic represents a very interesting example as it is characterised by a dense and heavily fragmented population settlement with a large number of small rural municipalities. In rural municipalities, we encounter incomplete party spectra and the absence of political parties in the smallest municipalities. Besides, the lists of candidates in rural municipalities reveal the weakness of the local party organisations that cannot avoid cooperating with the independent candidates. The small distance between the citizen and the elected body in a rural community significantly determines the forms of the local politics; the ideological and party mediation is superfluous, in fact, it is often seen as something harmful which divides the rural community.

Effects of microspore culture treatment with antimitotic agents colchicine, trifluralin and oryzalin on the frequency of embryo formation, embryo development, plant regeneration and diploidization rate in three F₁ hybrids of winter rapeseed cultivars were compared. The ploidy level analysis of 1709 flowering microspore-derived plants showed that in vitro applications of all antimitotic drugs increased the rate of doubled haploid (DH) plants significantly. The mean rate of DH plants from the trifluralin treatment was 85.7%, from colchicine 74.1% and 66.5% in the case of oryzalin, while only 42.3% in the untreated control variant whereas in vivo additional application of colchicine at the plantlet stage did not significantly increase the mean rate of DH plants (55.6%). Although there were no significant differences in diploidization efficiency between the in vitro applications of particular antimitotic agents, trifluralin showed to be the most suitable because of its positive effect on embryo development and conversion into whole plants. In addition, the diploidization rate was sufficient and stable in all genotypes tested. The results indicate that the trifluralin treatment of microspore cultures could provide efficient chromosome doubling for the production of doubled haploid lines from winter oilseed rape breeding materials.

By reference to the Eternal Rye trial in Halle, Germany, as an example, it is demonstrated that long-term trials provide indispensable information for contemporary and future land use research. These trials serve as tools for the examination of cultivation measures or the effects of climate on nutrient dynamics and mobilization, microbial biodiversity, mineral composition or soil formation processes. They are therefore essential for the evaluation of land-use strategies or climatic change and, because of that, can provide more accuracy in related political considerations.