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Environmental pollution of heavy metals from automobiles has attained much attention in the recent past. The present research was conducted to study heavy metal contamination in roadside soils of northern England. Roadside soil samples were collected from 35 sites in some counties of northern England and analysed for four heavy metals (cadmium, copper, lead, zinc). Their concentrations and distributions in different road verge zones (border, verge, slope, ditch) were determined. Lead concentration was the highest in the soil and ranged from 25.0 to 1198.0 μg/g (mean, 232.7 μg/g). Zinc concentration ranged from 56.7 to 480.0 μg/g (mean, 174.6 μg/g) and copper concentration ranged from 15.5 to 240.0 μg/g (mean, 87.3 μg/g). Cadmium concentration was the lowest in the soil and varied from 0.3 to 3.8 μg/g (mean, 1.4 μg/g). Though the levels of heavy metals in roadside soils were higher as compared to their natural background levels in British soils, their concentrations in general, however, were below the 'critical trigger concentrations' for the contaminated soils. All the four heavy metals exhibited a significant decrease in the roadside soils with the increasing distance from the road. The border zone had the highest mean concentration of the four metals whereas the ditch zone exhibited the lowest mean concentration.

Nitrite is an intermediate in the oxidation of ammonium to nitrate. An elevated ambient nitrite concentration is a potential problem for freshwater fish since nitrite is actively taken up across the gills in competition with chloride. Nitrite is a well-known toxicant for fish as well as a disrupter of multiple physiological functions including ion regulatory, respiratory, cardiovascular, endocrine and excretory processes. One critical consequence of nitrite accumulation is the oxidation of haemoglobin to methaemoglobin, compromising blood oxygen transport. Nitrite toxicity to fish varies considerably and depends on a large number of external and internal factors. Among the most important ones are water quality (e.g. pH, temperature, cation, anion and oxygen concentration), length of exposure, fish species, fish size and age, and individual fish susceptibility. Chloride concentration in water is considered one of the most important factors influencing nitrite toxicity to fish. The importance of individual factors is assessed and re-evaluated continuously.

Mononuclear cells from rabbit bone marrow were cultured for 14 days in cell-free medium for hematopoietic cells together with iron oxid nanoparticles, and then they were processed by technique for free cells for TEM (transmission electron microscopy). Staining with turnbull blue was used for the detection of iron using a light microscope. It was shown that iron nanoparticles were incorporated into the cytoplasm of mononuclear cells during 14 days cultivation. Here they were localized within different sized vacuoles with distinct membranes.

This paper describes the automated classification of tree species composition from Ikonos 4-meter imagery using an object-oriented approach. The image was acquired over a man-planted forest area with the proportion of various forest types (conifers, broadleaved, mixed) in the Krušné hory Mts., Czech Republic. In order to enlarge the class signature space, additional channels were calculated by low-pass filtering, IHS transformation and Haralick texture measures. Employing these layers, image segmentation and classification were conducted on several levels to create a hierarchical image object network. The higher level separated the image into smaller parts regarding the stand maturity and structure, the lower (detailed) level assigned individual tree clusters into classes for the main forest species. The classification accuracy was assessed by comparing the automated technique with the field inventory using Kappa coefficient. The study aimed to create a rule-base transferable to other datasets. Moreover, the appropriate scale of common image data and utilisation in forestry management are evaluated.

The abundance and species spectrum of cockchafers of the genus Melolontha and characteristics of the tribes in four forest regions of theCzechRepublic was explored. We used light traps, automatic meteorological stations and field investigations to study the course of swarming, species composition, abundance of the respective tribes, sex ratio during swarming and the dependence of swarming on the average daily temperature. Studies will continue in the next years and the objective is to use the results for prognosis of the occurrence of cockchafers and the damages subsequently caused by grubs in forest cultures.

The primary goal of our analysis is to evaluate the effects of changes in the Slovak agriculture subsidy system on the selected farms located in different production areas between the years 2003 and 2004. Our comparative analysis divides the farms into two groups: The first group represents all those farms that operate in good farming conditions i.e. primarily the land is more productive (PA). The second group of farms operates in less favorable farming conditions (LFA). The regions differ from each other in terms of geographical position, location, production and climatic conditions, as well as the quality of land. We analyzed data of 119 farms.

The paper deals with identification of some forms of potential competitive advantage that can be applied by the Slovak agrarian enterprises after the accession to the EU. The capacity of the economies of scale is being analyzed, as well as the potential of the labor productivity growth, and input management in controlling of intensification process. The paper is targeted at verifying the extent of application of competitive advantages by agrarian enterprises, and identifying the reasons of obstacles that hinder their full utilization.

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

The aim of study was to verify a possibility of adding boron to multi-nutrient soil tests: Mehlich 3, water (1:5) and 0.5M NH₄-acetate extraction. Thirty-six different soils from topsoils of agriculturally farmed field were used for the study. The basic set of 36 soils was doubled when the same soil samples with gypsum addition at an equivalent dose 2 t Ca/ha were used. The closest correspondence between B in soil (n = 72) and B in plant was found out by the NH₄-acetate soil test. This test proved its good universality and independence on a radical intervention in soil chemistry by gypsum treatment. It responded to an increase in B-availability to plants after gypsum treatment of soil. The adjustment of NH₄-acetate boron by the percentage difference between the actual and the desired pH of soil improved the closeness of the correlation. Although the H₂O soil test showed its lower universality, it is assumed to use the H₂O soil test for prediction of B-status in soil when the history of previous fertilisation of the field will be known. The Mehlich 3 soil test did not prove to be suitable for diagnostics of B-status in soil.

The objective of the study was to quantify differences in the carcass composition of pig carcasses with different lean meat proportions. Totally 132 carcasses with lean meat proportions ranging from 45 to 65% were analysed. The average lean meat proportion in the analysed set of carcasses was 55.38% (s = 4.319). The carcasses were classified into the groups according to their lean meat proportion (R, 45.0 to 49.9%; U, 50.0 to 54.9%; E, 55.0 to 59.9%; S, more than 60.0%). Carcasses from each group were cut into primal cuts and the main cuts (leg, loin, shoulder and belly with bones) were further separated into different tissues. Carcass value was markedly enhanced by the increasing carcass lean meat proportion. Average leg percentages in the groups R, U, E and S were 17.88% (s = 0.918), 19.32% (s = 0.889), 20.88% (s = 0.817) and 21.88% (s = 0.827), respectively. Average proportions of fat over leg expressed as percentages of leg weight in these groups were 5.82% (s = 0.402), 4.87% (s = 0.556), 4.05% (s = 0.479) and 3.21% (s = 0.321), respectively. Lean meat proportions of leg weight were improved from 84.93% (s = 1.136) in the group R to 88.12% (s = 0.986) in the group S. The most distinct differences were found in lean proportions of belly weight. The observed averages in the group R and S were 43.90% (s = 2.729) and 62.10% (s = 2.219), respectively. Actually, in carcasses with a high classification score the belly can be considered as a cut with the predominant muscle tissue. The results of the study proved the efficiency of carcass evaluation based on the lean meat proportion. Such a method can significantly contribute to the overall improvement of pig production.

The production of adult steers for beef could be a profitable use of the territory in some mountain areas in the south of Europe, where this production is nearly inexistent, owing to an increase in the demand for meat from adult animals in specialized markets. The objective of this study was to evaluate the profitability of beef production in three breeds adapted to these areas but varying greatly in their mature size. The studied breeds were a specialized meat breed Limousin, a dual-purpose breed - Brown Swiss breed and - a Spanish local breed Asturiana de los Valles. Higher growth rates (P < 0.05) and higher carcass weights (P < 0.05) were achieved by Brown Swiss and Limousin. In relation to carcass value, better results of dressing percentage (P < 0.001), conformation (P < 0.001) and saleable meat percentages (P < 0.001) were obtained byLimousin. Due to preferences of the adult steers market for carcass with high fatness, Brown Swiss and Limousin could be more suitable to make this production profitable than Asturiana de los Valles (4.7 and 4.2 vs. 2.7, respectively, on the EUROP scale).

The distribution of Apple chlorotic leafspot virus in pear cultivars in selected orchards of three different districts in the Czech Republic was evaluated by ELISA. The same procedure of DAS - ELISA as in apple trees, was used for the detection of ACLSV in pear trees. The detection of ACLSV in pear flower petals by ELISA was more sensitive than the ACLSV detection in leaves. ACLSV was detected in pear leaves in the reliable way only in June. The presence of ACLSV was not proved by ELISA in nine tested pear rootstocks. The different distribution of ACLSV was detected in pear cultivars Lucasova máslovka and Boscova lahvice grown in different orchards. Low occurrence of ACLSV was found in cultivars Konference, Pařížanka and Dicolor. ACLSV was not detected in cultivars Madame Verté and Bohemica.

In the current study, intracellular (neutrophil and monocyte) concentrations of free and liposome encapsulated ampicillin in sheep were investigated. Free ampicillin (5 mg/kg b.w.) and liposome encapsulated ampicillin (5 mg/kg b.w.) were administered as a bolus intravenous injection to sheep. After the injections, blood samples (5 ml) were collected into tubes from v. jugularis at 10, 30, 60 minutes and 2, 4 and 8 hours. Neutrophils and monocytes were isolated, and lysed in distilled water. Ampicillin concentrations were measured by high performance liquid chromatography. The results indicate that liposome encapsulated ampicillin caused the higher intracellular concentrations within neutrophil (ratio of liposome encapsulated ampicillin/free ampicillin; from 1.393 to 5.416) and monocyte (ratio of liposome encapsulated ampicillin/free ampicillin; from 0.973 to 2.906) cells than free ampicillin, and liposome encapsulated ampicillin existed a longer length of time within neutrophil (4 hours) and monocyte (4 hours) cells than free ampicillin (60 minutes), as well. This formulation may be beneficial, in that the treatment of intracellular infections are caused by sensitive bacteria.

A total of 126 Salmonella spp. isolates from pigs belonging to 13 serotypes (Typhimurium, Derby, Infantis, Enteritidis, Agona, Kaapstad, London, Montevideo, Bredeney, Give, Oritamerin, Schwarzengrund and Tennessee) were tested for sensitivity to 14 antibiotics. Resistance to 1-8 antibiotics was demonstrated in 64 isolates (59.8%), classified into seven serotypes with the most frequent being Salmonella typhimurium (n = 54). S. typhimurium strains were found to be the most resistant to streptomycin (91.5%), sulphonamides (88.1%), ampicillin (86.4%), tetracycline (84.7%) and chloramphenicol (83.0%), displaying the ACSSuT phenotype. In all strains of this phenotype (n = 27), the gene for integrase (int1) and resistance genes bla_PSE-1, floR, aadA2, sul1 and tetG were detected by PCRs. In some of the strains, additional resistance to amoxycillin/clavulanic acid, sulphamethoxazole/trimethoprim, nalidixic acid and enrofloxacin was found.

The article deals with economic aspects of sustainable forest management. The analysis stems from Plíva's typological system. Several hundreds of variants were calculated for forest silviculture profitability classified according to management intensity, target management system, proportion of ameliorating and improving species, proportion of natural regeneration, and set of forest types. The results show a possibility of labour saving and also marked differentiation of the effect of wood production function depending on natural and production conditions and management intensity.

How does an organization utilize knowledge for the reproduction of its culture in innovations, it was a key-point of the question for an approach based on the methodology of social process in the recent past. Then the formation of knowledge was considered a process of power politics with the consequences for knowledge management. In the framework of those projects, attempts were made in organizations to extract the knowledge from experts and specialized professionals that it might be codified and saved in extensive databases; only then the remainder of employees ought to have possibility to consult them and add the results of their own ideas to these databases. Poor success of such attempts only illustrates the methodological failure of utilizing information technologies for knowledge formation, its storage and transfer. Moreover, when a new fact was soon discovered even in the framework of the new approach, that there was an abyss-like difference between information (that information technologies operate with) and the knowledge, then the significance of personality increased again. The research that was done with the "champions of organizational learning" in the framework of knowledge management emphasized their import in catching the best experience, knowledge codification and its distribution in the organizations. Among other qualities, the knowledge is strongly personalized: it means it is connected with personal experience, attitudes, and evaluations. On the other hand, an advantage of new methodology was that the possible social actions, connected with the knowledge management, search for a strategy, and implementation were studied. These very changes in methodology have been a valuable contribution even for the research into the role of personality within this social process, however. They induce circumstances and means for studying the infrastructure of relationships that make possible the impact of individual authority in organization in general. In this paper, we also pay attention to this social process in teams as compared to collectives and how team-leaders emerge within them.

Bunts (caused by Tilletia caries and T. controversa) belong to very important diseases of winter wheat because contaminated commodities (seeds, foods and feeds) affect the marketability of the crop on both domestic and export markets. They can be relatively easily controlled by chemical seed treatments. Due to the availability of effective chemical control, the reaction of wheat cultivars to bunts has so far not been an important trait for plant breeders in some areas of the world. However, if synthetic chemicals are not allowed, like in organic farming, untreated seed may quickly lead to a build-up of bunt to levels that render the crop unmarketable. The use of wheat cultivars partially or fully resistant to bunts could greatly contribute to ease the bunt problem. The reaction of winter wheat cultivars was evaluated in field tests. Seeds of winter wheat were inoculated with teliospores of T. caries. The reaction to T. controversa was studied under heavy natural infestation with spores in the soil. With T. caries, the heaviest infection was found in cvs Drifter and Ebi, while cvs Nela, Brea and Samanta had the lowest. The average level of infection with T. controversa was higher than that of T. caries. The cvs Niagara, Brea and Versailles had significantly lower numbers of bunt ears of T. controversa in 2002. The incidence of both bunts in grain samples that had not been cleaned and sorted after harvest was monitored for 4 years. A total of 1 058 samples collected from various locations in the Czech Republic were analysed for the presence of bunt spores and the species determined. The investigation demonstrated a rather widespread occurrence of bunts across the Czech Republic, with T. controversa being more frequent.

Fertilization with tannery materials positively influenced the soil pH and increased the content of alkaline cations in soil. After four years of investigations organic carbon content decreased most in the soil fertilized with untreated sludge, mineral salts and in the control soil. Irrespective of fertilization used and year of studies cadmium occurred mainly in most mobile fractions (mobile, exchangeable and bound to manganese oxides). Copper was mainly bound in fractions less available to plants. After four years of studies an increase in mobile copper forms was registered in all treatment soils. Lead in the soil was present mainly in the form bound to organic matter and amorphous iron oxides. Distribution of lead points to the small share of this metal in the mobile and exchangeable forms, both immediately after fertilization applied and after four years of studies. Chromium became fixed in fractions less available to plants, mainly bound to iron oxides and in residual fraction. On the other hand, an apparent effect of fertilization with materials of tannery origin on this element total forms content was registered.

This study compares effects of 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid (TIBA) and flavonoid quercetine (Q). In spite of the fact that both these compounds are inhibitors of the polar transport of auxin, a number of experiments demonstrated that their properties are different. If the flax seedlings were decapitated and one cotyledon was removed, the axillary bud of the remaining cotyledon grew up more intensively while TIBA (0.5% applied in the form of a lanolin paste on the remaining cotyledon) induced a correlative reversal so that axillars of removed cotyledons grew up more intensively. However, when Q (0.5%) was applied on the remaining cotyledon in the form of a lanolin paste, this inhibition was not significant. In the lamina-deprived petioles of apple trees TIBA accelerated abscission while Q caused an inhibiting effect similar to that of auxin. TIBA applied on epicotyls of pea seedlings inhibited their growth by 35% while Q only by 15%. As far as the release of ethylene by pea seedlings is concerned, both compounds showed promoting effects similar to the effect of auxin.

The aim of this study was to investigate an association between aggressiveness and high level of feeding in a half-open feedlot production system. An experiment was conducted on 72 head of beef cattle of different breeds. The animals were at about 10 months of age. Medium quality silage was offered ad libitum and supplemented with high (HE) and low level (LE) of barley (2.5 and 1.5 kg/day/head, respectively) and supplemented without (nil) or with (+) extracted soybean meal (0.45 kg/day/head). Several types of animal behaviour were observed such as those parameters that are categorized to be main aggressive behaviours, butting, being butted, mounting and being mounted. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were found in butting, being butted behaviours between HE and LE treatment groups. Mounting and being mounted behaviours were significantly different (P < 0.05) in steers and heifers and between the seasons as well. Steers performed more incidents of mounting behaviour than heifers and it was the same for spring, during which animals had more mounting behaviours. It was concluded that there was a close relationship between high-energy diets and aggressive behaviour, which necessitates some management measures to be taken in order to ensure better animal welfare and beef production.

Two-year data from terminal study conducted to evaluate post-weaning growth and carcass traits of Texel, Suffolk and Columbia sired offspring were used to evaluate the effect of breed on cultural energy expenditure of lamb production. Each year whiteface ewes (n = 82) composed of primarily Polypay × Dorset ewes were exposed to Texel, Suffolk or Columbia rams for 35 days in the breeding season. The ewes were wintered outdoors on average-quality lucerne hay according to NRC (1985) requirements and were not provided any concentrate during late gestation or lactation. A total of 279 lambs were born with an average of 1.7 lambs per ewe and weaned lambs were used in the study. The lambs were weaned on average at 70 days of age and lambs from each sire breed were placed either in feedlot or on pasture. Texel and Suffolk sired lambs had higher weaning weight than Columbia sired lambs (P < 0.01). Lambs in the feedlot were fed shelled maize and pelleted protein supplement. Lambs on pasture grazed for 63 days and received 455 g concentrate daily and later they were placed in the feedlot. For the cultural energy analysis, pasture establishment and maintenance, feed in feedlot and on pasture, transportation, labour, machinery, electricity and other inputs were calculated and corresponding values for each input were obtained from literature. It was assumed for the analysis that 20 percent of ewes were culled and lambs sold after weaning were included in the analysis. Texel and Columbia breeds had a higher energy input per kg live weight than Suffolk breed (P < 0.04). There was no difference between breeds in terms of energy input per kg carcass (P > 0.4). Suffolk breed had a lower cultural energy ratio for the protein energy output than Columbia and Texel breed (P < 0.02). Energy output ratio defined as kjoule input/kjoule output was better for Suffolk breed and it was different from that of Columbia and Texel breed (P < 0.03).

In three test years an assortment of 15 varieties of vegetable pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) were grown in field conditions to study experimentally some of their morphological and biological properties. Mean plant height ranged from 435.7 mm (cv. Lastočka) to 636.7 mm (cv. Srbská). The smallest fruits had cultivars Čerešňová and Kecskeszarv with the weight of 4.86 g and 17.68 g. Average weight was the highest at varieties Pola kapia (92.23 g) and Melišor (91.92 g). The biggest length of mature leaves over 100 mm was measured at varieties Dolmy, Podarok Moldavy and Tuba; the smallest leaves according to length and width had variety Čerešňová. The mean vitamin C content in fruits about 2,000 mg/kg at green mature stage was found in cv. Bohatýr, Čerešňová and Podarok Moldavy. The highest vitamin C content in red fruits was analyzed at cv. Čerešňová (2,551.0 mg/kg) and Lastočka (2,422.2 mg/kg). Other observed characteristics were colour, shape and taste of fruits, colour of leaves and fruit wall thickness.

Production of verotoxin Stx2e and expression of F18 and K88 colonisation factors were investigated in 222 strains of Escherichia coli isolated from weaned piglets. Sixty-two, 30, and 11 of the 129 verotoxigenic strains were classified to the serogroups O139, O141, and O157, respectively. Other serogroups were identified only sporadically and sixteen strains were unclassifiable. No colonisation factors were detectable in 15 (24.2%) of the 62 verotoxigenic strains classified with the serogroup O139. The fedA gene shared by the colonisation factors F18 was detected by PCR in 47 of the O139 strains (all but one F18ab). Gene fedA, in which the amplification product was digested with endonuclease NgoMI (F18ac), was peculiar to the serogroup O141. No colonisation factors were detected in 19 (14.7%) strains. Genes encoding the colonisation factors F18ac and F18ab were demonstrated in 22 (23.7%) and 11 (11.8%), of the 93 nonverotoxigenic and mostly enterotoxigenic strains, respectively.

New analytical procedure for the determination of fosetyl-aluminium in hop cones (also called "hops") was developed. Liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation tandem mass spectrometry (LC-APCI-MS/MS) allowed a highly selective determination of this fungicide which facilitated the sample preparation. The sufficiently low detection limit (1 mg/kg of dried hops) with the acceptable method performance characteristics (RSD 9%, recovery 76% - at the level of 10 mg/kg) complies with the need to inspect the observance of maximal residual limit 100 mg/kg. The application of LC-MS technique thus provided an effective way of fosetyl-aluminium determination in the complex hops matrix.

The post-eradication incidence of bovine tuberculosis in seven Central European Countries (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia) was studied between 1990 and 1999. The majority of cattle to the age of 24 months were screened by tuberculin skin test on annual basis. Tuberculous lesions observed during meat inspection at abattoirs were further laboratory examined by direct microscopy, cultivation and histology for the presence of mycobacteria. Data describing the incidence of the disease in animals for the whole period were obtained from all countries except Bosnia and Herzegovina, where data were obtained after the year 1995. Between the years 1990 and 1999, bovine tuberculosis was diagnosed in a total of 1 084 cattle herds. Nine hundred and seventy five (89.9%) outbreaks of the disease were reported in small herds (10 cows) and 109 (10.1%) outbreaks in large cattle herds (>10 cows). The last outbreak of bovine tuberculosis in cattle was diagnosed in Slovakia, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1993, 1993, 1995, 1999 and 1999, respectively. Bovine tuberculosis was diagnosed under proper quarantine in Slovenia in 37 fattening bulls imported from two European countries before animals were introduced to the targeting farms.

Laboratory experiments were carried out with seeds of Galinsoga ciliata and Chenopodium album in 1998, 2000 and 2001. The study involved germination of non-dormant seeds in the light and the dark at 5-30°C, the germination energy at 15, 24, and 33°C, and the primary dormancy of seeds matured during the period from July to October. Both weeds germinated better in the light compared to the dark. Seeds of G. ciliata germinated at 10-33°C. Germination exceeding 85% was recorded at 12-28°C. Ch. album germinated in a wider temperature interval (5-33°C). Maximum germination (75%) was obtained at 18°C. A very high germination energy of G. ciliata seeds was found at 24°C. At this temperature, 89% of seeds germinated during the second and third day of the germination test. Seeds of Ch. album had a low germination energy at 15 and 24°C. The germination energy was high only at 33°C, however, the total germination reached at this temperature was only 26.5%. Both G. ciliata and Ch. album formed primary dormant seeds during all three testing years. The length of primary dormancy varied from 10 to 100 days depending on the date of ripening and on the year. The longest primary dormancy was found with early ripened seeds (July and August).

Specific productivity and some correlations between growth and productivity were evaluated in a set of 24 apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) genotypes in 1994-1999. Even though the planting stock came from the same nursery, was of even age and on the same rootstock, the tree size of genotypes varied from planting to a permanent site. Differences in the tree size of genotypes slightly diminished over the six-year period, likely under the influence of uniform pruning used for all trees. Nevertheless, tree size evaluated from the area of stem cross-section can be considered as a genotype disposition. It is proved by a positive, highly significant correlation (r = 0.84⁺⁺) between the rank genotypes according to the area of stem cross-section in the fourth and eleventh year after planting. Confidence intervals also confirmed significance of differences in specific productivity. In total, specific productivity of twelve genotypes was significantly higher than in the control cultivar Velkopavlovická. A negative, significant moderate correlation (r = -0.40⁺) was calculated between tree size and specific productivity expressed as yield weight per unit area of stem cross-section. Weakly growing genotypes had higher specific productivity. The highest specific productivity was recorded in cultivars Vynoslivyj and Priusadebnyj and in LE-1321 and LE-390 hybrids. Of them, the most interesting for producers and fruit quality was Vynoslivyj with average fruit weight 47 g and harvest ripeness 11 days after Velkopavlovická.

In the decade monitored a total of 45 873 318 pigs were slaughtered and examined according to veterinary hygiene standards. Apart from 1991, when results of tuberculous findings were not obtained, tuberculous lesions were found in 134 088 (0.32%) of the 41 458 565 pigs examined in the remaining nine years. During a detailed analysis of the pathological anatomical examination of 190 940 pigs slaughtered in one district, tuberculous lesions in lymph nodes were found in 4 107 (2.2%) pigs: mesenteric (65.3% pigs), submandibular (18.6% pigs), inguinal (0.1% pigs) and simultaneously intestinal and head lymph nodes (15.9% pigs). Miliary tuberculosis was found only in the parenchymatous organs of four (0.1%) pigs. The following financial losses resulted: 6% for confiscating the head, intestines and stomach, and from 22 to 24% for assessing meat as conditionally edible after processing, i.e. intended only for heat-processed products. Mycobacteria were isolated from 7 246 (41.8%) pigs through the cultivation of tissue samples from 17 326 pigs. Mycobacterium bovis was detected in only five (0.07%) animals which originated from the last outbreak of bovine tuberculosis in cattle in the Czech Republic in 1995. M. avium complex (MAC) isolates came from 6 870 (94.8%) animals: 55.7% M. a. avium isolates were mainly of serotypes 2 and 3 and genotype IS901+ and IS1245+ and 39.2% M. a. hominissuis isolates were mainly of serotypes 4, 8 and 9 and genotype IS901- and IS1245+. Conditionally pathogenic mycobacteria (M. chelonae, M. terrae, M. phlei and M. fortuitum) were isolated from 371 (5.1%) pigs. In the whole period monitored, two marked increases in the findings of tuberculous lesions were recorded: In the mid-1990s as a result of using deep bedding with wood shavings and at the end of the 1990s as a result of supplementing the pigs' feed with peat. The predominant occurrence of M. a. avium isolates of genotype IS901+ and IS1245+ in the first half of the 1990s was replaced above all by M. a. hominissuis isolates of genotype IS901- and IS1245+. The reason for this was probably a change in the sources of infection for pigs. While at the beginning of the 1990s the most frequent source of infection were wild and domestic birds, various parts of the external environment became the source of the infection for pigs from the mid-1990s. In the years 1996 to 1999, Rhodococcus equi was isolated from 203 (11.6%) of the 1 745 animals examined. It was solely isolated from 154 (8.8%) animals and from 49 (2.8%) animals together with mycobacteria.