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Population studies and tests on the relationship between density and damage were conducted in 1999 to 2001 to determine the pest status of Empoasca dolichi on groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) in the Zaria area of northern Nigeria. Analyses showed that Empoasca numbers varied significantly from one year to another, and within each year the numbers of leafhoppers observed at the different growth stages of the plant were significantly different (P = 0.01). There was an inverse and highly significant relationship between the mean kernel yield and the Empoasca damage at the different growth stages of the plant. When natural population densities were plotted against economic injury level (EIL), the densities did not reach the EIL throughout the groundnut growing seasons. The insect was thus not an economic pest on groundnut in Zaria during the period of the study.

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a barley disease, which occurs every year in various areas of barley cultivation all over the world and the increasing incidence has been confirmed in the Czech Republic also during the last years. We aimed to emply AFLP (Amplified fragment length polymorphism) and SSR (Single sequence repeats) markers to describe diversity among breeding lines with a sufficient level of resistance towards FHB and to find marker(s) associated with the analysed traits. The number of eight accessions including five expected resistance donors and three sensitive lines were tested in the field and laboratory. The field values and the amount of deoxynivalenol were positively correlated (r = 0.92). The laboratory test and content DON manifested also a high correlation (r = 0.73). Several DH lines developed from androgenetic barley progenies of the F1 hybrids between the susceptible line PI 383933 and resistant line PEC 210 or the susceptible line PI 383933 and resistant cultivar Chevron were found resistant towards Fusarium infection in both the field and laboratory tests. Low infestation was found at line DH 37 from combination Chevron × PI 383933 and lines DH48, DH49, DH50 and DH55 from the combination PEC 210 × PI 383933. Cluster analyses based on 68 AFLP and 18 SSR markers demonstrate a genetic relationship among parental genotypes and DH lines.Some DH lines combined a sufficient degree of resistance against FHB and extract content (basic parameters malting quality). Statistically significant differences in malt-extract values were observed between groups of the DH lines possessing and not possessing the AFLP marker CAA/AGC 341bp. The markers will be further evaluated and optionally used for MAS.

Fifty-one crossbreed young bulls, progenies of Charolais (CH), Czech Pied (CP), Simmental (SI) and Blonde d'Aquitaine (BA) beef cattle bred at the paternal position crossed by Czech Pied at the maternal position, were reared in a typical production system and slaughtered at an average age of 578 days and live weight of 656 kg. The animals were evaluated for fattening performance and carcass quality traits (live weight at slaughter, age at slaughter, total weight gain, carcass weight, dressing percentage, net daily gain) and meat quality characteristics (dry matter, proteins, fat, ash, pH₄₈, water holding capacity, remission, collagen, area of M. longissimus dorsi and cooking loss). Correlation coefficients were determined in order to discover which of the above-mentioned characteristics influenced textural properties measured by Warner-Bratzler (WB) shear device and compression test (TPA). It can be concluded from the overall assessment of the correlation coefficients that slaughter age (r = 0.68, P < 0.001), net daily gain (r = -0.54, P < 0.001), average lifetime daily gain (r = -0.50, P < 0.001) and pH₄₈ (r = -0.51, P < 0.001) had the major influence on the textural properties measured by WB shears. Meat texture expressed by TPA was mainly influenced by live weight at slaughter (r = 0.55, P < 0.001), carcass weight (r = 0.50, P < 0.001) and pH₄₈ (r = -0.54, P < 0.001). Significant differences (P < 0.001) were found out for the age at slaughter (CH × BA) and (CP × BA), slaughter weight (CP × SI) and (CP × BA) and carcass weight (CP × BA). At the same level of significance further differences were found out for pH₄₈ and water holding capacity (CP × SI), (CP × BA) and cooking loss (CH × CP). Highly significant differences (P < 0.01) in the textural properties (measured by WB shears) were determined between the following breeds: (CH × BA) and (CP × BA). At the level of significance P < 0.05, the highest differences were identified between (CH × SI) and (CP × SI). TPA test showed statistically significant differences between (CH × CP), (CP × SI) breeds at the level P < 0.05.

Enterococci (58) from faeces of rabbits of various age (from 2 months to 3 years) and 5 different rabbit farms were isolated and tested for survival in the presence of oxgall, lactic acid production, urease activity, resistance to low pH as well as their binding ability was tested. Fifty percent of enterococcal isolates were identified as Enterococcus faecium, 19% as E. faecalis. All strains showed good survival in the presence of 5% oxgall. The urease activity of isolates was in the range from 0.013 to 17.13 nkat/ml, only E. faecalis EE229 strain did not produce any urease. The survival of strains was tested at pH 3.0 and the percentage of their survival ranged between 62.0% and 90.0%. E. faecium EF1819 strain was found to show the best survival ability at low pH. Particle agglutination assay values of selected enterococci expressed only negative (0) or weakly positive (1) binding of heparin, bovine fibrinogen, porcine fibronectin and lactoferrin. Based on the results, most of the selected enterococci could be promising probiotic feed additives.

Irrigation with saline waters is an agricultural practice that becomes increasingly common as competition for fresh water increases. In this study, three strawberry cultivars (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) were tested for their salt tolerance. For this purpose, five salinity levels in water with electrical conductivities (EC_i) of 1.1, 1.6, 2.1, 2.5, 2.9 dS/m and river water as control (0.5 dS/m) were used in a randomised design with four replications. Percent leaf damage at two dates and accumulation of salts in soil were determined for each cultivar. Considering the results, Maraline is the most tolerant to salinity. Severe effects of salt on Muir and Tudla growth were observed even at EC_i 1.1 dS/m. The higher the level of EC_i of irrigation water, the higher the soil EC_e produced. In general, the highest soil EC_e's were produced by Muir followed by Tudla experiment.

Bovine tuberculosis was last detected in cattle and pigs in the CzechRepublicin 1995. Since March, 31, 2004(Commission Decision No. 2004/320/EC) the Czech Republichas been included amongst states free from bovine tuberculosis within the European Union. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate results of intravital and post-mortem diagnosis of mycobacterial infections in slaughtered cattle and pigs from 2000 to 2004. When bovine tuberculosis in cattle was investigated, a tuberculin skin test with bovine tuberculin was performed every year and a skin test with avian tuberculin was simultaneously conducted in the animals with a positive response. A total of 2 419 889 animals were examined with a positive response being found in 123 (0.005%) of them. After slaughter, bovine tuberculosis was not detected in any of these animals by gross and/or laboratory examinations. With avian tuberculin, 40 349 animals were tested and positive responses were detected in 43 (0.1%) of them; the incidence was similar in all the years monitored. Tuberculous lesions were detected in 209 (0.01%) of 1 967 211 slaughtered cattle. Mycobacteria were present in 40 (21.3%) of 188 animals examined by laboratory methods: 26 isolates of Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium (18 isolates of serotype 2 and 8 isolates not typeable), 11 isolates of M. a. hominissuis (1 isolate of serotype 8 and 10 isolates not typeable), and 3 isolates of atypical mycobacteria. Tuberculous lesions were detected in 49 312 (0.22%) of 22 312 580 slaughtered pigs by veterinary-meat inspection. During the 5-year-period monitored, the incidence of tuberculous lesions decreased from 0.37% in 2000 to 0.10% in 2004. The following mycobacteria were isolated from 757 (33.5%) of 2 261 animals whose organs were examined by culture: 203 isolates of M. a. avium (180 isolates of serotype 2, 3 isolates of serotype 2/8, and 20 isolates not typeable), 442 isolates of M. a. hominissuis (1 isolate of serotype 1, 262 isolates of serotype 8, 35 isolates of serotype 9, 1 isolates of mixed serotypes 8/9, and 143 isolates not typeable), and atypical mycobacteria (n = 112). In both animal species, M. avium complex members prevailed: M. a. avium was the most prevalent subspecies in cattle, M. a. hominissuis in pigs. The main sources of M. a. avium and M. a. hominissuis are free living birds and contaminated external and stable environments (i.e. drinking water, feeds, and feed supplements), respectively. During the entire period monitored, miliary or generalized tuberculosis was not detected in any of the animals. The decreased incidence of tuberculous lesions in pigs was particularly a result of preventive measures adopted to control the occurrence of atypical mycobacteria.

Two to three weeks old 3 male indigenous Korean calves weighing 35-40 kg were referred to the Animal Medical Centre,ChonbukNationalUniversitywith signs of urine scalding on the ventral perineum. Physical examination in all 3 cases revealed aplasia of the penis along with an undescended testis, bifid scrotum and ventrally incomplete sheath. In case 1, the urethra opened cranially to the bifid scrotum, whereas in case 2 and 3, the urethra opened at the ventral perineum. The diagnosis was made as hypospadias, along with penile aplasia and unilateral cryptorchidism. With an exploratory laparotomy, the abdominal testis was removed. The scrotal testis was also castrated and scrotal ablation was performed. In case 1, prescrotal urethrostomy and in case 2 and 3, perineal urethrostomy was performed. Two weeks after surgical correction, the caves appeared to be urinating normally.

The paper deals with the occurrence, development and natural enemies of the cecidogenous aphid Pemphigus gairi Stroyan (Pemphigidae). The aphid abundantly occurred on leaves of Populus nigra and P. nigra var. italica in Brno in 2003. It was described from England and no information on its occurrence is available in literature from continental Europe. It refers to a holocyclic and heteroecious species. In localities under study, larvae of fundatrices hatched mainly in the last decade of April. Through their sucking on the abaxial face of freshly unfolded leaves of poplars, species-unspecific lengthwise tile-like galls originate on the adaxial face of leaves (near the central leaf vein). During 12 to 14 days, fundatrices mature in galls of an average length and width 11.2 and 3.9 mm, respectively. Adults live about 1.5 months, namely max. until mid-July. They produce on average 75.6 fundatrigeniae which mature to winged migrantes alatae in the course of 16 days. In the period of hatching the first migrants (at the end of May), galls grow up to the final length of about 11.8 mm and width 4.7 mm. In primary slit-shaped caps on the abaxial face of leaves, migrants leave the galls through emergence holes. In a secondary host (Aethusa cynapium, Daucaceae), they produce on average about 17.5 larvae of exules. Owing to natural enemies (above all true bugs of the species Anthocoris minki), aphids die in 90% of galls.

During the construction of model logging costs for valuation of forest stands, by accident I found out differences between some species included in the groups of tree species. Differences within the groups of species may cause errors in logging costs of some species, for example with hornbeam, all species of linden, all species of rowans and horse chestnut. With the help of simple calculations it was proved that the differences could be very large, that they were more than forty per cent, it means they were significant. On the basis of my further research it is envisaged to increase the number of groups of trees from 13 to 16. The purpose is to give the most accurate background to make up a model of logging costs. In the second step it is expected that the model can provide the results for more or fewer groups of trees more easily if statistical methods are used. But this problem is not a part of this paper.

Presented study documents the effects of green alder (Alnus alnobetula [Ehrh.] C. Koch) on the uppermost forest soil layers in mountain areas, respectively in the top part of the Orlické hory Mts. Three variants effect to the forest soil have been studied: pure groups of green alder, pure groups of Norway spruce and Norway spruce stand under-planted by green alder. The effect of alder stands litter influenced some basic soil characteristics: the surface humus accumulation (low), the bases content and base saturation (decreased). The green alder increased the acidification trends in the forest soils of the humus forms on the studied locality and intensified the mineralization and nutrient losses from the soil profile.

After the accession to the EU, there is a necessity to develop the land market in Slovakia. The achievement of the following conditions is necessary: settlement of estates in lands and unification of the law of real property in the areas of ownership, utilization, change of the land type, soil conservation, land use planning and building multiple-function agriculture with the legislation of the market economy countries as well as its harmonization with the EU legal regulations. It is also necessary to develop an official network to follow transactions on the land market, a regular update of data and their evaluation.

The bacterium Pseudomonas savastanoi pv. nerii was identified as the causal agent of parenchymatous galls on leaves of potted oleander plants grown at Brno, Moravia, in 2004. The plants had originated from cuttings made from firm shoots of a supposedly asymptomatic plant grown in and introduced from the Mediterranean region. The Biolog GN microplate system was used to identify the isolated bacterial strains. Successful inoculation of Nerium oleander seedlings proved the pathogenicity of the isolates. This is the first record of P. savastanoi pv. nerii in the Czech Republic. :

The results of three-year trials (1999 to 2001) conducted with six winter wheat varieties in which was investigated the effect of sites, years and varieties on the final grain yield and technological quality showed statistically significant differences (LSD, 95%) among sites in grain yield and these parameters of quality: test volume mass, wet gluten content, sedimentation test, protein content, falling number and flour water absorption capacity. As to the quality, the Žatec site showed itself as generally most suitable, and the Jaroměřice site as the least suitable one. Climate conditions showed a statistically significant effect (LSD, 95%) on grain yield and all quality parameters, beside the percentage of complete grains and swelling capacity of gluten and falling number, which were insignificant. The most favourable weather conditions, a lot of precipitation and high temperature in the course of ripening from three years were proved in the year 2000. Among the varieties were statistically significant differences (LSD, 95%) in grain yield and these parameters of quality: test volume mass, thousand grain weight, ash content, percentage of complete grains, sedimentation test, protein content, reologic properties of dough and baking tests. From the six varieties the best profits were shown from variety Sulamit (loaf volume 595 ml/100 g of flour), the worst was Semper (loaf volume 543 ml/100 g of flour) and Vlasta (loaf volume 532 ml/100 g of flour). The best grain yield was in 2001 (average of sites 8.84 t/ha) and the variety Semper had the highest grain yield of 9.17 t/ha, that is higher at 13.41% compared with Sulamit (7.94 t/ha).

There is a constant increase in demand for large numbers of high-quality oocytes of domestic mammals for various reproductive biotechnologies. Prolonged in vitro culture represents one of the many possible ways of meeting this demand. However, oocytes further cultured in vitro after reaching the stage of metaphase II undergo the complex process called "ageing", which decreases the quality of oocytes. The aim of the present study was to improve the culture conditions for in vitro matured porcine oocytes by supplement of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) or the insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) in order to reduce the adverse effects of ageing. Supplement of either EGF or IGF-1 had no significant effect on the ageing of porcine oocytes. Significant effects were demonstrated when the oocytes were cultured with both EGF and IGF-1. A combination of 10 µg EGF/ml with 25 ng IGF-1/ml was the most effective. Oocytes aged under these conditions retained very good developmental competence. We observed development to the morula (21%) or blastocyst (25%) stage in oocytes aged for 1 day with EGF and IGF-1. Porcine oocytes matured in vitro are more resistant to the ageing when cultured in the presence of both EGF and IGF-1 and these conditions retain an elevated developmental competence for a certain time.

During the period of 2001 and 2003 a total of 238 isolates of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae obtained from 26 pig herds in the Czech Republic (2001 - 73 isolates, 2002 - 110 isolates, 2003 - 55 isolates) were examined for antibiotic resistance by disc diffusion method. Resistance to erythromycin (95.5% to 98.6%), streptomycin (76.4% to 82.7%) and tiamulin (72.7%) was detected most frequently over the whole monitored period. High increase in percentage of resistant isolates to tetracycline (2001 - 11.0%, 2002 - 36.4%, 2003 - 81.8%), doxycycline (2001 - 9.6%, 2002 - 34.6%, 2003 - 61.8%), nalidixic acid (2001 - 2.7%, 2002 - 14.5%, 2003 - 45.5%), and norfloxacin (2001 - 0%, 2002 - 7.3%, 2003 - 34.6%) was found, while differences in resistance to cephalotine (2001 - 1.4%, 2002 - 7.3%, 2003 - 9.1%), cotrimoxazol (2001 - 4.1%, 2002 - 10.0%, 2003 - 7.3%), amoxicillin (2001 - 12.3%, 2002 - 12.7%, 2003 - 10.9%) and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (2001 - 9.6%, 2002 - 9.1%, 2003 - 10.9%) were small. Prevalence of isolates resistant to sulfasomidine was detected decreasing (2001 - 43.8%, 2002 - 47.3% and 2003 - 29.1%).

An episode of mortality in waterbirds occurred on a sedimentation reservoir with effluents from the sugar beet processing plant at Hrusovany n.J. (South Moravia, Czech Republic) in summer 2003: tens of black-headed gulls (Larus ridibundus), several lapwings (Vanellus vanellus), one little ringed plover (Charadrius dubius), one ruff (Philomachus pugnax), one wood sandpiper (Tringa glareola), and two avocets (Recurvirostra avosetta) died. One of the two avocets and the plover, local breeders, were examined and found positive for Clostridium botulinum type C toxin by use of the toxin-neutralization test. Avocet is classified as a rare bird species according to Red Book data and is listed as critically endangered species in theCzechRepublic, and is therefore protected. Avian botulism can occasionally cause deleterious effects to waterbird fauna and its protection.

In 1986 (1987) research plots were established in a forest stands on the south-western slope of Šerlich Mt., Orlické hory Mts. (Kristina Colloredo-Mansfeld - Forest Administration Opočno), at the altitude of 950 to 970 m, to study deposition, chemistry of precipitation and soil water and development of soil chemistry. The plots were established on a clear-cut area, in a young stand and a mature stand of spruce, in a mature beech stand, and in an advanced growth of spruce and European mountain ash. The content of solutes in creek water was studied at the same time. Since 1993 the concentration of substances in precipitation water intercepted in the summit part of Šerlich Mt. has been measured. Research on water chemistry in the stands terminated in 1997. Soil analyses were done in 1986 (1987), 1993 and 1999. The load of acid air pollutants in these forest ecosystems was high in the eighties. After 1991 the deposition of H⁺, S/SO₄^2-, N/NO₃^- + NH₄⁺, Mn, Zn, Al decreased. Similarly, an increase in pH was observed in soil water, and the concentrations of SO₄^2-, and N, Al compounds decreased. But in 1993 the concentrations of SO₄^2- and Al increased again under the spruce stand for several months. The concentrations of NO₃^-, Mn, Zn and Al in the stream water also gradually decreased in the nineties. On the contrary, the average values of S-ions increased compared to those of 1987 to 1991. Strongly acid soil reaction developed in deeper layers until 1993. In the second half of the nineties the pH/H₂O value somewhat increased again, however the reserve of K, Mg, Ca available cations in the mineral soil constantly decreased. The saturation of sorption complex by basic cations in the lower layer of rhizosphere did not reach even 10% in 1999. The forest ecosystems of Šerlich Mt. were also loaded by a high fall-out of Pb, and increased fall-out of Cu. The lack of balance of N-compound transformations and consumption in the soil and increased leaching of N in the form of nitrates contribute to soil acidification on the investigated plots.

The paper documents the effects of forest stands of different species composition on the humus form state and soil profile chemistry. It compares the situation in mixed broadleaved (ash, oak, hornbeam), basswood and spruce stands. Spruce demonstrates the site degradation effects: raw humus accumulation, soil acidification, negative effects on nutrient dynamics. Both broadleaved stands were similar as for site effects, lower litter accumulation, more rapid organic matter mineralization and more rapid nutrient cycling and intense uptake were documented in the basswood stand.

Changes in radial increment of Norway spruce in 25 stands more than 100 years old were analysed. Stands were growing on sites of different exposure situated at 450-1,200 m above sea level in the Polish Western Beskids Mountains. In the mid-1990s a considerable increase in annual ring width was observed. The greatest increase occurred in trees growing at the highest altitudes. This phenomenon occurred after a long period of increment decrease at the turn of the 1970s. After 1990 as the annual ring width was increasing, the variation and amplitude of ring width also increased. The cause of a long-term increase in radial increment was the improvement of thermal and pluvial conditions during late winter and early spring having a substantial effect on Norway spruce growth. In the 1990s the period of rapid changes in thermal and pluvial conditions of summer began. After moist and cold summers there were hot and dry summers. This resulted in increased variations and amplitude of the growth responses of Norway spruce and contributed to the weakening of trees above 100 years of age. The increasing break-up of Norway spruce stands growing in the lower mountain zone of the Polish Western Beskids Mountains, observed in recent years, is the final effect of this process.

In relation to sustainable rural development, the paper starts with the question of its conditions. One of them is social acceptance of various projects or programmes. This issue is joined with the co-ordination of human activities. The mechanism facilitating the co-ordination in contemporary societies is related to social capital. Its concept is outlined through the references to the basic literature about the topic. Using content analysis, based on the quantification of the categories created through the analysis of the literature about the topic, the social capital in selected municipalities is investigated. The main aim of the paper, however, is to show the role of this method in social capital fast identification. Although the approach necessitates further elaboration, it can be considered as the first important step in the practice of development activities. The background of the paper reflects the challenges of the World Bank concerning the elaboration and development of the new methods of measuring social capital.

In the market economy, agriculture ranks among the important political and economic issues. Risks associated with agricultural activity can be catastrophic. For farmers and farms, damages resulting from materialized risks represent significant and existence-threatening problems. For the state, damages in agriculture can endanger the food supply chain, cause fluctuation in employment or jeopardize the state's foreign-policy position due to lack of self-sufficiency. This is why it is necessary to discuss the methods and ways to deal with the problem, to eliminate agricultural risks or to minimize their occurrence and materialization. One of the possible ways is insurance. With regard to these facts, the author attempts to make an analysis of the possible ways to eliminate risks that endanger agricultural production and, according to this analysis, to describe the basic approaches to minimizing or eliminating the materialization of risks associated with agricultural activity. Subsequently, the author focuses on agricultural insurance systems in the countries of the European Union, and on the present-day situation in the field of agricultural insurance in the Czech Republic.

The effect of feed additives: antibiotic (group C), probiotic (group E1) and prebiotic (group E2) on the results of fattening and selected slaughter and pork meat quality traits of two genotypes of pigs (PLW × PL) × BL and (PLW × PL) × Dur, gilts and hogs, was determined. The results obtained for the examined traits in the feeding groups under comparison were slightly differentiated. The growth rate and feed conversion differed between the genetic groups in favour of crossbred fatteners with the proportion of Dur breed (P ≤ 0.01). The mean backfat thickness from 5 measurements and loin "eye" area in fatteners derived from Dur sires as compared to hybrids coming from BL sires were significantly lower (P ≤ 0.01) while the length of carcass was higher (P ≤ 0.01). The gilts were characterized by better meatiness than boars: loin "eye" area, loin weight without backfat and skin, ham weight without backfat and skin differed on the level of P ≤ 0.05, and meatiness of carcass and meatiness of basic cuts at P ≤ 0.01. Significant (P ≤ 0.05) or highly significant (P ≤ 0.01) differences in the proportions of acids: C_18:2, C_18:3, C_20:4, C_22:4 and PUFA in the lipid fraction of MLD were found between the feeding groups. The proportion of the above-mentioned acids was lower in group E2 and higher in group E1 as compared to C. The proportion of the acid C_18:1 was significantly higher (P≤ 0.05) in group E2 as compared to E1. The demonstrated differences indicate the need of further studies in this respect. In pig fattening there is a possibility of effectively replacing feed antibiotics with other additives. The application of biostimulators - probiotic Bactocell or oligosaccharide Bio-Mos instead of the antibiotic flavomycin appeared to be favourable. From the production aspect it seems to be justified to supplement the feed rations for fatteners during the first stage of fattening with feed additives from the group of probiotics or prebiotics.

The reed canary grass as a source of energy was tested in field experiments on small plots at three different sites in 1996-2003. The effects of soil and weather conditions, different times of harvest (July, November, March) and different doses of nitrogen fertilization (0, 30, 60 kg/ha) on yields of phytomass were investigated. The effects of the harvest time on the water content in harvested phytomass, loss of phytomass in different harvest period and the content of basic nutrients and heavy metals in plants were all specified. The influence of the year, site and N fertilization on yields of phytomass of the reed canary grass was highly significant. The reed canary grass responded positively to increasing doses of nitrogen by the increase of yields of phytomass. On the averages of years and sites, the N application dose of 30 kg/ha increased dry phytomass yields of the reed canary grass harvested in November by 14.6% (1.08 t/ha). The higher dosage of N 60 kg/ha increased yields of phytomass of the reed canary grass at all sites by 32.8% (2.08 t/ha) on average in contrast with variants without fertilization. By the dose of N 60 kg/ha, the dry above-ground phytomass harvested in autumn was 10.04 t/ha in Ruzyně, 8.27 t/ha in Lukavec and 6.94 t/hain Chomutov on average over the whole period. The later times of harvest resulted in a decrease of the average yield of phytomass (8.41 t/ha in July, 8.00 t/ha in November and 6.04 t/ha in March) and the average water content (64.3% - 45.2% - 21.5%); on the contrary, energy value of phytomass increased (16.93 GJ/t - 17.02 GJ/t - 17.19 GJ/t). The average content of ash in plants varied from 6.5% in Lukavec to 9.31% in Chomutov. The content of heavy metals in plants never exceeded the highest permissible values set in the Czech Republic for food and feed purposes.

: The circulus arteriosus cerebri of the porcupine was investigated in this study. Five porcupines were used. Coloured latex was given from the left ventricles of three and from the communis carotid artery of two porcupines. The circulus arteriosus cerebri was examined after dissection was done. The basilar artery was formed by a merge of the right and left vertebral artery. The caudal communicans artery which was the caudal part of circulus arteriosus cerebri was formed by the basilar artery on crus cerebri. From caudal to cranial, the branches originating from the basilar artery and circulus arteriosus cerebri to cerebrum and cerebellum were as follows: caudal cerebelli artery, media cerebelli artery, rostral cerebelli artery, caudal choroidea artery, artery which extended to the mesencephalon, caudal cerebral artery, internal ophthalmic artery, rostral choroidea artery, media cerebral artery, rami striati and rostral cerebral artery. The rostral cerebral artery dexter and sinister joined to each other by the rostral communicans artery, forming the circulus arteriosus cerebri. It was determined that the internal carotid artery did not participate in the formation of circulus arteriosus cerebri and the arterial blood to the circulus arteriosus cerebri of porcupine is provided via the basilar artery only.

The present study was designed to determine the effects of dietary heavy metal intake on malondialdehyde levels (MDA, product of cellular lipid peroxidation) in the tissues of gastrointestinal tract, kidneys and liver of sheep. The experiment was carried out on twelve female sheep of mixed breed, weighing from 30 to 35 kg, one year old. The first group of sheep was bred in the conditions of laboratory farm. They had free access to hay and 300 g of barley per sheep was added daily. The second group grazed on a natural pasture in the environs of a factory processing copper ore. The second group of sheep had significantly higher concentrations of copper and cadmium in the tissues of rumen wall, duodenum, colon wall, liver and kidneys. The concentration of lead was significantly higher in the rumen wall, colon, liver and kidneys, but no differences were found in duodenum. The concentration of mercury was significantly higher only in the kidney tissue, but no differences were found in rumen wall, duodenum, colon wall and liver. The concentration of malondialdehyde was found significantly higher in reticulum epithelium, omasum, duodenum and colon. The significantly higher concentration of MDA was measured in colon wall and kidney medulla. The highest concentration of MDA was found in liver. Our results confirm that lipid peroxidation is one of the molecular mechanisms of cell injury in chronic heavy metal poisoning. The epithelium of the gastrointestinal tract of sheep is more sensitive to the oxidative damage induced by dietary heavy metal intake.

The presented research was done in two different regions in Slovakia, characterized by different soil and natural conditions and also production and economic results. The micro-economic analysis was aiming not only at private farmers but also at other legal entities using land for production of agricultural products. The first monitored group consisted of 412 private farmers, farming in average 43.2 ha of agricultural land. The second group consisted of 150 businesses, having 1 866 ha of agricultural land in average. The paper also shows different problems of restructuring land markets in some countries of Central and Eastern Europe.

Wild spawners of common bream, Abramis brama, were caught in the Kortowskie Lake (north Poland) and transported to a hatchery for artificial spawning. Fish were hormonally induced using GnRH analogue combined with metoclopramide (ovopel). The results of bream reproduction in captivity were compared with fish treated with the combination of hCG and CPE and with control group injected saline. Males from treated groups produced significantly more milt (over 4.3 ml/kg vs. 2.1) of better qualities: spermatozoon concentration (over 9.3 × 10⁹ vs. 6.8) and motility (over 85% vs. 62). Females from the control group did not spawn whereas those from hormonally induced groups ovulated: 62% after CPE treatment and 100% after GnRHa treatment. Generally, the fish after ovopel stimulation showed the best hatchery parameters.

Measurements were done of some lysosomal proteolytic enzyme activities involved in skeletal muscle proteolysis of the masculus longissimus lumborum et thoracis muscle (MLLT) of bulls. Samples from the same region between the 11th and 13th vertebra were taken after slaughter from Limousin (n = 10), Hereford (n = 10), Charolais (n = 10), Angus (n = 11) and Simmental (n = 11) bulls about 15 months old fed complete diet ad libitum. The activity of cathepsin D was determined as pepstatin (cathepsin D inhibitor) sensitive activity (PSCatD) towards 1% haemoglobin. Pepstatin-insensitive acid (PIA) and leupeptin-insensitive (thiol proteinases inhibitor) acid (LIA) autolytic activities were measured in the presence of 1mM Mg⁺⁺. MLLT was also analysed for RNA, DNA and protein variables. The data were processed by analysis of variance. The highest activities in PSCatD (P ≤ 0.05), AAA (P ≤ 0.01) and LIA (P ≤ 0.05) as well as percentage of inhibition by pepstatin in cathepsin D (P ≤ 0.01) were estimated in Angus bulls, and the lowest in Limousin ones. These breeds differed in the above-mentioned activities by 20.3, 21.1, 31.1 and 13.1%, respectively. RNA/g of tissue was highest in Hereford and lowest in Limousin bulls (by about 15.3%, P ≤ 0.01). Similar differences (14.3%) were between Charolais and Limousin (P ≤ 0.01). CPS (10³ RNA/protein) was higher by 18.3% (P ≤ 0.01) in Charolais compared to the value in Simmental bulls; similar differences were between Hereford and Simmental (16.4%, P ≤ 0.01). The DNA concentration was highest in Hereford (by about 30%) compared to Charolais bulls. Protein/10³DNA ratio (mg/mg) - FCS - was higher by 33.4% in Charolais compared toHereford; RNA/DNA ratio was higher by 40.2% in Charolais compared toLimousin bulls. These results indicate the fast turnover of proteins in the groups of examined bulls and it can be concluded that in hypertrophic MLLT of bulls an anabolic decrease in degradation occurred.

In Pakistan citrus groves in general are facing a serious problem of decline that is attributed to different causes. The major cause, however, is the prevalence of citrus virus and virus-like diseases; Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) is of utmost concern. Although CTV has been identified and characterized on the basis of serological and physical properties, no information is available on the strains of CTV in Pakistan. The identification of CTV strains will be helpful in developing strategies to control the decline of citrus trees to a great extent. Many citrus growing countries have successfully used the technique of cross protection to minimize the drastic effect of severe CTV strains. By pre-immunization of the citrus tree with mild strains, the decline can be controlled to increase the life span of the citrus tree. In this study we focus on the possibility of establishing a cross protection technique in Pakistan against the CTV strains.

During a five year period (2000-2004), the incidence of bovine and human tuberculosis in cattle and other animals from six Central European countries was evaluated: Croatia (HRV), the Czech Republic (CZE), Hungary (HUN), Poland (POL), Slovakia (SVK), and Slovenia (SVN). These countries, lying between the Baltic and the Adriatic seas, cover an area of 610 402 km² and had more than 68 million inhabitants and 9 330 264 cattle in 2003. Successful national control programmes against bovine tuberculosis in cattle were carried out up until 1980: HRV (1953-1966), CZE (1959-1968), HUN (1962-1980), POL (1959-1975) SVK (1959-1968), and SVN (1962-1973). During the entire monitored period skin testing with bovine tuberculin in all cattle older than two years was carried out regularly either once a year or every second year. Five of these countries (CZE, HUN, POL, SVK, and SVN) joined the EC on May 1^st, 2004. CZE and SVK were officially declared free of bovine tuberculosis in cattle on March 31^st, 2004 (Commission Decision No. 2004/320/EC) and March 4^th, 2005 (Commission Decision No. 2005/179/EC), respectively. Bovine tuberculosis was diagnosed in a total of 188 cattle herds in the study area: 145 (77.1%) outbreaks in small herds (< 10 cows) and 43 (22.9%) outbreaks in large herds (≥ 10 cows). The last cases of bovine tuberculosis in cattle in SVK and in the CZE were diagnosed in 1993 and 1995, respectively. During the monitored period, bovine tuberculosis was diagnosed in animal species other than cattle found in zoological gardens: in two Bactrian camels (Camelus ferus) in the CZK, in one Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris f. altaica) in HUN, in one bison (Bison bison) and one eland (Taurotragus oryx) in POL, and in one dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius) and two bison in SVN. In wild animals, bovine tuberculosis was diagnosed in wild boar (Sus scrofa) in HUN (n = 14) and HRV (n = 1), in six red deer (Cervus elaphus) in HUN, in 14 European bison (Bison bonasus f. bonasus) and two roe deer (Capreolus capreolus f. capreolus) in POL. Infections caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis were also diagnosed in four cattle and two pigs in POL, in one cattle in SVN, in one dog (Canis lupus f. familiaris) in the CZE and in one dog in HUN. M. africanum was diagnosed in one hyrax (Procaria habessinica) in a zoological garden in HRV.