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Transmissible venereal tumours (TVT) are normally seen on the genitalia of both male and female dogs, and at times may be observed on extra-genital sites such as lips, oral mucosa, and peritoneum, or in organs such as the tonsils, eye, liver, spleen, kidney, lung, and musculature. The present communication deals with two rare cases of primary extragenital TVT involving the mammary glands of dogs and their pathology and immunohistochemistry. The study indicated that apart from routinely used markers such as vimentin, p53, PCNA, Ki-67 and c-myc, the oncogenes Rb and cyclin D1 proved to be novel markers of TVT in dogs. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of extra-genital mammary TVT in canines.

The life cycle operation phase of John Deere 1490D energy wood harvester from the aspect of energy audit and environmentally negative influence caused by emissions were evaluated. Energy audit quantifies energy used in the form of fuels and oils as well as energy expended for manufacture, transport and distribution of these fuels and oils. Emissions produced by operation are determined according to the consumption of fuels and oils based on emission factors. We also made a comparison of the general calculation of costs based on data provided by the manufacturer with costs ascertained in real operating conditions. The costs are divided into purchase, operating and other costs. Total costs are subsequently converted into unit costs according to the assumed productivity of the machine, its estimated lifetime, and the mean real throughput of the machine. The machine throughput, and thus also its operating economics, is greatly dependent on the character of the processed material, its stem volume, moisture, way of dendromass preparation, and operator's skills. Energy use was calculated at 74.4 MJ.FU^-1 (functional unit) related to fuel consumption and 13.4 MJ.FU^-1 related to the consumption of oils. The total energy use of the life cycle operation phase of the slash bundler was determined as 87.8 MJ per each bundle produced. The real productivity of the machine in the given operating conditions was several times lower than the productivity indicated by the manufacturer.

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

An incubation study was carried out to investigate the influence of nitrogen rates to determine optimum C/N ratio under various moisture levels for straw decomposition and sequester carbon (C) in the soil. The aim was to observe straw carbon mineralization through measuring the amount of CO₂ evolution. A clay loam topsoil mixed with maize straw was supplied with four nitrogen rates (0.04, 0.08, 0.16, 0.32 g N/kg) using (NH₄)₂SO₄ to adjust C/N ratios at 82, 42, 20, and 10. Soil moisture was maintained at 55%, 70%, 85%, and 100% of field capacity incubated at 25°C for 53 days. The experiment was set up with 16 treatments arranged in complete randomized design. Results showed that mixing of straw with soil increased 50% cumulative CO₂-C compared to controls. Averagely, about 44% of added maize straw C was mineralized to CO₂-C. Straw addition along with nitrogen and moisture had significant relationships (P < 0.05) to cumulative CO₂-C, soil organic C and microbial biomass C. There was a highly significant relationship (R² = 0.99) between CO₂-C emission and incubation time.

This study was aimed at determining the arterial supply and gross vascular architecture of the urinary bladder in the male cat. For this purpose, the urinary bladders of 10 cats were evaluated. Organ vascularization was investigated using the latex injection technique. The feline urinary bladder was found to be supplied by the prostatic artery, which stemmed from the internal pudendal artery and the umbilical artery that originated from the internal iliac artery. The umbilical artery extended caudally to form the cranial vesical artery, which was later distributed into the corpus and apex of the urinary bladder. The feline prostatic artery divided into the artery of the deferent duct and a slim branch, which supplied the prostate gland. The artery of the deferent duct gave off a caudal vesical artery which gave off slim branches to the preprostatic urethra. On the surfaces of the urinary bladders examined, the cranial and caudal vesical arteries followed varying courses, which reflected individual variations. In all samples, the blood vessels generally divided into two or three branches on the surface of the urinary bladder, whilst in only one sample, the caudal vesical artery was observed to be of the ladder type. Moreover, the cranial and caudal vesical arteries anastomosed with each other on the surface of the urinary bladder. This study constitutes a model for comparison with other species and provides morphological contributions to anatomy training and surgical interventions since there is a lack of literature on species-specific vascular morphology in the field of veterinary urology in contrast to the abundance of studies on humans and rodents.

Different variants of regeneration felling or different light conditions (total site factor 15-95%) and weed control were evaluated in relation to the 4-year development of individuals of regenerated sessile oak. The regeneration density is not dependent on light conditions. The highest mortality occurs on the open area of clear felling. For a certain time in youth, it is possible to consider oak as a shade-tolerating species. With the increasing light intensity the diameter and height growth of oak seedlings increases proportionally, being the highest at 100% light intensity. However, to support at least medium-fast growth, the species requires minimally 50% light intensity (smaller closed clear-felled areas). On the other hand, more extensive unprotected cleared areas appear to be quite unsuitable at the initial stages of regeneration. The positive effect of weed control on the success and growth of natural regeneration is questionable. We recommend developing the regenerated stand by means of a series of small-area (about ≤ 0.3 ha) two-stage felling with a medium-long regeneration period (15-20 years).

We describe the case of a nine-day-old female Holstein calf which had cheiloschisis, a moderate dome-shaped head, ataxia and opisthotonus since birth. No significant findings except the dome-shaped head were observed on survey radiography of the skull. Computed tomography (CT) images showed bilateral lateral ventriculomegaly, cerebellar hypoplasia and a cyst-like lesion communicating with the right lateral ventricle. Post-mortem examination revealed a cerebral defect in the frontoparietal lobe, which communicated with the right lateral ventricle, and cerebellar hypoplasia. CT provided a characteristic finding of porencephaly and was helpful for diagnosing the accompanying anomalies. We suggest that porencephaly should be included as a specific anomaly in the differential diagnosis of congenital brain malformation.

A six year old crossbred male dog presented with non-pigmented, pale pink, unhaired, ulcerative tumor of the medial canthus and upper eyelid region. As treatment, surgery was proposed. During the surgery complete excision of the tumor was performed. The extent of skin loss, especially in the upper eyelid required plastic reconstruction by pedicle flap transposition. The soft skin of the cheek was chosen as a graft donor site. The postoperative period proceeded without any complications and ended with successful engraftment. The soft cheek skin did not impede movement of the upper eyelid. Histopathological examination indicated histiocytoma and tumor-free excisional margins were confirmed. There has been no recurrence during the subsequent 12 month period.

A ten-month old, male Black and Tan Coonhound dog was referred with ocular bleeding due to gunshot injury. His mental state was normal. A computed tomography revealed that the bullet was planted in the left cranium. It was presumed that the trajectory of the bullet penetrated from the right medial angle of the eye to the orbit, and changed its track to caudo-dorsal by penetrating the cranium, ending up at the left cranium. The bullet was removed by lateral rostrotentorial craniectomy. No complications were observed during a one-year follow-up except the blindness in the right eye. This is a rare case of gunshot-induced traumatic brain injury featuring a bullet which went through the orbit into the cranium. The damaged frontal lobe seemed to show no neurological signs at the time of first examination in this case. In conclusion, a less aggressive surgical approach is recommended to remove bullets when they are accessible.

Effect of beauvericin on root cell transmembrane electric potential (E_M), electrolyte leakage and respiration of roots were studied in two maize cultivars (Zea mays L.) with different susceptibility to this toxigenic metabolite produced by Fusarium. Beauvericin treatment induced rapid and significant depolarisation of membrane potentials of the outer cortical cells of maize roots of tolerant cv. Lucia. The range of depolarisation was dose dependent with maximum depolarisation of 55 mV (55 ± 7 mV, n = 7) at 200µM beauvericin. In contrast, membrane potentials of beauvericin susceptible cv. Pavla was only slightly depolarised by identical concentrations of beauvericin and the value of depolarisation represented only half of the value of tolerant cv. Lucia (27 ± 6 mV, n = 8). The values of membrane potentials of root cells of tolerant cv. Lucia were higher (137 ± 9 mV, n = 26) and more electrogenic (60 ± 2 mV, n = 3) than in susceptible cv. Pavla (125 ± 7 mV, n = 28), (47 ± 2 mV, n = 3), respectively. Our results confirmed that 2 h treatment with 50µM beauvericin does not cause irreversible changes in plasma membrane H⁺-ATPase, because fusicoccin, an H⁺-ATPase activator diminished the depolarizing effect of beauvericin on the E_M. Further experiments revealed beauvericin-induced increase of membrane conductivity in root cells of Pavla but not in root cells of Lucia. Time-coarse experiments showed that 25µM beauvericin induced slight, but significant inhibition of root respiration in both cultivars during the first two hours of treatment, and the inhibition was higher in cv. Lucia than in cv. Pavla. The depolarisation of E_M in the outer cortical cells of maize roots may be the result of a cumulative effect of beauvericin on ATP supply, activity of H⁺-ATPase and mainly on the permeability of plasmalemma. Increased beauvericin tolerance in maize might be associated with the increased ability of tolerant plant to maintain normal ion fluxes and membrane potentials across the plasmalemma of root cells in the presence of beauvericin.

The article describes the impact of the Sectoral Operational Programme Agriculture and Rural Development and the Rural Development Plan 2004-2006 on the rural development in 2004-2007. In addition to the implementation analysis of these programming documents, the article also describes territorial distribution of direct subsidies and state aid over the monitored period of 2004-2007. A summarized overview is given for the drawdown of all types of subsidies and their proportionate amounts. The evaluation of all subsidies has shown that most of them were paid to the Northern and Eastern parts of Slovakia, due to the agroenvironmental and direct payments (mostly LFA). The article also describes, in quantitative terms, the social and economic impact of investment subsidies from the Sectoral Operational Programme Agriculture and Rural Development and the Rural Development Plan 2004-2006, based on the monitoring indicators of result and impact. The comparison of the socio-economic development of the beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries of investment subsidies from the SOP and RDP has shown a faster growth in income of the beneficiaries, as well as a faster growth of labour productivity. Also, the subsidies significantly helped to reduce the decrease in employment and/or helped to maintain the employment in agriculture.

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.

: Nutrient digestibility and parameters of nutritive value for ruminants of two winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars were evaluated by means of an in vivo balance trial performed by the regression method on two groups of heifers with an increasing proportion of grain in DM (from 6 to 46%). Sulamit and Rapsodia, chosen on the basis of the in vitro test from a set of 25 cultivars (grown in 2002-2004) reached significant differences in DM fermentability in vitro (by 43.7-78.6 ml/g DM, P < 0.05). In vivo digestibility of crude protein, nitrogen-free extract, organic matter, parameters of N retention, energy concentrations (metabolisable energy, net energy for lactation and for fattening) and parameters in the PDI system (especially PDIE) increased along with the grain proportion in the diet. At the comparable proportion of grain in the ration the positive differences were significantly higher (P < 0.05) for Sulamit than Rapsodia.

An outbreak of koi herpesvirus (KHV) infection associated with high mortality of common and koi carp was recorded in the USA and Israel in 1998. At present, this disease is viewed as one of the most significant factors that can adversely affect common and koi carp breeds. The disease has spread worldwide including European countries neighbouring with the Czech Republic (CR), i.e. Germany, Poland, and Austria. To monitor the situation in the CR, samples were collected from a total of 138 common and koi carps in seven and eight locations in CR respectively, and were examined between 2005 and 2006. Locations owned by the major producers of common and koi carp were selected with respect of potential occurrence of the KHV virus. No records of increased mortality and morbidity were noticed there. Preferentially carps with non-specific symptoms of disease were sampled, often with isolated skin erosions. To obtain detailed picture about health condition of examined fish the bacteriological and haematological examinations were accomplished. The next part of the examined samples were carp and koi carp for export from professional breeders, imported koi carp and fish from breeds with increased mortality (45 and 21 fish in 2005 and 2006, respectively) The only virological testing was done in this case. The culture and PCR method, according to Gilad et al. (2002) showed negative results for virus KHV in all years. Retrospective investigation by PCR method according to Bercovier et al. (2005) showed positivity in five locations in 2005. In 2006, KHV virus was not detected in any of the selected locations. The aim of our study was to find out the presence/absence of KHV in selected locations and potential correlation of virological, bacteriological and haematological findings. The results of first testing for presence of koi herpesvirus indicates the necessity of regular KHV monitoring in the Czech Republic in the next period.

The paper continues the debate over the nature and the role of social capital in the Czech agriculture. This issue is not marginal because social capital is also emphasized in the Czech SAPARD Plan. The paper develops the thoughts of J. Chloupková and C. Bjřrnskov published in this journal in their paper "Could social capital help Czech agriculture?" (No. 6 in 2002). Differing form mentioned authors, this paper coins dual nature of understanding social capital. This understanding forms the background of the concept of social capital in the works of French sociologist P. Bourdieu. Dual concept of social capital interconnects the most often use of understanding social capital as coined by such authors like R. Putnam or J. Coleman (social capital is understood as supra-personal collective element enabling the co-ordination of activities of free individuals with equal rights thus enabling the effective operation of certain system as a collective entity) with understanding of social capital related to social status of an individual which creates the hierarchies related to power thus enabling an individual to achieve his/her goals. Using empirical data and the case study, the paper outlines the application of dual understanding of social capital in the analysis of some processes in the Czech farming. Dual concept of social capital enables to explain some circumstances, which might be in the case of one-way orientation of understanding social capital presented in rather simplified way (e.g. if and what form of social capital was weak or destroyed in the Czech agriculture and which continues to exist). This fact is documented through the case study of the changes inside large-scale farms and outside these farms (in the field of their external relations). This study documents the presence of both forms (dual concept) of social capital. Similarly, the dual concept of social capital is used in the analysis of social structure of the Czech agriculture. It is done in the comparison with the model of agriculture in European Union and in the projections into the questions of the action of actors in agriculture.

The aim of the study was to verify under experimental conditions the hypothesis that a reliable protection of piglets against Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (App) infection can be obtained by colostrum-derived antibodies and/or a low-dose infection from sows naturally infected with App. Twenty-eight piglets were allocated into four groups. Piglets of groups 1A and 1B were the progeny of App-seronegative sows, piglets of groups 2A and 2B originated from App-seropositive sows. At the age of 4 weeks, piglets in groups 1A and 2A were exposed to a low infection dose with the pathogenic strain of App serotype 9 (4 × 10⁴ CFU/ml). At the age of 8 weeks, all four groups of piglets were exposed to the App serotype 9 challenge (2.5 × 10⁷ CFU/ml). We compared the differences in clinical, radiological, pathological changes and cytological findings in blood and bronchoalveolar lavage samples between groups with different levels of antigen-specific immunity after challenge. Piglets that obtained colostrum-derived antibodies and experienced a low-dose App infection were best protected against App challenge. More apparent clinical and pathological changes were observed in groups protected with either only colostrum-derived antibodies or active immunity induced by a preceding low-dose infection. However, none of the types of protection prevented developing of the disease and characteristic changes in the lungs. Cell counts changes in blood and lavage gave evidence of only bacterial infection in progress; however, between-group differences were not marked. Antibodies (IgG, IgA) present in the respiratory tract at the time of challenge played a major role in protection against App infection.

Intangible issues, which are often very difficult to be quantified become more and more the field of interest of social sciences. There are many research works demonstrating that various types of knowledge, institutions, social networks, and social relations have a great influence on human activities as for efficient achievement of the actors' goals. This paper relates expert knowledge (shaping professional qualification) to human capital and tacit knowledge (understood as a broader, general, and contextual knowledge) to cultural capital. Both forms of capital exist in their primary form only in concrete individual persons. Concerning collective persons (firm, community), cultural and human capitals are transformed into intellectual capital. Work with specific knowledge, tacit knowledge and capitals corresponding to them shows the role of social networks and social capital in their organization. Using the analysis of two farms based on natural experiment, the paper demonstrates the role of tacit knowledge and cultural capital (opposing to the overestimated role of expert knowledge and human capital). The conclusions outline social determination of both types of knowledge through social networks and social capital needed for an efficient work of a farm.

One of cereal diseases that has gained a greater importance for growers, processing industry as well as for breeders in many regions of the world is Fusarium head blight (FHB) caused by fungi of the Fusarium genus. The objectives of this study were to test diversity among spring barley breeding lines exhibiting various sensitivity to FHB and to find RAPD markers and AFLP markers that will distinguish between susceptible and resistant and/or moderately resistant genotypes. A test of a set of spring barley genotypes artificially infected by fusaria in field trials was carried out. Based on the results from field and laboratory evaluation and deoxynivalenol (DON) content assessment, barley genotypes with different responses to FHB were selected. The genotypes were hybridized and doubled haploid (DH) lines were derived in F₁ generation using the in vitro androgenesis method. Initial parental components and derived DH lines were tested for FHB infection and DON content. A set of parental genotypes of spring barley was tested with 80 RAPD markers. A RAPD marker (H30) was detected which enabled to distinguish between very susceptible parental genotypes and other resistant or moderately resistant spring barley genotypes based on the fragment of about 1300 bp. This specific product was screened in 23 DH lines derived from crosses of parental genotypes of spring barley and detected in 10 DH lines. During the study, some DH lines were selected that exhibited improved resistance to Fusarium infection. A low infection level and low DON content was found in the line DH 4/2 derived from CI 4196 × Foster. The AFLP technique was used to analyse parental genotypes of spring barley. The detected markers can be further evaluated and employed to select breeding materials.

The amelioration of aflatoxicosis in broiler chickens was examined by feeding two concentrations of yeast component (esterified glucomannan; EG). EG, incorporated into the diet at 0.5 and 1 g/kg, was evaluated for its ability to reduce the detrimental effects of 2 mg total aflatoxin (AF; 82.72% AFB₁, 5.50% AFB₂, 10.20% AFG₁ and 1.58% AFG₂) in diet on growing broiler chicks from 1 to 21 d of age. A total of 240 male broiler chicks (Ross-308) were divided into 6 treatment groups [control, AF, EG (0.5 g/kg), AF plus EG (0.5 g/kg), EG (1 g/kg), and AF plus EG (1 g/kg)]. Compared to the control, AF treatment significantly decreased body weight gain from week 2 onwards. AF treatment also caused significant decreases in serum total protein, albumin, total cholesterol, triglyceride, glucose, inorganic phosphorus, creatinine levels and alanine-aminotransferase (ALAT) activity but increased the aspartate-aminotransferase (ASAT) activity. Red blood cell, haematocrit, haemoglobin, thrombocyte, and lymphocyte counts and tibial crude ash levels were significantly reduced by AF treatment, while significant increases were seen in heterophil counts. The addition of EG (1 g/kg) to an AF-containing diet significantly improved the adverse effects of AF on haematological parameters, total protein, albumin values and ASAT activity. EG (1 g/kg) also partially improved body weight gains (59%) and the other biochemical parameters influenced by AF treatment. The addition of EG (both 0.5 and 1 g/kg) to the AF-free diet did not cause any considerable changes in the investigated values. These results clearly indicated that EG (1 g/kg) addition effectively diminished the adverse effects of AF on the investigated values. Also, the higher dietary concentration of EG (1 g/kg) was found more effective than the lower concentration (0.5 g/kg) against the adverse effects of AF on the variables investigated in this study.

As a fermented product, tarhana is the dry form of yogurt-cereal mixture and represents an important part of the diets of many people in different countries including Turkey. In the present study, the effects of the addition of baker's yeast on the quality and functional properties of tarhana were investigated. Tarhana was produced under laboratory conditions (uncontrolled and controlled conditions) using two formulas. Some physicochemical, functional, and sensory properties of the samples were analysed. An increase was found in the acidity value of all samples during the fermentation period. The addition of baker's yeast affected the functional properties (water absorption capacity, foaming capacity, foaming stability, emulsifying activity) of the samples (P< 0.05). The tarhana samples produced by the addition of yeast and under controlled conditions had shorter fermentation times and better sensory properties. This research suggests that the addition of baker's yeast and the employment of controlled conditions can be recommended in the production of the commercial type of tarhana.

The paper tackles the issue of regional and social development. From a sociological point of view, it focuses on the phenomenon of complementary currency systems. The analysis shows that money, as a social institution, has got certain features, which have an impact on economic behavior of people. Establishing a currency on the local level, which would circulate as a complement of the national currency, brings certain social benefits to local society. Nowadays, there are many complementary currency systems all over the world, including Europe. The paper attempts to answer the question, how they can contribute to the local development.

The cultural landscape and rural areas are considered to be a key component of the European cultural heritage. The European Landscape Convention, which the Czech Republic signed in the autumn of 2002, was also formulated in this sense. Consequently, the reform of care of monuments cannot be left entirely to official workers, but is becoming an important subject from the standpoint of maintenance of the functional and demographic stability of rural areas. It is necessary to point out that the care for monuments in Central Europe is at a crucial point, that could be described as a crisis. The reasons are as follows. 1) Time extension of care for monuments as well as the spatial extension of care for monuments. 2) Care for monuments has somewhat neglected to explain and defend its significance - consequently, a great many private owners of cultural monuments are not fully aware of the ideas, on the basis of which limitations are placed on their rights to manage their property, for the good of the cultural heritage. 3) Aesthetic conclusions are increasingly important in deciding what is and what is not a cultural monument. However, this can readily be influenced by the influx of very attractive, but worthless "popular" architecture, currently being introduced by a great many development companies. 4) Care for monuments represents the execution of a particular activity rather than a fixed formulated intellectual system of canons. 5) Even under the best economic conditions, the state as such does not have the means to provide appropriate care for the cultural heritage in state ownership (including state land in the poorer areas) and is certainly not capable of creating a motivation system within its framework for searching for new ways of using this property without abusing it. 6) In general, it can be stated that condition of democratisation within the care for monuments certainly does not attain the level of participation in environmental protection. 7) Care for monuments, especially in Central Europe, tends to continue to emphasise simple conservation of monuments and is minimally concerned with reanimation of the monument fund. This is why the care for the cultural heritage must again formulate its purpose, especially in relation to the decrease in the importance of national states, globalisation and, simultaneously, regionalisation of the world.

These traits of fruit colour were evaluated in 24 apricot genotypes for six years: basic colour, overcolour, flesh colour and attractiveness. The evaluation involved variability of colour traits and correlations between these traits in a six-year period. The evaluated genotypes were significantly different in colour traits; it will facilitate the selection of commercially interesting genotypes. Highly significant correlation coefficients (r = 0.56⁺⁺ to r = 0.96⁺⁺) were calculated for the rank of the values of particular traits in 1994-1999; it confirmed that the traits are genetically conditioned. As for the correlations between the traits, the closest correlation was found out between basic colour of fruit and flesh colour (r = 0.53⁺⁺ to r = 0.96⁺⁺) and between basic colour and overcolour (r = 0.45⁺⁺ to r = 0.65⁺⁺). In the six-year period fruit attractiveness showed the lowest variability expressed by average coefficient of variation (v = 14.98%) while fruit overcolour had the highest variability (v = 41.14%). The coefficients of variation for basic colour and flesh colour were at a medium level. Harogem and Harlayne were the most interesting varieties by their colour traits. Among the registered and most frequently grown varieties in the CR it was Velkopavlovická LE-6/2. The varieties Lednická M-90-A and Vynoslivyj were the most promising for producers by their colour.

The article summarises the results of the analysis of value added (VA) in agriculture and food industry and the share of intermediate consumption in the value added. The results show that during 1993-2000, the Slovak agricultural sector (farming, hunting, forestry and fisheries), where farming is clearly dominant, together with the construction sector, reported the most significant decline in their relative contribution to the overall value added created in the national economy, whereas the contribution of market services increased. The moderate increase (1998, 1999) in the contribution of the food sector to the total value added in the national economy, as well as to industrial production (2000), has been brought to a halt and, eventually, began deflating. The tendency of declining participation of the agricultural sector in value added was also typical for the EU member states and for the CEFTA countries. Agriculture remains dominant in terms of its contribution to value added in the agri-food sector (54.5% in the year 2000). In the category of land-farming holdings, the share of intermediate consumption in value added increased (both in co-operatives and business companies, whether loss-making or profitable). The farmers in mountainous areas spent per 1 SKK of value added 0.65-1.42 SKK more of intermediate consumption than farmers in the maize production area and 0.54-1.32 SKK more than farmers in the sugar-beet production area. In the production of foodstuffs, beverages and tobacco processing, which is more demanding in terms of consumed inputs than agricultural production (the same is true for developed economies), the ratio between intermediate consumption and value added differed depending on the branch concerned. Agriculture was one of the most demanding sectors in terms of fixed asset investments necessary to generate value added. The initial decline was brought to stop in 1998 and the relative share of fixed assets (FA) in value added (VA) started to increase, particularly in the year 2000, mainly under the influence of increased support to farmers' capital investments. Although the creation of value added in agricultural co-operatives initially demanded more investments in fixed assets than it was the case in farming business companies, the difference narrowed over the time. The group of loss-making entities reported the FA/VA ratios twice as high as the group of profitable entities, which sends a signal to the former to revise the structure of their production and to improve management practices. Similarly as in the case of intermediate consumption, also the FA/VA ratio increased as the production conditions deteriorated. The ratios in the production of foodstuffs and beverages (without tobacco processing) were significantly lower than those in the farming sector. In 1999, the lowest FA/VA ratio occurred in the production of durable bakery products and the highest in the production of fruit and vegetable juices.

We have examined 35 samples of fine cottage cheese, 14 samples of whole winter "bryndza", 29 samples of Ondava cheese, 18 samples of skim kephir milk, 18 samples of whole acidophilous milk, 5 samples of yoghurt milk with strawberry flavour and 50 samples of fresh butter (Rajo) for the presence of staphylococci focusing onStaphylococcus aureus. All samples intended for microbiological analysis were taken directly from market establishments. None of the examined samples of yoghurt milk complied with the Codex Alimentarius because they contained Staphylococcus aureus bacteria on the level of 100, 65, 5, 75, and 60 CFU/ml. The other analysed food products satisfied the current standards with regard to the presence of staphylococci.