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Feline coronavirus (FCoV) is a highly contagious virus that is ubiquitous in multicat environments and may induce oxidative stress. This virus commonly causes an asymptomatic infection, which can persist in certain individuals. Sporadically and unpredictably, FCoV infection leads to feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), a highly fatal systemic immune-mediated disease. There are no data in the veterinary literature relating to oxidative stress in FCoV. Antioxidant capacity (TAC) can be attributed to single components in the defence systems against free radicals. The measurement of the total oxidant status (TOS) accurately reflects the oxidative status of blood plasma or serum. Nitric oxide (NO) acts as a free radical and contributes to host defences against oxidation. Malondialdehyde (MDA) is a reliable and commonly used marker of overall lipid peroxidation levels and the presence of oxidative stress. This study aimed to determine levels of oxidative stress markers, serum TAC, total oxidant capacity (TOC), NO and serum MDA in 24 cats seropositive for FCoVs and 15 cats seronegative for FCoVs. Significantly higher serum TOC, NO and MDA levels were found in seropositive animals (P < 0.001, P < 0.05 and P < 0.001, respectively) than in seronegative animals. In contrast, serum TAC levels were found to be significantly lower in seropositive cats compared with seronegative cats (P < 0.001). The results of the present study suggest that FCoV seropositivity is associated with oxidative stress and decreased antioxidant status.

Forest soils in western parts of Iran are being degraded by inappropriate management. The soil organic carbon (SOC) stock was dominantly affected by this type of degradation. On the other hand, SOC is an important sink for atmospheric carbon dioxide and can play a key role in global warming. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of 15 different physical and 8 different management factors on the SOC content and to determine relative importance of these exploratory variables for SOC estimation in a semiarid forest using multiple least-squares regression, tree-based model, and neural network model. Results showed that the CART model with all physical and management variables and 24-2-1 neural networks had the highest predictive ability that explained 81 and 76% of SOC variability, respectively. Neural network models slightly overestimate SOC content. ANNs have a higher ability to detect the effects of management variables on SOC variability and the advantage of CART was to distinguish the effects of physical variables. In both methods the management system dominantly controlled SOC variability in these semiarid forest conditions.

The prooxidant capacity of rapeseed, sunflower, soybean, and olive oil was determined before and after heating at a temperature of 180°C for 2, 4, and 6 hours. It was quantified as losses of α-tocopherol caused by the studied oils during 24-h incubation of their acetone-methanol solutions with addition of α-tocopherol at 30°C, whereas the decrease in α-tocopherol concentration was studied as a decrease in antioxidant capacity determined by the spectrophotometric DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) method. During heating of all the studied plant oils, the prooxidant capacity grew due to the formation of reactive lipid oxidation products, but, except the sunflower oil, it did not depend on the time of heating - after the initiatory increase, the prooxidant capacity typically remained approximately constant or decreased. The prooxidant capacity of the heated oils ranged from 58 mg to 360 mg α-tocopherol/kg and decreased in the order soybean oil > rapeseed oil > olive oil ≈ sunflower oil. It did not correlate with the content of polymerised triacylglycerols (except the sunflower oil) and was generally higher than the residual content of α-tocopherol.

This paper evaluates the response on the rate of photosynthesis (P_n), transpiration (E), stomatal conductance (g_s) and water use efficiency (WUE) in 15 genotypes of young hop plants (19 BBCH) grown in greenhouses in the conditions of water deficit for the period of 9 days. On the 9^th day, the relative content of water in the experimental plants fluctuated between 70.14-75.20%. The levels of P_n and g_s evidently dropped in the monitored species as a result of the water deficit. The decrease of P_n in the experimental plants compared with the control group was largest in the Saaz Os. cl. 72 (by 77.5%), Magnum (by 73.3%) and Columbus (by 62.3%). To the contrary, the lowest P_n decrease was noted in the case of genotypes Saaz Late (by 15.7%), Vital (by 23.9%) and Premiant (by 24.2%). All genotypes except for cv. H16 showed an evident decrease of E. Judging by the highest values of WUE, the most effective water management was shown by Premiant, Vital and Saaz Late genotypes. A significant stomatal limitation of photosynthesis due to water stress was identified in the most widely used Czech cultivar, Saaz Os. cl. 72, with low values of stomatal conductance, photosynthetic rate and transpiration.

The effects of serotonin (5-HT), GnRH analogue (D-Ala⁶ LHRH, GnRH-A) and dopamine antagonist - pimozide (PIM), on luteinizing hormone (LH) release in mature Prussian carp female (Carassius gibelio Bloch) were examined at the time of gonad recrudescence. Fish were intraperitoneally injected with 5-HT (10 mg/kg), GnRH-A (20 μg/kg) or PIM (5 mg/kg) or the combinations: 5-HT+GnRH-A, 5-HT+PIM, 5-HT+GnRH-A+PIM. Before the injection and 3, 6, 12 or 24 h after treatment blood samples were collected for LH levels determination by ELISA method. The analysis of LH concentrations, expressed as the percentage of pre-treatment, showed that serotonin alone had no influence on the spontaneous LH release, however the additive effects of serotonin and GnRH-A was observed. Serotonin potentiated the GnRH-A-stimulated LH release and potentiated also the effect of PIM. Extremely strong response to PIM and also to the combination with GnRH-A masked the participation of serotonin in the process of LH release in fish with recrudescing gonads. The interaction of serotonin GnRH-A and PIM in the control of LH release is discussed.

The analysis of soil compaction with chassis of a wide-span irrigation machine Valmont was determined. The sprinkler had 12 two-wheeled chassis (size of tyre 14.9'' × 24''). During the evaluation of soil compaction, we monitored the values of penetration resistance and soil moisture during the operation of the sprinkler. Considering the performance parameters of the pump, the sprinkler was only half of its length (300 m) in the technological operation. In this area, also field measurements were performed in 19 monitoring points spaced both in tracks and outside the chassis tracks. The analysis showed the impact of compression with sprinkler wheels. The correction of obtained results of penetration resistance was applied in connection with soil moisture (mass) values according to Act No. 220/2004 (Lhotský et al. 1985). The results of average resistance ranged from 1.2 to 3.26 MPa. The values of the max. resistance ranged from 2.3 to 5.35 MPa. The results indicated a shallow soil compaction; however, it is not devastating.

Growth and development of nuts and kernels were measured in 18 hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) cultivars from cluster appearance until nut maturity and drop. At harvest, shell thickness and force to penetrate the shell were determined and related to the incidence of nut weevil damage. The force to penetrate the shells started to increase when nuts reached 80-90% of their final size, and continued until kernel full size. During nut growth, shell hardness and kernel size were highly correlated (R² = 0.921). At maturity, values of force ranged from 46.7 to 185.7 N. Values of nut weevil damage ranged from 0.6 to 24.4%. At harvest, the force to penetrate the shells was highly correlated with the shell thickness (r = 0.945) and negatively correlated with the nut weevil damage (r = -0.564). Late onset of nut development was associated with a high percentage of nut weevil damage (R = 0.638). These information can be used to model nut development and provide important tools for planning orchard management activities.

An 11-year-old, 6.75 kg, spayed female Maltese dog was referred for evaluation of a recurrent mammary gland tumour (MGT) after recent lumpectomies. We performed a regional mastectomy, and the mammary gland tumour was diagnosed as a mammary anaplastic carcinoma. On the 11^th postoperative day, the dog presented with a one-day history of lethargy and left hind limb weakness. Increased D-dimer level and two-dimensional and Doppler ultrasonography revealed a unilateral aorto-iliac thrombus. Although prompt thrombolytic drug administration by intravenous infusion was recommended, the owner did not consent to further examination and treatment due to the side effects, and the patient died 24 h after it was diagnosed with arterial thrombosis (AT). This is the first report of a canine mammary anaplastic carcinoma with concurrent arterial thrombosis in a dog. These results suggest that cancer malignancy-induced hypercoagulability should be considered in the differential diagnosis of arterial thrombosis.

Grapes from two varieties - Franc (red) and Green Veltliner (white) were processed using UV radiation at selected powers and times. Irradiated grapes were stored for 24, 48, and 72 h at room temperature. A second set of grapes was dipped into ozonised water. We tested the influence of ozone concentration, dipping time, and storage time. All experiments were performed using grapes harvested in 2009, 2010, and 2011. The two treatments were compared relative to trans-resveratrol content in grape skins and juices (prepared from treated grapes).

Florfenicol is a synthetic broad-spectrum antibiotic used to treat infectious diseases in veterinary medicine. Limited information is available on the pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of florfenicol in dogs. This study was conducted in six healthy dogs to determine the bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of florfenicol following a single intravenous (i.v.) and intramuscular (i.m.) dose of 30 mg/kg body weight (b.w.). Blood samples were taken over the course of 24 h post-treatment and the recovered plasma was extracted and analysed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Pharmacokinetic analysis was performed using a two-compartment open model. After i.v. administration of florfenicol, elimination half-life (t_1/2b), volume of distribution at steady state (V_dss), total body clearance (Cl_T) and area under curve (AUC_0-24) were 3.09 ± 0.13 h, 1.19 ± 0.15 l/kg, 0.37 ± 0.04 l/h/kg, and 59.44 ± 5.27 µg/h/ml, respectively. The peak plasma concentration (C_max), time to maximum concentration (t_max) and bioavailability (F) were 3.05 ± 0.43 µg/ml, 1.50 ± 0.35 h, and 44.70 ± 6.75%, respectively, following i.m. administration. In this study the time that plasma concentration exceed the concentration of 1 µg/ml was approximately 8 h. Therefore, florfenicol should be given twice daily at a dosage of 30 mg/kg b.w. to maintain therapeutic concentration. The pharmacokinetic profile of florfenicol in dogs reveals that it may be therapeutically useful against susceptible microorganisms involved in most common infections in dogs.

Over the course of Ross 308 hybrid broiler chick cock and hen rearing, whole chicken bodies including feathers were monitored for changes in the levels of nitrogenous substances, essential amino acids (EAA) and non-essential amino acids (NEAA). At five-day intervals (Days 1, 5, 9, 15, 20, 26, 30, 35 and 40 of rearing), randomly selected chickens were slaughtered after 24 h of fasting. Over the course of rearing, N-substance levels ranged from 629.1 to 429.0 g/kg dry matter in hen bodies and from 616.0 to 477.3 g/kg dry matter in cock bodies. N-substance levels were statistically significantly different in the two sexes on rearing Days 35 and 40 (P ≤ 0.01). The levels of all amino acids (AA) in dry body matter of chickens up to 15 days of age dropped significantly over time, while in the period from Day 20 to Day 40, some AA levels increased or reached the baseline. With most AA, the levels were lower in hens than in cocks over the course of the trial. At the end of the trial (Days 35 and 40), statistically significant differences between the sexes were found for most EAA (P ≤ 0.01; P ≤ 0.05). NEAA, except for Ser and Ala, were also significantly higher in cocks on Days 35 and 40 (P ≤ 0.01; P ≤ 0.05). Among the monitored EAA, the dry matter of the bodies of hens exhibited the highest levels of Leu, 8.70% on average, followed by Val 6.54%, Lys 5.26%, Ile 5.25%, Thr 4.84%, Phe 4.30%, Tyr 2.51% and Met 2.21%. Leu was also the most abundant in the cock bodies, 8.42% on average, followed by Val 6.30%, Lys 5.36%, Ile 5.06%, Thr 4.57%, Phe 4.45%, Tyr 2.88% and Met 2.17%. Knowledge of the levels of nitrogenous substances, EAA and NEAA in the whole bodies of broiler chickens including feathers will help to determine optimal rearing conditions.

The goal of this study was to analyse the quality and dormancy of beechnuts originating from different harvesting sites within large UA and to determine the homogeneity of seed lots from large-scale areas. Currently, European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) accounts for 7.21% of the forested area of this country. Almost 24,000 ha of beech are registered as units of approval (UA) for harvesting of reproductive material. About 40% of these UA are made up of areas of 10 ha consisting of stands with different micro-sites. Beechnut dormancy and thus the chilling requirements for the rate of germination are affected by provenance and weather conditions (precipitation and temperature) during seed maturation. Beechnuts collected from different harvest sites reached significantly different germination and also showed different degrees of dormancy. Results illustrated that beechnut seed lots collected from large areas (a set of different stands) can show high heterogeneity in germination and dormancy and this can significantly affect the uniformity of pre-sowing treatment and emergence in nurseries.

The growth of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (baker's yeast) and kefir was studied in substrates containing pomegranate juice, molasses, and cheese whey, at various conditions such as fermentation temperature, air supply, initial sugar concentration, and substrate composition. The results showed that, in the case of kefir, the highest production yield of biomass (0.24 g/g of utilised sugar) and productivity (6.5 g/l/day) was obtained in 40/60 and 20/80% of pomegranate/cheese whey. S. cerevisiae grew easily on all substrates with higher cell mass yields (0.34 g/g) and productivities (13.1 g/l/day) compared to kefir, with the best results obtained at the ratio of 40/60 and 20/80% of pomegranate/molasses. These results are promising regarding the exploitation of non-conventional substrates, such as the juice from discarded pomegranate fruits of a currently significantly increasing market, for microbial biomass production.

The effect of wetting in the density and volume of seeds of barley, rye and two cultivars of wheat was determined. Two levels of wetting were used: (i) 6 h wetting close to the end of imbibition; (ii) 24 h wetting close to the beginning of germination. The experimental results show that the variability of the seeds' volume and density in all tested states can be well described by the Gaussian distribution. The changes of the seed's volume and the seed's density caused by wetting can be then easily expressed via the changes of the distribution parameters. The increase in the seed's density and the seed's volume was the main effect of the wetting, but the level of the observed changes was variable for different crops and different degrees of wetting. Density increase was observed mainly in the case of imbibition, whereas longer wetting was connected mainly with changes of the seed's volume.

In three-years experiments soya seeds were treated with biologically active compounds: Lignohumate B (mixture of humic and fulvic acids), Lexin (mixture of humic and fulvic acids enriched by auxins), brassinosteroid (syntetic analogue of natural 24 epibrassinolide) and so-called complete seed treatment (mixture of saturated solution of sucrose, Lexin, fungicide Maxim XL 035FS and adjuvant on the base of pinolene Agrovital). During vegetation following characteristics were observed: field germination, density of vegetation after germination and before harvest, height of plants, height of apical part of the lowest pod from the ground and yield. The results imply that the most effective way of seed treatment is the complete seed treatment, which ensured the yield of 3.29 t of seeds per hectare (average for three years), the second best was the treatment with the compound Lexin, thanks to which the achieved yield was 3.18 t of seeds per hectare.

The Khuzestan province in south-western Iran is the centre of Persian Arab horse breeding and training. The present study was aimed at determining the prevalence of Theileria equi in the equids of this province. A total of 165 blood samples from healthy Persian Arab horses from twenty four stables were examined for the presence of T. equi infection using molecular methods. For detection of T. equi, primers targeting the 18SrRNA gene were selected. The PCR method gave 47 (28.5%) positive results. Age (P = 0.68), sex (P = 0.88), contact with cattle (P = 0.26) and type of activity (P = 0.06) were not determined as risk factors for T. equi infection in this study. However, there was a significant geographical variation in the prevalence of T. equi infection ranging from 8.3% (2/24) in Shushtar to 55.6% (10/18) in Ramhormoz (CI, 2.46-76.82) (P = 0.003). In conclusion, equine theileriosis has the potential of posing a significant problem for Iran's Persian Arab horse industry and should remain a major concern to the horse community and regulatory agencies.

The bioaccumulation of lead in selected tissues of Prussian carp kept in pond condition during 12 and 24 months of exposure to different doses (8, 13, 24, and 49 mg/kg) of this metal in feed and its elimination from tissues during the following 12-month depuration period was studied. Additionally gonadosomatic index and luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion, as the effect of exposure to Pb, were examined. The concentration of lead in all the studied tissues, except for the gonads, correlated positively with the metal concentration in the diet, and the maximum level was usually achieved after 3 months of the exposure. The highest levels of lead, i.e. 2.1 ± 0.14 mg/kg, were found in the posterior intestine in the 15^th month of the exposure, followed by bones, scales and kidneys, in which the level of lead amounted to 1.8 ± 0.20, 1.22 ± 0.07, and 1.17 ± 0.17 mg/kg, respectively. The negative effect of chronic exposure to lead was manifested by a significantly higher spontaneous LH secretion in groups exposed to 24 and 49 mg/kg of lead and a higher LH secretion level 6 h after the stimulating secretion. After 12 months of exposure and 12 months of depuration, as well as after 24 months of exposure, the effects of lead on LH secretion were not observed. Environmental lead can be a potent endocrine disruptor, which may have an adverse impact on fish reproduction. Prussian carps become resistant to the negative effects of lead with age and their organisms cope by reaching a state of homeostasis.

In recent times, attention has focused on immunostimulants and plant products which could have beneficial effects in disease control. At present, the application of immunostimulants has been considered a more effective approach to health management in aquaculture through the enhancement of immune capability and disease resistance in shrimp. Garlic possesses bactericidal property against bacteria and can inhibit the growth of protozoa as well as gregarine infection in cultured shrimp. However, its effect on viral disease infection has not been well studied and requires further investigation. Garlic can also stimulate shrimp haemocytes as determined by cellular immune responses (phagocytic activity, superoxide anion production and phenoloxidase activity) suggesting that the immune-stimulatory properties of garlic will be useful for improvement of shrimp health. Here, we determined the expression of the immune-related genes Penaeidin, Crustin, Lysozyme, Toll-like, and tumour necrosis factor in kuruma shrimp, upon stimulation with allicin extract. The expression of these factors was measured for the first time and was found to be elevated in intestine and lymphoid organ after in vivo stimulation for 3, 12, 24 and 48 h. We conclude that garlic can be used in shrimp culture as an alternative to antibiotics or chemotherapeutic agents; however, further research is needed under field conditions.

Coleoptera research was conducted in the Mlyňany Arboretum of SAS (48°19'12''N, 18°22'09''E) in 2013. Once per week monitoring was carried out from late April to early October. During the sample collection process, an occurrence of Scobicia chevrieri (Villa & Villa 1835) from the Bostrichidae family has been recorded. It is considered to be the first record of this powderpost beetle species in the Slovak Republic. An imago was caught in a light trap which uses UV tubes in combination with white light. Its potential host plant seems to be Quercus robur L., or other Quercus species found in the Mlyňany Arboretum of SAS.

We investigated the suitability of rice flour for fermented beverage production using various strains of lactic acid bacteria. Fermentation led to a decrease in pH from 5.04-5.17 to 3.74-4.35. At the same time, total acidity increased (1.28-2.59 g/l) due to lactic acid (0.59-2.76 g/l) and acetic acid (0.11-0.30 g/l) production. Fermentation of rice beverages also caused a gradual decrease in glucose and fructose concentration. Lactic acid bacteria proliferated in the first phases of fermentation, and cell counts reached a maximum after 12 h. The highest growth rate (v_LAB = 0.44 Log₁₀ CFU/ml/h) was observed in a sample with the culture of Lactobacillus brevis CCM 1815. Viscosity of beverages decreased significantly after 24 h of fermentation. The highest values of sensory parameters were observed in a monoculture of Lactobacillus plantarum CCM 7039 and in a sample with a mixed culture of Lactobacillus plantarum CCM 7039 and Bifidobacterium longum CCM 4990.

Evaluation was performed of the effect made by integrated and conventional production systems on phenolic composition and antioxidant capacity of cv. Senga Sengana strawberry grown under greenhouse conditions over two consecutive years. The experiment also involved three different types of fertilizer. The integrated production system provides significantly larger quantities of polyphenols as well as a higher antioxidant capacity, compared to values obtained using the conventional system. The investigation into total phenolics content and total antioxidant capacity, as well as individual flavonols and phenolic acids (except gallic acid) content reveals a pronounced effect of the applied biofertilizers (PGPR 1 and PGPR 2). On the other hand, applied chemical fertilizer (Multi KMg) gives the best results in terms of anthocyanins content. These results indicate that there were significant differences in phenols content among integrated and conventional production systems, as well as between biofertilizers and a chemical fertilizer.

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of Cyperkill 25 EC (a.i. cypermethrin 250 g/l) on cumulative mortality, growth indices, and ontogenetic development of embryos and larvae of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.). An early-life stage toxicity test was used. Liver, intestine, kidneys, and gills of surviving larvae were examined, and the activity of the detoxifying and antioxidative enzymes glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), as well as lipid peroxidation (TBARS) was determined. Eggs of common carp 24 h post-fertilisation were exposed for 35 days to Cyperkill 25 EC at concentrations of 7.2, 36, 72, 144, and 360 μg/l containing the active ingredient cypermethrin at concentrations of 1.8, 9, 18, 36, and 90 μg/l, respectively. All larvae exposed to concentrations higher than 144 μg/l showed signs of damage after five days and died in the next two days; at concentrations of 72 and 36 μg/l total mortality was observed several days after hatching. Larvae exposed to 7.2 μg/l survived to the end of the test but showed significantly lower growth (P < 0.01) and retarded ontogenetic development compared to controls. Examination of these larvae did not reveal histological changes. Activity of GST, GR, and GPx in the exposed group was significantly lower (P < 0.01), while CAT and TBARS did not show significant differences from controls. Exposure to Cyperkill 25 EC affected hatching and survival at tested concentrations above 7.2 μg/l. Alterations in oxidative stress parameters and retarded growth and ontogenetic development were evident at 7.2 μg/l.

The purpose of this research was to examine potential bio-active substances in the lyophilisate of Pectinatella magnifica biomass and its focus was on primary screening of the biomass. Extracts of lyophilisate were applied to murine cells and their effects on cell population growth, cell morphology and cell distribution were monitored. The inhibition of cytoskeleton repair reached its maximum after a 24-h exposure of the cells to the extract prepared at a temperature of 37 °C, whereas the 1-h application of the extract leached at a temperature of 37 °C resulted in quick repair of cytoskeletal function. When compared with the control, in which no extract was applied, the application of all treatments of the extract reduced the time needed for the duplication of cells. The lowest growth rate was found in the cells in the extract prepared at 37 °C for 24 h. The mitotic activity reached its maximum when using the extract prepared at 37 °C for 1 h. Under such conditions, the process of cell duplication was even faster than in the control sample, while it was the slowest using the extract prepared at 37 °C for 24 h. The study of potential biologically active substances of Pectinatella magnifica is highly topical due to the frequent occurrence of this organism in the water-supply and recreational reservoirs.

Quantitative and qualitative characteristics of Persian oak (Quercus persica) were studied in relation to altitude and slope variations in Ilam province. A total area of 1,500 m2 (30 × 50 m) was covered in five altitudinal classes ranging from 800 to 1,800 m a.s.l. Samples were taken based on a systematic random sampling method with 24 sample plots at each class. In total, 120 sample plots (in five classes) were collected covering four gradient categories ranging from < 20 to > 60%. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) was carried out to compare differences between group means in gradient categories and Duncan's post-hoc test was performed to reveal differences between the means of various quantitative characteristics (e.g. growing stock, basal area, diameter at breast height, tree height and regeneration) and the altitudinal classes. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to examine the differences between the means of qualitative variables and different altitudes and slopes categories. The results indicated that variations with altitudes may have a higher impact than slopes on the quantitative characteristics of the oak stands in the region while the qualitative variables of the native species were influenced by both altitudes and slope variations.

Hydroxymatairesinol (HMR) is the main lignan found in spruce knots. This lignan has been used for enrichment of musts and wines. Quality parameters of these products have been studied for several years and for storage times up to one year. Parameters included HMR concentration, antioxidant activities expressed as ferric reducing antioxidant power and 2,2-difenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, total polyphenols, and sensory parameters, i.e. consumer acceptability. The main goal of this work was to study and provide relationships between the above mentioned quality parameters. We analysed cross-correlations of all these parameters and found statistically significant correlations between lignan concentration and consumer acceptability, which can be phrased as a warning against high lignan concentrations. The strongest correlations were found between antioxidant parameters and total polyphenol content that supports the antioxidative behaviour.

The effect of surgical castration with local anesthesia using lidocaine on neopterin, biopterin, and cortisol blood plasma concentrations in piglets was studied. Three groups of 12 piglets were investigated: one group castrated without lidocaine, one group castrated with lidocaine, and one group left as an uncastrated control group handled in the same way as castrated piglets. Blood samples were collected 4 min before castration, and 1 h and 24 h after castration. The time × treatment interaction (P < 0.01) was detected for neopterin concentrations, yielding the result that neopterin was higher (P < 0.01) in castrated piglets without lidocaine 1 h after surgical castration compared with all other groups. The time effect (P < 0.05) was detected for biopterin concentrations. The time × treatment interaction (P < 0.01) was detected for plasma cortisol concentrations, yielding the result that neopterin was higher (P < 0.01) in castrated piglets without lidocaine and in castrated piglets with lidocaine 1 h after surgical castration compared with pre-treatment and concentrations 24 h after surgical castration. The study showed that the use of lidocaine for the surgical castration of piglets may significantly influence the activation of the immune system. This is corroborated by a significant difference in blood plasma neopterin concentrations between piglets castrated with anesthesia and those castrated without it. The use of lidocaine had no effect on cortisol concentrations in comparison with the group castrated without lidocaine.

The effect of cold storage of testes and epididymides at 4 °C for 12 h on the cryopreservation capacity of epididymal feline sperm was evaluated. Ten domestic cats were castrated, and testes and epididymides collected. Specimens were randomly assigned to two groups: in Group A, epididymal samples were immediately processed and frozen in 0.25-ml straws; in Group B, both testes and epididymides were maintained in saline at 4 °C for 12 h and sperm was then processed and frozen. Motility, morphology, acrosome status, sperm viability and DNA integrity were assessed in epididymal sperm samples before freezing (baseline), at thawing (0 h) and 6 h post-thawing (6 h). Although values were lower in Group B, no significant intergroup difference was observed for any of the parameters tested either at baseline or at 0 h. However, significantly higher values (P < 0.05) were observed in Group A at 6 h for total sperm motility (29.0 ± 2.4% vs 13.0 ± 4.3%), sperm viability (35.2 ± 5.4% vs 15.4 ± 1.4%) and normal morphology (47.6 ± 0.8% vs 40.0 ± 2.1%). It was observed that motility and acrosome status of epididymal sperm are the most sensitive parameters when both types of sperm samples (from fresh epididymis or from 12 h cold-stored epididymis) are frozen-thawed. When sperm quality was assessed 6 h after thawing, spermatozoa precooled in the epididymides showed significantly lower values for motility, viability and morphology than spermatozoa from fresh epididymal samples.

The reaction of IR 50, TRY 3, and IR 36 cultivars of rice to R. solani challenge, the causal agent of sheath blight, and its toxic metabolite was studied. Differential response of these cultivars to the pathogen and/or toxin inoculation was observed in detached leaf sheaths and greenhouse-grown plants. The observations were based on disease scoring, electrolyte leakage, and also microscopic views of infection cushions. The Osmyb4 gene expression was studied in the tissues from all these experiments and a correlation between the level of expression and disease response of the varieties was found at least in some experiments. The mechanisms regulated by Osmyb4 might have a lower but significant contribution to the tolerance of rice cultivars to sheath blight.

In 2012-2015 the virulence of the wheat leaf rust (Puccinia triticina Eriks.) population was studied on Thatcher near-isogenic lines with Lr1, Lr2a, Lr2b, Lr2c, Lr3a, Lr9, Lr10, Lr11, Lr13, Lr15, Lr17, Lr19, Lr21, Lr23, Lr24, Lr26 and Lr28. Samples of leaf rust were obtained from different parts of the Czech Republic. A total of 163 wheat leaf rust isolates were analysed. No virulence for the resistance gene Lr9 was found. Virulence for Lr19 was found only in one isolate in 2015. A lower frequency of virulence to Lr24, Lr2a, 2b, 2c and Lr28 was also observed. The presence of Lr10, Lr24, Lr26, Lr28 and Lr37 in registered cultivars was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) molecular markers.

For the purposes of assessment of long-term changes, two sets of Chernozems soil samples were analysed and compared in parallel: 'old' file samples obtained during the Soil Survey 1960-1970 in the former Czechoslovakia and a 'present' (2013) set of samples from exactly the same sites as the archive samples. The recently collected samples revealed worse qualitative parameters (lower humic acid to fulvic acid (HA/FA) ratios and higher colour quotient Q4/6 values) than the file samples, for all the localities. On the other side, the quantitative soil organic matter (SOM) parameters (oxidizable carbon (C_ox) and all its determined components) showed contrary results. The amount of total SOM at the same sites is higher now than it was about 50 years ago. It can be concluded that the current decline in SOM quality in Chernozems is partly compensated for by higher accumulation of SOM in the soils. All the analysed Chernozem samples were found to have much worse qualitative SOM parameters than the values mentioned for this soil type in the older literature. However, a comparison of the current data and the file data of Chernozem SOM quality can still be considered an open issue and require more complex research.