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This study investigated the effects of administration of monosodium l-glutamate (MSG) on serum luteinising hormone, testosterone and cholesterol levels, libido and testicular histomorphology of male West African Dwarf (WAD) goats. Thirty-two WAD goats (28 males and four females) were used for the study. The 28 males were randomly assigned to seven groups (A, B^O, B^S, C^O, C^S, D^O and D^S) of four goats each. Goats in groups B^O, C^O, and D^O were given MSG orally at doses of 0.25, 0.50 and 1 g/kg body weight respectively for 28 days, while groups B^S, C^S and D^S goats were given MSG subcutaneously at doses of 0.25, 0.50 and 1 g/kg body weight, respectively, for 28 days. Group A goats served as untreated control. The four female goats did not receive MSG, but were used to assess the levels of expression of libido by all the males. Serum luteinising hormone and testosterone were assayed prior to MSG administration (Day 0) and on Days 2, 14 and 28 of MSG administration, while serum cholesterol was assayed on Days 0, 14 and 28 of MSG administration. Libido scores and testicular histomorphology were evaluated on Days 26 and 28 of MSG administration, respectively. Results showed that on Days 14 and 28 of MSG administration the mean serum luteinising hormone, testosterone and cholesterol levels of the treated groups were significantly (P < 0.05) lower than those of the control group. The mean libido scores of all the treated groups were significantly (P < 0.05) lower than that of the control. Sections of the testes of the male WAD goats that received varying doses of MSG orally or subcutaneously showed no obvious lesions; the seminiferous tubules and interstices were normal and comparable to those of the untreated control. It was concluded that MSG administration for up to 14 and 28 days led to a significant lowering of serum luteinising hormone, testosterone and cholesterol, as well as libido scores.

Canine aggression is a widespread problem which receives a lot of attention from the media. It has important consequences in terms of public health and animal welfare. To address this issue it is necessary to first determine its epidemiological characteristics in the target population. This study was aimed at exploring the characteristics and determining the risk factors for dog aggression in the Slovak Republic and, in particular, for aggression directed at humans. For this purpose, we used a questionnaire directed to dog owners which included information about dog and owner characteristics, housing, training and fear behaviour. From the 177 analysed questionnaires, 67% portrayed dogs with some type of aggressive behaviour. Half of the animals showed some degree of owner-directed aggression and almost 40% were aggressive towards unfamiliar people. The approach of an unfamiliar male was the situation that stimulated most dogs to behave aggressively (33.3%) and a small percentage (2.3%) of the animals always showed aggression when approached by an unfamiliar child. Multivariate logistic regression models found that "owner's age" (OR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.93 - 0.99) and "neuter status" (OR, 0.36; 95% CI, 0.13-0.98) were significantly associated (P < 0.05) with the exhibiting of aggressive behaviour in different contexts. "Dog's sex" (OR, 2.16; 95% CI, 1.09-4.27) and "type of training" (OR, 2.32; 95% CI, 1.19-4.80) were significantly associated (P < 0.05) with the exhibiting of aggressive behaviour towards familiar people. Younger owners were more likely to have aggressive dogs and neutered dogs were less likely to be aggressive in different contexts. Male dogs and dogs with informal training were more likely to be aggressive towards familiar people. Manifestations of fear were significantly associated with the expression of aggressive behaviour in all models. This study provides the first preliminary results on the characteristics and potential risk factors for human-directed aggression in Slovakia. The analysis of these data may help in determining which preventive measures should be given priority in this country.

Susceptibility of new host trees is an essential prerequisite for the alien pathogens. Today, an acute problem in Europe is ash dieback, caused by Hymenoscyphus fraxineus. Among the possible invasion routes of this fungus to Europe from its natural range in easternmost Asia, an arrival alongside the unbroken, passing the whole Eurasia chain of ranges of ash species should not be ignored, at least not before the determination of the western extent of the natural range of the pathogen. We established that in Estonia the ash species Fraxinus sogdiana, growing naturally in the "bottleneck" of that belt, in Central Asia, is susceptible to H. fraxineus. It is the first record of H. fraxineus on a Central Asian ash species.

This study investigated the combined effects of drip irrigation and mulches on yield, water-use efficiency and economic return of tomato. The treatments of the study comprised different combinations of three drip irrigation levels (100, 75 and 50% of crop water requirement, ETc) and two mulches (black polyethylene sheet and paddy straw). The yield and yield-contributing characters in the mulched treatments for all levels of irrigation were significantly higher compared to those in the unmulched treatments. The yield of tomato increased with the increasing amount of irrigation water in unmulched treatment. The trend was reversed when drip irrigation was coupled with mulches. The highest yield for each mulch (81.12 t/ha for polyethylene and 79.49 t/ha for straw) was obtained when 50% of water requirement was applied. With 100% water application, polyethylene-mulched treatment produced lower yield than the straw-mulched treatment. The highest water use efficiency of 592 kg/ha/mm was obtained with 50% water application under polyethylene mulch. The highest net return (US$ 7098/ha), incremental net return (US$ 1556/ha), and incremental benefit-cost ratio (7.03) were found for 50% water application with straw mulch. The study thus reveals that drip irrigation with mulch has an explicit role in increasing the land and water productivity of tomato.

Deslorelin acetate, a GnRH agonist, is commonly used to prevent folliculogenesis in several species. However, little is known of the effect of deslorelin acetate implants on the oestrous cycle of female guinea pigs. Fifteen intact healthy female guinea pigs were investigated in this study. Signs of sexual behaviour, the presence of a vaginal membrane along with plasma concentrations of oestradiol (E₂)and progesterone (P₄), were monitored during two consecutive oestrous cycles. At the beginning of the third oestrous cycle each guinea pig was administered an implant of the GnRH analogue, deslorelin acetate, (4.7 mg). When compared to the untreated state, deslorelin implantation was associated with altered signs of oestrus. The average time to opening of the vaginal membrane was delayed. After opening, the vaginas were found to be variably opened and closed. A significant reduction in P₄ (to less than 1.0 ng/ml) and cessation of P₄ cyclical variation was observed. Plasma E₂ remained high during the whole experimental period. This study shows that cessation of the oestrous cycle by the deslorelin implant might be useful in preventing pregnancy in guinea pigs.

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of canine inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) on the density of cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) immunoreactive nerve fibres in the mucosa of different sections of the gastrointestinal tract. Fibre density was analysed in mucosal specimens from the duodenum, jejunum and descending colon of healthy dogs and patients with inflammatory bowel disease of varying intensity. Nervous fibres were stained in single-cell immunofluorescence assays. The density of CART-immunoreactive fibres was determined using a semi-quantitative approach by counting the number of fibres in the field of view (0.1 mm²). An increase in the density of CART-immunoreactive fibres was observed in dogs with moderate and severe IBD in comparison with healthy subjects. The results suggest that the presence of CART in enteric nerve fibres could play a role in the pathogenesis and development of canine IBD.

The scientific report presents results of our studies on the gene Pch1, conferring resistance to eyespot disease in wheat, caused by the fungus Occulimacula spp. The presence of the gene Pch1 in wheat cultivars was analysed using the molecular marker Xorw1. In total 106 wheat cultivars registered in the Czech Republic and 54 breeding lines were tested. The gene Pch1 was found in the cultivars Annie, Beduin, Hermann, Iridium, Manager and Princeps and in three breeding lines. Some of these cultivars were tested for eyespot resistance in field trials and showed a high level of resistance. Cv. Hermann was the most resistant winter wheat cultivar in our experiments in the last two years. The method of artificial infection by Oculimacula spp. was optimized.

The study evaluates the effect of liming materials application in combination with NPK fertilizer and borax on macronutrient contents (nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg)), in an extremely acid soil and raspberry leaves and fruits during a two-year period. Liming increased soil pH, N mineral content, P, Ca and Mg soil content, while K content either increased (dolomite and borax application), or decreased (lime application). The N and P contents in raspberry leaves after liming increased significantly, but P content remained below the optimal values. Some treatments with lime caused a decrease in K content in leaves, while dolomite and borax application increased K content. Initially optimal Ca content in leaves increased significantly in the treatments with lime, but decreased after dolomite application. The Mg content in leaves increased after dolomite and borax application, but mainly remained below optimal values. Liming either did not alter or only slightly altered macronutrient contents in raspberry fruits.

This study was aimed to determine the impact of risk element content on the prevalence of the selected microbial groups in industrial soils of one of the steelworks in Poland. The concentration of heavy metals: Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Fe, Ni, Pb and Zn along with soil pH and the number of mesophilic bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes and Azotobacter was assessed in 20 soil samples. The limit concentrations of Cd, Pb and Zn were exceeded in five sites. However, even in these strongly contaminates sites, the studied microorganisms were abundant. The correlation between the concentration of heavy metals and microbial numbers was very weak and statistically insignificant. High numbers of fungi were observed in the contaminated sites, which was particularly interesting in one of the sites, strongly contaminated with Cd, Pb and Zn.

The aim of the study was to verify the hypothesis that the crypto-tobiano horses which do not exhibit the full tobiano white-spotting pattern nonetheless transmit the dominant To gene to the progeny. The study was conducted on the Hucul population. Seven horses with white patches on their limbs, and with or without a small patch on the head, neck or trunk, were selected. At least one of the parents of the horses had to be tobiano or crypto-tobiano. Occasionally such horses produced a tobiano foal from a crossing with a solid-coloured horse. The white patches of the horses used in our study were divided into categories. To identify the To gene, DNA was tested in the Animal Genetics Laboratory (UK). The ratio of non-tobiano, crypto-tobiano, and tobiano foals born from 36 matings of the studied horses was analyzed. The study substantiates the occurrence of crypto-tobiano horses in the Hucul breed. Horses that have patches on their limbs as well as a small white or intermingled patch on the head, neck or trunk, are crypto-tobianos, although crypto-tobianos may have no white on the head, neck, and trunk. The crypto-tobiano pattern occurs in horses which have a tobiano parent or grandparent. The results suggest that the activity of an inhibitor gene suppresses the To allele penetrance in the crypto-tobiano horses. As in the case of many white-spotting patterns, the presence of the To gene in a horse's genotype should be documented by DNA testing or test matings.

The objective of the experiment was to determine the effects of different levels of phytase (0, 150, 250, and 350 phytase units (FTU)/kg; F) produced by Aspergillus niger in the diets of hens fed decreased contents of non-phytate phosphorus (1.8 and 2.1 g/kg; NPP) on the hen performance, egg quality, digestibility of calcium and phosphorus in the ileum, and representation of bacterial species in the ileum and caecum. The diet with 2.1 g/kg of NPP and 350 FTU/kg significantly decreased egg weight (P < 0.001) and egg mass production (P < 0.001). However, this treatment had the highest values for shell percentage (P = 0.002), shell thickness (P = 0.006), and shell index (P = 0.003). The supplementation with F at 350 FTU/kg to the diet with 1.8 g/kg of NPP increased the shell quality to a level that was comparable with the eggs from the hens fed the diet with only 2.1 g/kg of NPP. With the addition of F (350 FTU/kg) to the mixed feed with 1.8 g/kg of NPP, the digestibility of calcium and phosphorus in the ileum increased by 6.1% and 7.4%, respectively, although the increases were not significant. Additionally, the frequency of Lactobacillus spp. was higher in the ileum and caecum of hens fed the diet enriched with F than in those fed a diet without F addition. The dietary manipulations with NPP and F improved some performance and shell quality characteristics, and the addition of 3-phytase at a level of 350 FTU per kg to the low-P diet increased the digestibility of minerals and changed the microflora of the digestive tract.

Mastitis is an important cause of early culling of dairy heifers. The aims of this study were to identify microorganisms that cause subclinical mastitis (SCM) in Holstein heifers in northern Jordan, to estimate the relative importance of various microorganisms, and to examine the correlation between the somatic cell count (SCC) and the isolated microorganisms. Composite milk samples were collected aseptically from 133 Holstein heifers between Days 5 and 14 postpartum for bacterial culture and somatic cell counts. The prevalence of subclinical mastitis in this study was 57.1%. Seventy six (76) of the 133 cows tested had SCC of > 250 000 cells/ml. Bacteria were isolated from 36 (27.1%) cows. About sixty six percent (66.7%) of these isolates were cultured from cows with subclinical mastitis. Coagulase-negative Staphylococci (CNS) were the most prevalent bacteria among isolates (50%), followed by Staphylococcus aureus (22.2%), Corynebacterium bovis and coliforms (E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae) (5.6% each), and Streptococcus uberis (2.8%). Interestingly, the majority of the negative-culture samples (53.6%) had elevated SCC. All isolates except for the CNS group exhibited strongly elevated SCC (> 1 × 10⁶cells/ml). However, the coagulase-negative Staphylococci did not have a distinct pattern with respect to SCCs. There was a strong correlation (P ≤ 0.05, correlation coefficient 0.213) between the results of bacterial culture (culture-positive vs. culture-negative) and SCC class but not between SCC class and the type of isolated bacteria. It is concluded that subclinical mastitis appears to be a significant health issue for dairy heifers in Jordan.

It has been claimed that artificial insemination (AI) of cows with frozen-thawed semen treated with commercially produced kits, Heiferplus^TM (HP, in favour of female gender) and Bullplus^TM (BP, in favour of male gender), increases the birth chance of calves with desired sex ratio by at least 20-25% and pregnancy rates by at least 5-20%. Hence, this study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of HP and BP kits as combined with AI on the pregnancy rates, foetal sex ratios and some reproductive parameters in cows. For this, a total of 200 cows (100 Holsteins and 100 Simmentals) from three to five years old were used. Fifty Holstein and 50 Simmental cows served as controls. The other half of Holstein and Simmental cows was artificially inseminated with frozen-thawed semen treated with HP and BP, respectively. Findings showed that the AI of cows with frozen-thawed semen treated with HP had no significant effect on the pregnancy rate [52.0% (26/50) in HP group; 56.0% (28/50) in control group], female calf ratio [52.0% (13/25) in HP group; 44.4% (12/27) in control group], embryonic death, abortion, stillbirth, twinning and gestation length as compared to the control group. Similarly, AI of cows with frozen-thawed semen treated with BP did not lead to any significant effect on the pregnancy rate [64.0% (32/50) in BP group; 58.0% (29/50) in control group], male calf ratio [53.1% (17/32) in BP group; 39.3% (11/28) in control group] and other reproductive parameters as compared to the control group. In conclusion, HP and BP treatments of semen used in the AI provided only slight, non-significant increases in female (7.6%) and male (13.8%) calf ratios, respectively.

The off-grid photovoltaic (PV) system with batteries and with the LED light source was constructed and tested in in laboratory conditions. The PV system is used for emergency illumination and it is independent of the electric grid. The PV system is suitable for example in agriculture in store, in horse barn or in outdoors place. Description of the construction and testing is presented in this paper as well as results of the tests. The PV system was self-sufficient during the summer and autumn period till the November 3, 2011. Since November the illumination mode was modified. The illumination intensity was lowered, the discharging speed was decreased.

Compost leachate is produced by conversion of municipal waste to compost. It contains significant amounts of organic materials, nutrients, soluble salts and small amounts of some heavy metals. Adding compost leachate to the soil can pollute it, and also improve soil fertility. In this study, we investigated absorption and growth performance of Populus deltoides under irrigation with leachate of the Compost Plant of Rasht. At the beginning of the growing season, in mid-March 2013, cuttings were processed from young, one-year-old seedlings of Populus trees in the greenhouse of the Safrabaste Poplar Research Station. Cuttings were planted in pots filled with loamy-sandy soil in the vicinity of the area with 40cm depth. Compost leachate was taken from a collection reservoir where leachate from the open composting of organic municipal wastes and various gardening and plant wastes had been collected. Five treatments were applied to plants: (C) tap water (control), (P) pure leachate, (3:1) three units (by volume) of leachate mixed with one unit of tap water, (1:1) and (1:3). The growth of tree diameter and height was measured bi-monthly. Aboveground (stem, branches and leaves) and root biomass was inventoried at the end of the growing season. Concentration of elements was determined every three months. Overall, growth parameters in 1:1 and 1:3 treatments were similar together and there were no significant differences between them (P < 0.05). Pure treatment had minimum growth because of a high concentration of solvable salts in leachate such as sulphur that causes salinity and high EC in soil. Treatment1:3 exhibited the greatest overall aboveground and root dry mass. Total aboveground dry mass of leachate treatments and water was 202.25 and 47.58 g, respectively.

Agriculture in developing countries is experiencing profound, fast-moving changes. Globalization, although advancing more rapidly in some countries than others, has hastened the transition from the traditional, low-productivity agriculture toward a modern, high-productivity agricultural sector. The resulting processes of structural change are having profound consequences for employment, the methods of generating income, risk management, poverty alleviation, and the wellbeing in rural households in these countries. This study describes the approaches for the organised value chains as a new business model in a globalized world and it describes about the great variety of financial arrangements found in India and the actors in the agri-food chain with varying degrees of formality and informality. The study also brings about the role of the value chain in promoting the rural financing deepening, the financial operators that use agricultural value chain to provide dynamic, innovative services with low cost transaction costs and the technical assistance programs to help the participants in the chain to upgrade their operations, to reduce risk and to improve the access to financial services and concludes by identifying the changes in paradigm.

We ranked the most frequently used pre-emergent herbicides in sunflower (Helianthus annuus) according to their efficacy and selectivity under different soil moisture conditions within 2008-2011. The efficacy of oxyfluorfen, aclonifen, acetochlor, dimethenamid, and propisochlor on the majority of weeds (Chenopodium album, Echinochloa crus-galli, Amaranthus retroflexus, Mercurialis annua,and Solanum physalifolium) was only slightly affected by the soil moisture and these herbicides can be used in arid and semiarid regions. The efficacy of linuron, prosulfocarb, and pethoxamid was strongly affected by soil moisture and was insufficient under dry conditions. The majority of herbicides showed good selectivity for sunflower. Crop injury rate of 5-15% was recorded after application of flurochloridone and acetochlor. For flurochloridone, the phytotoxicity increased due to irrigation after herbicide application. The highest sunflower injury rate (27-35%) was recorded after application of oxyfluorfen.

Bile salt hydrolase (BSH) activity of intestinal bacteria (including lactobacilli) is one of the indirect ways of decreasing a cholesterol level in human body. Tested Lactobacillus strains were isolated from various sources (faeces of fully breast-fed infants, cow's colostrum, cow's raw milk cheeses, and cow's raw milk) and identified by genotypic and phenotypic methods. All strains, including three commercial probiotic strains and six culture collection strains, were subsequently tested for their BSH activity via two methods - thin layer chromatography (TLC) and plate assay. Among all the 59 Lactobacillus strains, 15 strains were shown to be BSH positive by TLC method and only 8 of them by plate assay. Most of the BSH positive strains (9 strains) were isolated from faeces. Differences between BSH activities for sodium salts of cholyltaurine and cholylglycine were demonstrated. The TLC method was shown to be more sensitive compared to the plate assay for BSH activity determination.

The quantitative and qualitative accuracy of the routine histological method for the determination of unauthorised animal and herbal content in minced meat was to evaluated. Laboratory adulterated minced beef meat; each containing 5, 10, 15 and 20% of soya and chicken gizzard was prepared. Then each sample was divided into three parts and four paraffin embedded blocks were prepared from each part. The sections were stained using haematoxylin and eosin, toluidine blue and Masson's trichrome. The histological examination revealed the soya and gizzard tissues clearly in all the samples. The histometrical analysis showed that there was no significant difference between the estimated percentages of both additive tissues and the real related percentages. Overall, neither was there any significant difference between the data of the three parts of each sample and the real percentages. The findings of the present research suggest the histological technique as an effective method for qualitative and quantitative evaluations of minced meat.

The wheat cultivar Weimai 8 is a good source of adult-plant resistance to leaf rust in China. In order to understand the genetic background of the resistance genes, 179 F2:3 families derived from the cross Weimai 8 and Zhengzhou 5389 (susceptible to leaf rust) were used to construct a linkage map. Results showed that there was a major QTL on chromosome 2AS, temporarily named QLr.hbau-2AS, responsible for the resistance. QLr.hbau-2AS from the resistant parent Weimai 8 was between the SSR markers Xcfd36 and Xbarc1138, with an interval length of 2.58 cM. In the 2010-2011, 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 crop seasons, it explained 25.79, 71.55 and 60.72% of the phenotypic variation, respectively. The location of QLr.hbau-2AS was close to the leaf rust resistance gene Lr37. However, they may not be the same since QLr.hbau-2AS has a different virulence test response from Lr37. This study identified two closely linked flanking molecular markers QLr.hbau-2AS and these molecular markers will help marker-assisted selection in breeding resistant cultivars in the future.

Long-term experiments facilitate the observations of changes in soil properties affected by agricultural activity as well as the reactions of crops to those properties. The aim of the study was the assessment of the relationship between the soil pH as well as contents of organic carbon, total nitrogen, available forms of phosphorus, potassium (K_av), magnesium (Mg_av) and the magnesium content in flag leaves (Mg_fl) in winter wheat. There was also determined the correlations between the Mg_fl content and the nitrogen (N_fl), phosphorus, potassium (K_fl) and calcium (Ca_fl) contents in those leaves. The Mg_fl content was at-the-highest-level linearly positively correlated with soil pH and its richness in Mg_av. The dependence of the Mg_fl content on soil properties and the wheat leaves chemical composition was best described by polynomial equations of the 2^nd degree, except for the K_av and K_fl contents. The Mg_fl content depending on the Mg_av content × soil pH and Mg_av × K_av interaction. The winter wheat containing more N_fl and Ca_fl and less K_fl, accumulated more Mg_fl.

The yield forming response of maize cultivar to zinc (Zn) application depends on its timing. This hypothesis was validated in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 growing seasons. The zinc treatments as the first factor were: NPK; NPK + Zn applied before sowing; NPK + Zn applied to maize at the stage of 4^th leaf. The second factor was the maize type: stay-green (modern cultivars) - Paroli, Veritis, Anamur; classical (old cultivars) - Inagua, Kirola. The grain yield of modern cultivars responded the best to zinc applied before sowing, whereas the old ones, when applied to foliage. The yield of the stay-green maize depended upon the number of kernels per row, whereas the classical one on all yield structural components. The zinc management in the modern cultivars should be oriented towards maximization of the number of kernels per row, whereas in the old one on its optimization with the simultaneous kernel weight increase. The positive impact of zinc application before sowing on dry matter translocation from vegetative tissues to growing kernels underlines its practical usefulness, especially in areas with frequent water shortage during maize growth.

Intensive tilapia egg incubation techniques create favourable conditions for microbial proliferation which often leads to massive mortalities of fish larvae. The effects of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) eggs exposure to bronopol on decontamination of their bacterial surface and survival of larvae were observed. Immersion treatments of fertilized eggs were applied at 10, 25, 50, 100, and 250 mg/l of bronopol for 10, 20, and 30 min. This treatment substantially reduced the number of bacteria on Nile tilapia eggs. The greatest reduction in bacterial numbers (1.58 × 10³ colony forming units/g of egg) was observed at the maximum treatment dosage, i.e. 250 mg/l for 30 min, but this was not significant when compared with treatments of 100-250 mg/l bronopol for 10-30 min. Treatments of 50-250 mg/l bronopol provided better larval survival (89.33-94.67%) than those of < 50 mg/l (P < 0.05). The larval survival obtained from the Nile tilapia eggs disinfected with 10 and 25 mg/l bronopol for 10-30 min was similar to that of negative controls (79.33-80.97%). Additional in vitro test was performed to determine the inhibitory potency of bronopol against bacteria cultured from fertilized Nile tilapia eggs. Twenty-two bacterial isolates (Aeromonas hydrophila (n = 12), Staphylococcus aureus (n = 6), Escherichia coli (n = 2), and Micrococcus spp. (n = 2)) responded to minimum inhibitory concentrations of bronopol ranging from 64 to 128 µg/ml. The study demonstrates that the immersion treatment of Nile tilapia fertilized eggs with 250 mg/l for 10-30 min, the concentration proven effective against bacteria cultured from fertilized eggs, significantly reduced bacterial load and improved larval survival.

The visual impact of primary landscape is overwritten, historical references and spiritual ties to the current local population are losing. Rational planning and evaluation of the landscape must correspond to this situation. In the Czech Republic methodologies of landscape assessment (for its identification, typology) exist, but there is no finalizing material to specify procedures for creating landscape designs in accordance with a particular landscape type or vegetation zone. As a response, the new methodology of compositional preconditions assessment in the beech vegetation zone and the model etalon applying generally valid compositional principles on landscape designs were created. In a verification study the new methodology was applied in a specific micro region association - the Svidník. For the worst evaluated units proposals according to the model etalon has been prepared to highlight the characteristics of the appropriate vegetation zone.

The nun moth (Lymantria monacha /L./) is a polyphagous pest feeding on coniferous and deciduous trees in Eurasia. This paper, based on a literature review, presents an overview of the nun moth outbreaks in Czech forests from 1784 to 2010 in terms of host tree species. At least 22 genera of host trees, bushes and herbs were recorded in the Czech Republic. On the other hand 2 genera were evaluated like non-hosts and 4 genera like indifferent. The nun moth defoliated mainly coniferous forests (almost 90 % of all recorded outbreaks with known data about host trees) in the Czech Republic. Forests with mixture of coniferous and deciduous trees were defoliated nine times less frequent, and only insignificant portion were recorded in clearly deciduous forests. Although wide host range, the nun moth has defoliated predominantly spruce forests (almost 70 %). Mixed coniferous (with mixture of spruce, pine, larch, fir) forests were attacked three times less frequently then the spruce forests. Pine and larch forests were defoliated in low range. Defoliations were sorted also according the intensity. Spatial distribution of the recorded outbreaks was displayed in maps.

After the official start of the Montenegrin accession negotiations with the EU in June 2012, it is important to plan a significant increase in the agricultural budget financing well ahead of the accession. Considering the structure and economic importance of agriculture for the generation of Montenegrin GDP, the balanced trade deficit, the reduction of poverty and the regional disparities in development and reversing the negative demographic trends, the proposed reformed agricultural budget of Montenegro in the period 2014-2018 outlines significantly higher levels of the funding both as a share of the state budget and the GDP. The proposed proportions of financing of the key measure groups in the subsequent tables utilize as a starting point the model defined in the Montenegrin National Program of Food Production and Rural Development 2009-2013. Some changes in the proportion of the measures are also proposed according to the agricultural sector needs and the institutional capacity building for the next phase of the EU accession negotiations. In order to prepare the Montenegrin agriculture to cope with the competitive pressures of the EU single market, the indisputable conclusion of this study is that the proposed future levels of agricultural funding in the agricultural budget should be at least near to those (in the relative terms) of the comparable economies of the Western Balkans countries.

Macrocybe gigantea (Massee) Pegler & Lodge is a species of edible mushrooms which has important nutritional, medicinal, and economic values. Discrimination of M. gigantea with different storage periods is helpful to guarantee the authenticity and to promote marketing of this species. We focused on the establishment of the fingerprints based on UV spectroscopy to discriminate the wild-grown M. gigantea samples stored for different years and to distinguish the wild-grown and cultured samples which were stored for the same years. The analyses of the data were performed by multivariate analyses such as principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis (CA). UV spectral fingerprints showed that the major composition and content of the main components were significantly variable over time. All the M. gigantea samples which were stored for different years could be successfully grouped by PCA and CA. The results demonstrated that this qualitative assessment could be regarded as a rapid and reliable method for discrimination of M. gigantea with different storage times.

Chlorine, one of the most abundant elements in nature, undergoes a complex biogeochemical cycle in the environment, involved in the formation of volatile organochlorines (VOCls), which in turn can contribute to environmental problems, contaminate natural ecosystems, and are of public health concern. Several industrial and natural sources of VOCls have already been identified; however, data - particularly on the natural sources - are still scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate the diversity of emission of VOCls from soil and several undergrowth plants collected in temperate spruce forest ecosystem and the effect of salting on the VOCl emission of plants. Undergrowth plants were found to emit chloroform (CHCl₃) in the range of 2.2-201 pmol/day/g dry weight (DW), tetrachloromethane (CCl₄) 0-23.5 pmol/day/g DW, and tetrachloroethene (C₂Cl₄) 0-13.5 pmol/day/g DW; the average emission rates were about 10 times higher than that of soil (2.9-47.2; 0-5.8; 0-3.6 pmol/day/g DW of CHCl₃; CCl₄; C₂Cl₄ emission, respectively). Addition of sodium chloride solution in most cases caused an increase in the emission of CHCl₃ and caused a species specific - effect on the emissions of CCl₄ and C₂Cl₄. The results suggest that the emission of VOCls from spruce forest contribute to the atmospheric input of reactive chlorine; however, on a global scale it is only a minor net source.

Root-released organic acids are reported to increase phosphorus (P) availability in the soil. In this study a dynamic study of P release from soil was conducted to get more exact information of the organic acids role in P availability in soil. The results show that organic acids in different concentrations significantly affected P release. In a concentration of 10 mmol/L, no significant differences can be observed among citric acid, malic acid and acetic acid in terms of their effect on the release of soil P. However, when the concentration reduced to 1 mmol/L, both the total release amount and the maximum release amount of soil P significantly declined, and the decline degree were citric acid < malic acid < oxalic acid and acetic acid. When the concentration of organic acids was 0.1 mmol/L no P has been leached in the leaching solution of any of the four types of organic acids. The parabolic diffusion equation showed that organic acids can improve the migration rate of P in the soil, with the following order of citric acid > malic acid > acetic acid > oxalic acid. The higher the concentration of the organic acids was, the higher the migration rate of P would be. Given that the P needed by plants basically migrates by means of diffusion, under the condition of P deficiency of plants, improving the secretion amount of organic acids can effectively increase the biological utilization rate of P.