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At present, photogrammetric interpretation of aerial images is a dominant method of forestry mapping. In the last years, transition from analogue to digital photogrammetry has been distinct. Digital photogrammetry enables to achieve workflow effectivity, and so to decrease the final product costs. The objective of the submitted paper was to evaluate the availability of digital photogrammetry for the forestry mapping rationalization. Digital aerotriangulation using the ImageStation SSK system brings more accurate results without requirements for the use of a larger amount of control points. The results also demonstrated the use of colour infrared aerial images, and also black and white aerial images at the scale 1:15,000 for the orthoimage creation in the forestry mapping department. Compared with the black and white aerial images, the colour infrared images have an essentially more interesting content, mainly from the qualitative aspect, which shifts them to use in many forestry disciplines (mostly for determination of the health conditions of forests stands, …), in combination with the remote sensing of the Earth and GIS (Geographic Information Systems).

Damage caused by bark peeling and browsing by red deer to Picea abies was investigated in two localities in the Českomoravská vrchovina Highlands. 127 experimental plots of 50 × 50 m in size were monitored in stands aged from 15 to 93 years. In total, 44% of 16,700 inspected trees were damaged by bark peeling and browsing. The area of gaping wounds varied from 50 to 1,650 cm². Stem decay affected 68% of the damaged trees. Some properties of the decay were analysed from 200 sample trees felled on the plots. Bark peeling damage occurred when the trees were 4 to 48 years old. Decayed wood accounted for 22-70% (mean 42%) of the merchantable stem volume of sample trees. The mean rate of the vertical decay spread was 17.4 cm per year (ranging from 4-63 cm per year). Mean decay volume correlated positively and mean spreading rate correlated negatively with the time elapsed from the bark peeling damage occurrence.

The research analyses the fundamental resources, farm structures, and composition by aim of farming, labour force and family income sources of the agricultural private holdings from the aspects of subsistence and income generation as well as of rural development. By processing the various databases, the research provides a clear picture on the situation of private holdings and groups of farms (self-supplying, marketing the surplus, commercial holdings). On the basis of the analyses, it is possible to estimate the number of competitive farms, that is, of professional farms, and the number of the producers who are not engaged in commercial production. This points out the need to extend the sphere of rural activities are connected to the other sectors of the national economy.

Ditylenchus dipsaci, the stem nematode, is a migratory endoparasite of over 500 species of angiosperms. The main method of D. dipsaci control is crop rotation, but the presence of morphologically indistinguishable host races with different host preferences makes rotation generally ineffective. Therefore, a sensitive, rapid, reliable, as well as cost effective technique is needed for identification of D. dipsaci in biological samples. This study describes the development of species-specific pairs of PCR oligonucleotides for detection and identification of the D. dipsaci stem nematode in various plant hosts. Designed DIT-2 primer pair specifically amplified a fragment of 325 bp, while DIT-5 primer pair always produced a fragment of 245 bp in all D. dipsaci isolates. Two developed SCAR primer pairs were further tested using template DNA extracted from a collection of twelve healthy plant hosts; no amplification was however observed. The developed PCR protocol has proved to be quite sensitive and able to specifically detect D. dipsaci in artificially infested plant tissues.

The basic concept of malt barley production is to reach a dilution effect of nitrogen accumulated by grains at maturity. A three-year study was undertaken to establish time courses of nitrogen (N) and sulphur (S) in leaves as the prerequisite tool for total grain yield prognosis. Sulphur application at the lowest rate of 25 kg/ha significantly increased yields of grain in 2001 and 2003. The time course of N and S concentrations in leaves over the growing season showed declining trends for N and variable for S. At mid tillering (BBA-25) both N and S, but at BBA-31 only N concentrations significantly responded to S rates, and in turn affected patterns of N concentration in barley organs up to maturity. Sulphur concentrations and N:S ratios were useful tools to make reliable prognosis of total grain yield of barley at BBA-31 as indicated by the obtained regression equations. The threshold values for N and S in leaves in order to achieve the maximum total grain yield are 0.4% for S and 8.0 for the N:S ratio as presented by the graphical procedure.

The exclusive pre-selective effect of BLAD carriers reproducing in the exposed Holstein-Friesian cattle population prompted to search for the candidate gene variants of high quality of milk performance traits within the bovine ITBG2 gene or loci linked with bovine ITBG2 gene. Theoretical considerations indicated that the &Idquo;silent mutation" C→T localized at the position of 775 bp of the gene encoding the CD18 subunit might be a potential QTL marker of high milk productivity. An association study between the polymorphism of SNP 775C>T, and the diversification of milk performance traits was carried out on the progeny of four bulls with genotypes BL/TL and 775C/T and one bull with genotypes TL/TL and 775C/T. The results documented statistically significant differences in the protein content percentage of milk in two half-sib families of bulls with BL/TL and 775C/T genotype and one half-sib family of bull with TL/TL and 775C/T genotype. It was further concluded that the polymorphism of SNP 775C>T was found to be a more efficient QTL marker than that of D128G, since in all the analysed milk performance traits for half-sib families higher values of the F coefficient were obtained for the SNP 775C>T mutation in comparison with D128G.

We compared the results of calf maternal nursing and cow performance in 5 beef breeds managed under equal conditions in the region of West Pomerania. The study involved 549 cows and 1 979 calves (1 007 heifers and 972 bulls) of the following breeds: Red Angus, Salers, Hereford, Limousin, and Simmental. The cows and their calves were managed outdoors for one year. Feeding and management systems were the same for all the breeds during the studied period. The calves remained with their mothers until 6 to 9 months of age. Under intensive feeding, we recorded very good calf rearing parameters with very good or good milk performance of the cows. The best results were achieved by the Simmental cows and calves. Both the heifers and calf-bulls of this breed exhibited significantly (P ≤ 0.01) higher weaning weights adjusted to 210 days of age as well as daily gains from birth to weaning. The weaning weights of the calves were higher from 37 to 93 kg and daily gains from 45 to 280 g. The Hereford cows and calves also achieved very good parameters. Relatively poorer in terms of production performance were Red Angus, as compared with the other breeds, and Limousin cows whose calves produced the lowest body weights and had the lowest daily gains as well.

Development assistance achieved remarkable success in different periods. For example, Botswana and South Korea reached the great development in the 60s after very bad situation, Indonesia in the 70s, Bolivia and Ghana at the end of the 80s, Uganda and Vietnam in the 90s. In these countries development assistance played important role in economic transformation in formulation of the development of politics. The development assistance contributed educational programs and financially supported the development of public sector. The "Green Revolution" - by means of innovations in agriculture, investments and political changes - improved the live conditions of millions people thanks to the collaboration of many bilateral and multilateral donors. But there are some failures with the foreign aide. While the formed dictator of Zaire Mobutu Sese Seko became one of the richest people in the world (and invested his property in abroad), the development assistance did not stop for many years, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo) is only one example of the situation, where the permanent flows of assistance ignore or support the corruption and in suitable politics of governments. Tanzania received two milliards dollars for building the roads destiny the twenty years. But the roads were destroyed sooner, than the works could be finished because of insufficient maintenance. The study of World Bank brings the conclusions of the new conception of the development assistance: financial assistance works only in suitable political world; the lowering of poverty is possible only with working institutions - political and economic; effective assistance complete the private investments; receiving country is obliged to have public sector in function; the function of public sector is developing on the activity of civil society; patience and good ideas, not only money, can help to reforms in very unfavorable conditions.

The real trade development is estimated by the recalculation of nominal value through unit values (prices). The unit value indices reflect, besides the change of prices, also the changes in the structure and qualitative changes of the traded products. In the 70s, the average yearly increase of unit values reached 14% and reflected namely the inflation caused by the oil shocks. Since then, it reaches in average up to 1%. We can suppose that, under the normal conditions, unit values growth is rather the consequence of the qualitative and structural changes (increased share of the more sophisticated products of processing industry), in fact, prices in international trade have been decreasing for years already. The question whether the world trade growth rates decrease or accelerate is then still open. It is certain that the world trade volume growth rate (6.3%) has shown a considerable surpass to the production growth rate (4.1%).

The contribution presents the findings of the third phase of an extensive survey, the main goal of which was the identification of factors stimulating or restricting the establishment of small and medium-sized enterprises. It comprises the outcomes of the comparative analysis aimed at the comparison of groups of small and medium-sized enterprises and the model enterprise according to areas influencing founders' entrepreneurial activities.

The use of plants to remove heavy metals from soil (phytoremediation) is expanding due to its cost-effectiveness as compared to conventional methods and it has revealed a great potential. Since contaminants such as Pb or Cd have a limited bioavailability in the soil, methods to facilitate their transport to the shoots and roots of plants are required for successful phytoremediation. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of addition of different rates (0, 3, 6 and 12 mmol/kg) of ethylene diaminetetraacetate (EDTA) on heavy metal availability in soils contaminated with 50 mg/kg Cd (CdCl₂), 50 mg/kg Cu (CuSO₄), 50 mg/kg Pb [Pb(NO₃)₂] and 50 mg/kg Zn (ZnSO₄), and on the capacity of canola (Brassica napus L.) and Indian mustard (Brassica junceaL.) plants to uptake Cu, Cd, Pb and Zn in a growth chamber. Results indicated that EDTA application increased heavy metal availability and uptake by plants. Significant differences were obtained in both species and plant parts. As for plant species tested, canola was more effective in the uptake of Cu, Cd, Pb and Zn. Root heavy metal uptake of both species was higher than shoot heavy metal uptake.

A pot greenhouse experiment was performed to determine the effect of contamination with nickel interacting with other heavy metals on the microbiological properties of soil. The study was conducted on samples of soils classified under natural conditions as typical Eutric Cambisol developed from heavy loamy sand and typical Eutric Cambisol developed from light silty loam. Soil material was contaminated with nickel in the amount of 50 and 200 mg Ni²⁺/kg. The treatments with 200 mg Ni²⁺/kg were additionally contaminated with other heavy metals (Zn²⁺, Cu²⁺, Pb²⁺, Cd²⁺, Cr⁶⁺), in the amount of 50 mg/kg soil. The following treatments, in which the soil was contaminated with heavy metals applied alone or in combinations, were compared in the study: Ni, Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd, Cr, NiZn, NiCu, NiPb, NiCd, NiCr, NiZnCu, NiZnPb, NiZnCd, NiZnCr, NiZnCuPb, NiZnCuCd, NiZnCuCr, NiZnCuPbCd, NiZnCuPbCr, NiZnCuPbCdCr. The experiment was carried out in four replications. A microbiological analysis was performed on days 28 and 56. The tested crop was oat. It was found that the impact of particular heavy metals on microbiological properties of soils depended on their type, interactions between nickel and zinc, copper, lead, cadmium and chromium (VI), date of analysis and soil species. Soil contamination with heavy metals reduced the population size of Azotobacter spp. The counts of other microbial groups, i.e. copiotrophic bacteria, spore-forming copiotrophic bacteria, oligotrophic bacteria, spore-forming oligotrophic bacteria, ammonifying bacteria, nitrogen immobilizing bacteria, cellulose-decomposing bacteria, Arthrobacter spp., Pseudomonas spp., actinomyces and fungi, showed varied susceptibility to heavy metals.

The study has been elaborated on the basis of a continuous analysis of economic results of a selected sample of agricultural enterprises operating in different climatic and productional conditions. Long-term tendencies and their influencing factors are defined on the basis of this analysis. The goal of this study is to evaluate the influence of external conditions on the economy of agricultural enterprises and on their economic results and to analyze the influence of the accession of the Czech Republic to the EU on the change of economic conditions of agricultural enterprises. On the basis of this study, the authors measures which would intensify the influence of agricultural enterprising on the rural development and which would improve the quality of life of rural inhabitants.

The paper analyses the evaluation of agricultural and farm support in the OECD countries and its differentiated development in the respective countries. This is important, because the effect of subsidies on production, trade, income as well as environment, directly depends on the way how this subsidies are disbursed to the farmers. Another object of the analysis are the differences in the level of support between different commodities that may lead to deformations.

This study was carried out to determine the influence of goat and cow milk fermented by Bifidobacterium longum Bb-46 on the pathogenic Salmonella enteritidis D strain. The basic hypothesis of this study was that fermented goat milk could possibly have a stronger inhibitory effect on the growth of Salmonella enteritidis D than fermented cow milk. The correlation between the inhibitory effect and some fermentation parameters (number of viable cells of Bifidobacterium longum Bb-46 and pH of fermented milk) was also analysed. S enteritidis D strains were isolated directly from the faeces of an infant with diagnosed salmonellosis. The inhibitory effects of goat and cow milk fermented with Bifidobacterium longum Bb-46 were determined on Salmonella-Shigella agar after 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 h from the start of fermentation. Bifidobacterium longum Bb-46 count and pH values were also measured in samples of goat and cow milk during fermentation. The results obtained have shown a considerably higher inhibitory effect of fermented goat milk on the growth of Salmonella enteritidis D as compared to that of fermented cow milk. At the same time, higher acidity and CFU of Bifidobacterium longum Bb-46 were noted in fermented goat milk in all the phases of the fermentation process. The inhibitory effects of the fermented goat and cow milk on Salmonella enteritidis D growth increased rapidly with the fermentation time. The results indicated high sensitivity of Salmonella enteritidis D to acidity of both fermented milks. Consequently, a significant correlation between the inhibition degree and pH values of fermented goat and cow milk was noted.

In 2005, 2006 and 2007 nineteen, eight and nine spring wheat cultivars, respectively, were tested in field trials for resistance to common bunt after inoculation with bunt teliospores. Nine spring wheat cultivars were tested in a greenhouse under favourable conditions for the bunt infection. Bunt incidence in the field trials varied between 0% and 38.7%, in the greenhouse between 52.9% and 100%. The results of individual cultivars and years fluctuated. A reduction in plant height, ear length, root system and increased tillering were registered in the inoculated plants. Spots on the leaves of inoculated plants were observed in three out of the four greenhouse experiments.

In several cases ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) proved to be an efficient mobilising amendment during chemically enhanced phytoextraction of heavy metals. The presence of Fe-(hydr)oxides and their dissolution after the addition of EDTA can limit the phytoextraction of the targeted heavy metals due to the high stability of the formed Fe(III)EDTA complexes. This study has focused on the influence of Fe- and Mn-oxides and hydroxides dissolution on heavy metal uptake by Zea mays in a two-year EDTA-enhanced phytoextraction process. Incubation experiments and speciation modelling proved the increased concentrations of Mn and Fe through the dissolution of Mn-and Fe-(hydr)oxides. Furthermore, increased Fe and Mn accumulation was observed in maize plants after the second year of the phytoextraction process. Therefore, the presence of Mn- and especially Fe-(hydr)oxides proved to be a limiting factor during EDTA-enhanced phytoextraction of heavy metals from contaminated soils.

A direct and secondary effect of liming and organic fertilization on the cadmium content in soil and in vegetables was examined. Celeriac (Apium graveolens L. var. rapaceum) was cultivated in the first year after lime application and organic fertilization whereas leek (Allium ampeloprasum ssp. porrum J. Gay) was grown in the next year. Soil was limed with a calcium carbonate fertilizer at the rate of 2.0 t CaO/ha. The following were applied as organic fertilizers: farmyard manure (60 t/ha), rye straw (4 t/ha), rye and winter vetch, both the plants cultivated as winter catch crops for green manure. Liming significantly reduced the available cadmium content in the soil in the first and second year after its application. Also, it significantly reduced the cadmium content in celeriac and leek compared with no-liming cultivation. Organic fertilization, especially farmyard manure and straw, significantly reduced the soil available cadmium content as compared to the untreated control (without organic fertilization). The aforementioned factor significantly reduced the cadmium content in the examined vegetables. Cadmium lowest content in celeriac leaves and leek was recorded after the application of farmyard manure. A combined application of liming and organic fertilization in the form of farmyard manure most beneficially influenced celeriac leaves with respect to their cadmium content.

During the past few years, there has been an increasing interest in rapid visual tests that could be performed outside the laboratory, for example on farms, in store houses or in food production plants. Hence, cost effective and simple screening methods are required for residual analysis of environmental and food samples on-site. Here, a simple and instrumental independent dipstick immunoassay for sulfamethazine detection is described. The polyclonal antibody was optimised in terms of coating dilution on a nitrocellulose membrane, dilution of peroxidase tracer conjugate, blocking agents and incubation times. Test results assessed by visual measurement can be available within 20 minutes. In buffer, water, skimmed milk and pig manure extract, sulfamethazine fortified at 50 and 100 µg/l has exhibited clear visual differentiation in colour development (lower intensity) in comparison to the control spot intensity (high intensity) of the dipstick.

In an experiment with 18 lactating Chios ewes, the replacement of barley grain, wheat grain, sugar beet pulp and lucerne meal with fermented olive wastes (FOW), maize grain and soybean meal was used to formulate diets that allowed the net energy (NE) for lactation (NE_l) density of FOW to be calculated. In the experiment, which lasted 8 weeks, ewes were allocated, after equal distribution for milk yield, body weight (BW) and lactation number, into three treatments of 6 ewes each in a Youden square experimental design with 4 consecutive periods of 14 days. Ewes in all groups were offered a concentrate mixture ad libitum (1.12 kg/ewe/day, dry matter (DM) basis) and lucerne hay (0.90 kg/ewe/day, DM basis). FOW were added to the concentrate mixture at inclusion levels (on an as-fed basis) of 0, 100 and 200 kg/t for treatments FOW0, FOW100 and FOW200, respectively. There were no differences among groups in milk protein (60.0 g/kg), lactose (53.0 g/kg) or ash (9.6 g/kg) contents, but milk fat content increased linearly (P < 0.01) with increasing dietary levels of FOW. Average milk yield (1 137 g/day) and yields of components tended (P < 0.10) to decrease with increased FOW feeding. The best estimate of the NEl density of FOW was 2.55 MJ/kg DM at 2.7×M NE intake, a value only slightly lower than that of 2.62 at 2.7×M based upon a Van Soest et al. (1984) discount from equations of Van Es (1978), who suggested 3.00 MJ/kg DM at 1.1×M of NE intake. FOW is a low protein, high fibre and low NEl feedstuff that will be of limited value in rations of high producing lactating ewes.

The objective of this study was to determine suitable cultivars to be used as pollinators for 0900 Ziraat. 0900 Ziraat was used as a female cultivar; Bigarreu Gaucher, Bing, Noble, Starks Gold, Stella, Van, and Vista were used for pollination in the experiments. Starks Gold had the highest values in terms of anther number, average number of pollens per anther, number of pollen per flower and the morphological homogeneity. The pollen viability rates showed significant differences according to stain tests. In vitro pollen germination in 0.5% agar + 15% sucrose + 5 ppm boric acid medium increased with increasing incubation period, and the highest germination was obtained after 48 hours for all cultivars. In orchard trials parallel to pollen tube growth experiments in the laboratory, 0900 Ziraat × Starks Gold combination gave the best fruit set results.

Malt barley production requires a technology increasing nitrogen use efficiency, because of a high sensitivity of barley total grain yield and quality parameters to external growth factors. In the conducted study an effect of two P fertilizers on the background of N application on total and technological grain yields were studied. The highest total grain yield was harvested on plots fertilized with 60 kg N/ha, irrespective of the P fertilizer type. However, the technological grain yield showed a high year-to-year variability; the highest was recorded in 2001 on the plot fertilized with 60 kg N/ha and the P-PAPR fertilizer. The N and S concentrations and N:S ratios in immature grains at harvest were used to evaluate both yield types. Nitrogen concentration in the final total yield allowed making yields prognosis with the highest probability. The maximum yields of technological malt barley were attainable provided that total S concentration in immature grains at harvest was above 0.23% and the N:S ratio was narrower than 8.0.

In an experiment with three strains of Dominant genotype the effect of oviposition on egg quality characteristics was investigated. Laying hens of the Blue strain (group 1), Plymouth Rock (group 2) and their F1 cross (group 3) from 20 to 64 weeks of age were housed on litter (9 birds per m2). The collection time was at 6.00, 10.00 and 14.00 h. Eggs were gathered in a 28-day interval, every two days all produced eggs (720 eggs in total). The time of oviposition was influenced by genotype. The highest number of eggs was collected in the Plymouth Rock strain at 6.00 (53.5%) and the lowest in the Blue strain at 14.00 (11.1%). There were interactions between the time of oviposition and genotype in egg weight. Eggs laid in the morning at 6.00 were significantly heavier (60.5 g, 64.9 g and 62.1 g) in comparison with eggs laid in the afternoon (59.3 g, 62.4 g and 62.7 g). The heaviest eggs were produced by the Plymouth Rock strain. Significant interactions were observed in eggshell weight when the heaviest eggshell was in afternoon eggs (5.6 g, 5.8 and 5.9 g) and F1 genotype. The egg shape index was also affected by the genotype and time of oviposition. Among the albumen quality characteristics only Haugh Units were influenced by genotype and significantly higher numbers were determined in the Plymouth Rock strain (85.0, 85.3 and 84.7). The genotype significantly affected also the yolk index which was the highest in F1 genotype (45.4%, 45.4% and 44.5%).

Potassium is one of the most important nutrients for plants and its content in the soil should be monitored. In the precision agriculture, which is recommended now, the ion selective electrodes are tested to determine chemical properties of the soil. The objective of this work was an evaluation of use of the valinomycin-based ion selective sensors for determination of assimilated potassium in Egner-Rhiem soil extracts. Flame photometry was used as a reference method. Results obtained from potentiometric and photometric methods in soil extracts correlated linearly (R² = 0.84). Analysis of soil extracts by the ion selective electrodes is simple and there is not a need for calcium ions precipitation.

The paper describes the regime and dynamics of the soil moisture content of sandy soils in Záhorská lowland during different growing seasons. Research plots are situated near Kamenný mlyn, approximately 3 km from Plavecký Štvrtok and 8 km southward from the town of Malacky. Changes in the soil moisture content are described by soil moisture constants (MCC, PDA, WP) and its relation to atmospheric precipitation and to the character of undergrowth is shown. The low water-holding capacity of sandy soils and their high drainage together with dense root system do not allow the sufficient saturation of soil during the growing season. The low wilting point value (2%) leads to the consumption of all available water in the soil. The most frequent is the semiarid interval of soil moisture (PDA -WP) with reduced availability of water to plants (> pF 3.1). The arid interval (< WP) occurrence on hot summer days results in a decrease in transpiration and assimilation intensity of plants, their physiological weakening and premature fall of assimilation organs.

In this contribution we present the results of analyses of selected mineral nutrients in assimilatory tissues of spruce trees at different developmental phases (plants, adult trees) in the region Horný Spiš. The very close connection between mineral nutrient cycling and other physiological processes in the plants has been well recognised. The presented analyses of mineral nutrient cycling were done within comprehensive eco-physiological research assessing the physiology and health status of spruce stands in the study area. The research was conducted directly in the stand (Hliníky locality, Horný Spiš - two research plots: 1. plot with spruce stand in advanced decline, 2. control plot - without visible decline symptoms) and, at the same time as a pot experiment. The objective of the pot experiment was to verify the supposed negative influence of soil environment (in the locality with advanced decline of spruce stands) on the growth of spruce trees and their mineral nutrient conditions. The analyses of the material sampled from the stands revealed high amounts of manganese (MnT) that were in the toxicity range on both examined plots. Another negative finding was high amounts of toxic aluminium, primarily in needles of adult trees growing on the plot with symptoms of acute stand decline. This reflects a very low value of pH/H₂O - 3.7 (pH/KCl - 3 to 2.8) and total exhaustion of the soil suffering, moreover, from the lack of soil water. As for the differences in amounts of individual macronutrients between the plot with intensive decline and the control plot, no significant differences were found, with the exception of Fe. On the other hand, evident significant differences in risk elements Pb, Hg and Al were found. As for the differences in nutrient contents in spruce seedlings in the pot experiment (variants 1 to 6), we can see significant differences in macronutrient contents (N, P, Ca, K, Mn), in some cases also in risk element contents (Al).

Vegetative propagation of forest tree species is of great importance not only for breeding programmes but also for the conservation of valuable populations of tree species. Important is also a possibility of improving the genetic quality of established stands. Beech is a tree species that can substantially increase the stability of forest ecosystems. Minimal information is available about the ontogenesis of rooted cuttings of beech in forest stands for the time being. In our experiments that were gradually established since 1993 we acquired the first significant results of the evaluation of health status, phenological phenomena and growth of these plants. Our findings indicate that it is possible to use rooted cuttings as an element stabilising man-made forest stands including the transferred genetic quality. The evaluation of the 2^nd generation rooted cuttings of beech also provided positive results.

The effects of feeding a high level of organic selenium on the level of selenium, antioxidative status of m. longissimus lumborum et thoracis (MLLT) and m. semimembranosus (MSM) and meat quality of pigs (defined on malignant hyperthermia status, DNA based test) were investigated. Treatments consisted in supplementation of organic selenium (0.3 mg Se/kg diet) for the last 97 days to finishing pigs (basic diet with 0.18 mg Se/kg diet) before slaughter. MLLT was further examined for pH (45 min, 24 h), colour and conductivity (24 h), drip loss (48 h) and myofibrillar fragmentation index (MFI, 5 days). Chemical composition (protein, intramuscular fat) was also estimated. Concentration of Se (spectrofluorometric method) and antioxidative status (rate of oxidation by stimulation with Fe²⁺/ascorbate, production of malondialdehyde - MDA) were estimated in muscle samples obtained post mortem. The level of selenium was more than twice higher (P < 0.05) in muscles from pigs treated with higher selenium than in controls (0.377 vs. 0.922 mg/kg - MLLT and 0.377 vs. 0.836 mg/kg - MSM). The rate of oxidation was positively (P < 0.05) influenced by Se supplementation. Tendencies to lower drip losses were observed in MLLT of pigs supplemented with Se but the differences were not significant (P > 0.05). We concluded that dietary organic Se supplementation (0.3 mg Se/kg diet) to basic diet (0.18 mg Se/kg diet) of finishing pigs significantly increased the selenium concentration and improved the antioxidative status of muscle tissue.

Commercial by supplied triacylglycerols and synthesized triacylglycerols were used in this project. Analysed triacylglycerols with the range of carbon number (CN) 24-54 consisted of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. Two capillary columns were used in the analyses of triacylglycerols, namely non-polar (Optima^®-1-TG) and medium polar (Optima^®-17-TG) types. In this study the effectiveness of separation (A) of triacylglycerols with different carbon number values, (B) of triacylglycerols with different unsaturation degree, (C) of positional isomers were determined and further possibilities to separate another lipid compounds were analysed. The column Optima^®-17-TG separates TAG according to the degree of unsaturation while the column Optima^®-1-TG separates saturated and unsaturated TAG. High temperature capillary gas chromatography was used to determine changes in triacylglycerol composition during the transesterification of structured fats.

Manipulation of corn seed from harvest throughout processing to disinfections is associated with seed damage. Such damage causes lower germination and germination energy. Seed damage, especially in the embryo and crown, are factors that decrease germination, especially under low temperatures. Also, damaged seed is inclined to infections by soil pathogens (Aspergillus, Pythium, Penicillium), causing seed and germ rotting. In some cases, plant density is seriously reduced by infestations so that resowing is required. Seed of five corn-inbred lines differing in form and type (A: shallow and round form of the dent type MO-17, Os6-2; B: deep and uniform of the semi-flint type B-73, Os84-28 and Os87-24) were tested for their quantity and damaged spots (crown, germ, back side and belly side). Seed damage following the manipulations ranged as follows: from 3.8 to 7.2% (harvest), from 36.2 to 52.8% (husking) and from 38.4 to 54.0% (the end of processing). Also, damage of different parts of seed following their processing was as follows: from 17.8 to 29.2% (crown), from 4.1 to 6.7% (germ), from 6.3 to 9.8% (back side) and from 5.7 to 8.3% (belly side). High negative correlation (from r = -0.620 to r = -0.960) between damage of seed and seed quality (germination energy, germination) and high positive correlation between germination energy and germination were found over the investigated years and for both lines.