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In the years 1995-2004 the spectra of weeds, diseases and pests in grasses grown for seed in the Czech Republic were examined and the effect of external factors on their changes was assessed. The species spectrum of weeds evaluated both at the time of vegetation and in samples of natural seeds was stable throughout the period and the changes in the number of individual species were caused by different proportions of grass species and stand age. The most abundant weeds were Elytrigia repens, Matricaria sp.div., Anthemis sp.div., Apera spica-venti, Cirsium arvense, Poa trivialis, Rumex sp.div. and Chenopodium sp.div. The most serious diseases were parasitic silvertop, graminicolous rusts (Puccinia sp.div.), Blumeria graminis and ergot (Claviceps purpurea). The rate of rust occurrence was affected by climatic conditions; the spectrum of other diseases was stable throughout this period. The most important animal pests were Muridae rodents.

An improved protocol for Brassica protoplast culture and plant regeneration was developed. Isolated protoplasts from four-weeks-old in vitro shoot tip culture of Brassica oleracea var. botrytis cv. Siria F1 and Brassica napus doubled haploid of breeding line OP-1 were cultured at a density of 9.8-11.2 × 10⁴ protoplasts/ml in darkness at 25°C in a modified medium containing 2% glucose, 0.25 mg/l 2,4-D, 1 mg/l BAP and 1 mg/l NAA. The first divisions of protoplasts were observed on the third day of culture in B. oleracea and on the fourth day in B. napus. The protoplast cultures were diluted with low osmotic medium on 7^th and 11^th day. The frequency of dividing cells was about 80% in B. oleracea and 50% in B. napus. After one month, the microcalli of approximately 0.5-1 mm in size were transferred into an induction medium with various combinations of growth regulators. Minimum duration of enzyme treatment time and extended dark period in the initial phase of culture increased the survival rate of protoplasts. Organogenesis started when the calli enlarged in size on an induction medium (1 mg/l NAA, 0.02 mg/l GA₃, 1 mg/l 2iP) with 2% sucrose and 0.8% agar. Regeneration frequency of calli was found to be 69-75% in B. oleracea and 2-3% in B. napus. Well-developed shoots were transferred for rooting to a half-strength MS medium without growth regulators. More than 100 B. oleracea regenerants were transferred into soil, and they produced normal heads and set seeds. This very simple procedure is efficient and suitable mainly for B. oleracea var. botrytis and represents a background for fusion experiments.

The aim of study was to verify a possibility of adding boron to multi-nutrient soil tests: Mehlich 3, water (1:5) and 0.5M NH₄-acetate extraction. Thirty-six different soils from topsoils of agriculturally farmed field were used for the study. The basic set of 36 soils was doubled when the same soil samples with gypsum addition at an equivalent dose 2 t Ca/ha were used. The closest correspondence between B in soil (n = 72) and B in plant was found out by the NH₄-acetate soil test. This test proved its good universality and independence on a radical intervention in soil chemistry by gypsum treatment. It responded to an increase in B-availability to plants after gypsum treatment of soil. The adjustment of NH₄-acetate boron by the percentage difference between the actual and the desired pH of soil improved the closeness of the correlation. Although the H₂O soil test showed its lower universality, it is assumed to use the H₂O soil test for prediction of B-status in soil when the history of previous fertilisation of the field will be known. The Mehlich 3 soil test did not prove to be suitable for diagnostics of B-status in soil.

The welfare conditions in animal transport have a significant impact on the levels of stress burden on animals before slaughter in the slaughterhouse, and have an impact on veterinary decision-making about meat and organ edibility, and also on the quality of slaughtered animal meat. The ratio of ensuring the level of welfare in animal transport can be taken as the numbers of animals having died during transport and having died in the slaughterhouse shortly after transport is completed. As to the kinds of animals raised for meat, the issue of mortality in relation to transport is especially significant in pigs. In the period from 1997 to 2004, the transport of slaughter pigs, in terms of the protection of the animals against cruelty, was monitored in theCzechRepublic. The aim was to ascertain pig losses in relation to transport to the slaughterhouse, to find out the impact of transport distance on losses of these pigs, and to determine the impact of the different seasons on losses of these pigs. The data concerning pigs fed for slaughter in the slaughterhouse (fattening pigs) was analysed, the data did not include the information concerning small sows, sows and boar kept for breeding and now excluded from breeding and slaughtered in the slaughterhouse. We have established the pig mortality level to be 0.107% ± 0.013%. However, this mortality level changed depending on the transport distance - from 0.062% ± 0.007% in the case of transport distances up to 50 km, to 0.335% ± 0.113% in the case of transport distances over and above 300 km. The level of losses of pigs increased with the length of transport distances, which is given to the long-term and higher-stress burdens in these pigs caused by longer transportation times. The seasons are expressed by the individual months, and had an impact on the transported pigs' mortality number. Altogether, the highest losses occurred in the summer months, especially in June, July, and August. The increased mortality in the summer months is related to the higher ambient temperature in these months, which has a negative impact on the welfare of the pigs, and thus also on the higher pig losses during transport. The ascertained results produced evidence for the relatively high sensitivity of pigs to the stress burden caused by transport to the slaughterhouse and showing themselves in the number of pigs having died due to transport. The increasing transport distance and higher ambient temperature in the summer months show themselves in the increased number of pigs having died in relation to their transport to the slaughterhouse.

The objectives of the paper were to evaluate carcass value in reared gilts on the basis of carcass analysis during the station test of purebred progeny of pigs and ultrasonically with Sonomark-100 or Piglog-105 instruments in the framework of valid methodology for performance testing, and to verify a pos-sibility of prediction of backfat thickness and/or average daily weight gain since birth and lean meat content of gilts as the elements of objectification for the evaluation of their body condition. In total 54 gilts of two breeds were evaluated: the dam breed Czech Large White and the sire breed Czech Large White - sire line. Four-parameter Richards function was used for growth evaluation. The regression function y = 63.870 - 0.447 bt₁ - 0.510 bt₂ + 0.128 MLLT was applied in ultrasonic instruments for the calculation of lean meat content. We calculated linear regression functions for the conversion of performance testing parameters (gain from birth, average backfat thickness and lean meat content) from live weight on the day of measurement per live weight declared during selections in gilts.

The objective of the experiment was to evaluate the effect of starter diet containing 10% of treated rape cake (TRC) with a reduced glucosinolate content on calf growth, development and health. The experiment included 45 calves allocated into 3 groups. After the colostrum period (5 days) the calves were fed 4 l of pooled fresh milk per calf/day and one of the starters ad libitum. The control group (S) was fed Standard starter with components with a standard nutrient content including fibre. Comparative group T was fed Telstar starter, which contained whole maize kernels and protein pellets. Experimental group G was fed Grant starter containing 10% of treated rape cake. The calves were fed hay ad libitum from 10 weeks of age. The average starter consumption (calf/day) over a 90-day feeding period was 1.34, 1.72 and 1.45 kg of the Standard, Telstar and Grant diet, respectively. An insignificantly higher body weight of calves was recorded for the Grant group at the end of the experimental period. When the calculated indices were compared, it was obvious that the weight gains obtained with experimental starters Grant and comparative Telstar were by 4.0% higher and by 5.4% lower, respectively, than in the control group Standard. No significant changes in the parameters of nitrogen, energy, lipid and mineral metabolism, health status, hepatic parenchyma and thyroid function were observed throughout the experimental period. The diet based on experimental starter Grant had no adverse effect on the ruminal fermentation in calves. It may therefore be concluded that the starter diet with 10% content of treated rape cake had no adverse effect on calf growth and performance.

The condition was evaluated of tissues of declining young spruce stands in selected localities of the Orlické hory Mts. It refers to stands occurring in top parts affected by an air pollution disaster in the last century. Several types of damage of a different symptomatic character were distinguished. A high NO_x input appears to be the risk factor of spruce dieback in the Orlické hory Mts. One of the main causes in the complex of factors is the unbalanced cause of meteorological factors during the year and unbalance in mineral nutrition. The result is decrease in lignification, immaturity of tissues before the winter period and increased susceptibility of damaged tissues to parasites. Several potentially pathogenic species of micromycetes have been identified which can be considered to be significant pathogenic agents in case of declining spruce in the Orlické hory Mts., however, not a main cause.

Dokumenty týkajúce sa regulácie hospodárenia v lesoch sa prakticky až dodnes považovali za materiály, týkajúce sa skoro výlučne len jednotlivých odborných rezortov. Na základe Vyhlášky Ministerstva financií SR č. 465/1991 ich možno efektívne využívať aj v rámci rezortov financií a spravodlivosti. Ďalšie významné medzirezortné využitie týchto dokumentov vyplýva zo Zákona č. 127/1994 o posudzovaní environmentálneho dopadu. Cieľom práce je demonštrovať proces posudzovania na konkrétnom príklade - ploche patriacej do lesného pozemkového fondu. Okrem máp, výsledkov pozorovania, slovných popisov a súborov numerických údajov, týkajúcich sa jednotlivých porastov, obsahujú tieto dokumenty aj kódované údaje, ktoré pre väčšinu užívateľov nie sú zrozumiteľné bez využitia dekódovacích kľúčov. A práve tieto posledné údaje majú pri vyhodnocovaní environmentálneho dopadu najvyššiu výpovednú hodnotu. Po nadobudnutí platnosti pripravovaného zákona (vyhlášky) o strate vlastníctva, vyplývajúcej z prohibitívnych a ďalších podmienok v lesnom hospodárstve v súvislosti s presadzovaním verejno-prospešného záujmu (Kundrík et al. 1999), významne vzrastie dôležitosť využitia finálnych dokumentov týkajúcich sa regulácie hospodárenia v lesoch SR.

The investigations were conducted in the frame of EU Research project Wood for Energy - a Contribution to the Development of Sustainable Forest Management (2001-2005). The integrated wood ash experiment was set up in a 38-year-old Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) stand on Arenosols in SW part of Lithuania. Raw (not hardened) wood ash and nitrogen fertilizers were applied in 6 variants: 1.25 t ash/ha; 2.5 t ash/ha; 5.0 t ash/ha; 180 kg N/ha; 2.5 t ash + 180 kg N/ha and control (no treatment). The changes of soil pH, the content of some nutrients, heavy metals in Arenosols and soil solution, the abundance of ammonifiers, nitrifiers and denitrifiers in forest floor and mineral topsoil after the application of wood ash are presented and discussed in this paper.

The European integration process is very important and it has been paid attention to for the last 15 years. The abstract deals with the negotiation field and position in the structure of the current expanded EU. For better orientation in this equivocal situation, a modern cartography method of relationship in the arbitrary group called dynamic sociometry was used. The method is based on classical sociometry Morena and furthermore it uses the instrument of fuzzy set, typology and structural analysis. The output of this method is a sociomap. The map holds information on the relative closeness or the distance of individual elements, their configuration but also some quality information. The graphic chart is similar to a topographic map. In our case, the sociomap was created from the data of foreign business among the member countries. The following analysis of the sociomap we detected and described characteristic features of the analysed group. It consists of formal and informal links in the group, the role and the position of each member within the group, the structure and relations in the group. In the concrete, we attained data to answer the questions about the present climate in interrelationships in the EU, which means the relationships among the members as the whole entities but also the relationships separately among members themselves. The position analysis of the Czech Republic in the system of the created sociomaps was considered as very important. According to the allocation of the Czech Republic in sociomaps, we easily defined the position of the state, the closest partners for negotiation, and also the possible problem relations which might complicate the negotiation in the EU. From the resultant sociomaps, we also tried to determine the sociometric star, i.e. the leader of the European Community. We anticipated that it would be rather an aggregation of several states than an individual state. The contribution focuses on the negotiation field and position in the structure of the current expanded EU. The sociomap created using foreign business data of member states gives the bases for answering questions about present climate in interrelationships in the EU which means the relationships between the members as whole entities but also the relationships separately between the members themselves.

During 4 years, 27 cultivars and breeding lines of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) were tested in small plot experiments for resistance to powdery mildew fungus. The most resistant were Frimegu, RE9607, Runal, Asset, Folke and Wasmo. The cultivars Asta (Pm2,6) and Vlasta (Pm2,6 and another not determined specific gene or minor genes of resistance) fall into resistant cultivars. It seems that the specific genes of resistance Pm2 and Pm6 are still very effective against the present Czech population of powdery mildew on wheat. Resistance of the cultivars Hereward and Tarso, having the gene of resistance Pm8, can be ascribed to an additional undetermined gene that is effective only in mature plants. The cultivars Mikon and Ramiro with partial resistance had a higher infection type and disease severity than resistant cultivars, but lower disease severity than the susceptible cultivar Kanzler.

Fertilization with tannery materials positively influenced the soil pH and increased the content of alkaline cations in soil. After four years of investigations organic carbon content decreased most in the soil fertilized with untreated sludge, mineral salts and in the control soil. Irrespective of fertilization used and year of studies cadmium occurred mainly in most mobile fractions (mobile, exchangeable and bound to manganese oxides). Copper was mainly bound in fractions less available to plants. After four years of studies an increase in mobile copper forms was registered in all treatment soils. Lead in the soil was present mainly in the form bound to organic matter and amorphous iron oxides. Distribution of lead points to the small share of this metal in the mobile and exchangeable forms, both immediately after fertilization applied and after four years of studies. Chromium became fixed in fractions less available to plants, mainly bound to iron oxides and in residual fraction. On the other hand, an apparent effect of fertilization with materials of tannery origin on this element total forms content was registered.

This study compares effects of 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid (TIBA) and flavonoid quercetine (Q). In spite of the fact that both these compounds are inhibitors of the polar transport of auxin, a number of experiments demonstrated that their properties are different. If the flax seedlings were decapitated and one cotyledon was removed, the axillary bud of the remaining cotyledon grew up more intensively while TIBA (0.5% applied in the form of a lanolin paste on the remaining cotyledon) induced a correlative reversal so that axillars of removed cotyledons grew up more intensively. However, when Q (0.5%) was applied on the remaining cotyledon in the form of a lanolin paste, this inhibition was not significant. In the lamina-deprived petioles of apple trees TIBA accelerated abscission while Q caused an inhibiting effect similar to that of auxin. TIBA applied on epicotyls of pea seedlings inhibited their growth by 35% while Q only by 15%. As far as the release of ethylene by pea seedlings is concerned, both compounds showed promoting effects similar to the effect of auxin.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of electric pulses on the structural and functional condition of rabbit oocytes. The New Zealand White female rabbits at 3-5 months of age and at 3-4 kg body weight served as oocyte donors. Oocytes after flushing from the oviducts were placed between two electrodes in an electroporation chamber which was filled with a dielectric solution. Following a short incubation in B2 medium, oocytes were subjected to an electric pulse released by an electrical pulse generator. Oocytes were then incubated in 500 µl of B2 medium supplemented with 20% foetal calf serum (FCS) at 38°C in an atmosphere of 5% CO₂ in air. Oocytes were cultured until the morula/blastocyst stage (approx. 72 h). The experiment was conducted using 430 oocytes obtained post mortem. In vitro cultured oocytes not subjected to an electric pulse were the control. Each group was subdivided into replications according to electric current intensity. The analysis of experimental variants shows that in the first variant all embryos developed to the morula stage but only 10% of them continued to develop to the blastocyst stage. In the second variant we observed that 5-10% of oocytes developed to the blastocyst stage after treatment with 2.0 and 2.5 kV/cm pulse but in the group of 1.0 kV/cm pulse 35% of oocytes developed only to the 2-12 b stage. In the third variant only 1 oocyte (5%) continued to develop to the blastocyst stage, but in the fourth variant oocyte development stopped at the morula stage. In the fifth variant, called an "extreme" one, oocytes stopped to develop at the stage of 2-12 b (about 25%) and the percentage of degenerated oocytes dramatically increased (about 60%).

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of inverted radicle and hypocotyl grafting methods on potted nursery tree production in chestnut. The study was carried out in greenhouse conditions in 2003-2004. Newly germinated chestnut seeds and young seedlings of SA 5-1 genotype were used as rootstocks and sprouts with dormant buds of the same genotype were used as scions. Graftings were done at three periods from April to June. Graft success and scion shoot growth were examined to determine a suitable method and time of grafting. It was found in the study that potted chestnut nursery trees could be produced in one year using either of the grafting methods. Better graft success and survival ratio were obtained from inverted radicle grafting. In this method, graft success was 83.6% in 2003 and 96.7% in 2004.

Environmental pollution of heavy metals from automobiles has attained much attention in the recent past. The present research was conducted to study heavy metal contamination in roadside soils of northern England. Roadside soil samples were collected from 35 sites in some counties of northern England and analysed for four heavy metals (cadmium, copper, lead, zinc). Their concentrations and distributions in different road verge zones (border, verge, slope, ditch) were determined. Lead concentration was the highest in the soil and ranged from 25.0 to 1198.0 μg/g (mean, 232.7 μg/g). Zinc concentration ranged from 56.7 to 480.0 μg/g (mean, 174.6 μg/g) and copper concentration ranged from 15.5 to 240.0 μg/g (mean, 87.3 μg/g). Cadmium concentration was the lowest in the soil and varied from 0.3 to 3.8 μg/g (mean, 1.4 μg/g). Though the levels of heavy metals in roadside soils were higher as compared to their natural background levels in British soils, their concentrations in general, however, were below the 'critical trigger concentrations' for the contaminated soils. All the four heavy metals exhibited a significant decrease in the roadside soils with the increasing distance from the road. The border zone had the highest mean concentration of the four metals whereas the ditch zone exhibited the lowest mean concentration.

In Slovakia, soil acidification remains an environmental and forestry related issue despite a sharp decrease in the S02. Recent monitoring of critical acid loads of Slovak forests show that around one third of Slovak forests are directly affected by acidification. In this situation, an increased biomass extraction from forests for energy generation purposes, considered by some decision-makers, poses a serious threat to geobiochemical cycles and may further aggravate the effect of the emissions on soils. In other parts of the country however, the drop in pH value means a soil degradation in sense of soil forming processes rather than in reference to forest production. This fact is also confirmed with the values of growing stock in Slovak forests, continually increasing since 1920.

The primary goal of our analysis is to evaluate the effects of changes in the Slovak agriculture subsidy system on the selected farms located in different production areas between the years 2003 and 2004. Our comparative analysis divides the farms into two groups: The first group represents all those farms that operate in good farming conditions i.e. primarily the land is more productive (PA). The second group of farms operates in less favorable farming conditions (LFA). The regions differ from each other in terms of geographical position, location, production and climatic conditions, as well as the quality of land. We analyzed data of 119 farms.

The paper deals with identification of some forms of potential competitive advantage that can be applied by the Slovak agrarian enterprises after the accession to the EU. The capacity of the economies of scale is being analyzed, as well as the potential of the labor productivity growth, and input management in controlling of intensification process. The paper is targeted at verifying the extent of application of competitive advantages by agrarian enterprises, and identifying the reasons of obstacles that hinder their full utilization.

Pea seeds were swollen in solutions with different concentrations of cytokinin benzyladenine (BA). As compared with controls, a low concentration of BA (0.05 mg/l) did not affect the growth of stems and roots of twelve-day-old seedlings but concentrations of 0.20-4.00 mg/l showed an inhibiting effect; this inhibition was proportional to the concentration of BA. In controls the ratio between the lengths of stems and roots was equal to 1.14, while in seedlings influenced by BA in concentration of 0.20 mg/l its value was significantly lowered to 0.91. Also in six-day-old pea seedlings cultivated under in vitro conditions, BA concentrations of 0.70 and 3.30 mg/l inhibited the growth of roots and epicotyls and significantly increased the production of ethylene (by 150 and 330%, respectively). Three hours after the amputation of the root of five-day-old pea seedlings the level of cytokinin trans-zeatin increased in the apical part of the stem. Within the interval of 48 hours after the amputation of the root the concentration of this plant hormone gradually decreased again. The initial increase in the zeatin level in the stem indicates that the absence of the root induces a reduction of growth-inhibiting effects of roots, which negatively influences the zeatin level in the stem apex at the beginning of germination.

Field experiment demonstrated the benefit resulting from biological soil management including the use of N₂-fixing and growth promoting bacteria A. brasilense B-4485 for long-fibred flax. Seed inoculation by A. brasilense B-4485 was equivalent to the introduction of 15 kg/ha of N that provided the possibility of partial flax N requirement supply. Treatment A. brasilense + N₁₅P₆₀K₉₀ is considered to be the most profitable management in regard to flax yield and its quality, and is comparable to N₃₀P₆₀K₉₀ treatment. Biological management allows preventing high concentrations of N in soil, excludes lodging and negative effects on flax yield and its quality. Implementation of biological management for flax nutrition may be profitable for both ecology and economy of long-fibered flax growing.

The present study was conducted to determine the effects of different pelleting temperature on tibia mineralization, calcium, phosphorus content of serum and growth performance of broilers fed phytase-supplemented diets. The basal experimental diet type was typical maize-soybean meal. The basal diet was supplemented with a microbial 6-phytase (Novo CT: coated thermostable granulate, from Novo Nordisk A/S,Denmark) at 500 Phytase Units (FTU) per kg of feed before pelleting. The diets were pelleted at 65, 75, or 85°C except the basal mash diet as the control. The experimental diets were used from 0 to 6 weeks of age of birds. Dry matter, crude ash, Ca, total P, Na, K and Mg, Zn, Fe, Mn, Cu contents of tibia were not affected by the pelleting temperature. No effects of pelleting temperatures on Ca content in the serum were found out. However, P content in the serum was increased by feeding the diet pelleted at 65°C as compared to the control and other treatments. Pelleting at 65 and 75°C had a significant positive effect on body weights and body weight gains of broilers. It was concluded that the best pelleting temperature was 65°C. It is to note that the temperature of 85°C damages enzymatic activity.

This research was carried out to determine the effect of Jerusalem artichoke (JA) with or without 5, 10% vetch (V) supplementation on performance, egg quality characteristics and egg cholesterol content. In the study, seventy-five 25 weeks-old commercial white laying hens were randomly divided into one control and 4 treatment groups each containing 15 hens. Control group was fed basal diet without JA or V. Treatment group 1, 2, 3 and 4 were fed diets containing 5% V, 5% JA, 5% JA + 5% V and 10% JA + 10% V, respectively. The feeding period lasted 16 weeks. In the study, it was determined that dried-ground JA contained dry matter, crude protein, ether extract, crude fibre, crude ash, inulin and metabolizable energy (ME) at the level of 93.30, 10.02, 0.36, 5.64, 9.05, 15.80% and 3 060 kcal/kg, respectively. At the end of the study, live weight was lower by 4.36-10.09% in the treatment group 10% JA + 10% V compared with the other groups, but feed efficiency was improved in this group. There were statistically significant differences between the groups in egg quality characteristics (P < 0.05, P < 0.001). Egg production was not affected by supplementation of 5, 10% JA with or without 5, 10% V supplementation. Egg yolk cholesterol and total cholesterol content were not different in the groups (P > 0.05). As a result, the addition of JA with or without V has no adverse effect on performance and egg quality in hens.

The paper evaluates the growth, structure, production, quality, leaf area index and dendrochronology of 100 years old Austrian pine (Pinus nigra ARNOLD) monoculture situated in the forest type group Fageto-Quercetum in the locality Horné Lefantovce (Nitrianska Streda Forest District, Topoľčianky Forest Enterprise). Codominant trees, trees with stem of high quality, with medium-sized crown, medium dense and straight crown are the most abundant in the stand. The tree number in the stand is 1,024 trees/ha, basal area 51.75 m2/ha, growing stock 571.56 m3/ha, aboveground biomass stock 348.76 t/ha and leaf area index 21.85 ha/ha. Dendrochronological analyses examined the response in individual sample trees and minimum annual ring width was found in 1920, 1922, 1925, 1929, 1933, 1938, 1944, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1952, 1954, 1963, 1968, 1976, 1982, 1990, 1993, 1998, 2001. Marked maximum values of annual ring width in the years 1919, 1923, 1926, 1930, 1936, 1937, 1941, 1948, 1951, 1955, 1959, 1966, 1972, 1975, 1980, 1985, 1997 were found as a positive productive feature. Beginning in the year 1993, dry Austrian pine trees occurred in the stand as a result of the fungal infection by Sphaeropsis sapinea (Fr.) Dyko et Sutton.

European larch (Larix decidua Mill.) is one of the most important tree species in substitute stands of the Krušné hory Mts. (northern part of the Czech Republic). At present, young larch stands have dynamic height growth and their canopy is closing. Therefore, the proper forest treatment with respect to all functions of these stands is an urgent issue. The aim of the study is to recognise when it is possible to start with thinning and what types of thinning regimes are more suitable in larch stands with respect to their functions as substitute tree species stands. Research was conducted on experimental series Kalek established in a larch monoculture in 1999 (stand age of 12 years) at an elevation of 780 m above sea level in the category Piceeto-Fagetum oligo-mesotrophicum - Calamagrostis villosa. The presented analysis has two main parts: (a) effect of closing canopy on growth of larch - comparison of the groups of trees from border and inside rows and (b) effect of opening canopy on growth and development of young larch stands - comparison of two partial plots (500 m² each): the one without thinning and the other with thinning (negative selection mainly from above at the age of 13 years). Comparative analyses of trees from border and inside rows showed high growth dynamics of these young larch stands, and therefore the first thinning is necessary in this stage (by 15 years of age). In spite of air pollution, the growth of experimental stands is supernormal and exceeds the data from growth tables, but 60% of individuals showed some malformations, mostly one-sided or two-sided stem curvature. Five years after the first thinning we found a significantly lower h/d ratio of mean stem on the thinned plot in comparison with the plot without thinning. On the other hand, the applied thinning had no effect (five years after realisation) on the h/d ratio of dominant trees (200 thickest trees per hectare).

How does an organization utilize knowledge for the reproduction of its culture in innovations, it was a key-point of the question for an approach based on the methodology of social process in the recent past. Then the formation of knowledge was considered a process of power politics with the consequences for knowledge management. In the framework of those projects, attempts were made in organizations to extract the knowledge from experts and specialized professionals that it might be codified and saved in extensive databases; only then the remainder of employees ought to have possibility to consult them and add the results of their own ideas to these databases. Poor success of such attempts only illustrates the methodological failure of utilizing information technologies for knowledge formation, its storage and transfer. Moreover, when a new fact was soon discovered even in the framework of the new approach, that there was an abyss-like difference between information (that information technologies operate with) and the knowledge, then the significance of personality increased again. The research that was done with the "champions of organizational learning" in the framework of knowledge management emphasized their import in catching the best experience, knowledge codification and its distribution in the organizations. Among other qualities, the knowledge is strongly personalized: it means it is connected with personal experience, attitudes, and evaluations. On the other hand, an advantage of new methodology was that the possible social actions, connected with the knowledge management, search for a strategy, and implementation were studied. These very changes in methodology have been a valuable contribution even for the research into the role of personality within this social process, however. They induce circumstances and means for studying the infrastructure of relationships that make possible the impact of individual authority in organization in general. In this paper, we also pay attention to this social process in teams as compared to collectives and how team-leaders emerge within them.

In 1995-1997, the population dynamics of the flea beetles Chaetocnema tibialis and Phyllotreta vittula, associated with Amaranthus retroflexus (wild species) and Amaranthus caudatus (cultivated species), were studied at the locality Nitra-Malanta (48°19'N, 18°09'E) in south-western Slovakia. On both plant species, the number of C. tibialis adults was usually very low until the beginning of July. During July the number of C. tibialis increased, but sooner on cultivated amaranth. An increased number of C. tibialis adults was observed on both amaranth species until the middle of September. The results showed that amaranth plants are a very important reservoir of C. tibialis during summer. P. vittula was a common flea beetle on amaranth during the whole summer, but its numbers never exceeded more than 10 adults per 25 plants. Low temperatures in winter had a negative effect on populations of C. tibialis on both amaranth species and also on populations of P. vittula on A. retroflexus. The lower the precipitation was in July, the higher were the populations of C. tibialis on both amaranth species and the populations of P. vittula on A. retroflexus.

PCR primers for diagnosis of Rhynchosporium secalis in seed samples of barley were developed. For the quantification of the pathogen in seed samples a real-time PCR with SYBR Green approach was used. Amounts from 1.8 to 419.1 pg of R. secalis DNA per 100 ng of total DNA were detected in 18 samples of barley seeds contaminated by R. secalis in field conditions. The correctness of this quantitative analysis was checked using an artificial infection of seeds with 1, 2, 5 and 20% level of infection by R. secalis. The level of contamination of artificially infected samples decreased with a lowering amount of added seed powder contaminated by the pathogen, the correlation coefficient for this analysis was 0.98. While the primer pair used in these analyses shows cross-reactions with other pathogens (P. teres, Drechslera tritici-repentis, F. culmorum and F. poe), it is recommended to check the products of RT-PCR by agarose-gel electrophoresis, in which these pathogens are easily distinguishable from R. secalis by different lengths of the amplified fragments.