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Fungal pathogens Plasmopara viticola (Berk. & M.A. Curtis) Berl. & De Toni (downy mildew) and Erysiphe necator Schwein. (powdery mildew) represent the biggest threats for grape growers worldwide. Under suitable conditions, these pathogens can spread very quickly through vineyards and cause significant damage. The most ecological way to reduce the possibility of infection in vineyards is growing interspecific genotypes which are able to suppress these pathogens and stop the spread of infection. With this in mind, 9 international and 11 Czech grapevine genotypes were analysed in order to genotype the resistance loci present in them. As a tool a set of SSR markers linked to known loci of resistance to downy and powdery mildew was used. Namely, presence of four loci responsible for resistance to Plasmopara viticola (Rpv3, Rpv4, Rpv7, and Rpv10) and two for Erysiphe necator (Ren3 and Ren9) loci were analysed with respective SSR markers. By this way the degree of resistance gene pyramiding was newly assessed in all analysed cultivars and their perspectives in grapevine breeding are discussed.

Most farmers use urea as a nitrogen fertiliser to raise mustard (Brassica juncea L.), although its nitrogen (N) content is quickly lost due to its hygroscopic nature. Nitrogen loss in the form of nitrous oxide (N₂O) and nitrates (NO₃^–) has been causing low nitrogen fertiliser efficiency in vegetable cultivation. This investigation aims to assess the impact of urea fertiliser coated with biochar or activated charcoal on losses of N₂O and NO₃^– concentration in the soil during mustard production. The experiment used a randomised block design with five treatments of urea fertiliser coated with biochar/activated charcoal. The observed data included N₂O flux, nitrate, and ammonia content in soil and water. The results showed that urea fertiliser coated with activated charcoal from corn cobs tended to suppress N loss more effectively than urea coated with biochar or activated charcoal from coconut shells. Biochar and activated charcoal from coconut shells suppressed N-N₂O loss as much as 3.1% and 52.5% (7 days after planting (DAP)), respectively, and 68.7% and 71.6% (21 DAP), respectively. Biochar and activated charcoal from corn cob reduce N-N₂O loss by 46.5% and 66.5% (7 DAP), respectively, and by 70.7% and 77.8% (21 DAP). Urea-coated activated charcoal fertiliser increases mustard plant biomass and nitrogen uptake. Biochar and activated charcoal from coconut shells and corncobs increase nitrogen use efficiency by 5, 24, 6, and 17%, respectively. Biochar/activated charcoal coatings are a promising technology for boosting nitrogen use efficiency in vegetable crops, including mustard crops.

Dairy cows enter the negative energy balance in the early post-partum period, which negatively affects milk yield, health status and reproduction. This study aimed to determine if milk yield (MY) and fat/protein (F/P) ratio could be used as reliable indicators for predicting the quality of aspirated oocytes and their further use for in vitro fertilisation. A secondary goal was to compare different periods before oocyte aspiration to determine which period had the most significant impact on the oocyte development in donor cows. All tested Holstein cows were at their first lactation (n = 68). The first ultrasound-guided follicular aspiration in donor cows was done on average at 58.7 days in milk (DIM). Usually, a second aspiration followed a week later if no problems were detected. In total, 102 aspirations were performed. Three model equations with different F/P ratio distributions and variants of MY production were tested in statistical evaluation. On average, 3.6 oocytes were retrieved per donor per aspiration, with a minimum of 1 and a maximum of 12. The maturation rate was 62.2%, with a high probability of reaching metaphase II (90.45%). The highest number of oocytes was obtained from low-yielding cows with a low F/P ratio in all evaluated periods (P < 0.01). The quality and expansion of cumulus-oocyte complexes were unaffected by the metabolic status. However, a tendency for better quality oocytes in donors with lower MY and F/P ratios was observed in all models. Our preliminary results showed that the prediction of oocyte quality in a homogeneous group of the first-lactation cows was related to the chosen data acquisition model. Data about milk yield and F/P ratio obtained from on-farm systems provide a valuable source of information for the selection of oocyte donors.

Studded feed rollers are widely used in seed metering units of seed drills. The flow evenness is an important indicator of the performance of studded feed rollers. With this research, the effects of studded feed rollers with different stud numbers (27, 36, and 45 studs) on flow evenness were investigated both in the laboratory and by simulation in case of using different ground speeds (1.5, 2, and 2.5 m·s^–1). While the experiments were carried out on the seed drill model prepared in the laboratory, the simulation was done with the Rocky DEM software program. In the laboratory and simulation studies, it was determined that the flow evenness increased with the increase in the number of studs and the ground speed. The results obtained from the laboratory and simulation studies show parallelism with each other. However, it was seen that the results obtained in the laboratory were slightly higher than the results obtained from the simulation. With this study, it has been seen that it would be very beneficial to use the DEM model to improve the performance of the seed metering unit and to develop a new seed metering unit.

Adopting low-carbon agricultural technologies (LCATs) is fundamental to reducing carbon emissions in agriculture. Our study explores the factors influencing the adoption of LCATs and the roles of production outsourcing and specialised farming within the framework of off-farm employment. In this regard, survey data were collected from 1 040 farmers in the Yellow River region of China in 2020 to examine the effect of production outsourcing on the farmers’ adoption of LCATs. Potential mechanisms associated with specialised farming and off-farm employment are considered to comprehend this relationship. We also investigate the heterogeneous effects of production outsourcing on adopting LCATs, taking different education levels and arable land areas into account. The results show a positive association between production outsourcing and farmers’ LCATs adoption behaviour, even after considering self-selection bias. Specifically, outsourcing production can significantly increase the likelihood of farmers adopting low-carbon tillage, low-carbon irrigation, and low-carbon fertilisation technologies by 7.2%, 8.1%, and 7.3%, respectively. This effect is more pronounced among farmers with higher levels of education and smaller areas of arable land. Furthermore, production outsourcing increases the LCATs adoption by promoting specialised farming. The findings suggest that outsourcing is vital to alleviating the lack of LCATs adoption resulting from off-farm employment.

Pomelo peels, often overlooked in food processing, generate significant byproducts, especially in minimal processing setups. Rich in bioactive compounds, particularly in the green peel or flavedo, these peels offer versatile applications. This study focuses on two main aspects. Firstly, the characterisation of the Citrus maxima (Burm.) Merr. pomelo flavedo extract was carried out, with its phenolic composition and activities such as antioxidant, and antifungal properties assessed. Secondly, the impact of applying a pectin film enriched with this extract on pomelo storage at 8 °C was evaluated. The extract has a diverse phenolic composition, including catechin, chlorogenic acid, rutin, ellagic acid, quercitrin, quercetin, apigenin, and gallic acid, with gallic acid being the most concentrated at 54 mg·g^–1. While the extract showed free radical-scavenging activity, it was less effective than vitamin C; the extract also demonstrated antifungal effects on 7 mold and 1 yeast strains. The extract-infused pectin coating significantly reduced colour changes, respiration intensity, and weight loss in Citrus maxima (Burm.) Merr. pomelo. Additionally, it preserved ascorbic acid, total soluble solids, and titratable acidity content. Sensory evaluations favoured pomelo preserved with the supplemented coating over both pre-preserved and untreated samples.

The presence of immature coffee beans reduces the quality of the coffee brew. This study evaluated how the acetic acid affected the aroma and taste of immature compared to mature Robusta coffee. The naturally processed immature Robusta green beans were immersed in acetic acid (0–5%) for 30–90 min. The naturally processed mature Robusta green beans were used as a control treatment. The samples were roasted at a medium level (240 °C, 14 min). The sensory analysis was evaluated by the cupping test by a trained and certified panellist (Q-Grader). Acetic acid immersion significantly improved the sensory quality of immature beans (P < 0.05). Specifically, immersion in 3% acetic acid for 90 min yielded the highest sensory score of 84.92. According to the Coffee Quality Institute (CQI) classification, this score falls into the 'Fine' Robusta classification. The 0% 30-min, 3% 30-min, and 3% 90-min treated immature samples and an untreated control mature sample were analysed for pH, caffeine, chlorogenic acid, and volatile compounds. The treatment significantly decreased the chlorogenic acid (P < 0.05) and increased the volatile compound concentration of furans, ketone, pyrrole, aldehyde, and ester while decreasing pyrazines, sulphur, phenol, and alcohol. This study effectively enhanced immature Robusta taste and aroma quality to a degree comparable with mature Robusta coffee beans.

Nutraceuticals are food ingredients that provide extra health advantages that expand above their nutritional value. Nutraceuticals comprise amino acids, antioxidants, minerals, vitamins, probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, enzymes, organic acids, fatty acids, medicinal plants, etc. Recently, nutraceuticals have acquired much attention in poultry industry by reason of their potential effects on establishing the normal physiological status, supporting the immune system, and disease prevention, which consequently enhances productivity. The technique of in ovo feeding (IOF) of nutraceuticals holds several promises in poultry industry. The vital benefits of IOF of nutraceuticals are enhancement of intestinal development, establishment of a balanced microbial population in the gut, support of intestinal physiology and health. Interestingly, IOF of nutraceuticals participates in improving the antioxidative properties and energizing the immune system, which thereby translated into greater performance and bigger resistance to diseases, especially in early life challenges. The current review attempts to throw more light on the fresh results associated with the profits of IOF of nutraceuticals on intestinal histomorphology, intestinal microbiota, antioxidative properties, immune responsiveness, hatchability, chick quality, and growth performance in poultry.

The primary objective of this paper was to compare the nutrient content (N, Ca, S, K, P, Mg) of bilberry biomass, both aboveground and underground, growing in different habitats along the altitudinal gradient. The research was conducted in protected areas of the High Tatras National Park (Slovakia). Two different habitats subjected to study, namely spruce forest stands affected by disturbances (D – disturbed forest stands) and stands unaffected by disturbances (U – undisturbed forest stands), were located at different altitudes: 1 100 m a.s.l., 1 250 m a.s.l., and 1 400 m a.s.l. We found significant differences in the soil nutrient content along the altitudinal gradient. The highest content of nutrients was detected mostly at the highest altitudes in both habitats. The minimum reached 0.01 g·kg^–1 (phosphorus), while the maximum was 8.33 g·kg^–1 (nitrogen). In the case of the bilberry biomass, we found statistically non-significant differences in the content of nutrients among the altitudes within both habitats (D vs. U). The principal component analysis (PCA) showed that the aboveground biomass of bilberry had a significantly higher nutrient content compared to the underground biomass. Nutrient content in aboveground and underground biomass ranged from 1.00 g·kg^–1 (phosphorus) to 13.49 g·kg^–1 (nitrogen) and from 0.38 g·kg^–1 (magnesium) to 7.55 g·kg^–1 (nitrogen), respectively. The biological absorption coefficient (element content in dry biomass/element content in soil) reached the highest values mostly at the lowest altitude for both aboveground and underground biomass.

Corrigendum in: Czech J. Anim. Sci. 2024 May 31;69(5):209. doi: 10.17221/83/2024-CJAS

This study was conducted to evaluate the protective impacts of green tea extract (GT) against cypermethrin-induced (CYP) neurotoxicity parameters such as acetylcholinesterase activity, oxidative stress, immune response, histopathology, apoptosis, and DNA damage in the brain tissues of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). The trial was divided into four groups (group 1, 2, 3 and 4). Group 1 was the control, while group 2 was treated with 0.1 mg/l of CYP, group 3 was treated with 0.1 mg/l of CYP + 100 mg/l of GT and group 4 was treated with 0.1 mg/l of CYP + 200 mg/l of GT for 14 days. While the level of malondialdehyde increased, the exposure to CYP in group 2 resulted in a reduction in acetylcholinesterase, lysozyme, total immunoglobulin, white blood cell, superoxide dismutase, and catalase levels in the brain tissues, as compared to group 1. Furthermore, CYP exposure in group 2 resulted in severe hyperaemia in meningeal and parenchymal vessels, accompanied by significant degeneration and necrosis. In addition, neurons in group 2 exhibited pronounced cytoplasmic expressions of 8-OHdG and caspase-3. On the contrary, both doses of 100 mg/l and 200 mg/l of GT demonstrated remarkable neuroprotective impacts against CYP toxicity across all parameters as mentioned above. In summary, this study conclusively showed that the administration of 200 mg dose of GT yielded more pronounced neuroprotective impacts, surpassing the impacts observed with the 100 mg dose of GT. The higher dosage effectively reduced CYP-induced oxidative stress, apoptosis and DNA damage, while exhibiting an enhanced immune response.

The potential of Leersia hexandra grass in phytoremediation and natural attenuation of three groups of bacteria in soil contaminated with crude oil was evaluated for 180 days. The quantities of new shoots, root and aerial biomass were evaluated; changes in antioxidant concentrations in leaf and root caused by abiotic stress; population densities of Azotobacter, Azospirillum and Pseudomonas; and microbial respiration. The experimental data showed oil-induced increases of 315% and 196% in new shoots and root phytomass, respectively, and a 44% decrease in leaf + stem phytomass. The enzymatic defence in the grass leaf was manifested by higher concentrations of hydrogen peroxide, phenylalanine ammonium lyase and total flavonoids; the increases fluctuated from 35% to 52%. The response in the root was positive in catalase (16%), and in ammonium phenylalanine lyase, it increased 275% due to the effect of crude oil. The group of indigenous Azotobacter bacteria were tolerant to crude oil exposure, both in the phytoremediation process and in natural attenuation; the population densities varied from 212 to 438 × 10³ colony-forming units (CFUs); they are greater than 49% to 106% compared to densities in control soil. Azospirillum spp. and Pseudomonas spp. recorded population abiotic stress. The grass activates enzymatic and plant defence, complementing microbial respiration in response to adaptation to crude oil.

Sugarcane in southern Florida suffers from sugarcane rust mite (SRM) infestations, Abacarus sacchari, from summer to early fall. The mite’s sex ratio is important in understanding the mite's demography and population dynamics. This is the first report on the sex ratio of the field population of the SRM. The objectives of the study were to determine the sex ratio of the SRM and the factors that affect any changes in the sex ratio. To determine the sex ratio, mites were sampled from a sugarcane canopy each month over a 12-month period and the sex ratio was expressed as the proportion of females to the total number of sexed mites. The population density and aerial mites were monitored weekly for 8 and 6 months, respectively. The total number of sexed mites from the sugarcane canopy was 27 941 mites, while 2 248 airborne mites were recorded. The result showed that the sex ratio of the SRM in the canopy was dynamic during the study, with a female bias more common than a male bias among the samples, which ultimately resulted in a slightly female bias. An obvious change from a female bias to a male bias occurred simultaneously with the increased mite density and dispersal. The factors affecting the oscillation of the sex ratio are discussed.

The rise in demand for animal products associated with global population growth has driven the world toward precision livestock farming, where convolutional neural networks (CNN) have gained increasing attention due to their potential to enhance animal health, productivity, and welfare. However, the effectiveness and generalizability of CNN applications in cattle production are limited by several challenges and limitations, which require further research and development to address. This systematic literature review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the applications of CNN in cattle production. It identified some potential applications of CNN in this field and highlighted the challenges and limitations that need to be addressed to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of CNN applications in cattle production. It also provides valuable insights for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers interested in the use of CNN to enhance cattle production practices, animal welfare, and sustainability. Additionally, it also provides the reader with a summary of the literature on the fundamental concepts of convolutional neural networks and their commonly used model architectures in cattle production. This is because agriculture digitalisation is going more multidisciplinary and people from different areas of expertise may find it helpful to learn more from a combined source.

Prior studies have noted the importance of measurement tools that track the contributions of the circular bioeconomy and other developments towards sustainable development. In this study, we examined the EU-27 as a whole and found that its circular bioeconomy, measured by the 41 indicators we used, generally progressed over the period 2004–2021. Research and development personnel and Persons employed in circular economy sectors were ranked as the most progressing indicators over the studied period, together with Patent applications to the European Patent Office, which supports the idea that the circular bioeconomy uses novel technologies and requires research to develop them.

This study aims to characterise the physicochemical properties and stability of confectionery glazes made from various tropical fruit seed powders during storage. Physicochemical properties were evaluated at regular intervals throughout frozen storage to monitor quality changes. The mango seed glaze is slightly acidic, and significantly darker, with tones of green and blue. The glaze has a total soluble solid content of 73.37 °Brix, a moisture content of 19%, hardness of 46.69 g, and sagging capacity of 18.33 mm, which ensures both structural integrity and sensory appeal. Its highest viscosity among formulations suggested possible thickening and improved stability. Over 28 days, significant changes occur, with the pH stabilising to a near-neutral 6.8. The hue changes over time, migrating towards reddish tone as indicated by increasing positive a* values, while maintaining a consistent preference for blue-toned hues with continuously negative b* values. Moisture levels remained stable at 18.71% during storage, with minimal total soluble solid content changes, indicating sustained quality. The findings suggest that mango seed glazing is a viable option for quality preservation during storage. This study provides essential empirical insights into the potential changes in the quality characteristics of various fruit seed glazes when subjected to freezing.

Riparian vegetation plays a major role in maintaining biodiversity and reducing the negative impact of nutrient leaching into aquatic ecosystems. However, the knowledge on the interactions between riparian vegetation and other environmental factors is still incomplete for planning sustainable riparian forest management. The aim of this study was to explore interactions between riparian forest ecosystem components along a small stream. Interactions between vegetation structure, chemical composition of soil and groundwater, as well as chemical element flows via litterfall and precipitation were studied in seven 50 m long transects located in the riparian forest of different characteristics along a 1.4 km river section in the northern part of Latvia. Our results showed that throughfall input of total nitrogen (TN) and potassium (K) was higher in transects with predominantly deciduous tree stands, but the concentration of TN in forest floor was higher in coniferous tree stands. At some soil layers, a positive correlation between organic soil carbon (OC) and the concentration of TN in groundwater was detected. The concentration of TN and nitrate-nitrogen (N-NO₃^–) in groundwater correlated positively with the deciduous tree basal area. The obtained results suggested that element flows are strongly dependent on tree species' composition and a comparatively small riparian area is able to provide diverse ecological conditions.

Natural regeneration is a crucial factor in improving the economy of forest estates. The presented study analysed the economic parameters of three different approaches to forest regeneration: (i) artificial regeneration with Norway spruce, (ii) a 25% admixture of soil-improving and stabilising species (SSTS), and (iii) natural regeneration. The expenses for these specific operations related to individual regeneration methods were derived. These variants were investigated before the bark beetle calamity (2014) and after the outbreak (2023) for management sets (MS) 531, 551, 571, and 591, i.e. for acidic, nutrient-rich, gleyed, and waterlogged sites of higher elevations. In all cases, natural regeneration decreased expenses by approximately 2 000 EUR·ha^–1 (50 000 CZK·ha^–1) to 6 000 EUR·ha^–1 (150 000 CZK·ha^–1). The 25% admixture of SSTS increased the expenses. The proportion of natural regeneration subsequently decreased due to the bark beetle calamity from roughly 40% to 10% in recent years, which is comparable with the Czech Republic as a whole.

This study compared the efficacy of the egg yolk (EY) and soy lecithin (SL) semen extender during 72-h storage at 4 °C in the presence/absence of streptomycin, penicillin, lincomycin, and spectinomycin. Bull semen samples (n = 12) were obtained and stored in either ANDROMED^® (SL extender) or TRILADYL CSS^® (EY extender). After 24, 48, and 72 h of storage at 4 °C, bacterial colonies (CFU – colony forming units) were grown and counted on tryptic soy and blood agar, and the bacterial isolates were identified using the MALDI-TOF MS Biotyper. Sperm motility, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), membrane and acrosome integrity, sperm DNA fragmentation, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production were analysed. The results showed that the type of semen diluent could be crucial for the efficacy of used antibiotics, since significantly decreased bacterial occurrence following 48 h or no bacterial growth after 72 h was recorded in the SL-based groups. Even the SL medium itself did not favour bacterial growth, as significantly decreased bacterial load was observed after 48 h (P < 0.01) and 72 h (P <0.000 1). In contrast, the bacterial load in the EY medium without antibiotics significantly increased (P < 0.05). In contrast, an improved ability to preserve sperm quality parameters was observed in EY-extended semen. In particular, sperm motility was significantly higher (P < 0.000 1 and P < 0.001) after 24 h in each EY-based group in comparison to the control (Ctrl), whereas among the SL-based groups, only the spectinomycin-supplemented group presented with a significant motility improvement (P < 0.01) when compared to the Ctrl. Although the EY semen extender provided enhanced sperm quality preservation during the 72-h storage, in the future, the SL medium composition should be improved to match the sperm preservation ability of the EY medium while maintaining its microbial safety.

To study the effects of long-term and short-term high temperature stress and recovery on the physiological functions and appearance quality of chrysanthemums, a controlled experiment with chrysanthemums was conducted. The treatments were 25 °C for 3 days (T1D3), 25 °C for 9 days (T1D9), 41 °C for 3 days (T2D3) and 41°C for 9 days (T2D9). The results indicated that there is no significant difference between the T1D3 and T1D9 groups. Conversely, the total chlorophyll content (Chl), net photosynthetic rate (PN), and maximum quantum yield of Photosystem II (PSII) (FV/FM) under T2D3 and T2D9 decreased by 27.07%, 43.30%, 5.62%, and 44.85%, 68.22%, 8.29%, respectively. The JIP-test results showed that the T2D9-stressed plants had a lower efficiency and functional antenna size, and a higher activity of the reaction centre than T2D3. The contents of malondialdehyde, soluble protein and proline increased by 3.67 nmol/g FM, 298.75 μg/g, and 192.99 μg/g, and the antioxidant enzymes activities were inhibited significantly under T2D9. After the stress was relieved, Chl, PN, and FV/FM under T2D3 recovered to the same level as T1D3, while T2D9 did not. Furthermore, the diameter of the flowers in T2D3 showed no significant difference with the chrysanthemums under T1D3. However, the plants in T2D9 recovered poorly. Both the diameter of the flowers and the anthocyanin under T2D9 reduced significantly comparing with T1D9, indicating that the damage in the chrysanthemum seedlings caused by long-term high temperature was irreversible.

To investigate the impact of different seedling transplanting times on rice growth, the present study evaluated seedling age and root pruning using treatments consisting of root pruning (RC20, RC30, and RC40) and no root pruning (CK20, CK30, and CK40). Quantitative analysis using curve fitting of the changes in dry matter accumulation (DMA) during the seedling and field stages was performed, and the changes in root parameters during the re-greening stage were observed. The results showed that the seedling stage could be divided into a gradual increase period, a rapid increase period, and a slow increase period. Transplanting at different time periods resulted in different transplanting shock effects. During the field stage, the DMA exhibited a slow-fast-slow "S" shaped curve as the developmental time progressed. However, significant differences were observed in growth parameters among the different treatments. Root injury promoted early maturity in young seedlings but also prolonged the whole growth period in older seedlings. The inhibitory effect of root pruning on rice root growth increased with young seedling age. The present results provide a theoretical basis for the design of seedling needle structure and the optimisation of rice seedling cultivation practices.

Near-Infrared (NIR) spectrometry has emerged as a promising tool for the non-destructive and rapid analysis of temperate fruit quality, maturity, and other parameters. The technique provides a wealth of information, including details of chemical composition, without damaging the fruit, making it a highly viable alternative to traditional methods. This paper reviews the recent research and applications of NIR spectrometry for fruit evaluation, highlighting its strengths and potential limitations. The analysis shows a significant potential for NIR spectrometry, especially when combined with machine learning and artificial intelligence to handle complex data and improve predictive models. The development of portable NIR spectrometers allows for in-situ quality assessment, expanding its applicability to various fields including on-site quality control. Despite the benefits, this review identifies key challenges including spectral complexity, fruit variability, and the influence of the external environment. Recommendations for future research include focusing on improving calibration and validation of models, increasing predictive accuracy, and developing user-friendly instruments. In addition, standardization of measurement procedures and analytical methods is needed to ensure comparability and reproducibility of results. Further research is needed to fully realize the full potential of NIR spectrometry in fruit quality control.

In Central Europe, the most important pioneer species are silver birch and European aspen. Changes in disturbance regime and an economic interest for this species have led to studies on this species and stands. Two naturally regenerated dense stands of birch (Betula pendula Roth – silver birch monoculture) and aspen (Populus tremula L. – European aspen monoculture) were selected from a Querceto – Fagetum mesotrophicum site to observe responses under the same conditions in Central Europe. Both stands regenerated after the allochthonous Norway spruce stands dieback at the site in 1999. Within a 10 m × 25 m transect established in both stands, the diameter at breast height (DBH) of all the trees was measured between 2015 and 2020. In addition, the height and position were recorded for all trees, and sample trees of both species were felled for biomass measurement. A higher volume production of aspen at the beginning (107.48/96.80 m³) and at the end of the experiment (178.32/143.08 m³) was accompanied with a lower above-ground wood biomass (WAB). The WAB of birch increased from 81.9 t·ha^–1 to 103.3 t·ha^–1 and aspen allocated 79.5 t·ha^–1 to 94.8 t·ha^–1 of biomass. The current annual increment of biomass for these stands was 4.3 t·ha^–1 and 3.1 t·ha^–1 in the age range of 17 to 22 years. The culmination of the volume increment has not yet occurred in any of the stands, but the mean annual increment of wood biomass has already been reached for both stands. Furthermore, the aspen stand tended to be more dynamic in terms of biomass allocation and mortality. Also, the lower self-tolerance of aspen confirmed our hypothesis: the two native pioneer species differ in their social behaviour within monospecific stands.

Seed deterioration resulting from production and storage factors is the major cause of differences in the seed vigour that results in low seedling emergence in both the laboratory and in the field. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of seed invigoration by osmo-conditioning on the radicle emergence and the physiological parameters of naturally deteriorated seed lots of the true seed of shallots. The experiments were arranged in a completely randomised design with a repeated measurement for radicle emergence and a randomised complete block design for seedling vigour in the field with four replicates. The results indicated that the radicle emergence of the invigorated seed with ZnSO₄ correlated well with the seed viability and vigour parameters for seed lots stored under uncontrolled conditions. The radicle emergence of invigorated seeds stored under the uncontrolled condition were more predictive and strongly correlated with the seedling vigour parameters in the field, i.e., the field emergence, field emergence rate and mean emergence time with r = 0.968, r = 0.970 and r = –0.947, respectively. Furthermore, the coefficients of determination were significant (P < 0.05) with R² = 0.936 field emergence, R² = 0.941 field emergence rate and R² = 0.898 for the mean emergence time. Seed invigoration with 0.5% ZnSO₄ further significantly reduced the time of a single count of RE from 72 hours and 68 hours to 60 hours with field prediction rates ranging from 90–99%. It was concluded that the radicle emergence of TSS can be improved by invigorating the seeds with 0.5% ZnSO₄ thereby increasing the germination percentage, vigour index, and germination rate and reducing the mean germination time.

The aim of this study is to investigate the correlation between the incidence of spontaneous tumours of various origins and the localisation in dogs with sex, breed, and age factors. A total of 360 tumours with various localisation were studied pathomorphologically. Histopathologic data sets from 360 dog tissue samples were processed and statistically examined. A chi-square test of independence was conducted to examine the relationships among the various levels of the specified variables. Logistic regression models were employed for dichotomous outcomes to ascertain the influence of certain explanatory variables on the tumour types. Characteristic pathomorphological changes observed during examination of dogs with oncologic diseases were determined. The most common neoplasms were mammary tumours, accounting for 43% of the cases. The mammary gland tumours were most common in mongrel dogs (25%), with German Shepherds (17.3%), Poodles, Dachshunds, Central Asian Shepherds (6.7% each), and Rottweilers (5.7%) following. The highest frequency of these tumours appeared at 8 years of age, predominantly originating from the ductal epithelium, which represented 46.4% of all the malignant cases.

In response to the decline of Central European spruce monocultures driven by various factors, the Demonstration Object of Reconstruction of Spruce Forests (DORS) was established in Husárik locality, Javorníky Mts., northwestern Slovakia. The area includes the Husárik trial site, where the applicability and efficiency of different artificial regeneration methods are studied. The trial was established on a 24-ha area cleared following the outbreak of spruce bark beetles in 2011. Its altitude is 800 m a.s.l., aspect NW, slope 30%, the soil is Ranker on the soft flysch sandstone bedrock. Our study covered 4 conifers – Norway spruce (spruce), European larch (larch), silver fir (fir), and Douglas fir (doug fir). Each species was regenerated using 4 different approaches: planting of commercial bareroot transplants (BR), planting of container transplants (CON), direct seeding (DS) and vegetative cell seeding using seed shelters (VCS). Results concerning the nine-year development of transplants and seedlings, along with the calculation of cost-efficiency, are presented. As to the species, BR and CON transplants of spruce and larch reached the best survival and height. The DS larch was the most cost-efficient method of establishment of a successfully established plantation (survival > 50%; stem height > 2/3 of the weed height; ratio of damaged individuals < 50%) with a total cost of 2 372 EUR·ha^–1. On the contrary, the slow initial growth of fir and Douglas fir and their extensive damage resulted in the incomparably higher cost of establishment of their successfully established plantation, such as 4 980 EUR·ha^–1 for five-years-old BR fir transplants. Our findings documented that current efforts related to the restoration of salvage-felled clearings remained difficult, especially in the case of introduction or reestablishment of coniferous tree species more vulnerable to open site conditions.

For sustainable breeding in potato, a better understanding of genetic diversity within germplasm banks for sustainable breeding is needed. This study comprehensively characterised the molecular and phenotypic traits of 62 potato accessions, including advanced clones and indigenous potato varieties from Advanced Chemical Industries Limited (ACI Ltd.), Bangladesh, and 8 varieties from the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI). By using 9 SSR markers and 13 morphological traits, including both quantitative and qualitative traits, we observed correlation coefficients ranging from –0.3 to 0.7 for 8 quantitative traits, and Pearson's chi-square (χ² value) ranging from 24.3 to 135.4 for 5 qualitative characteristics. Molecular analyses identified 46 unique alleles, with 93.5% polymorphism. The markers STM0031 and STM1016 had the highest PIC value of 0.9. Genetic parameters for SSR markers included effective number of alleles per locus (Ne) = 5.6, unbiased expected heterozygosity (uh) = 0.8, diversity (h) = 0.8 and Shannon’s information index (I) = 1.8. Jaccard’s similarity coefficients ranged from 0.2 to 0.8, representing significant diversity. Cluster analysis, using unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic average (UPGMA), grouped the accessions into five clusters based on SSR profiles. An association was foud between the marker STM0031 and two traits: the number of tubers per hill and the content of reducing sugars in the tubers. This study provides information on genetic diversity and marker efficacy. It will guide future breeding programmes towards the development of high-yielding and industrially valuable potato varieties.

The fatty acid (FA) composition of milk fat can be positively influenced by the modification of dairy farming and the possible selection of raw material for processing. The question arises as to whether the benefits of a better FA composition will be maintained even after processing dairy products. Thus, the aim was to obtain a more favourable FA composition by a targeted selection of cow’s milk (grazing vs stabled herds) and then compare FAs of milk and fermented product (yoghurt). Bulk tank milk of grazing herds had significantly better FA composition than milk of stabled herds (for example, C16:0 28.07% vs 32.27%, P < 0.001; C18:3n-3 0.83% vs 0.41%, P < 0.001; C18:2 cis-9, trans-11 (conjugated linoleic acid; CLA) 1.02% vs 0.41%, P < 0.01). The differences between the FAs in milk and yoghurt samples were negligible (in relative values from 0.04% to 5.21%). The correlations between milk and yoghurt for nutritionally important FAs were high, from 0.925 0 (C18:2n-6) to 0.998 8 (CLA; both P < 0.001). The minimal effect of milk fermentation on the original FA composition of milk fat was found. In conclusion, systematic selection of raw cow’s milk or modification of farming conditions can also provide a nutritionally desirable composition of final dairy products.

Chemical additives can reduce ammonia emissions from ammonium-containing fertilisers. We aimed to investigate the effect of an additive based on carboxylic acid derivatives on ammonia emissions from slurry. In a randomised multi-plot field trial, three slurry treatments with increasing amounts of the additive based on carboxylic acid derivates were tested in comparison to untreated slurry and mineral fertiliser. Ammonia emissions were measured with so-called passive samplers, a method already used in numerous studies. However, problems arose during the evaluation of the collected data, so we examined the methodology used in more detail. The results of the measurements were analysed with regard to their spatial distribution and temporal variation. The results show that the more additives were used, the less ammonia was emitted, up to an emission reduction of 48% at the highest additive application rate. However, the spatial distribution of ammonia emissions reveals a drift of ammonia and, thus, an interaction between the plots. Thus, even in unfertilised plots, ammonia emissions of up to 50% of the treatment with the highest emissions were determined. Furthermore, it was also proven that the different times at which the slurry was applied influenced the level of ammonia emissions. Due to the interaction between the plots and the temporal differences in the application of the slurry, measuring ammonia emissions with passive samplers in multi-plot field trials, as presented in this study, is not suitable to quantify differences between the ammonia emissions from different treatments. Based on these results, recommendations for the use of passive samplers to measure ammonia emissions in field trials are proposed.

Soil organic carbon (SOC) is an important soil characteristic as well as a way how to mitigate climate change. Information on its content and spatial distribution is thus crucial. Digital soil mapping (DSM) is a suitable way to evaluate spatial distribution of soil properties thanks to its ability to obtain accurate information about soil. This research aims to apply machine learning algorithms using various environmental covariates to generate digital SOC maps for mineral topsoils in the Liberec and Domažlice districts, located in the Czech Republic. The soil class, land cover, and geology maps as well as terrain covariates extracted from the digital elevation model and remote sensing data were used as covariates in modelling. The spatial distribution of SOC was predicted based on its relationships with covariates using random forest (RF), cubist, and quantile random forest (QRF) models. Results of the RF model showed that land cover (vegetation) and elevation were the most important environmental variables in the SOC prediction in both districts. The RF had better efficiency and accuracy than the cubist and QRF to predict SOC in both districts. The greatest R² value (0.63) was observed in the Domažlice district using the RF model. However, cubist and QRF showed appropriate performance in both districts, too.

Methyl jasmonate (MeJA) accelerated floret opening in rice, crucial for addressing inconsistent floret opening in hybrid seed production of indica × japonica hybrids. However, indica and japonica rice exhibited notable differences in their sensitivity to MeJA’s impact on floret opening, with indica responding faster. To clarify the molecular basis of MeJA-induced floret opening sensitivity differences between indica and japonica rice, after 1 h of MeJA spraying, transcriptomes and endogenous floret opening regulators were compared between indica and japonica rice, with histology differences observed. The results showed that MeJA quickly activated plant hormones in indica and japonica rice, but JAZ genes in JA signalling pathway upregulation were greater in indica rice. Alpha-linolenic acid, starch and sucrose metabolism pathways responded faster in indica rice. MeJA boosted endogenous JA synthesis more in indica rice, which had 5–6 middle-layer cells, more than japonica’s 3–4 layers, resulting in thicker glumes. The metabolic pathways regulating floret opening, including plant hormone signal transduction, alpha-linolenic acid and starch and sucrose metabolism, along with endogenous JA and soluble sugars, could respond to exogenous MeJA. However, the more intense and rapid responses of these regulatory pathways and endogenous substances to MeJA in indica, resulted in the difference in sensitivity to MeJA between indica and japonica rice.