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The microRNAs are non-coding RNA molecules of approximately 20-22 nucleotides that are found to be implicated in a wide range of physiological processes. In this study, the suitability of 10 candidate reference RNAs was evaluated for microRNA expression data in the skin tissue of Liaoning cashmere goat including 1 small nuclear RNA (snRNA; RNU6B), 1 small nucleolar RNA (snoRNA; Z30), 1 rRNA (5S), 1 transfer RNA (tRNA; Met-tRNA), and 6 microRNAs (miR; let-7d-5p, miR-15a-5p, miR-26a-5p, miR-125a-5p, miR-214-3p, and miR-221-3p). Based on geNorm and NormFinder algorithms, we identified let-7d-5p, miR-26a-5p, and miR-15a-5p as the most stable reference RNAs. Also, three reference RNAs (let-7d-5p, miR-26a-5p, and miR-15a-5p) were sufficient for the normalization of microRNA expression data in the skin of this breed. We further assessed the suitability of let-7d-5p, miR-26a-5p, and miR-15a-5p in a combination as reference RNAs through detecting the relative expression of miR-24-3p, miR-29a-3p, miR-145a-5p, and miR-205-5p as putative genes of interest. Significant differences were revealed in the relative expression of miR-24-3p, miR-29a-3p, miR-145a-5p, and miR-205-5p at telogen stage of hair follicle cycle when a combination of let-7d-5p, miR-26a-5p, and miR-15a-5p vs a single let-7d-5p were used as reference RNA. Based on the results from this study, we suggested that the combination of let-7d-5p, miR-26a-5p, and miR-15a-5p as normalizers for microRNA expression data would be more reliable than that of single let-7d-5p, and the geometric mean of these three microRNAs (let-7d-5p, miR-26a-5p, and miR-15a-5p) can be used for the normalization of microRNAs expression data in the skin of Liaoning cashmere goat.

This study aims at determining the effects of lead (Pb) and copper (Cu) on the hyperaccumulator artichoke. The effect of Pb and Cu toxicity with different levels of concentrations (20, 40, 80, 160, 240, 320, 640 and 1280 ppm) caused a decrease in the root length and total soluble protein of the artichoke. As a result of treatment with the Pb and Cu solutions, the changes occurred in RAPD profiles of seedlings and revealed variations like increment and/or loss of bands compared to the control plants. These changes showed a decrease in genomic template stability (GTS, changes in RAPD profile) caused by genotoxicity. RAPD data and GTS values seemed consistent with the results of the root length measurements and total soluble protein analysis. In addition, it was seen that the genomic template stability was significantly affected by direct proportion of primary root length, root dry weight and root total soluble protein content in artichoke subjected to Pb and Cu stresses. As a result, it can be concluded that RAPD analysis based on the used primers in the current study can be applied in combination with physiological and biochemical parameters to measure genotoxic effects of lead and copper on artichoke plants.

The goal of this paper is to test the hypothesis of positive correlation between the innovative work behavior (IWB) support on the part of agricultural managers and the production performance of agricultural companies, mediated through information sharing in the companies. The research was performed on a sample of 175 companies of primary agricultural production in Slovakia. All data was analysed using the SPSS version 22.0 software package. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient was used to assess the internal consistency of scales reliability. The Baron and Kenny mediator model was also used. The hypothesis was confirmed by the research. Complete mediation was identified where up to 91.6% of the overall effect is mediated through the sharing of the information variable. The practical implications of the research point out that the transparency of communication and support of innovations introduce positive effects in relation to the performance of agricultural companies. The IWB support is a predictor of production performance of agricultural companies. However, it does not have a clear effect; the effects of other factors are important. The IWB support positively affects the production performance of companies through the sharing of information between the managers and the employees, which becomes an important tool of innovative management. Agricultural cooperatives and joint stock companies can profit less significantly from the IWB support through the sharing of information than limited liability companies. The effect of IWB support on the production performance of cooperatives in natural expression shows statistically less significant impact.

To understand the function of peroxidase (POD) in relation to a light gradient, changes in POD activity were studied in five different provenances of chestnut oak seedlings. An experiment was conducted in controlled conditions and six different irradiances (10, 20, 30, 50, 60, and 70% of full light) were considered. According to the results, POD activity was strongly related to irradiance and showed a decreasing response to light, with the largest changes at low light (10 to 30%) and a levelling-off at high light (50-70%). Five provenances were also significantly distinguished at 10-30% of full light. The gel analysis showed that there were several different bands between irradiances from 10 to 70% regardless of provenances. One isoenzyme with the highest electrophoretic mobility was significantly increased in response to reduced light and slightly decreased at high irradiance. Other isoenzymes were significantly increased at high irradiance, suggesting that these isoenzymes are most likely involved in response to light stress and leaf adaptation to high irradiance.

Eutrophication of inland waters by phosphorus as well as loads of coastal and marine waters by nitrogen is a major problem that impedes water bodies to meet the status defined by the Water Framework Directive. In order to reduce the nutrient load on the aquatic environment, first the significance of various pollution types should be thoroughly analyzed. The analysis of phosphorus runoff from agricultural land under normal rainfall-runoff conditions, and of nitrogen runoff associated with the application of manure on farmland shows their different impact on water body status in the Vltava river basin. The assessment of phosphorus indicates that annual specific phosphorus runoff ranges from 0.1 to 9.98 kg/km2 and in the sub-basins of the Upper Vltava, Berounka, and Lower Vltava, the average values from all water bodies reach 4.08, 2.92, and 4.02 kg/km2, respectively. Compared with the allowable capacity of water bodies for achieving a proper status, the average rate of phosphorus input on the load of water bodies comes within 20%, with a maximum value slightly exceeding 50%. This phosphorus input will not be a significant source of eutrophication of inland waters and measures will have to focus rather on other eutrophication sources. Estimating the significance of the impact of manure application on the nitrogen load of water bodies provides a completely opposite picture. The analyses showed that the load of water bodies ranges from very low values in areas without livestock to high loads in tens of kg/ha per year (max. 31.5 kg/ha/year). In the sub-basins of the Upper Vltava, Berounka, and Lower Vltava the annual specific runoff of nitrogen reaches average values for all water bodies (4.8, 3.9, and 5.7 kg/ha, respectively). The assessment of the proportion of nitrogen input on the load of water bodies showed that 25% of cases in the area of the water body may represent a critical load leading to an adverse assessment of ecological status. In many other water bodies it can, however, taking into account the load of mineral fertilizers, lead to exceeding the allowable capacity of water bodies and the risk of not achieving a right status. Nitrogen input after application of manure in soils represents an important source that threatens the right status of waters. Attention should thus be paid to all types of measures that will reduce the load of this source or restrict its transport from soil to waters.

The aim of this experiment was to test the hypothesis that conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in diets of finishing pigs fed linseed can improve the quality and oxidative stability of meat and subcutaneous fat. Twenty-four Prestice Black-Pied pigs (barrows and gilts) were divided into three groups and were fed a basal diet and diets supplemented with ground linseed (70 g/kg), or linseed combined with conjugated linoleic acid (20 g CLA-oil/kg). The trial duration was 53 days. Measurements included slaughter and meat quality parameters, oxidative stability determination, and fatty acid profile of meat and subcutaneous fat. The experimental data were analysed using one-way analysis of variance. Neither linseed nor linseed with CLA significantly influenced weight gain, lean percentage, muscle depth, backfat thickness, drip loss, meat shear force, dry matter, intramuscular fat or cholesterol (P > 0.05). Dietary supplementation with linseed increased the percentage of linolenic acid in the fatty acids of meat and backfat and resulted in higher production of aldehydes. Dietary CLA did not influence the susceptibility of lipids to oxidation. Supplementation with CLA significantly increased CLA proportions in fatty acids of meat and backfat, reduced proportions of monounsaturated fatty acids, and increased proportions of saturated fatty acids in backfat (P < 0.05). The concentration of CLA (in mg/100 g of fresh tissue) in backfat was almost fifty times higher than in meat. Both meat and backfat of pigs fed CLA-free diets contained CLA, probably as a result of microbial conversion of linoleic acid in the intestine. It can be concluded that CLA changed the fatty acid profile of meat and backfat, but did not improve oxidative stability and other meat quality traits of pigs fed linseed.

At the present time, the international standards and technical reports for system and software product quality are dispersed in several series of normative documents (ISO/IEC 9126, ISO/IEC 14598, ISO/IEC 12119 etc.). These documents are not purely consistent and do not contain a tools for exact requirements set-ups. As quality is defined as a degree to which the set of inherent characteristic fulfils requirements, the exact requirement formulation is the key point for the quality measurement evaluation. This paper presents the framework for quality requirements for software, which is recommendable to use in the new international standard series ISO/IEC 250xx developed on the SQuaRE (Software Quality Requirements and Evaluation) standardisation research project. The main part of this contribution was presented on the conference Agrarian Perspectives XIV, organised by the Czech University of Agriculture in Prague, September 20 to 21, 2005.

The paper deals with the analysis of the proposals of the European Union Common Agricultural Policy reform (the EU CAP) after 2013 and modelling forecast of its impacts on Slovak agriculture. The behaviour of business entities in agriculture is significantly influenced by the current support scheme and the level of support within the EU CAP but also by market conditions. The impacts of the particular scenarios on the changes of production indicate that Slovak agriculture will approach just slowly the 2008 production level. This will be decisively influenced by the price development. Despite of this, it is evident that the most favourable result can be achieved under the Flat Rate Scenario while the absolute abolition of direct payments (Liberal Scenario) will bring very unfavourable economic consequences with impacts on agricultural production in Slovakia.

There are frequent reports from around the world of wild animals being poisoned with anticoagulants. Granulated baits can result in primary or secondary poisoning of non-target animals. Moreover, there are several diseases including infections that influence haemostasis in wild animals. The present study focused on fallow deer (Dama dama) for which insufficient data on physiological values of coagulation parameters are available. Six parameters of blood coagulation were established in clinically normal fallow deer from a game enclosure in North Moravia (Czech Republic). The fibrinogen content of 1.94 g/l is in agreement with the results obtained by other authors. Factor VIII and IX concentrations amounted to 198.42% and 169.91% of human concentration of these parameters in blood. These have never before been measured for fallow deer, but most animal species have concentrations of these factors higher than humans. Prothrombin time (PT), average activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), and thrombin time (TT) were assessed as 20.99 s, 33.76 s, and 24.78 s, respectively. Prothrombin time assessed in the present study was longer compared to available data, while APTT is in agreement with the previous data. Thrombin time value is a new piece of information and is comparable with TT values obtained in other ruminants. The possible explanation for the prolonged PT may be the stress associated with yarding and handling the animals which is reported to cause haemorrhages or changes in haemostatic parameters in deer. Interestingly, males had significantly longer clotting times compared to females.

The effects of water and acetone extracts from 100 medicinal plants growing in Bangladesh, along with a selective inhibitor of protein kinase C (PKC), chelerythrine chloride, were tested on zoosporogenesis (release of zoospores from the sporangia) and motility of Phytophthora capsici zoospores. Among 10 active crude acetone extracts, those from Psidium guajava and Nigella sativa (100 μg/ml) suppressed zoosporogenesis relative to the control (100% zoospore release) to 60 and 40% released, respectively and inhibited motility of 100% of the zoospores within 60 min of treatment. Chelerythrine chloride also suppressed zoosporogenesis (30% released) at 0.1 μg/ml and inhibited motility of 100% zoospores at 0.2 μg/ml within 60 minutes. Among water extracts of 100 medicinal plants, 56 impaired motility of zoospores in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Diluted (20-fold) water extracts of 10 plants including Ocinum gratissimum, Terminalia bohera, and Duranta plumeri inhibited motility and subsequently caused lysis of zoospores. As the inhibition of zoosporogenesis and zoospore motility limit the possibility of infection by the peronosporomycete phytopathogen, the inhibitory crude extracts of medicinal plants identified in this study should have great potential for practical use as biopesticides against P. capsici.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of copper-based pesticides (at concentrations of copper of 20, 30, 40 and 70 µg/l) on one-year-old common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) during 28 days of exposure. Abnormal behaviour was observed in fish exposed to 70 µg/lfrom Day14. Histological alterations were noticed only in liver in the groups exposed to 40 and 70 µg/l.Significant changes (P ˂ 0.05) in almost all haematological indices were found, especially in the group exposed to the highest concentration of copper (70 µg/l). Biochemical analysis revealed various significant (P ˂ 0.05) differences among the tested groups. Significant differences in copper tissue concentration (P ˂ 0.05) among groups were found in liver, gills and kidney. Among antioxidative enzymes, significant changes were revealed mainly in catalase and glutathione-S-transferase activity (P ˂ 0.05). In gills, metallothionein content increased significantly (P ˂ 0.05) in the group exposed to the highest copper concentration (70 µg/l) compared with the other tested groups, including the control. A significant (P ˂ 0.05) change in total glutathione content was recorded in liver and gills, although the reduced/oxidised ratio was not affected. Oxidative damage to lipids increased significantly (P ˂ 0.05) with increasing copper concentration in liver and kidney. The results demonstrate the deleterious influence of copper on common carp even at low, environmentally relevant concentrations.

The present study is focused on the methodology of fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) of spermatozoa stained by the antibody against extracellular surface marker ubiquitin (eUb) and subsequent protocol for their long term storage in liquid nitrogen (LN). High level of spermatozoa surface ubiquitination has been previously discussed as a negative quality marker. From a general point of view, any other outer membrane antigen would be compatible with our approach. Regarding our experimental design we found that only those insemination doses with at least 40% of motile spermatozoa after freezing and thawing (F/T) in the egg-yolk medium with lactose are suitable for the subsequent antibody staining and FACS. The sorting rate was sufficient for the preparation of up to 20 spermatozoa aliquots for intracytoplasmic sperm injections (ICSI). Two significantly different groups with good freezability were prepared and stored in LN (0.73% contamination of spermatozoa with high eUb level in non-ubiquitinated group and reversely 6.65% spermatozoa without eUb in highly ubiquitinated group). Sperm viability after FACS varied from 11 to 28% regardless of the used media (P = 0.15). Required viability of F/T sorted spermatozoa was obtained by using Solusem® extender as a load and collection medium. In this case 12% of viable spermatozoa with progressive motility in low eUb level group and 7% in high eUb level group (P < 0.05) were detected. Our approach allows obtaining sufficient number of viable spermatozoa for subsequent artificial fertilization by ICSI. This procedure could be used for a wide variety of spermatozoa sorting based on different surface markers.

An incubation study was carried out to investigate the influence of nitrogen rates to determine optimum C/N ratio under various moisture levels for straw decomposition and sequester carbon (C) in the soil. The aim was to observe straw carbon mineralization through measuring the amount of CO₂ evolution. A clay loam topsoil mixed with maize straw was supplied with four nitrogen rates (0.04, 0.08, 0.16, 0.32 g N/kg) using (NH₄)₂SO₄ to adjust C/N ratios at 82, 42, 20, and 10. Soil moisture was maintained at 55%, 70%, 85%, and 100% of field capacity incubated at 25°C for 53 days. The experiment was set up with 16 treatments arranged in complete randomized design. Results showed that mixing of straw with soil increased 50% cumulative CO₂-C compared to controls. Averagely, about 44% of added maize straw C was mineralized to CO₂-C. Straw addition along with nitrogen and moisture had significant relationships (P < 0.05) to cumulative CO₂-C, soil organic C and microbial biomass C. There was a highly significant relationship (R² = 0.99) between CO₂-C emission and incubation time.

From 2012 to 2014 a field experiment was conducted on a podzolic soil. The aim of the study was to evaluate the yield and weed infestation of winter rye canopy depending on three biochar rates (10, 20 and 30 t/ha). The biochar was pyrolyzed from wheat straw at 350-650°C. After 12, 24, and 36 months from biochar incorporation into the soil pH, total carbon (C) and some elements in soil were determined. Additionally phytotoxicity of soil solid phase was assessed by the commercial toxicity bioassay - Phytotoxkit. The addition of biochar had a positive influence on grain yield of winter rye, which was related to the nutrient application in the form of biochar. The highest grain yields were obtained when biochar was applied at the rate of 20 t/ha. The air-dry weight of weeds in the rye crop grown in the biochar-amended plots was lower compared to the control plots. Incorporation of biochar into the soil at the rates of 20 and 30 t/ha caused a significant increase in the soil content of total C as well as of available P, K, Mg, Fe and B, relative to the control treatment. Moreover, the biochar-amended soil had higher pH because of the relatively high concentration in the biochar (pH_KCl 9.9). The assessment of substrate toxicity revealed that biochar applied at the rates of 10 and 20 t/ha had no negative effects on the germination of Lepidium sativum L.

We assessed the survival of Mycobacterium avium subsp. hominissuis (MAH) in artificially contaminated homemade smoked sausages prepared from pork meat according to traditional recipes, the effect of storage of such sausages at -20°C for three months on MAH viability and to compare assessment of MAH viability/presence by culture and qPCR. Three isolates of MAH were inoculated into the sausage mixture at concentrations of 10⁶ CFU per gram of meat and cold smoked at 40°C for 12 h or hot smoked at 70°C for 6 hours. MAH survived the cold smoking procedure without any significant decrease in viable MAH CFU counts; no viable MAH were detected in the hot smoked sausages. The storage of sausages at -20°C caused a decrease in viable MAH counts of about 1 to 3 log₁₀. Absolute MAH counts determined by qPCR were not significantly reduced by the storage or smoking. The presence of viable MAH in sausages after the cold smoking should be considered as a risk for immunodeficient individuals and children.

A micropropagation protocol was developed by further improvement of prevailing methods using proven germplasm for ex vitro rooting and addressed the effect of the number of subcultures on the rooting ability of shoots. A comparative study was done between in vitro rooting method and ex vitro rooting method. Using the ex vitro rooting method a plantlet could be produced in 135 days, which was in a shorter time compared to the in vitro rooting method - 180 days. The best axillary shoot bud induction was observed on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 4.6 μM thidiazuron (TDZ) with 5 shoot buds per explant. In the shoot cluster, which was subcultured on MS medium supplemented with 2.3 μM TDZ, the rate of shoot multiplication increased in the 3rd subculture. The maximum mean number of shoots per explant (20) was obtained at the 3rd subculture on the same medium. Shoots were harvested at the 1st, 3rd and 5th subculture and pulse treated for root induction. The highest rooting (95%) was achieved from the 3rd subculture onwards with pulse treated shoots for fifteen days. The rooted plants could be established in a greenhouse with 99% survival. Ex vitro rooting is a promising method to reduce the time for plant generation. The resultant plantlets well established in pots and fruiting was observed within a year.

The effect of an exogenous commercial carboxypeptidase on the proteolysis of Reggianito cheese was evaluated. Cheeses were manufactured using 4 concentrations of enzyme: 0, 5, 10, and 20 g/100 l milk. Cheese samples were analysed at 0, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, and 210 days of ripening. Nitrogen content values increased during ripening, but no clear effect due to the enzyme addition was observed. A profound degradation of β-casein was observed during the first 2 months of ripening in cheeses with the highest rates of enzyme addition. An increase of amino acid concentrations was clearly observed in some cheeses manufactured with exogenous enzymes compared with control cheeses at the same ripening time. However, the principal component analysis showed that experimental cheeses had a slight increase in the rate of formation and/or degradation of proteolysis products. Our results represent an important contribution to select new alternatives for enzyme addition during the manufacture of hard cheese.

If appropriately applied, tillage can positively affect the crop’s yield by enhancing the soil’s physical properties. Fertilisation also has beneficial effects on yield if applied at efficient rates by increasing available-to-uptake nutrients and improving soil’s chemical properties. A field experiment was carried out in Debrecen, Hungary, to evaluate the individual and the interaction effects of these 2 factors on sunflower and sweet corn. The cultivation methods applied were ploughing (C1), direct drilling (C2) and deep loosening (C3). In addition, 3 fertilisation rates were applied to each cultivation system: F1 (control, no fertilisation); F2 (100 : 50 : 70) kg NPK/ha and F3 (150 : 100 : 120) kg NPK/ha in a randomised complete block design (RCBD) with 4 replicates. Our results showed that fertilisation did not affect the yield of sweet corn measurably. However, C1 resulted in the highest yield, whereas C2 and C3 resulted in relatively similar yields. In sunflowers, the yields of both C1 and C2 were higher than that of C3. No significant differences were recorded between C1 and C2. The yields of both F2 and F3 were higher than the yield of F1. The differences between F2 and F3 were insignificant. It could be concluded that the cultivation method is a determining factor in the yield of sweet corn. The effects of both fertilisation and cultivation treatments were more detectable in sunflowers. The differences between the two fertilisation rates (F2 and F3) were insignificant in both species, indicating that the extra fertilisation levels might be unnecessary.

The paper presents the impact of a historical system of terraces constructed centuries ago to mitigate the effect of a steep slope on overland flow. Systems of this type were constructed in past centuries by land owners, who then ploughed the land and grew crops on it. They used stones collected from the local agricultural fields as their terracing material. The influence of terraces on overland flow was simulated using the KINFIL. The overland flow is therefore reduced by greater infiltration of extreme rainfall excess flows on the terraces, and the KINFIL model shows to what extent the system of terraces can mitigate the resultant flood and soil erosion. The Knínice locality in North-Western Bohemia, with seven terraces and six field belts between them, was selected as the experimental catchment area. The results compare hydrographs with N-year recurrence of rainfall-runoff time, where N = 10, 20, 50, and 100 years, and the hydraulic variables, e.g. overland flow discharges of a design rainfall, hydraulic depths, flowing water velocity, and shear stress. The comparison provides hydraulic results with terraces and without terraces. The contrast between the results with and without terraces shows the positive role of the system of terraces in protecting the field belts.

Field experiments were conducted at the Agricultural Engineering Experimental Farm of The Federal University of Technology, Akure, during 2006/2007 and 2007/2008 seasons to investigate the response of cassava under drip irrigation. The experiment was laid out in a randomised complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The treatments were based on four different water regimes; with T100 receiving 100% available water (AW), T₅₀ and T₂₅ receiving 50% and 25% of AW and T₀ with zero irrigation (control treatment). Disease free stems of the cassava cultivar TMS 91934 were planted at a spacing of 1 m by 1 m. The results indicated that T₁₀₀ full treatment produced the highest average total dry matter yield of 49.12 and 37.62 t/ha in 2006/07 and 2007/08 cropping seasons, respectively. However, the average total dry matter production in T₅₀, T₂₅, and T₀ showed significant differences in their values. Low total dry matter yields of 7.12 and 5.92 t/ha, respectively, were associated with T₀ for the two cropping seasons. The total water use of 1491.75 and 1701.13 mm was recorded for T₁₀₀, while total water use of 729.00 and 651.13 mm were obtained for T₀ in the two cropping seasons. The water use efficiency determined for the two cropping seasons ranged between 7.38 kg/ha and 32.93 kg/ha. The percentages of total water applied from total water use for T₁₀₀ were 51.11% and 61.72%, while 14.83% and 17.85% were recorded for T₂₅ for 2006/07 and 2007/08 cropping seasons, respectively.

Physical properties of soils have a significant influence on their water regime and should be considered when selecting suitable agricultural crops for particular sites, taking into account the crop productivity and its water requirements. Mean daily rates of actual evapotranspiration (ETa) were obtained by collation of measured or otherwise estimated 10-min values for the years 2004, 2006 and 2009 for a partially tile-drained agricultural experimental catchment in the Bohemo-Moravian Highland (Czech Republic). ETa was measured using the Bowen ratio (β) and energy balance (BREB) method at four weather stations located on different soil types (Stagnosols, Cambisols) and terrain relief positions (defined with respect to the groundwater recharge and discharge zones) over different crops (cereals, oil rape and permanent grassland). A systematic influence of soil properties on the evapotranspiration rate was more pronounced during the periods of limited transpiration (soil drought, crop maturity), when the average daily ETa was significantly lower and the corresponding β significantly higher over coarser-textured soils (shallow Haplic Cambisols), namely (year-ETa (mm/day)/β): 2004 - 1.75/1.66; 2006 - 2.44/0.93; 2009 - 2.60/0.81), than over finer-textured soils (Stagnic Cambisols and Haplic Stagnosols), namely: 2004 - 2.92/0.97; 2006 - 3.06/0.44; 2009 - 3.42/0.39). When the transpiration was not limited by soil water deficit, it acted as an equalizing factor smoothing down evapotranspiration from heterogeneous soil areas, whereby the effect of the soil physical properties was masked. With regard to soil water regime and evapotranspiration, the tile-drained Stagnic Cambisol lands behaved similarly as non-drained Haplic Cambisols. The effects of land use and of the terrain relief position could not be tracked independently, because the permanent grassland was situated in the wetter and texturally heavier parts of the catchment and the positions of the recharge/discharge zone coincided with the positions of texturally lighter/heavier soils, respectively.

This study aimed at investigating the species composition and richness of the flora of abandoned sheep pens in comparison to their immediate neighbourhood. Field research was conducted in the Wielkopolska province of western Poland on 25 circular plots (20 m²) located in the middle of abandoned pens within sheep farms, paired with 25 reference plots established in nearby grasslands. Physicochemical properties of the topsoil were modified considerably by sheep in the past, so some effects continue to this day. Abandoned sheep pens did not differ significantly in plant species richness from control plots, but Urtica dioica, Galium aparine and Rumex obtusifolius, were significantly associated with sheep pens. Similar values of Shannon index and the low Jaccard index of similarity between plot types indicate that although these habitats are not richer in plant species, they are refuges of some characteristic plant species, which are absent or infrequent in neighbouring habitats. Moreover, the changes in physicochemical properties of the soil (higher average ammonium NH₄⁺-N and nitrate NO₃^--N content) and vegetation structure are very deep, as they have persisted for 25 years.

Isotopic carbon discrimination (Δ¹³C) of winter wheat grain grown under different water and nitrogen supplies was determined. In two field experiments during years 2004-2007 (A) and 2008-2013 (B), a water shortage was induced from the flowering stage on with a mobile shelter (S), while an optimal water supply was ensured with drip irrigation (I), and a rain-fed crop served as the control treatment (R). Water supply had a statistically significant effect on grain Δ¹³C values in both experiments (P < 0.01). The average values of grain Δ¹³C in treatments I, R and S were 19.43, 18.68 and 17.70‰ (A); and 20.36, 19.60 and 18.13‰ (B). Grain Δ¹³C was in a significant linear relationship (P < 0.01) with the amount of water supplied by precipitation or irrigation. The regressions suggested that grain Δ¹³C increased by 1.14‰ and 1.16‰ (A), and 0.98‰ or 0.96‰ (B) for every 100 mm of water from January and March, respectively, until the early dough stage (r = 0.79-0.74, P < 0.05). Pooled data for the whole period 2004-2013 showed increases of 1.06‰ and 1.08‰ (r = 0.91 and 0.82, P < 0.05) for 100 mm of water, respectively. The results of the experiment confirmed the stable and predictable effect of water supply on wheat grain Δ¹³C.

We established and evaluated a polyclonal antibody based competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the quantification of defensin-1 in honey. The assay showed an inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) value of 111.5 ± 15.41 ng/ml with a detection limit of 7.8125 ng/ml. The regaining of defensin-1 in spiked 'artificial honey' was between 87.05 and 112.96% with relative standard deviation less than 9.2%. Sensitivity and specificity of the test were experimentally validated on a sample of 20 different honeys. The antibacterial activity of these honey samples showed a significant concentration-dependent correlation with the production of defensin-1 (n = 20; r = -0.6598; P = 0.0016). The assay provides a specific and sensitive method for the screening of defensin-1 in honey. The method to detect honeybee-derived proteins in honey is a promising approach to verifying the authenticity of honey. The defensin-1 ELISA could also be used for the rapid screening of honeys suitable for medicinal purposes.

One of the many factors that leads to soil erosion is rainfall erositivity, which is a basic physical factor enabling us to understand the geomorphological processes that take place in a basin. Results worldwide have shown that the erositivity R factor of the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) has a high correlation with soil loss. In the past there have been few pluviometers capable of recording rainfall with continuous measurements. As a result of this lack of accuracy in the available series of rainfall intensity data, the calculation of the R factor has been restricted for a long time and various simplified models were developed on an international scale that relied on information obtained from existing stations. However, the modernisation of stations over the last few decades has provided to be a valuable tool for validating models, as well as for designing others that are more hardwearing and correlate better with the available information. In this paper, we have calculated the rainfall erositivity R factor for a semiarid basin in SE Spain using the formula developed in the USLE model for a series of 20 years of rainfall with 5-minute intervals, obtaining the mean R factor value of 620 MJ/ha∙mm/h per year and maximum values of up to 6000 MJ/ha∙mm/h per year. In addition, a comparative analysis of various simplified expressions was carried out to obtain the R factor. To obtain this value, we came up with a simplified equation based on annual maximum daily rainfall and average monthly rainfall, which resulted in a correlation coefficient of r = 0.936 and a P-value of 0.033 for the basin under study. Thus, from this structure of the equation we have compiled a series of parametric maps which enable us to calculate the R factor from any position within the basin under study.

The cultivation of cruciferous crops is threatened by extensive yield losses caused by the soil-borne pathogen Plasmodiophora brassicae Woronin, 1877. The objective of the study was to assess the potential of the bacterial product BactoMix 5 for the control of clubroot on a naturally infested soil in growth chamber trials using a P. brassicae-specific qPCR methodology. The results did not show a significant decrease in the P. brassicae in the soil nor a reduction of the disease symptoms on the plants. The native soil microbiota may have exhibited an antagonistic activity against the bacterial species from BactoMix 5 and evoked the poor effect of the product. Therefore, potential biological control agents should be tested with native soil microbiota and the regional production should be advanced to increase the product efficacy in the environment

The study evaluated the effects of sire breed (SB: Vienna Blue (VB) and Burgundy Fawn (BF)), parity order (P: 1 = nulliparous, 2 = primiparous, ≥3 = multiparous), slaughter season (SS: spring, summer), and gender (G: males, females) on the meat quality of rabbits reared under an organic production system. They originated from VB and BF sires mated with females derived from a mix of crossbreds (medium- to large-sized breeds). Rabbits were 46 ± 6 days old, they were housed in groups of five in collective cages, fed a pelleted diet, and slaughtered at a live weight of 2.8 ± 0.13 kg. The hind leg meat samples (from 30 VB and 28 BF crossbred rabbits) were divided into two sub-samples: one was freshly packed in plastic bags, and the other was freeze-dried. Samples were stored at -20°C until analysis. The fresh hind leg samples were analyzed for heme iron and cholesterol contents, and fatty acid (FA) profiles. The freeze-dried hind leg samples were analyzed for proximate composition. Moisture and protein contents were affected by SS. The hind leg meat of rabbits slaughtered in summer showed lower moisture (P < 0.01), higher protein (P < 0.01), and lower cholesterol (P < 0.05) contents than that of rabbits slaughtered in spring. Meat of rabbits slaughtered in summer had less C14:0 (P < 0.05) and C16:0 FA (P < 0.01) and a higher proportion of total polyunsaturated FA (PUFA) (P < 0.001) due to n-6 FA (P < 0.01). The proportion of total saturated FA, C18:3 n-3 and C20:3 n-6 (P < 0.05), was influenced by gender. The BF crossbreed showed higher levels of total PUFA (P < 0.05) when reared in summer, primarily due to significant differences in C18:2 n-6 (P < 0.01) and C18:3 n-3 (P < 0.01). This study demonstrates that when rabbits are slaughtered in summer, their meat quality is better because the animals require longer time to reach the fixed slaughter weight; the meat is therefore characterized by a higher degree of maturity, with higher total PUFA and lower cholesterol contents.

Silk sericin plays a protective role in a variety of mammalian cells during cryopreservation. This study aimed to determine the effects of sericin supplementation to a freezing extender on sperm quality and lipid peroxidation in dairy bull sperm cryopreservation. Each semen sample of five Holstein-Friesian crossbred bulls was divided into four aliquots and diluted in a tris-egg yolk extender supplemented with different concentrations of sericin [0%, 0.25%, 0.5%, and 1.0% (wt/vol)]. Sperm motility (CASA), viability, acrosome integrity, mitochondrial membrane potential (fluorescent staining) and lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde - MDA test) were analysed. The results show that the 0.25% and 0.5% sericin groups had the highest total sperm motility (P < 0.05). Sperm viability, acrosome integrity, and mitochondrial function were higher in the group supplemented with 0.25% sericin compared to the control and 1.0% (P < 0.05). Sericin supplementation with 0.25% and 0.5% significantly decreased MDA concentrations compared with the control (P < 0.05). In conclusion, supplementation of the semen freezing extender with sericin at the concentration of 0.25% significantly improved the post-thaw semen quality and reduced lipid peroxidation in Holstein-Friesian crossbred bulls.

Harvest-mature fruits of the pear cv. Zaosuli (Pyrus bretschneideri Rehd.) were stored at 1.0-1.5°C under two different experimental atmospheres. The controlled atmosphere (CA) had low oxygen (2.0%) and high CO₂ (7%), while the regular atmosphere (RA) had 20.9% O₂ and 0.1% CO₂. Sixty-four volatile compounds were subsequently detected and quantified by solid phase micro-extraction (SPME) including 1 hydrocarbon, 16 alcohols, 15 aldehydes, 4 ketones, 15 esters, 8 terpenes, 2 lactones and 2 fatty acids. The principal component analysis of data was carried out to assess the effects of these post-harvest storage conditions in comparison to fruit stored in air at room temperature for 5 days. Thirteen compounds were found to be sufficient to differentiate the two different pear treatments, which were followed by subsequent warming to 20°C. The observed differences in the production of volatiles between the start of storage and 40 days later (RA), or 40 days later (CA), are principally due to just four compounds, namely n-hexanol, 2-furaldehyde, cis-geraniol and α-damascenone. Ethylene production is also lower in the CA treatment. The higher concentration of CO₂ in the CA treatment causes a rise in respiration rates due to anaerobic respiration.

The sera from 690 slaughtered fattening pigs from 15 farrow-to-finish swine herds (12 herds of unknown Salmonella status, 3 herds known as latently infected) in the Czech Republic were examined for Salmonella antibodies in a cross sectional study using an ELISA test. Salmonella seroprevalence ranging from 0% to 20% was found in 14 herds. Seroprevalence of 73.9 was found in 1 herd with previously unknown Salmonella status. A longitudinal study of the three previously identified latently infected herds found seroprevalence ranging from 23.9% to 83.4% in sows after farrowing. Salmonella findings from faeces in the farrowing sections ranged between 1.8 and 24.5, and in the environmental samples between 0 and 25. In weaned piglets, Salmonella findings from faeces ranged from 6.3 to 48.0, and in environmental samples from 0 to 90%. The most prevalent serotypes were S. Derby (56.8) and S. Typhimurium, phage type DT104 (18.5). The seroprevalence comparison in sows and slaughtered fattening pigs revealed variations in the course of Salmonella infection in swine herds.