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Beechnuts from three Fagus sylvatica lots were dried at 20°C to 5-6% or 8-9% (fresh weight basis) moisture content and stored at -7°C or -22°C for 3.5 or 4.5 years in sealed polyethylene bags containing air and routinely used for the long-term storage of beechnuts or vacuumed (de-aerated) polyethylene bags with air removed before sealing. The germination and viability (tetrazolium test) of beechnuts were determined according to the Czech Technical Rules (1997) once a year during storage. The results were subjected to factorial ANOVA and the means were compared using the Scheffe test at P > 0.05. Compared to beechnuts dried to an 8-9% moisture content a significant decrease in both germination and viability occurred in beechnuts dried to a 5-6% moisture content regardless of how long the beechnuts were stored. However, the effects of the other treatments (type of storage bag, storage temperature) were not significant.

Pistachios from Italy and Turkey were stored at different temperatures (10, 20, and 30°C) and the moisture of the pistachios, the free fatty acids (FFA) content, the peroxide value, and triacylglycerols (TGs) composition of the extracted oils were evaluated. The content of FFA decreased during storage at 10°C and increased at 20 and 30°C. No differences between the peroxide values were found during storage at 10°C. A significant increase in the peroxide values was observed after 20 days at 20°C and 5 days at 30°C in both the Italian and Turkish samples. The main TGs found in the pistachio oil of both origins were OLO, OLL, OLP, LLL, LLP, OOP, OLLn, and OOO; these accounted for approximately 85% of the total TGs content. A decrease was observed in the amounts of TGs esterified with polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as LLP, OLP, LLL and OLL, and an increase of the relative amounts of TGs with monounsaturated and saturated fatty acids, such as OOO and OOP, with the increasing storage time and temperatures in both samples.

Soil compaction caused by machinery traffic affects the growth of agricultural crops and also has environmental effects like soil damage and erosion. Field experiments were conducted to study the effects of repeated silage-corn harvesting machinery traffic on dry soil bulk density and porosity variations at three different sampling depths, moreover average water permeability coefficient of the examined silty clay loam soil was measured using the falling head method of water permeability test. The examined treatments which were applied while harvesting silage-corn with the combination of tractor, chopper and truck were the number of traffic passes and depths of soil sampling. Significant differences between soil compaction treatments were observed in bulk density and porosity of soil. Numerically, 22% increase in soil bulk density and 19% reduction in soil porosity were recorded due to the effect of two passes of the examined machineries over the field terrain comparing to the non-traffic treatment. Moreover; soil sampling at 0-10 cm and 20-30 cm depths resulted in the highest and the lowest soil porosity respectively.

The study was performed to investigate the effect of combinations of feed additives consisting of either a combination of a probiotic and a prebiotic (synbiotic), or a combination of a probiotic and xylanase on ileal nutrient digestibility, ileal microbial metabolite concentrations, and microbial composition in ileal digesta of weaned piglets. In total, 12 six-week old barrows with an average initial body weight of 7.5 kg, fitted with an ileal T-cannula, were assigned to 3 dietary treatments. The basal diet was supplemented with a combination of 1 g probiotics (Pediococcus acidilactici, Bactocell^®)and 20 g prebiotics (oligofructose) (Pro/Pre) or 1 g probiotics (Pediococcus acidilactici, Bactocell^®) and 0.5 g xylanase (Pro/Xyl) per kg diet. The supplementation of Pro/Xyl increased ileal digestibility of neutral detergent fibre (NDF) by 41.6% (P < 0.05). The microbial metabolite concentrations, pH of ileal digesta as well as ileal lactobacilli populations were not affected (P > 0.05) by any of the treatments. Enterobacteriaceae were reduced (P < 0.05) upon supplementation of Pro/Pre, resulting in an increased (P < 0.05) ileal lactobacilli to Enterobacteriaceae ratio compared with piglets fed the control diet. In conclusion, NDF digestibility was increased following xylanase supplementation, while microbial activity and composition in the ileum were not affected. The synbiotic approach was effective in reducing ileal Enterobacteriaceae numbers.

The field study in a mountain forest at Bílý Kříž provides a comparison of element fluxes for two adjacent forest spruce stands of the same age (29 years in 2005) but with different stem densities. During five years (2001-2005), bulk and throughfall precipitation was sampled and analysed. Total deposition, dry deposition and canopy exchange fluxes were evaluated on the basis of the Canopy Budget Model. Highly significant differences in base cations, dissolved organic carbon, SO₄^2-, F^-, and Cl^- throughfall concentrations were found between the sparser and denser spruce stands. Throughfall, dry deposition and canopy exchange fluxes were also influenced by stand density. Annual throughfall fluxes of inorganic nitrogen were within 11.9-17.8 kg N.ha^-1.yr^-1 on the sparser plot and within 15.4-20.6 kg N.ha^-1.yr^-1 on the denser plot; annual throughfall fluxes of sulphur were within 15.3-20.3 kg S.ha^-1.yr^-1 on the sparser plot and within 20.7-27.7 kg S.ha^-1.yr^-1on the denser plot. The critical load for nitrogen (11.2 kg N.ha^-1.yr^-1) was exceeded on both plots in all evaluated years 2002-2005. Total annual inorganic nitrogen deposition was higher by up to 37.5% (in 2002) on the denser plot than on the sparser one.

The analysis was carried out of 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furfural (HMF) formation during the baking of shortbreads. The investigation was done on three types of shortbread in which sucrose, glucose, or fructose were used as sweeteners. In all the samples the concentration of sugar was 20% (w/w). The cookies were baked in a laboratory oven at temperatures of 200, 215, 230, and 245°C. The samples for the HMF determination were taken at intervals from 5 to 18 min depending on the baking temperature. It was found that HMF formation can be described by exponential equation. The HMF formation was correlated with the colour changes of the cakes determined according to CIELab system. Different parameters of colour were investigated, however, only in the case of brightness difference may the correlation be treated as statistically important.

Since 1994, the nutritional status and the air pollution load have been evaluated on 20 research plots, located in young Norway spruce stands in the ridge area of the Krušné hory Mts. The most recent acute damage to the spruce stands, in the winter of 1995/96, was connected with a long-lasting inversion situation in the eastern area of the Krušné hory Mts. Today, the health status of the spruce stands, expressed in terms of the crown defoliation, has recovered and is comparable to that found in other regions of the Czech Republic. The sulphur and fluorine content of the needles has decreased significantly. The long-term negative effect of acid deposition that contributes to the degradation of forest soils remains an important part of stressors acting on forest ecosystems in the region. In recent years, nitrogen and sulphur concentrations in the needles have increased slightly again. A long-term tendency towards a decrease in the phosphorus, calcium and potassium content of the needles was detected.

Soil clay content (SCC) plays an essential role in the processes of infiltration, seal and crust formation, runoff, and soil erosion. The role played by SCC in water erosion has received much attention in recent years. Hence, in order to investigate these effects on a small scale, a simulation experiment was conducted. Soil lacking clay content was combined with 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50% of clay soil, respectively. The experimental setup consisted of rectangular metal plots (1.5 × 1 m) comprising soil with selected combinations of clay content, placed at a 9% slope. Six treatments, three replicates each (totally 18 plots), were exposed to simulated rainfall at an intensity of 70 mm/h for 30 min. The results were compared by means of statistical tests. General trends in runoff volume were similar for different SCCs and decreasing and increasing trends were achieved for sediment and runoff, respectively. The results showed significant differences in the hydrological and erosional responses of these soils based on their clay contents. The soils with intermediate clay content were more resistant to erosion and had lower values of the runoff. Finally, time had significant (P < 0.00) effects on both runoff and sediment production during the rainfall.

The relation between high-molecular-weight (HMW) glutenin subunits and bread-making quality could enable selection for improved bread-making quality in early stages of breeding process. The composition of HMW glutenin subunits was investigated in F₂ and F₇ progenies derived from the cross between winter wheat varieties Sulamit and Clever. The presence of Glu-A1 (AxNull and Ax1), Glu-B1 (Bx6+By8 and Bx 17+By18) and Glu-D1 alleles (x 5+Dy10 and Dx 2+Dy12) was monitored using a PCR based assay. Segregation of alleles corresponded with the theoretically assumed 1:2:1 Mendelian ratio in F₂ generation, however, the values of χ²-test in F₇ generation indicated a strong affection of allelic frequencies by the breeding process. Significant variation was also observed in Glu-1 score frequency between F₂ and F₇ generation. These changes were probably caused by deliberate phenotypic selection for important agronomical traits. SDS and Zeleny sedimentation tests, mixographic parameter breakdown and HMW glutenin composition were analyzed in F₇ to reveal the effects of different combinations of HMW glutenin alleles on the bread-making quality characters. The results showed statistically significant differences in the contribution of HMW glutenin alleles. In general, the alleles Ax1, Bx17+By18 and Dx5+Dy 10 can be considered as markers of good baking quality. The data presented in this paper suggest that heterozygous constitution may also have a positive effect on bread-making quality.

The effect of the application of compost and cow manure on nectarine (Prunus persica L.) root growth and survivorship was investigated in a commercial orchard during the growing seasons 2003, 2004 and 2005. Our main objective was to determine whether compost affects root dynamics differently than cow manure. The experiment was a complete randomized block design with four replicates of two treatments: cow manure and compost applied at planting in 2001 at 10 t dry weight (DW)/ha and from 2004 at the rate of 5 t DW/ha. The compost fertilization represented a yearly rate of 120 kg N/ha, while cow manure was approximately 80 kg N/ha/year. Both root growth and survival were evaluated at 20-day intervals during the growing season by the minirhizotron technique. Cow manure increased the production of new roots compared with compost (P ≤ 0.001). Roots were mainly produced at a depth of 21-40 cm for compost and 61-80 cm for cow manure. The root lifespan was longer in compost than in cow manure treated trees (P ≤ 0.05) and was strongly affected by depth. No differences were observed in root length and diameter.

The purpose of the pilot project Senotín (1993-2000) was to prove the methods of revitalization of sub-mountain headwater area (0.38 km²) in the Novobystřická Vysočina Highland (610-725 m a. s. l.) in the Czech Republic. This area was tile-drained and ploughed in 1985. Seven underground clay shields newly constructed in 1995 stopped the function of the tile drainage. Four balks prevented the surface and subsurface runoff. These adaptations improved water retention capacity of the whole catchment, which is demonstrated using an example of runoff formation in the revitalized area. A typical storm rain (total 15 mm, duration 5.6 h, max. intensity 4 mm/20 min) and the consequent runoff was analysed, including the role of the soil in the runoff retardation and water retention. The runoff started in two hours since the rain beginning. The retention reached 98% of the rain total. The runoff lasted for 85 h. The concave-upward shape of the falling hydrograph limb indicates that the maximum retention capacity of the studied catchment is high.

Tanniferous forages may have bacteriostatic and/or bactericidal effect on different rumen microbial populations. We investigated the influence of the tropical tanniferous plants Styzolobium aterrimum (STA), Styzolobium deeringianum (STD), Leucaena leucocephala (LEU), and Mimosa caesalpiniaefolia (MIC) containing 20, 64, 56, and 105 g condensed tannis (CT)/kg dry matter (DM) and Cynodon spp. cv. Tifton 85 (CYN) as control on Fibrobacter succinogenes and methanogenic microbes in rumen liquor from sheep using the in vitro gas production technique (Hohenheim gas test). The relative gene expression of F. succinogenes at t_1/2 (time point when 50% of the maximal gas production has been reached) analyzed by quantitative PCR was 0.20- and 0.28- fold lower than the control when LEU and STA was applied and 0.91- and 0.85-fold lower with MIC and STD. Methanogenic population was 0.29- and 0.58- fold reduced with STA and LEU compared to the control, but 5.50- and 1.43- fold higher with MIC and STD. At 24 h, F. succinogenes was reduced for all legumes as well as methanogenic bacteria, except for MIC which increased 4.15-fold. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of the methanogenic community resulted in different band patterns: CYN presented some strong bands, which became weaker in the analyzed treatments. Some bands appeared weaker, especially in MIC and STD, but not in STA and LEU. MIC seemed to increase the total number of weak bands. Overall, the tannin-rich plants negatively affected the F. succinogenes population and caused changes in the structure of the methanogenic community.

A combination of drugs may be preferred over the use of a single agent to induce deep sedation. A synergistic interaction between the drugs reduces the dose requirements of the drugs thereby minimising the unwanted side effects associated with each drug and improving recovery. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the suitability of dexmedetomidine and dexmedetomidine in combination with midazolam-fentanyl or midazolam-fentanyl-ketamine for different levels of sedation, analgesia and anaesthesia in dogs. In a prospective, blinded, randomised clinical trial, 12 mixed breed dogs were divided into three groups. Animals of Group I were injected with dexmedetomidine 20 μg/kg. Animals of Group II received 20 μg/kg dexmedetomidine + 0.2 mg/kg midazolam + 4 μg/kg fentanyl and animals of Group III were administered with 20 μg/kg dexmedetomidine + 0.2 mg/kg midazolam + 4 μg/kg fentanyl + 10 mg/kgketamine. All the drugs were given simultaneously via the intramuscular route. Jaw relaxation, palpebral reflex, pedal reflex and response to intubation were recorded and graded on a numerical scale. Values of heart rate, respiratory rate, rectal temperature and mean arterial pressure were recorded at baseline and then at predetermined intervals up to 120 min. Onset of sedation time, onset of recumbency time, time to return of righting reflex, standing recovery time and complete recovery time were recorded. Maximal muscle relaxation, sedation and analgesia were observed in animals of Group III, which was followed in decreasing order by Groups II and I. Heart rate decreased significantly (P < 0.05) after administration of drugs in Groups I and II but a significant (P < 0.05) increase was recorded in Group III. Respiratory rate decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in all the groups. Rectal temperature decreased non-significantly in all the groups. Mean arterial pressure initially increased significantly (P < 0.01) in Groups I and III followed by a decrease in Group I, but in Group III it remained above the base line. In Group II, MAP decreased throughout the study period. Onset of sedation time and onset of recumbency time were significantly (P < 0.05) shorter in Group III as compared to Group I. Time to return of righting reflex, standing recovery time and complete recovery time did not differ significantly between the groups. It is concluded that dexmedetomidine provides a reliable moderate sedation and analgesia. Addition of midazolam and fentanyl enhances sedation, analgesia and muscle relaxation induced by dexmedetomidine. Addition of ketamine produced deep sedation and complete anaesthesia with lesser cardiopulmonary depression. Thus, dexmedetomidine can be used safely in combination with midazolam, fentanyl and ketamine for different levels of sedation, analgesia and anaesthesia in dogs.

Conditioning is a simple and effective method of post-harvest longevity of both flowers and florists' greens. Performing this treatment immediately after harvest by the producer increases the quality of floral products expressed as their post-harvest longevity. The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of four growth regulators from the gibberellin and cytokinin groups applied as a 4-h conditioning treatment of leaf blades and to determine any effects on post-harvest longevity of leaves of Limonium latifolium. The leaves were harvested early in the morning from the department of ornamental plants collection. Selected leaves were fully-developed and had no damage or discolouring. Gibberellic acid, benzyladenine, meta- methoxytopolin and its riboside at the concentrations of 25, 50 and 75 mg/dm³ were taken up in a solution for 4-h leaf-conditioning of Limonium latifolium at the temperature of 18-20°C. After the conditioning treatment the leaves were placed in distilled water. Leaves placed into distilled water immediately after cutting served as control. Gibberellic acid, benzyladenine and topolins applied as leaf conditioning treatment extended the post-harvest longevity of leaves of Limonium latifolium. Examined growth regulators, with the exception of riboside of meta-methoxytopolin, also had a favourable effect on the index of leaf greenness.

Current British Columbia forest regulations drive the regeneration management towards pure conifer stands rather than remaining in a mixed-species condition. This approach may result in unnecessary vegetation control. The main objective of this investigation was to study the impact of variable paper birch densities on white spruce growth in 15-20 years old stands for management implications. Regression analysis was used to examine the effect of birch density and two competition indices to predict spruce growth. A mixed model ANOVA showed that spruce mean annual DBH and basal area increment differed significantly among sites and density. From the regression analysis it appears that birch density up to 4,000 stems.ha^-1 had no significant influence on spruce growth which is much higher than the current BC reforestation guideline (1,000 stems.ha^-1 broadleaves). Similarly, birch relative density index (RDI) had to exceed 3 to affect spruce DBH growth significantly on all sites except one. On most sites, spruce had a larger DBH than birch. Our results also suggest that rather than following the current broadcast approach to vegetation management, a targeted approach could enhance forest productivity and stand diversity.

The paper contains strength tests results of joints soldered using lead and leadless soft solders. For tests lead solders types Sn63Pb37, Sn60Pb40, Pb60Sn40 and Pb48Sn32Bi and leadless soft solders types Sn96Ag4, Sn99Cu1, Sn70Zn30 and Sn96Ag3Cu1 were used. As basic joint material steel sheet of 1.0 mm thickness and zinc-coated steel sheet of 1.0 mm thickness were used. The size of test specimen was 100 × 20 mm. Two sheets were always cleaned and jointed together. For heating the propane-butane plus air flame was used. The tested assemblies were loaded using the universal tensile-strength testing machine until their failure. At the tests the force needed for assemblies' failure and failure type (in the soldered joint, in the basic material) was recorded and the solder strength was calculated from the measured data. The test results show that for soldering of steel sheets as well of zinc-coated steel sheets of 1.0 mm thickness the joints soldered using the lead soft solder type Sn63Pb37 and the leadless soft solder type Sn96Ag4 were of the highest strength.

Forty female chickens were allocated to four groups of ten birds each. The control group (K) was fed a basal diet without supplementation. The second control group received a basal diet with humic acid (HA) at a dose of 0.5 g per chicken/day. The first experimental group was fed the basal diet with methyl-mercury (MeHg) at a dose of 0.02 mg per chicken/day and the group of chickens MeHg + HA received 0.5 g HA per chicken/day. After slaughter, mercury levels were assessed in liver, kidney, brain and muscle tissue samples. After 10-day treatment of the chickens with MeHg, significantly increased (P < 0.001) Hg concentrations were detected in all examined tissues in comparison with the groups K and HA. The average concentrations in liver, kidneys, brain and muscle tissues were 424, 398, 81.6 and 79.2 µg Hg/kg, respectively. After concurrent treatment with HA and MeHg, Hg concentrations were lower by 20.6%, 23.8%, 23.0% and 18.6% in liver, kidneys, brain and muscle tissues (P < 0.001). Biological accumulation of Hg was 25.5% and 20.4% in MeHg and MeHg + HA groups, respectively.

The aims of this study are to determine the cooperation of milk producers and to analyze the milk marketing structure in Menemen-Izmir, West Turkey. According to the results of this study, 70% of the producers are the shareholders of the cooperatives, 49.2% of the producers are members of the National Chamber of Agriculture. In this study, 47.20% of total milk production in the farms is marketing to street sellers, 36.11% is marketing to small scale milk processing plants, 10.1% is marketing directly to consumer and 6.6% is marketing to dairy factories. Also, feed prices in the market are 5% higher than the prices of cooperatives. The main problems related to organization and marketing together are the lack of knowledge in production, low milk prices and the high cost of production.

The results of research on the production of raw timber assortments for the stands of poplar clones Robusta and I-214 in Slovakia are presented in this paper. Models of assortment yield tables were constructed, separately for each clone, in dependence on the yield class and stand age. The construction was based on the models of yield tables, stand assortment tables, models of external quality and damage to stems. Robusta clone produces by about 15-20% higher proportions of the highest quality assortments than I-214 clone. I-214 clone produces faster and higher proportions of average- and below-average quality assortments.

The preservation and reproduction of gene resources of rare and endemic rowan species were the main aims of this study. Rowan species represent important woody trees from the aspect of forest biodiversity. There are only several endemic rowan species in the Czech Republic which are of hybridogenous origin from the whitebeam (Sorbus aria) range. Most of them have been described only at the end of the 20^th century. For these species, the new procedures of vegetative reproduction were developed. In vitro cultures from dormant buds of 57 mature trees were established. The successful induction of organogenesis was achieved in a MS modified medium with 0.2 mg.l^-1 of BAP, 0.1 mg.l^-1 of IBA, 200 mg.l^-1 of glutamine, 2 mg.l^-1 of glycine, 200 mg.l^-1 of casein hydrolysate, 30 mg.l^-1 of sucrose, and 6 mg.l^-1 of agar. The pH was adjusted to 5.8. NAA in the concentration of 13.5 mg.l^-1 was efficient for the rooting of microcuttings. An efficient protocol for the reproduction of endemic rowan species by means of organogenesis induction in apical meristems of dormant buds is reported.

Silicon content of Korean domestic beer was approximately 13.2 mg/l, which was 142% higher than 9.24 mg/l in imported beer. The contents of Ca and Mg were in the range of 31-33 mg/l and 39-41 mg/l, respectively, which were similar in Korean domestic and imported beers. Through beer ingestion, the men's average Si intake was approximately 24.3 mg/day, which was 195% higher than the women's average Si intake (12.4 mg/day). In addition, it was found that 20-29 aged men and women took approximately 33.7 and 25.1 mg/day of Si, respectively, which are higher Si intakes through beer ingestion as compared to other age ranges. As to people in other age-ranges, the women's Si intake through beer ingestion was half that of men's. Domestic beer-1 and beer-2 had 8.50 and 6.45 Si μg/won of Si content per unit price, respectively. Taken together with these results, it was estimated that the more expensive the price of beer, the lower the Si content per unit price. Therefore, it is supposed that the cheap Korean domestic beer is an effective supplier of Si, the beer being considered the major resource for Si intake by humans inKorea.

Experimental device was created to model stable atmosphere. The device consists of the glass vessel filled with air. Volume of the vessel is 30 litres. The ammonia concentration is similar to stable air. Amount of ozone in 2.4 mg was added and subsequently weight loss of ammonia was measured. Measurements were performed at different temperatures (20°C, 45°C) and different air humidity. The observed ratio of reacting ozone and ammonia is 5.2:1. It was also found, that this ratio is practically independent of temperature and relative humidity that occur in a stable environment. The results are the basis for the design of ozone air purification technology.

Activity time budget patterns and grazing response to sward and environmental conditions were investigated for paddocks of sheep and goats co-grazing for conservation purposes on a semi-natural species-rich dry grassland community endangered by shrub and tall perennial plant encroachment in a protected nature reserve in South Moravia (Czech Republic). Grazing was conducted by a rotational stocking system for 14 weeks in late grazing season in 2008 with 60 dry ewes and 20 goats. Twelve ewes and four goats were observed; grazing, ruminating, idling and other activities (salt licking, social interactions, walking), along with topographical position in the paddock were recorded at 5-minute intervals within 14 hours of daylight. Sheep and goats did not differ in their principal activity time budgets, such as the average total daylight time spent grazing (sheep: 8.57 h, goats: 8.59 h), ruminating (sheep: 1.42 h, goats: 1.44 h), or idling (sheep: 3.23 h, goats: 3.18 h), the duration of bouts of each activity, or the number of bouts of grazing and ruminating. There was no pattern in activity time budgets indicating dynamics in progressing season, nor was there a response to daily average temperature or to paddock size. Sheep and goats showed similar responses to groundcover of particular plant functional types. The animals showed a positive trend in response of total daylight grazing time to grass available biomass and a negative response of total daylight grazing time to herbaceous biomass for both sheep and goats. The total daylight grazing time was independent of availability of woody plants. Goats devoted more time (1.51 h) to other activities than sheep (1.34 h), especially to social interactions and salt licking. On the other hand, sheep spent proportionally more time walking. Both sheep and goats showed similar patterns in spatial use of paddocks on hill slopes, spending the most time in the middle part and the least time in the lower part of paddocks.

The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence and heritability of elbow dysplasia in the Estrela mountain dog breed, to investigate genetic trends over the last 20 years (1990-2009) and to evaluate the association of individual records with breeding values. The elbows of 351 Estrela mountain dogs were examined using the flexed mediolateral radiographic view and evaluated using the International Elbow Working Group scoring system. Heritability and breeding values were estimated using a linear model. Elbow Dysplasia was found in 16.5% (59/351) of the dogs; males (27%, 34/127) were more affected than females (11%, 24/224) (P < 0.05). The heritability was very low (0.065) and the genetic trend showed a slight positive slope with an improvement in 2004 and 2005. The mean breeding values in elbow dysplasia grades were different but the overlap among grades was very pronounced. The prevalence and heritability of elbow dysplasia in the breed are thus low. Mass selection using individual phenotypes may not be effective. Elbow dysplasia genetic trends are similar to trends for hip dysplasia and passive hip laxity, so the use of selection against hip dysplasia may also result in genetic progress for elbow dysplasia.

The experiments were conducted to study the effects of arsenic-contaminated irrigation water, zinc and organic matter on the mobilization of arsenic in an Aeric Endoaquept in relation to rice (cv. IET 4786). The results show that the amount of extractable arsenic increased with the progress of submergence decreased with zinc application. The magnitude of such decrease varied with the Zn amount, being greater (0.70 to 1.08 mg/kg) in the treatment where zinc was applied at the rate of 20 mg/kg. With regards to organic matter application, the arsenic content in soil markedly decreased, especially with farmyard manure application. The results of the greenhouse experiment with exposure of graded doses of arsenic to rice suggest that the upper toxic limit of arsenic in soil was 10 mg/kg for rice. The results of the field experiment show that the grain yield of continuous flooding (4.84 t/ha) and intermittent flooding up to 40 days after transplanting followed by continuous flooding (4.83 t/ha) with the application of ZnSO₄ at the rate of 25 kg/ha did not vary significantly. The lowest grain yield (3.65 t/ha) was recorded in the treatment where the intermittent flooding was maintained throughout the growth period without the application of zinc. The amount of arsenic was, however, much lower in the treatment where intermittent flooding was maintained throughout the growing period combined with zinc sulphate application.

During the summer of 2007 in a private garden in Smržice (district Prostějov, Czech Republic) symptoms of powdery mildew on Caragana arborescens were recorded. Until now at least two powdery mildew species (Microsphaera trifolii var. trifolii and M. palczewskii), both differing in some basic morphological features, have been recorded for the genus Caragana. Comparison of our measurements with previous descriptions of powdery mildew samples found in the Czech Republic on Caragana arborescens identified our species as Microsphaera palczewskii (newly Erysiphe palczewskii). This is probably the first detailed record of this species on C. arborescens in the Czech Republic. Fungus from Czech Republic was compared with the material collected in 2007 in Vienna (Austria). The aim of this paper was to provide a detailed comparative morphological characterisation of E. palczewskii anamorph and teleomorph found in the Czech Republic and in Austria. Serious reduction of the anamorph, caused by hyperparasitic fungus Ampelomyces quisqualis, was recorded on the sample from Austria.

The typical red colour of paprika salamis is a very important quality attribute but it is also very susceptible to oxidation. Rosemary extracts and lycopene appear to be efficient antioxidants for dry fermented sausages. The complicated structure of dried sausages with different kinetics of colour changes was evaluated using VIA software NIS-Elements 2.20 and lightness L*, redness a*, yellowness b*, mean red (R), mean green (G), and mean blue (B) were measured; the ratio of red r = R/(R + G + B) and hue h = arctg (a*/b*) were calculated. The addition of rosemary extract has positively affected the colour and suppressed lipid oxidation in both meat and lard particles in the paprika salami. Even more satisfactory results were obtained by adding both the rosemary extract and lycopene. Video image analysis enabled to perform colour measurements of meat and lard particles separately, which could not be done by any available method (reflective spectrophotometry).

The effect of the chemotherapy with ribavirin on the elimination of the pome fruit viruses from in vitro grown plants of infected apple cv. Fragnance has been investigated. The results of ELISA and RT-PCR testing proved the presence of mixed infection of Apple stem pitting virus (ASPV), Apple chlorotic leaf spot virus (ACLSV) and Apple stem grooving virus (ASGV) in the initial field-grown tree of this apple cultivar. Obtained actively growing in vitro shoots with well-developed leaves and shoot tips were subsequently used for chemotherapy with ribavirin. Attempts to fully eliminate viruses by ribavirin in lower concentration 20 mg/l were not successful. However in vitro plants of one mericlone (FR1R20) sanitated from ASPV and ASGV, which were infected with ACLSV only after the first chemotherapy cycle, were subjected to repeated treatment on medium with higher ribavirin concentration 100 mg/l. The success of chemotherapy with ribavirin at 100 mg/l was 76% for ACLSV elimination after the second round. In the course of both chemotherapy cycles (20 mg/l and 100 mg/l), in vitro plants did not display symptoms of phytotoxicity.

By taking two different tile-drained agricultural basins with porous aquifers in the lowlands of northern Germany as examples, it is demonstrated with an integrated study approach that this type of basin responds similarly to an input as forested mountainous basins with dominant fractured rock aquifers in the central European highlands do. The control mechanism is local rise of pressure heads of aquifers starting with the infiltration process. It is shown that drain laterals in agricultural basins function like fractures and faults in those hard rock basins, i.e. as efficient drain pipe lines. This effect is amplified by hydraulic pressure transmission in the course of single input events, and additionally verified here with the help of artificial and environmental tracers. As a result stream flow is predominantly generated by exfiltrating groundwater. For this process drain laterals constitute fast hydraulic short cuts in the sense of preferential flow paths preferably in case that groundwater tables reach up to the level tile-drain networks.

Our research was concerned with a description of the influence of variability in average temperatures on the height growth of selected young populations of spruce in the Krkonoše Mts. Several populations of spruce were evaluated while the majority of them originated by natural regeneration on plots under disturbance of the original tree layer. In addition, several planted spruce populations in similar environmental conditions were also evaluated. The main questions of this study are as follows: is there a difference in height growth between populations of natural and artificial origin? Is it possible to find a relationship between height growth and climate feature during the last several years? The growth of young spruce populations that originated by natural regeneration was different from the growth of the planted populations. The average air temperature in the growing period, estimated as average temperature during the months of May to August, was proved to have a significant influence on year-on-year variability in spruce growth. Based on this finding, it was possible to estimate an increase in the height increment of young spruce caused by warming up since the mid-70s of the 20^th century to equal approximately 16% per decade in the spruce altitudinal zone in the Krkonoše Mts.