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The replacement of organic solutions in the extraction of limonin from citrus seeds with an alkaline solution was investigated. This method was based on the reversible conversion of limonin to limonoate A-ring lactone via ring-opening of D-ring lactone at different pH values. The extraction conditions, optimised using Taguchi experimental design, were as follows: pH 11, temperature 70°C, alkaline solution/seeds ratio 20:1 (v/w), ultrasonic power 800 W for 30 minutes. A yield of 7.5 mg/g (limonin/citrus seeds) of 98% pure limonin was obtained.

The aim of the contribution was to determine energy consumption of input and output used in tomato production and to optimize the energy inputs in the Marand region, Iran. The study also sought to analyse the effect of farm size on energy use and input costs based on tomatoes production and to reveal the relationship between energy inputs and yield by developing mathematical models. Questions about energy management present very interesting and actual topic in this time. The results revealed that tomato production consumed a total of 65,238.9 MJ/ha of which fertilizers were 50.98% followed by water for irrigation (20.67%). Output-input energy and energy productivity were found to be 0.59 and 0.74 kg/MJ, respectively. The results of energy optimization showed that using existing energy inputs, the yield of tomato can be increased by 45.2% in small farms, 43.5% in medium farms and 30% in large farms. The rate of direct, indirect, renewable and non-renewable energy forms were found to be 37.2, 62.8, 30.9 and 69.1% of total energy input, respectively. The main non-renewable inputs were chemical fertilizers and diesel fuel, management of plant nutrients and proper machinery selection to reduce diesel fuel use would increase rate of renewable energy.

Germination experiments frequently use seeds that had been stored frozen. We investigated whether short, 5 day freezing changes percentage and rate of germination of seeds of dandelion (Taraxacum officinale agg.). Seeds (i) collected at dispersal, (ii) dried at +50°C for 5 days, (iii) frozen at -20°C for 5 days, (iv) dried for 5 days and subsequently frozen for 5 days, and (v) frozen and subsequently dried, were then germinated at +10°C and a long-day photoperiod. None of the temperature pre-treatments affected the proportion of germinating seeds. By contrast, the time to germinate 50% of the seed (germination time) was shortened slightly (0.7 days) but significantly following the freezing treatment, regardless of whether it was applied without, before or after drying of the seed. Cryopreservation is therefore a convenient method of seed storage for comparative studies of seed germination because it causes no change in germination percentage and only a small and systematic change in germination rate.

To estimate the genetic diversity of chickpea germplasm from Iran, a total of 307 landraces from 4 regions including: northern areas (29 from Ardebil, 3 from Qazvin and 5 from Mazanderan provinces), temperate (16 from Kermanshah, 2 from Semnan, 54 from Khorasan and 20 from Kerman provinces), semi-arid (28 from Ghom and 56 from Isfahan provinces) and cold areas (15 from West Azarbayjan, 52 from Tehran and 27 from East Azarbayjan provinces) were analysed using 16 microsatellite loci. The number of alleles per microsatellite locus ranged from 8 to 29, with an average of 19.31 per locus. A high level of genetic diversity in the northern area (He = 0.76), even with a limited number of available landraces (37) compared with the other three regions (84-94), might confirm the northern Persia as part of the chickpea centre of origin. The neighbour-joining tree showed a low relationship between molecular divergence and the geographical grouping of chickpea. Moreover, cluster analyses based on molecular data showed that the northern area was separated clearly from the other three regions, indicating a physical barrier or geographical and environmental differences among these regions. A wide genetic diversity of Iranian chickpea landraces is a critical component for future selection and use of this germplasm for future breeding of chickpea.

Lactation curves for daily milk yield, fat, and protein content in three dairy sheep breeds were estimated by the repeatability animal model using test-day records. A total of 38 983 records from 3068 ewes of Bovec, Improved Bovec, and Istrian Pramenka breeds, collected between the years 1994 and 2002, were analysed. The three-trait repeatability animal model included breed and lambing season as fixed. The stage of lactation within each breed was modelled by the modified Ali-Schaeffer's lactation curve. Parity and litter size were used as covariates in quadratic and linear regression, respectively. Common flock environment, additive genetic effect, permanent environment over lactations as well as within lactation were treated as random. The average daily milk yield was 1090 g in Bovec, 1010 g in Improved Bovec, and 731 g in Istrian Pramenka breeds. Overall means for fat and protein content were 6.59 and 5.53% for Bovec, 6.22 and 5.33% for Improved Bovec, and 7.20 and 5.63% for Istrian Pramenka. Breed, lambing season, stage of lactation, parity, and litter size significantly (P < 0.001) affected all three observed milk traits, with the only exception of parity in fat and litter size in protein content. The shape of lactation curves for daily milk yield in Bovec and Improved Bovec breeds fitted well to the general lactation curve in dairy sheep. Daily milk yield was increasing in the first month of lactation and decreasing thereafter. In Istrian Pramenka, the shape of lactation curve was more or less atypical, with daily milk yield decreasing almost throughout the entire lactation. Lactation curves for fat and protein content were opposite to the lactation curves for daily milk yield in all three breeds.

The effects of phosphate solubilizing bacterium (Bacillus FS-3) application on phosphorus contents of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) plant, growing performance and phosphorus forms in soil were evaluated under greenhouse condition. Five different phosphorus fertilizer treatments (normal superphosphate, triple superphosphate, di-ammonium phosphate, phosphoric acid, and rock phosphate) with and without bacterium (Bacillus FS-3) were applied in pots as 344 kg P/ha. Basal fertilizers were applied to all the pots as 180 kg N/ha (NH₄NO₃ 33% N), 100 kg K/ha (K₂SO₄ 50% K₂O). The results obtained showed that phosphorus availability from soil increased with phosphate solubilizing bacterium (PSB) application. The amount of plant available form of soil phosphorus fraction (resin-Pi + NaHCO₃-Pi + NaHCO₃-Po + NaOH-Pi + NaOH-Po) increased with PSB application. In all fertilizer types, bacteria application converted approximately 20% of less available phosphorus into labile forms. Statistically significant differences were obtained in shoot and root dry weight of tomato plants treated with PSB application. In all of the fertilizers, plant shoot and root weight and P uptake were greater with PSB applications than without PSB. The highest shoot-root dry weight and P uptake of plant were determined in triple superphosphate (TSP) with PSB application treatment. The data in the present study suggest that the application of PSB (FS-3) may increase the availability of soluble phosphate by dissolving the inorganic forms of phosphate and that bacterial strain tested in this study has a potential to be used as a bio-fertilizer in sustainable and organic agriculture.

The Scots pine communities are common forest types in Central Europe, however, the general model of changes resulting from cyclical management practices is still unclear. The aim of this paper is to present the changes in species diversity during the development of managed Scots pine stands and to distinguish main stages of vegetation succession. The examined stands were divided into six age classes: ≤ 10 years old, 11-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61-80, 81-120 years old. Data from our study suggest a division of the stands into three main stages of succession on oligotrophic (low nutrient) sites. The first stage is associated with the youngest stands before the canopy formation (< 10 years), the second stage with young closed-canopy stands (11-40 years) and the third stage with the maturing, pre-mature and mature stands (> 40 years). The first stage was characterised by the highest value of the Shannon index, the highest number of vascular plant species, the highest cover of lichens but the lowest cover of bryophytes. There was a group of non-forest cryptogams, exclusive for that stage. In the second stage, there was a significant decline in the Shannon index, the cover of bryophytes increased and the cover of lichens decreased. Cladonia species were characteristic of that succession stage. The third stage was characterised by the lowest species richness, moreover, the cover of bryophytes was highest and the cover of lichens was lowest. Common coniferous forest species were characteristic of the final stage before clear-cutting. Generally, after stand removal the communities indicated higher species diversity than previous forest communities. The final forest plant associations were not determined solely by late-successional species.Forest management appeared to substantially influence changes in diversity and the course of succession.

The marination of meat is a method applied to improve the sensory values like tenderness and juiciness of meat, and to enhance microbiological safety of the product. The effects of specific marinades on the thermal stability of the muscle proteins using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was examined. Various marinades were tested, composed mainly of NaCl as well as triphosphates and organic acids, self made marinades, and ready-to-use marinades used in industrial practice. As a result of the experiment conducted, it was found that all marinades used changed significantly the thermal stability of muscle proteins. The use of sodium chloride and sodium triphosphate for marination caused a reduction of enthalpy and denaturation temperature of myosin and actin. However, a greater influence on the stability of muscle proteins was observed with marinades containing organic acids (acetic and citric). The most significant reduction of the denaturation temperatures and enthalpy (to the lowest level of 0.56 J/g) was found for self made marinade composed of 20.7% cider vinegar and 16% lemon juice.

The concentrations of cadmium, lead and zinc were determined in the soft tissue of oysters (Ostrea edulis L.) from three locations in the Mali Ston Bay on the south-eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. The sampling was performed during two periods of breeding cycle, in summer (age ~1 year) and winter (age ~20 months, consumption size). The concentrations of cadmium, lead and zinc measured in the oyster soft tissue showed considerable spatiotemporal variations that could be attributed to seasonal differences in the freshwater inflow which varied between the study locations. Median concentrations measured at different locations and in different time periods ranged from 0.303 to 0.969, 0.13 to 0.32 and 208.9 to 650.0 µg/g wet weight for cadmium, lead and zinc, respectively. Although metal concentrations do not exceed the maximal legally approved limits according to the legislation of the Republic of Croatia and EU, more knowledge of their spatiotemporal distribution - of cadmium in particular - would contribute to the sustainable future development of oyster farming in Croatian waters.

Like other small rural settlements, Svatý Jan pod Skalou is dealing with financial and personnel problems within the exertion of public administration. That is why there is necessary to think about the potential integration strategies in a way, which would enable the commune to keep advantages of its own strengths and to solve disadvantages that hinder its future development. Methodical procedures of this paper are compounded of two parts - analytical situation study and formulation of preliminary options of integration strategies of the municipality, and their preliminary evaluation. Those parts also include a proposal of the evaluation tool of the selected strategies. With regard to the proposed strategies (integration with the neighboring village Hostím; joining the microregion - Local Action Group; integration with one of the near-by villages), it seems that the first option is the most beneficial, eventually in the combination with the second option. Those options would ensure a successful development of the municipality as a tourist location on the basis of the endogenous approach to rural development

Four pure yeast isolates from feta cheese whey beverage were phenotypically characterised and D1/D2 domain of 26S rRNA and Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) region were sequenced. These isolates were identified as Clavispora lusitaniae (84), Candida sp. YS12A (86), Clavispora lusitaniae (B82), and Candida hyderabadensis (S82). The fermentation potentials of all yeast isolates were determined in plum, amla, lemon, guava, kinnow, and pineapple, and Clavispora lusitaniae (84) was reported as the best yeast for carrying out fermentation with CO₂ levels of 1.5 bar. Using Clavispora lusitaniae, a reliable, controllable, simple, and reproducible technology from astringent fruits has been developed for the production of non-alcoholic naturally carbonated beverage with improved tangy taste, appearance, aroma, extended shelf life, and retention of all the nutrients. This yeast on inoculation @ 0.5% in astringent in amla juice (13%), TSS adjusted to 16.0°B, and fermentetion at 20 ± 5°C for 36 h produces a new non-alcoholic naturally carbonated beverage. The physicochemical parameters of freshly prepared beverage juice 13%, pH 3.0, TSS 16.0°B, acidity 0.38%, Brix acid ratio 42.10, ascorbic acid 120.0 mg/100 ml. The physicochemical parameters did not change significantly during storage. The volatile components like propanol, butanol, acetaldehyde, methanol, ethyl acetate, and isopropanol were found to be absent while the percentage of ethanol was 1.16% after three months of storage. Shelf life of the beverage is three months under refrigerated conditions (4°C).

The out-of-roundness and pith-off-centre of Alnus subcordata, Acer velutinum and Quercus castaneifolia growing in Hyrcanian forests of Iran were investigated. Stem disks were cut from the breast height and stump height of felled trees in diameter classes of 20 cm to 90 cm. Results indicated that the pith eccentricity for Acer velutinum was significantly greater than that of Alnus subcordata and Quercus castaneifolia (P < 0.01). The pith-off-centre significantly increased with increasing stem diameter from 20 cm to 50 cm, while no significant difference were observed for pith-off-centre index from diameter class of 55 cm to 90 cm. The out-of-roundness in stems of Acer velutinum and Alnus subcordata was significantly greater than that of Quercus castaneifolia (P < 0.01). Moreover, out-of-roundness significantly decreased with increasing stem diameters from 20 cm to 45 cm except for 35 cm. There were no significant differences among diameter classes from 60 cm to 85 cm with respect to out-of-roundness. For all the species, the out-of-roundness and pith-off-centre at stump height were greater than those at breast height.

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

The fertilising experiment was set up in 1968 on the mountain meadow (720 m a.s.l.) in Czarny Potok near Krynica (20°8' E, 49°4' N). The experiment was conducted on the acid Cambi soil and comprised objects fertilised with two nitrogen forms and two doses against the background of PK fertilisation, the untreated object, and plots with unilateral P and N fertilisation. The paper concerns 30 years of investigations (1968-1997) of the effect of different NPK fertilisation on the dynamic of yields and the meadow sward quality against a background of the same treatments. The dynamic of the botanical composition was presented as well as the dynamic of the grassland yield potential with systematic mineral fertilisation and liming. The application of nitrogen fertilisation with the rate of 90 N.ha^-1 + PK under mountain conditions and systematic liming of the meadow enables to maintain or increase production over the long period, to decrease the production risk and to prevent degradation of the environment and natural resources.

We have developed a rapid shoot multiplication procedure for in vitro propagation of blue honeysuckle (Lonicera kamtschatica [Sevast.] Pojark). Shoot tips of two genotypes 20/1 and Altaj were successfully established in vitro and micropropagated on the Murashige and Skoog (MS) based media containing different concentrations of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP). Multiplication rates varied depending on the genotype and concentration of BAP. The highest multiplication rate was obtained for the genotype 20/1 that produced 10.5 ± 0.7 shoots (longer than 10 mm) on the MS medium containing 2 mg/l BAP. The lowest multiplication rate was obtained for Altaj producing only 1.6 ± 0.1 shoots on MS medium containing 4 mg/l BAP. Moreover, in vitro rooting on the modified MS medium supplemented with 2.5 mg/l indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) was reported. Rooted shoots were transferred to the greenhouse for further evaluation.

This paper presents findings of a twenty-year investigation of silviculture-production in a 40-year-old afforested spruce pole-stage stand located in a mountain region. The stand was established by four different spacing models: (i) 1.5 × 1.0 m, (ii) 2.5 × 1.0 m, (iii) 2.5 × 1.5 m, and (iv) 2.5 × 2.5 m. Three alternatives were studied for each of these spacing models. These were: (i) geometrical (line) thinning, (ii) selective thinning and (iii) no tending. During the period of our research the above-mentioned stand was affected twice by a snow-break disaster. Promising and target trees in the stand were marked and selected at the beginning of the study. The development of the above-mentioned categories of trees was analysed in relation to the initial spacing of the stand, as well as to the method of tending. Based on the 20-year research period, we conclude that the most favourable results were obtained on plots that were established at a wider initial spacing and managed by selective thinning as opposed to the denser ones tended by geometrical thinning or without any tending.

Entomopathogenic and mycoparasitic fungi were characterised by RAPD technique, with special attention to evaluate the genetic stability of strains that are used as active ingredients in commercial biopesticides. Strain-specific fingerprints were constructed for Paecilomyces fumosoroseus - strain PFR 97 Apopka, Gliocladium virens - strain GL 21 and Verticillium lecanii - strain MYCOTAL. Genetic stability and homogeneity was confirmed among re-isolates that were obtained from commercial batches of bio-insecticide PFR 97TM 20%WDG and bio-fungicide SoilGardTM12G that had been produced in 1995-1999. RAPD analysis indicated the genetic identity of V. lecanii strains re-isolated from the two different bio-insecticides MYCOTAL^® and VERTALEC^®. The usefulness of RAPD technique was demonstrated when P. fumosoroseus strain PFR 97 Apopka was reliably identified after having passed through adults of the spruce bark beetle Ips typographus, and by analysis of the relationship between fungi of the genus Gliocladium.

The goal of the article is to analyze the distribution and changes of temperatures in boreholes with the rock mass/fluid tubular heat exchangers used as an energy source for the heat pump. It also aims at documenting changes of temperatures in the rock mass during stagnation and heat extraction, and to compare the temperatures in the active and referential borehole. The testing results showed that temperatures of the rock mass reached a minimal value of 1.3°C at depths of 9 m and 20 m with maximal heat extraction corresponding to minimal air temperatures. The temperatures of the rock mass increased near the end of the heating season to values which correspond to the initial values. The temperature differences of the rock mass between the reference borehole and active boreholes increased to up to 10.5 K during the heating season. However, the temperature differences at the end of the heating season between the reference and active boreholes dropped back to 0.5-1.1 K.

The objective of this investigation was to evaluate the stability of milk flow curves and the volume of residual milk in relation to milk flow curves in breeds Tsigai, Improved Valachian, and Lacaune (n = 16 heads per breed) milked twice daily. Milk flow type stability was evaluated at morning milking (stabile milkings) during three successive days in the middle of two months (June, July). After the following fourth morning milking (OT milkings) in both months, oxytocin was injected intravenously at a dose of 2 UI. Afterwards the ewes were milked again in order to remove residual milk. The milk flow curves were classified into four types: 1 peak (1P), 2 peaks (2P), plateau I (maximal milk flow over 0.4 l/min) (PLI), plateau II (maximal milk flow less than 0.4 l/min) (PLII). If all milk flow curves of one animal were of the same type within one month and within both months, respectively, the animal was characterized as the ewe with the stabile type of milk flow. Frequency of occurrence of single milk flow types (1P : 2P : PLI : PLII) during stabile milkings was 42 : 49 : 9 : 0% in June and 51 : 37.5 : 11.5 : 0% in July. 33 ewes (i.e. 69%) had the stabile type of milk flow within both months. But, more than 51% of them had 1P type of milk flow. Milk production varied according to milk flow curve during OT milkings (0.427 ± 0.015, 0.498 ± 0.024, and 0.655 ± 0.035 l for 1P, 2P, and PLI, respectively). The highest percentage of residual milk from total milk yield (RM/TMY) was observed in ewes with 1P (20.29 ± 0.85%), followed by ewes with PLI (12.31 ± 1.99%) and 2P (9.72 ± 1.36%) (P < 0.0001). Lacaune ewes had the lowest amount of residual milk (0.054 ± 0.006 l) and RM/TMY (9.86 ± 1.16%) compared to breeds Tsigai (0.088 ± 0.008 l; 16.47 ± 1.44%) and Improved Valachian (0.069 ± 0.010 l; 15.99 ± 1.78%) indicating their better udder emptying.

Field experiments were conducted to determine the effects of field bindweed and powdery mildew on growth and yield of a pepper crop. This study also evaluated the efficacy of fungicide application programs for controlling powdery mildew. Field bindweed influenced growth and yield of pepper. The greatest dry weight and yield of pepper were recorded with weed-free control treatment. Moreover, powdery mildew was severe. The fungicide application programs positively influenced growth and yield of pepper. The control plots had the lowest yield of pepper. The first symptoms of powdery mildew on pepper plants developed 20-25 days after powdery mildew diagnosis on field bindweed. Two azoxystrobin applications, at 10 and 25 days after infection of field bindweed by powdery mildew, restricted the disease progress. Our results indicate that field bindweed is highly susceptible to powdery mildew infection and could be used as an indicator species of L. taurica presence in pepper plants.

The effect of slope on runoff volume was evaluated on skid trails in the natural forest in the north of Iran. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between runoff volume and slope in order to control runoff and skid trail maintenance by using water diversions. Two levels of slope > 20% and < 20% were studied in adjacent parcels in district 3 of Nav in Asalem. Treatment plots with three replications were established on skid trails after skidding and the runoff volume was recorded after duration of 3 rainfalls. The results showed that there was a positive and significant correlation between slope steepness and runoff volume, and between runoff volume and slope length (P < 0.05). Also, regression analysis results showed that there was a linear relation between runoff volume, slope length and slope steepness. Effective recommendations to control and decrease runoff volume are precise scheduling of skid trail designing, construction, maintenance and limiting skid trails to a longitudinal slope of less than 20% and rehabilitation of skid trails by using water diversions.

Physical, chemical and bacteriological analyses were carried out of water samples from three boreholes located near a landfill, and or soil samples at Akure, Nigeria, to ascertain the effect of the dumpsite on the groundwater and soil quality. The samples from borehole locations with radial distances of 50, 80, and 100 m, respectively, away from the landfill and twelve soil samples collected at distances 0 (dump centre), 10, 20, and 30 m away from the refuse dump were analysed. The parameters determined were the turbidity, temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), total dissolved solids (TDS), total hardness (TH), total iron, nitrate, nitrite, chloride, calcium and heavy metals like copper, zinc, and lead. Most of these parameters indicated pollution but were below the World Health Organization (WHO) limits for consumption. The pH ranged from 5.7 to 6.8 indicating toxic pollution, the turbidity values were between 1.6 and 6.6 NTU, and the temperature ranged from 26.5°C to 27.5°C. The concentrations of iron, nitrate, nitrite and calcium ranged from 0.9 to 1.4, 30 to 61, 0.7 to 0.9, and 17 to 122 mg/l, respectively. Out of heavy metals, zinc ranged between 3.3 and 5.4 mg/l and lead ranged from 1.1 to 1.2 mg/l. Soil water holding capacity, porosity, pH, organic matter, organic carbon and organic nitrogen ranged from 38 to 54, 44 to 48, 6.9-7.5, 2.44-4.27, 1.42-2.48, and 0.12-0.21%, respectively. Statistical analyses indicated significant differences at 95% level. The results showed that all the boreholes were not strongly polluted but require treatment before use while the soil is absolutely unsuitable for the crop production. Re-designing of sanitary landfills to prevent leachate from getting to the water table, adoption of clean technology for recycling greenhouse gases and a sustainable land management programme for reclamation are recommended.

The aim of this study was to estimate genetic parameters for female fertility and production traits in first-parity Czech Holstein cows and to quantify the effect of using this information on the accuracy of a selection index in seven different scenarios. In order to estimate genetic (co)variance components, the DMU software running an AI-REML algorithm was used. The analyses were made using a series of bivariate animal models. The pedigree included 164 125 animals and it was set up using a pruned animal model design. The present study included the following female fertility traits for the first lactations: calving to the first insemination (CF), days open (DO), calving from the first to the last insemination (FL), and milk production traits: milk production (MLK), kg of fat (FAT), and kg of protein (PROT). The heritability for all the investigated fertility traits was low and close to 0. Moderate heritabilities for production traits ranging from 0.20 (MLK) to 0.23 (PROT) were estimated. The strongest unfavourable correlation was found between PROT and DO (0.49). Other estimated correlations between fertility traits and production traits were moderate, ranging from 0.26 to 0.41. The results of this study evidence that cows with the poorest genetic potential for reproductive performance are those having high genetic potential for milk production and milk components. The results also show that the number of days from calving to new pregnancy depends on the production level. Seven investigated scenarios using selection index theory show a clear trend for increasing accuracy when more fertility traits were added as well as when higher numbers of daughters with information on reproduction traits per sire were available.

The objective of the present study was to refine a previously developed method to isolate primary bovine mammary epithelial cells (pBMEC) from fresh milk. Using this method, it was tested whether the number of pBMEC and the relation of recovered pBMEC to total somatic cell count vary within the individual lactation stages. Furthermore, the expression levels of the milk protein genes during the first twenty weeks of lactation were determined by quantitative PCR method. A total number of 152 morning milk samples were obtained from twenty-four Holstein-Friesian cows during the first 20 weeks of lactation (day 8, 15, 26, 43, 57, 113, and 141 postpartum). Numbers of extracted pBMEC were consistent at all time-points (1.1 ± 0.06 to 1.4 ± 0.03 ×10³/ml) and an average value of RNA integrity number (RIN) was 6.3 ± 0.3. Percentage of pBMEC in relation to total milk cells (2.0 ± 0.2 to 6.7 ± 1.0%) correlated with milk yield. Expression patterns of the casein genes alpha (α)_S1, (α)_S2, beta (β), and kappa (κ) (CSN1S1, CSN1S2, CSN2, CSN3, respectively) and the whey protein genes α-lactalbumin (LALBA) and progestagen-associated endometrial protein (PAEP; known as β-lactoglobulin) were shown to be comparable, i.e. transcripts of all six milk protein genes were found to peak during the first two weeks of lactation and to decline continuously towards mid lactation. However, mRNA levels were different among genes with CSN3 showing the highest and LALBA the lowest abundance. We hypothesized that milk protein gene expression has a pivotal effect on milk protein composition with no influence on milk protein concentration. This paper is the first to describe milk protein gene expression during lactation in pBMEC collected in milk. Future studies will be needed to understand molecular mechanisms in pBMEC including regulation of expression and translation throughout lactation.

The effect of 24-epibrassinolide and 28-homobrassinolide on seed germination and seedling growth of radish (Raphanus sativus L.) was studied under cadmium toxicity. The impact of brassinosteroids (BRs) on free proline levels and the activity of antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT; EC 1.11.1.6), peroxidase (POD; EC 1.11.1.7), superoxide dismutase (SOD; EC 1.15.1.1), ascorbic peroxidase (APOX; EC 1.11.1.11) and guaiacol peroxidase (GPX; EC 1.11.1.7) in radish seedlings under Cd toxicity was evaluated. The effect of BRs on the activity of ascorbic acid oxidase (AAO; EC 1.10.3.3) and lipid peroxidation in radish seedlings challenged with Cd stress was also investigated. BRs supplementation alleviated the toxic effect of the heavy metal and increased the percentage of seed germination and seedling growth. Out of the two substances, HBL was found to be more effective than EBL in stress alleviation. HBL (3µM) alleviated the toxic effect of the heavy metal and increased the percentage of seed germination by 57% over Cd and 20% over unstressed control. Similarly supplementation of HBL (3µM) caused an increase of 156%, 78% and 91% in length, fresh weight and dry weight of seedling, respectively, over Cd treatment alone. The amelioration of seedling growth by BRs under metal toxicity was associated with enhanced levels of free proline. The activities of antioxidant enzymes CAT, SOD, APOX and GPX were increased in the seedlings from treatments with Cd along with BRs. Brassinosteroid treatment reduced the activity of POD and AAO in heavy metal stressed seedlings. Lipid peroxidation induced by Cd was found reduced with the supplementation of BRs. The results obtained in the study clearly indicated the ameliorative influence of brassinosteroids on the inhibitory effect of Cd toxicity.

Photosynthesis and transpiration rates in the interval of 30 min before and 30 min after copper fungicide application show an increase from the level of 5.0 to 7.0 µmol CO₂/m²/s and 0.75 to 1.00 mmol H₂0/m²/s. Long-term measurements show that the increase of photosynthesis rate after copper application is temporal and fades away after 10-14 days. No stress response was induced after the application of copper fungicides. Contents of copper in hop cones are up to 500 mg/kg if total amount of applied copper does not exceed 15 kg/ha. Contents of copper on leaves are 2-5 times higher at the same application dose. Application of 5 kg copper per one hectare of vigorous growth of Agnus variety increases content of copper on hop leaves by 1000 mg/kg at least. The same amount of copper increases its content in hop cones by 300 mg/kg at the ripening period. Tight correlation between the amount of copper applied and its content in hops does not exist. Elementary copper from leaves is brought into harvested hops in the form of biological admixtures. Copper content in hop cones shows a decreasing trend, which is given by gradual increase of cones size at the ripening period. Similar trend on hop leaves shows that washing off and dissolving of copper compounds by atmospheric water can participate in this process as well. Common content of copper in untreated hop cones and leaves is up to 20-25 mg/kg.

During the mycological investigation of the wheat grain originating in Poltár (Central Slovakia), an endogenous aspergillus producing aflatoxins was encountered. Morphology, physiology and extrolites indicated the species Aspergillus parasiticus Speare. The amounts of aflatoxins detected by Liquid Chromatography/Tandem Mass Spectrometry on a synthetic medium were: B1 15.7, G1 23.4, B2 0.52, G2 0.68, and M1 0.18 mg/l. Compared to other screened strains, the amount of B1 produced was 5.6 mg/l lower than in A. parvisclerotigenus NRRL 3251 and 0.5 and 3.15 mg/l higher than in A. nomius I and A. nomius II, respectively. The production of G1 was 22.25 and 18.65 mg/l lower than in A. nomius I and II, respectively. The yields of other aflatoxins were lower and the yield of kojic acid, 227.0 mg/l, was higher. It is the first finding of both an aflatoxin producer and of A. parasiticus on a food commodity of Slovak origin within the last 20 years. The yields produced indicate rather a high toxigenic potency.

Studies were carried out in southern Poland during 2002-2006 in Scots pine stands under the effect of an outbreak of pine shoot beetles. The qualitative aspects of beetle feeding in tree crowns, studied on the basis of fallen shoots collected on experimental plots, are presented in this paper. The beetle numbers affected the age distribution of damaged shoots and the proportion of multiple attacks. The proportions of one-year-old shoots and the numbers of shoots with more than two attacks increased in the marginal part of the stand in the year of intensive feeding of beetles and in the subsequent year. A similar proportion of shoots with two attacks in both stands under investigations in individual study periods, with no relation to beetle numbers, does not permit to use this characteristic for forecasting purposes. The average length of tunnels in shoots attacked once reached 20 mm at maximum. The average length of tunnels (measured from the place of shoot disruption) was greater in shoots with two attacks than in shoots with a single one (P < 0.0001). The difference was not significant (P = 0.3429) only in stand B during the study season 2004-2005. The majority of the tunnels made in apical portions of shoots with two attacks damaged the tissue of apical shoots. The distance between the base of the second tunnel and the shoot apex in shoots with two attacks, and its significant (P < 0.01) linear relationship with the length of beetle tunnels, indicated a high nutritional quality of apical portions of shoots.

The aim of this paper is to present the results of the investigation on belowground biomass and its annual increment in a beech ecosystem (Calamintho grandiflorae-Fagetum) in Mavrovo National Park, Republic of Macedonia. Belowground biomass was estimated in three layers of the ecosystem (tree, shrub and herb layers) for seven years during the period 1997-2005. Allometric regressions were established for the relationship of root biomass from volume index (D²H, diameter squared × height) on a sample of 10 model trees and 13 model shrubs of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.). Fine root biomass of trees and shrubs was estimated in soil samples to a depth of 145 cm and divided into live and dead fine roots and subdivided into thickness classes. Belowground biomass of the herb layer was assessed in 20 herb species. It was estimated that the total belowground biomass in the ecosystem was 57.75 .ha^-1. The contribution of shrub and herb layers was insignificant (less than 0.2%). Biomass of the live fine roots was 10.16 t.ha^-1, i.e. 18% of the total belowground biomass. Annual increment of trees and shrubs was 1.03 t.ha^-1.y^-1 and 4.6 kg.ha^-1.y^-1, respectively.

The baking quality in the sets of both commercial and variety wheat samples (80 and 18 items) and wheat composite flour (standard and 25 blends) was evaluated in terms of the Solvent retention capacity method (AACC 56-11). Composites were prepared from a commercial fine wheat flour and commercial bio-wholemeal flour prepared by milling of common wheat, rye, oat, barleys and corn at substitution levels of 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50%. The commercial wheat quality testing ANOVA revealed the major effect of the sample tested form; the data measured for grain and flour proved to be correlated. Besides, the harvest year affected the baking quality to a greater degree than the growing locality. Within the variety wheat set, the harvest year factor dominated over that of the wheat cultivar one with the exception of the sodium carbonate retention capacity. In the case of the wheat flour substitution by bio-cereal flour types, the added amount of the alternative flour supported only the quantitative change caused by the incorporated cereal in all four retention capacities.