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A digestibility experiment using six ileally cannulated growing gilts (initial BW 31.6 kg) was carried out to study the effect of microbial phytase and diet form on apparent ileal and total tract digestibilities of dry matter (DM), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca) and energy and on apparent ileal digestibility of amino acids. The basal P-deficient diet was fed either dry or mixed with water (feed:water ratio 1:2.5) and fermented in a laboratory setup. The enzyme was added to the dry diet at four levels (0, 1 000, 1 500 and 3 000 U/kg) and to the liquid fermented diet at two levels (0 and 1 000 U/kg) using a 6 × 6 Latin square design. The supplementation of microbial phytase to the basal diets significantly (P < 0.05) improved ileal and total tract digestibility of P and tended to improve the digestibility of Ca. Phytase supplementation at 3 000 U/kg to the dry diet improved ileal and total tract P digestibility by approximately 30 and 60%, respectively. A similar effect was found in the liquid fermented diet supplemented with phytase at 1 000 U/kg. As a result of improved P digestibility, faecal P excretion was reduced by 20-40%. There was no significant effect of phytase addition or diet fermentation on the digestibility of DM, N, energy or amino acids. The response in amino acid digestibility to phytase calculated with acid insoluble ash as a marker was slightly higher than that calculated with Cr₂O₃.

Small bowel transplantations (SBT) are increasingly performed to treat patients with irreversible intestinal failure or short-bowel syndrome. Histologic evaluation of small bowel allograft biopsies is important for the diagnosis of acute cellular rejection (ACR). A reliable serological marker of ACR after SBT is still unknown. Recently, citrulline was identified as a potential biomarker of reduced enterocyte mass. The aim of our study was to analyze rejection and plasma citrulline levels early after SBT in pigs. 24 pigs were used and divided into four groups. Group A, autologous SBT (n = 3) as a control group; Group B, allogeneic SBT with tacrolimus monotherapy (n = 7); Group C, allogeneic SBT immunosuppressed with tacrolimus and sirolimus (n = 8); and Group D, without immunosuppresion (n = 6). The observation period was 30 days. Mucosal biopsies were obtained on Days 0, 3, 5, 7, 10, 14, 20, 28 and simultaneously plasma citrulline levels were measured. ACR was classified according to standardized grading schema on a scale of indeterminate, mild, moderate, and severe. There were no significant differences in citrulline plasma levels between cases with mild ACR and indeterminate for ACR. A significant decline in plasma citrulline levels occurred in cases of moderate and severe rejection. Plasma citrulline levels constituted a marker of more advanced injury of small bowel epithelium.

Formation and degradation of Amadori products (APs) originating from the early Maillard reaction during maturation of three different commercial cheeses, namely Cheddar, Emmentaler and Gouda, was investigated. APs were analysed as the corresponding N-(furoylmethyl) amino acids formed after acid hydrolysis. The contents of furosine, which is a hallmark for Amadori products resulting from derivatisation of lysine at the ε-amino group (ε-APs), ranged from 4 to 20 mg/100 g protein, corresponding to 33 to 159 μmol of lysine Amadori product per 100 g protein in the cheese samples at the start of the ripening period. Furosine contents declined during ripening in all investigated cheeses, in which cheese type and the stage of ripening influenced the rate of furosine decline. In contrast to this, all detectable N-terminal APs (α-AP) decreased at similar rates. The mean total content of these substances ranged from 12 to 48 μmol/100 g protein. The ratio between ε-APs and α-APs can be used as an indicator for the cheese ripening.

We used time-intensity studies in this work for evaluating the perception of sweet taste of sucralose, aspartame, and saccharose over time. In second part of this study the mixture of sweeteners and zinc sulphate, which modifies sweet taste perception, was used. We determined the following parameters from the assessor's charts of time profile: maximum intensity of sweet taste and the time which was needed to get to its maximum, the time period of perception of sweet taste and the area under the curve. For evaluation each assessor received 20 ml of a water solution with the sweetener followed by the mixture of the same sweetener with zinc sulphate. The intensity of sweet taste was measured before and after spitting out the solution. Then it was measured at intervals of 5 s for 70 seconds. It can be seen from the charts that sucralose has a more gentle sweet taste perception in time than the other sweeteners and that the zinc sulphate modifies the sweet taste but it does not inhibit it absolutely.

This study was designed to evaluate the quantification of the nutrient content of aboveground biomass of teak plantation in a tropical dry deciduous forest of Udaipur, Rajasthan, India. The nutrient contents in the total biomass of teak in the plantation were 165.47 kg/ha N, 20.96 kg/ha P, 35.06 kg/ha K, 49.29 kg/ha Ca, 31.52 kg/ha Mg, 4.27 kg/ha Na, 4.06 kg/ha S and 3.21 kg/ha Cl. In total, 42.93% of the dry matter accounted for crown biomass (leaves, branches, twigs and reproductive parts), which in turn accounts for 60.93% N, 58.63% P, 54.30% K, 51.40% Ca, 62.5% Mg, 53.62% Na, 59.85% S and 60.74% Cl of the aboveground biomass, whereas 57.07% of the dry matter account for trunk biomass (bole bark and bole wood), which in turn accounts for 39.07% N, 41.37% P, 45.70% K, 48.6% Ca, 37.5% Mg, 46.38% Na, 40.15% S and 39.26% Cl.

Enterococci are bacteria commonly found in humans. However, these bacteria can cause severe infections in susceptible individuals. The strains of Enterococcus faecium have demonstrated an increasing resistance to antibiotics, which is considered an important virulence factor. The contribution of E. faecium to the infection-related illnesses has recently increased, which involves most of the isolated Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus (VRE) strains. Enterococci are common contaminants of human milk processed in milk banks, and the consumption of contaminated milk can cause severe infection-related complications if the control mechanisms fail to detect the contamination. Extensive data are available on the growth curves of E. faecium in broth at pH values between 6 and 7, at temperatures of 5°C to 20°C, and for water activity values a_w of 0.97 to 0.997. These growth curves were replaced with non-linear Gompertz curves for microorganism growth, the parameters of which were correlated with the temperature and pH values. A mathematical relationship to water activity could not be established since only two water activity levels have been experimentally tested and the resulting model would be highly inaccurate. The issue of water activity was resolved by the development of two separate models, one for each of the water activity values. The models correspond very well with the experimental growth curve data from which they were developed. The model for the water activity level of 0.997 was used to predict the growth of E. faecium in cow and human milks (these two fluids have practically identical water activity), and the prediction was compared to the experimental data. A good agreement between the predicted and experimental data was achieved for cow milk. With human milk, the model usually predicted a more rapid growth rate than that seen experimentally. The model was thus on the conservative side in all cases. The inhibitory agents naturally present in human milk might be responsible for the slower growth rates.

The diet based on gluten free products is characterised by a low content of some nutritional components such as proteins and mineral components, as well as non-nutritional but physiologically important components like dietary fibre. Buckwheat grains are a rich source of proteins, which have a high biological value due to the well-balanced amino-acids composition, although its digestibility is relatively low. The aim of the present research was to investigate the influence of buckwheat flour addition on gluten free bread quality and their antioxidant capacity. In this study, own gluten free bread formula, composed of corn starch, potato starch, salt, yeast, pectin, sugar and sunflower oil was investigated. The buckwheat flour substituted corn starch at final amount of 10, 20, 30, 40% w/w of total ingredients in gluten free bread formula. The breads were baked in electric oven at 200°C for 25 min. The bread samples were freeze-dried, ground and sieved. The sensory quality of buckwheat enhanced gluten free breads was analysed using sensory profiling (QDA) and hedonic tests. The measurement of macroelements content in the crumb was carried out using the atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) method (SORAL-SMIETANA et al. 2001). The antioxidant capacity (AC) of the breads was evaluated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) method and free radical scavenging activities of 67% methanol extracts against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryhydrazyl radical (DPPH.) as DPPH Radical Scavenging Activity (DPPH RSA). All breads were analysed for their total phenolics content. The buckwheat enhancing gluten free breads were in accordance to the requirements of Polish Standards (PN-A-74123) for gluten-free bread. The sensory profiles of gluten-free breads were dependant on the amount of buckwheat flour added. The overall quality of breads was the highest for bread with 40% buckwheat flour addition. The positive correlation between macroelements content and increasing amount of buckwheat flour was observed in breads. The antioxidant capacity of buckwheat enhanced gluten free breads determined by CV and DPPH RSA was related to the amount of added buckwheat flour. The total phenolics content was positively correlated with antioxidant capacity of the breads. In summary, buckwheat flour as a natural source of minerals and antioxidant activity, and also as a structure-forming factor improving the sensory quality, can be used for preparation of new buckwheat enhanced gluten free breads.

For the monitoring of distribution and accumulation of phthalic acid esters (PAE) in animal tissues, samples of muscle, mesenteric fat (fat), skin and liver from broiler chicks ROSS 308 were used. The chicks were divided into four groups (50 chicks each). All the chicks were given commercial diets (complete feed, KKS) for broiler chicks (starter - BR1; grower - BR2 and finisher - BR3). The experimental diets were supplemented with vegetable oil (RV) with low (group N) or high (group V) phthalate contents, or animal fat with a high phthalate content (group Z). Neither the control diets (K), nor the grower (BR1) diets contained vegetable oils or animal fat. The N chicks were given the grower (BR2) and finisher (BR3) diets supplemented with 5% and 3% vegetable oil, respectively. The V chicks were given BR2 and BR3 diets with 5% and 3% vegetable oil, respectively. The Z chicks were given BR2 and BR3 diets with 5% and 3% animal fat, respectively. The chicks were fattened till 42 days of age. Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) were found in the tissues of chicks in all the experimental groups. The DBP content in the muscle ranged from 0.03 to 0.55 mg/kg, in the adipose tissue from < 0.20 to 2.56 mg/kg, in the skin from < 0.20 to 1.49 mg/kg, and in the liver from 0.03 to 0.13 mg/kg. The content of DEHP in the muscle ranged from 0.03 to 1.15 mg/kg, in the adipose tissue from 0.25 to 9.85 mg/kg, in the skin from < 0.20 to 4.68 mg/kg, and in the liver from 0.16 to 0.24 mg/kg. The highest concentrations of DBP of 1.28 ± 1.00 mg/kg of fresh sample (an average value from eight chicks) was determined in the adipose tissue of V chicks. The highest concentration of DEHP of 3.27 ± 2.87 mg/kg of fresh sample (mean of eight chicks) was also determined in the V group. The accumulation of DEHP was 3.2; 2.6 and 2.9 times higher than that of DBP in the muscle, adipose tissue and skin, respectively. The V and Z chicks showed higher phthalate contents (the sum of DBP and DEHP) in the adipose tissue, skin and liver than the K and N chicks.

The genetic diversity and the relationships among rapeseed germplasm, including a collection of 20 Chinese, 25 Czech, 2 German, 2 French, and 1 English cultivars and breeding materials were evaluated using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. A total of 79 different polymorphic amplification products were obtained using10 selected decamer primers. RAPDs revealed a significant level of polymorphism among the accessions. The diversity index (DI) ranged from 1.390 to 3.491, showing a sufficient potential of selected primers to differentiate among studied genotypes. Three different metrics were used to assess genetic diversity. The best fit between a priori knowledge about germplasm origin and a posteriori grouping was found using Hamman metrics. Cluster analysis based on Hamman pairwise distance comparison divided the studied accessions into three main clusters. The first group included only accessions fromChina, the second group only that fromEurope with the exception of Zhongshuang No. 2, a Chinese winter rape possessing European cultivars in the pedigree. The third group included accessions both fromChina andEurope. The results indicate the occurrence of a considerable genetic variation between Chinese and European accessions.

This study was conducted with the aim to evaluate the effects of the moisture content, internode position, and loading rate on the bending characteristics of barley straw including bending stress and Young's modulus. In the study, 9 treatments were performed as randomised complete block design with 5 replications. The characteristics were determined at three moisture levels: 10%, 15%, and 20% wet basis, three loading rates: 5, 10, and 15 mm/min, and free internodes: the first, second, and third internodes. The results showed that both the bending stress and Young's modulus decreased with an increase in the moisture content and towards the third internode position. The average bending stress was obtained as 8.41 MPa varying from 6.32 to 12.41 MPa, while the average Young's modulus was calculated as 473.88 MPa ranging from 330.94 to 618.91 MPa. As shown by the results obtained, the values of the characteristics increased with increasing loading rate.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a long-term peroral selenium supplementation in the form of sodium selenite and selenium lactate-protein complex by comparing selenium concentrations and glutathione peroxidase activity in blood of goats and their kids as well as comparing selenium concentrations in goat colostrums. For the study, a total of 27 clinically healthy pregnant white shorthair goats were used. They were divided to three groups, i.e., the control group (C) without any selenium supplementation, sodium selenite group (E1) and selenium lactate-protein complex group (E2). For four months, experimental goats received 0.43 mg of selenium per animal per day in diet; goats from the control group were given 0.15 mg of selenium per animal per day. At the beginning of the experiment, goats of all groups showed an average selenium concentration of 96 μg/l in whole blood. On the parturition day, samples of first colostrum from goats and heparinized blood from goats and kids were taken. In the control group (C), average blood selenium concentrations of 111.4 ± 33.5 μg/l were observed on the parturition day. In both experimental groups, selenium concentrations were significantly higher (P < 0.05). Average selenium concentration in the sodium selenite group (E1) was 177.2 ± 34.8 μg/l and in the group supplemented with selenium lactate-protein complex (E2) 159.0 ± 28.5 μg/l. Average glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in blood of control goats (C) was 581.9 ± 99.2 μkat/l, in group E1 1 154.6 ± 156.2 μkat/l and in group E2 1 011.6 ± 153.6 μkat/l. GSH-Px activity in experimental groups was significantly higher (P < 0.05) as compared with the control group. Average selenium concentrations in colostrum was in the control group 40.1 ± 12.8 μg/l, in E1 99.0 ± 29.9 μg/l and in group E2 79.0 ± 17.7 μg/l. Colostral selenium concentrations in experimental groups were significantly higher (P < 0.05) as compared with the control group. No significant difference in the monitored parameters was found between experimental groups. In kids of control mothers (kC), average selenium concentrations in blood on the parturition day were 62.4 ± 22.9 μg/l; kids of mothers supplemented with sodium selenite (kE1) showed average selenium levels of 100.0 ± 31.2 μg/l, and the average selenium concentration in kids of mothers receiving lactate-protein complex was 83.4 ± 20.1 μg/l (kE2). Average GSH-Px activity in control kids (kC) was 402.1 ± 153.9 μkat/l. Kids from kE1 showed average activity of GSH-Px 806.1 ± 254.9 μkat/l and kids from group kE2 529.9 ± 119.8 μkat/l. Statistically significant difference (P < 0.05) was found only between kC and kE1 which showed significantly higher selenium concentration and GSH-Px activity. The results of this study confirm that both forms of selenium administered in experimental groups (i.e., sodium selenite and selenium lactate-protein complex) had similar biological effect in goats. However, results obtained in kids indicate a better effect of supplementation with sodium selenite.

Superior protein quality and consistent processing quality is needed for winter wheat marketing in South China. It has been shown that uniconazole concentration and plant density are certainly related to crop growth. An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of uniconazole concentration and plant density on nitrogen content and grain quality in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Trials were managed to provide three levels of density (90 × 10⁴, 180 × 10⁴, and 270 × 10⁴ per ha) over plots receiving four levels of uniconazole concentrations (0, 10, 20, and 40 mg/kg) which were applied to seeds before sowing. The results revealed that the contents of N accumulated in ear, stem, and leaf were higher in uniconazole concentrations than that in control, and the effect of uniconazole on main stem was bigger than that on tillers. The grain protein was significantly (LSD, P < 0.05) higher in uniconazole concentrations than that in control. Uniconazole at 20 mg/kg was the most favorable for improving grain protein and protein fractions. Application of uniconazole concentrations also significantly (LSD, P < 0.05) increased WGC (wet gluten content) and SDS (sedimentation volumes), prolonged DDT (dough development time) and DST (dough stable time), and improved WA (water absorption), increased VV (valorimeter value), and subsequently improved the processing quality of wheat grains. These results suggest that a combination of uniconazole concentration and plant density should be applied in South China.

Microbial contamination of small streams in agricultural areas was monitored for two years. Microbiological indicators of faecal pollution (faecal coliforms, Escherichia coli and intestinal enterococci were detected by standard methods based on the cultivation of bacteria on selective media). The obtained results showed that running contamination of streams from agricultural areas was not extremely high, but it showed marked seasonal fluctuations (the average values and maximal values revealed great differences). Microbial contamination also increased several times in relation to high precipitation. The water quality in three (and/or four) localities exceeded the acceptable counts of faecal coliforms and enterococci given by the Czech legislation (40 CFU/ml for faecal coliforms and 20 CFU/ ml for enterococci). In agriculturally polluted streams, there were detected more enterococci than faecal coliforms, and also some less frequent species related to farm animals (Streptococcus equines and S. bovis) or plant rests (E. mundtii, E. gallinarum, E. casseliflavus) were present. E. faecalis and E. faecium strains (these are the most common species related to human faecal pollution) were less frequent there.

A field production study was conducted for a manual harvesting system using a chainsaw in a Caspian hardwood forest site. A selective cut was performed on a 42-hectare tract with an average slope of 30 percent. Felling time per tree was most affected by diameter at breast height and by the distance among harvested trees. The gross and net production rate was 20.6 m³ and 26.1 m³ per hour/one person, respectively. The unit cost considering the gross and net production rate was 1.05 USD/m³ and 0.81 USD/m³, respectively. The significant variables included diameter at breast height (D) and distance among harvested trees (L) for the time expenditure model. This regression function is statistically significant at α = 0.01.

Phenolic compounds were extracted from Mallotus philippinensi bark using methanol. Six fractions (I-VI) were separated from the extract on a Sephadex LH-20 column using ethanol and acetone-water as the mobile phases and were evaluated for their total antioxidant activity, antiradical activity against DPPH^* (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical), and reducing power. The total phenolics and tannin contents in the fractions were determined. The content of total phenolics in the fractions ranged from 54 mg/g (fraction I) to 927 mg/g (fraction VI). Condensed tannins were detected in fractions II-VI. Total antioxidant activity (TAA) of phenolic fractions of Mallotus philipinensis bark extract ranged from 0.58 mmol Trolox/g (fraction I) to 6.82 mmol Trolox/g (fraction IV). Fraction IV also showed the strongest antiradical activity against DPPH^* and reducing power. Several phenolic constituents in the fractions were detected by RP-HPLC using a gradient solvent system with UV-DAD detection.

Model fat blends with a monoacylglycerol emulsifier with different acyl chain (C10, C12, C14, C16, C18, C18:1, C20, C22) were prepared and stored under oxygen atmosphere 8 weeks at temperature 20°C. Influence of monoacylglycerol on oxidation and oxidation stability of the model fat blends was studied. The model fat blends were prepared by mixing of fully hydrogenated structured fats that contained only palmitic and stearic acid (fully hydrogenated zero-erucic rapeseed oil and fully hydrogenated palmstearin) and half-refined soybean oil. Lipid oxidation was measured by determination of the peroxide value. Volatile oxidation products were detected by the solid phase microextraction in connection with gas chromatography-mass detector (SPME/GC-MS). The oxidative stability was measured by the Rancimat method. Lipid oxidation in model system with 1-octadecenoylglycerol (MAG18:1) was the most extended. On the other hand minimal lipid oxidation was found out in the presence of 1-tetradecanoylglycerol (MAG14) and 1-hexadecanoylglycerol (MAG16).

Enterococci were presented in all tested samples of raw cow milk (six samples) at the level 10³-10⁵ CFU/ml, fresh cheeses (five samples) at the level 10²-10⁶ CFU/g and semi-hard cheeses (five samples) at the level 10³-10⁵ CFU/g. All 33 isolated Enterococcus strains were screened for decarboxylase activity by usage differential growth medium and 20 of them possessed tyrosine decarboxylase activity. A collection of eight strains with the strongest decarboxylase activity were identified by species specific PCR as E. faecium (Z3, Z4, Br4 and 6/4D strains) and E. faecalis (Ž4, 3/3C and 4/1A strains). Enterococcus spp. Z1 strain was not identified at the species level by used methods, but the genus was confirmed by PCR method. Their tyrosin decarboxylase activity was confirmed by TLC and detection of tdc gene. Z1, Z3 and Z4 strains showed also histidine decarboxylase activity on the differential growth medium with histidine, but this activity was evaluated by TLC as a false positive reaction of medium.

The objective of this experiment was to test a hypothesis that L-carnitine supplemented diet would improve semen characteristics in 6 adult crossbred AI boars (Hampshire × Pietrain). The control and the tested diet were identical except the tested period (8 weeks) when the diet was supplemented with 2 g of L-carnitine per boar per day. The semen was collected regularly weekly by a gloved-hand technique. Semen volume, sperm motility and concentration, proportion of alive sperm cells and aspartate aminotransferase (AspAT) activity of semen were determined immediately after the semen collection once every two weeks. Sperm survival rate, morphologically abnormal spermatozoa, seminal plasma mineral components and free amino acid concentration, L-carnitine concentration in semen plasma and in sperm cells were determined after the sample storage (-20°C) at a later time. The differences ascertained between the average values of semen characteristics in the control vs. tested period did not prove a true and unambiguous positive effect on boar semen parameters by dietary supplementation of L-carnitine as our data show in our study: volume (239.11 vs. 250.50 ml; P 0.518), sperm concentration (301.67 vs. 350.83 × 10³/mm³; P 0.309), sperm progressive motility (66.94 vs. 70.00%; P 0.409), morphologically abnormal spermatozoa (29.00 vs. 27.46%; P 0.802), daily sperm cells output (9.86 vs. 11.71 × 10⁹; P 0.206), proportion of alive sperm cells (72.56 vs. 74.13%; P 0.484), survival spermatozoa ability maintenance (43.29 vs. 38.68%; P < 0.01), mineral components in the seminal plasma (Na-, K-, Ca-, Mg-, Zn-; P from 0.138 to 0.968), AspAT activity (in semen plasma - 132.50 vs. 128.31 mU/10⁹ spermatozoa; P 0.830, in sperm cells - 147.37 vs. 119.01 mU/10⁹ spermatozoa; P 0.146), semen plasma amino acid concentration - a significant positive effect of L-carnitine in lysine only (0.79 vs.1.17 μmol/100 ml; P < 0.01), L-carnitine concentration (in semen plasma 255.40 vs. 259.97 mg/l; P 0.884, in sperm cells - 1 110.68 vs. 883.58 mg/l; P < 0.01). In conclusion, the studied indicators of semen quality were not significantly enhanced by dietary supplementation of L-carnitine in adult AI boars.

The presence of large plasmids in 30 Rhodococcus equi strains isolated from pig lymph nodes with granulomatous changes was investigated. Plasmid DNAs were isolated and digested with the restriction endonucleases BamHI, EcoRI, EcoT22I and HindIII for detailed comparison and estimation of plasmid sizes. A total of nine isolates were identified as intermediately virulent (VapB-positive), harbouring large plasmids of type 5 (n = 5) and four new variants that we tentatively designated as type 19 (n = 1), 20 (n = 1), 21 (n = 1) and 24 (n = 1). All isolates were subjected to genotyping with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). High genetic diversity was observed: 21 distinct genotypes were detected; five were found in multiple isolates and the others were unique. Isolates of the same plasmid type exhibited different PFGE profiles and vice versa. In a few cases, multiple strains from certain farms were analysed, the majority of which exhibited diverse PFGE profiles. Our findings demonstrate the presence of a wide variety of R. equi strains even in small confined environments such as farms. This is the first molecular epidemiology study of intermediately virulent R. equi isolates from Slovenian pigs.

In the present paper genetic relationships of twenty varieties of cashew are described on the basis of morphological characters and RAPD (Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA) markers. Results obtained for the phenotypic characters based on similarity coefficient were divided into four clusters with 70% similarity. By means of similarity coefficients (SG), cluster I was found to consist of twelve varieties. Cluster II consisted of a single variety, NRCC-1, cluster III consisted of six varieties and cluster IV had only one variety, Vridhachalam-2. The analysis started by using RAPD markers that allowed us to distinguish 20 varieties. A total of 80 distinct DNA fragments ranging from 0.2 to 3.0 kb were amplified by using 11 selected random 10-mer primers. Genetic similarity analysis was conducted for the presence or absence of bands in the RAPD profile. Cluster analysis clearly showed that 20 varieties of cashew grouped into two major clusters based on similarity indices. The first major cluster comprised one minor cluster. The other major cluster was divided into two sub-minor clusters, one sub-minor cluster having three varieties and the other sub-minor cluster was represented by 15 varieties. Among the 20 varieties, Ullal-3 and Dhana (H-1608) showed the highest similarity indices (87%). It was noted that Vengurla-2 and Vengurla-3 were not grouped into a single cluster but Vengurla-4 has 82% similarity to Vengurla-3. The variety Vengurla-2 has very close similarity (85%) with variety Vridhachalam-3 (M-26/2). The analysis of genetic relationships in cashew using morphological traits and RAPD banding data can be useful for plant improvement, descriptions of new varieties and also for assessment of variety purity in plant certification programmes.

To better understand the potential for improving biomass accumulation and radiation use efficiency (RUE) of winter wheat under deficit irrigation regimes, in 2006-2007 and 2007-2008, an experiment was conducted at the Luancheng Experimental Station of Chinese Academy of Science to study the effects of deficit irrigation regimes on the photosynthetic active radiation (PAR), biomass accumulation, grain yield, and RUE of winter wheat. In this experiment, field experiment involving winter wheat with 1, 2 and 3 irrigation applications at sowing, jointing, or heading stages was conducted, and total irrigation water was all controlled at 120 mm. The results indicate that irrigation 2 or 3 times could help to increase the PAR capture ratio in the later growing season of winter wheat; this result was mainly due to the changes in the vertical distributions of leaf area index (LAI) and a significant increase of the LAI at 0-20 cm above the ground surface (LSD, P < 0.05). Compared with irrigation only once during the growing season of winter wheat, irrigation 2 times significantly (LSD, P < 0.05) increased aboveground dry matter at maturity; irrigation at sowing and heading or jointing and heading stages significantly (LSD, P < 0.05) improved the grain yield, and irrigation at jointing and heading stages provided the highest RUE (0.56 g/mol). Combining the grain yield and RUE, it can be concluded that irrigation at jointing and heading stages has higher grain yield and RUE, which will offer a sound measurement for developing deficit irrigation regimes in North China.

Colour and texture are very important quality properties of all foods. In this work, the influence was investigated of different types of pectin on colour and textural properties in strawberry jams and low-calorie strawberry jams containing fructose and aspartame or fructose syrup and aspartame. The highest anthocyanin content and total phenol content were detected in strawberry jam samples prepared with low methoxy amidated pectin. During storage, after 4 and 6 weeks at both storage temperatures, room temperature and 4°C, anthocyanin content and total phenol content decreased. Also, free radical scavenging activity decreased during storage. As far as the texture parameters are concerned, namely firmness, consistency and cohesiveness, the highest values were found in strawberry jam samples prepared with high methoxyl pectin.

Phenolic compounds were extracted from bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi L. Sprengel) leaves into 95% (v/v) ethanol. The tannin constituents were separated from the crude extract using Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography with 95% (v/v) ethanol and 50% (v/v) acetone as the mobile phases. Myosin was isolated and purified from excised pork knuckle muscles using the standard salt-solution extraction procedure followed by gel filtration chromatography. Myosin was precipitated from the solution with bearberry-leaf tannins at pH 5.0. The recovered complex was washed, lyophilised, and subjected to size-exclusion high performance liquid chromatography (SE-HPLC). Based on the basic conditions of the HPLC analysis, a portion of the tannin constituents was liberated from the complex. The UV spectra of these compounds were characterized by a maximum at ~ 300 nm. A portion of the tannins was present in the complex with myosin, and this was confirmed by UV spectra.

The presented work complements studies on agroclimatic zoning that were performed during 19^{th and 20th century in the Czech Republic and Austria and allows estimating the effect of climate change on the spatial distribution of agroclimatic conditions within both countries. The main conclusions of the study are: (1) The combination of increased air temperature and changes in the amount and distribution of precipitation will lead to significant shifts in the agroclimatic zones by the 2020's. The current most productive areas will be reduced and replaced by warmer but drier conditions, which are considered less suitable for rainfed farming. (2) While trends in the changes expected in lowlands are mostly negative (especially for non-irrigated crops), higher elevations might experience improvement in their agroclimatic production potential. However, the production potential of these regions is usually limited by other factors such as the soil quality and terrain accessibility. Additionally, these positive effects might be shortlived, as by the 2050's, even the areas in higher altitudes might experience much drier conditions than nowadays. (3) Dairy-oriented agriculture (based on permanent grassland production) at higher altitudes could suffer through an increased evapotranspiration demand combined with a decrease in precipitation, leading to higher water deficits and yield variations. (4) All above listed changes will most likely occur within less than four decades. The rate of change might be so high that the concept of agroclimatic zoning itself might lose its relevance due to the perpetual change.}

The study assessed cheese meltability at elevated temperatures, based on the results of the Tube Test and Schreiber Test. The tests were conducted on curd-ripened fried cheese with varying fat contents (Δfat = 17%) and at different storage times (Δt = 6 weeks). The protein:fat ratio in full fat cheese was C:F≈1, while in low-fat cheese it was C:F≈58. The data on cheese meltability recorded in the Tube Test and Schreiber Test, irrespective of experimental variables, indicated a high degree of correlation (r = 0.95). However, the lowest convergence (r = 0.6) of both methods was found when analysing low fat cheese. A higher fat content in the tested cheeses resulted in a statistically significantly higher meltability both in the Tube Test (by 12%) and in Schreiber Test (by 18%). The analysis of the regression model and response surfaces of variables confirms the trend showing that the lower the fat content and the longer the sample storage time, the lower the meltability. After 6 weeks the assessed meltability of cheeses was lower by 20.7% in the Tube Test, and by 19.1% in the Schreiber Test in comparison to the meltability of cheeses assessed immediately after their production.

The goal of this study is the evaluation of enriched bread prepared with an addition of buckwheat as a source of biologically active components in nutrition. Experimental pastry was baked using buckwheat wholegrain flour blended with wheat flour in different portions (10%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 50%) in order to observe the influence of buckwheat addition on dough processing and the quality of the final baked products. Taking into account the overall acceptability rating, it was concluded that bread with an addition of up to 30% of buckwheat could be baked with satisfactory evaluation results. The content of rutin in loaves in a consumable form prepared with a buckwheat addition varied between 7.76 mg/kg and 26.90 mg/kg. The clinical study which followed the baking experiment was based on the consumption of enriched bread (30% buckwheat, between 34.7 mg/kg and 38.2 mg/kg rutin content in dry matter) by a group of volunteers during a period of four weeks. The results approved the increase of the total antioxidant status thanks to the buckwheat enriched bread consumption from the value of 1.135 ± 0.066 mmol/dm³ at the beginning of the study to 1.46 ± 0.083 mmol/dm³ at the end of the study, i.e. significant differences.

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of microbial oil (MO, n-6 fatty acids) and fish oil (FO, n-3fatty acids) used in their blends as supplements (5% wt/wt) to the diet containing 80% of hay and 20% of barley on rumen fermentation and lipid metabolism in artificial rumen. Overall, three different ratios of n-6 and n-3 fatty acids (1:1, 3:1, and 5:1) as the blends of MO and FO were used. Two similar consecutive experiments were carried out within 2 months. Each experiment lasted for 12 days with 6 days of stabilization period. The addition of all three oil blends did not affect the parameters of fermentation such as degradation of dry matter (DM), detergent fibre, total gas production, but increased the degradation of cellulose and hemicellulose in the diets. The supplementation of oil blends to the diet insignificantly (NS) decreased the methane production (mostly the n-6/n-3 ratio 1:1, about 23.5%), increased (P < 0.01) mol% of propionate (mostly the n-6/n-3 ratio 1:1, about 24.1%) and decreased (P < 0.05) mol% of acetate (mostly the n-6/n-3 ratio, 1:1, about 7.7%). The lipid metabolism in artificial rumen was also affected, when the oil blends increased (P < 0.001) the concentration of total fatty acids (FA) and long-chain FA (LCFA) in effluent. The concentration (mg/g rumen fluid DM) of trans (trans 11 C_18:1, TVA-vaccenic acid), cis C_18:1 isomers and CLA-conjugated linoleic acid (cis 9, trans 11 C_18:2) was also increased (P < 0.001) by the oil blends. Finally, the oil blends caused the incomplete FA biohydrogenation by an increase in TVA concentration and TVA/C_18:0 ratio in effluent in artificial rumen.

Net photosynthetic rate (A) and stomatal conductance (gs) of leaves of Nothofagus pumilio and N. an-tarctica seedlings were measured at different photosynthetic photon flux densities (PPFDs, 20, 150, 250, 500, 750, 1,000, 1,500 and 2,200 μmol/m²/s) and after 60 minutes of shade to determine the rate of photosynthetic induction after seedling transition from low to high PPFD. A and gs were also measured to evaluate the responses to water stress and the tolerance to waterlogging. N. pumilio had higher A values than N. Antarctica for all light intensities measured with the maximum value of 16.8 μmol CO₂/m²/s saturated at 1,000 μmol/m²/s PPFD. Values of gs for both Nothofagus species also declined as light intensity decreased. The times required for full induction of A were 18 and 27 minutes after the increase of PPFD (full sun) for N. pumilio and N. Antarctica, respectively. There was a negative relationship between A and water stress, expressed as pre-dawn leaf water potential (ψ_lp), where the reduction in gs was the main factor that reduced A in both species. Tolerance to waterlogging was related with changes in A and gs where N. Antarctica was more tolerant. These photosynthetic results of Nothofagus leaves to fluctuating light, water stress and waterlogging could be used to estimate the responses of regeneration to environmental conditions under the dynamics of natural stands, after silvicultural practices and for restoration plans.

A set of 20 samples of tomato ketchup purchased on the market were analysed by several rheological procedures (Rheo-Stress 300) and by sensory profiling of both textural and flavour characteristics. A great variance was observed of all characteristics in all sample variables. About a third of plots between two variables were significantly related in the case of two rheological attributes and two sensory attributes, and in that of combinations between rheological and a sensory attributes. Similarly as in the case of lipid dispersions, the sensory texture acceptability was significantly related to the overall flavour acceptability. This proves the importance of texture in the consumption of tomato ketchup.

The oxidation stability of extra virgin and refined olive oils produced in different countries were studied under different conditions of microwave heating (microwave oven Electrolux, 2450 MHz, 500 W) and conventional heating (200°C). Oils were heated in a microwave oven and in a conventional oven for 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 20, 25, and 30 minutes. The evaluated parameters were peroxide value, content of conjugated dienes, conjugated trienes (determined by absorbance at 233 nm and 274 nm, respectively), and fatty acid composition by GC. During microwave and conventional heating peroxide values and contents of dienoic compounds differed significantly between control and the heated samples. The microwave treatment did not produce significantly greater amount of oxidation products than traditional heating.