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The profile of trans-fatty acids and the protozoan population were evaluated in four ruminally fistulated sheep fed a diet with meadow hay: barley grain ratio (80:20%) plus sunflower oil (SO), rapeseed oil (RO) or linseed oil (LO) (5% wt/wt). The concentrate was daily mixed with individual oils and offered at 07.00 h. A 4 × 4 Latin square with 4-week periods was used. The concentration of trans-vaccenic acid (TVA) was the highest 4 h after feeding (36.1 g/100 g FA with SO; 34.5 g/100 g FA with RO) and then decreased with the time after feeding (P < 0.05). The concentration of cis9, trans11 conjugated linoleic acid (c9,t11-CLA) with RO increased from 3.23 g/100 g FA (2 h after feeding) to 4.67 g/100 g FA (4 h after feeding). The concentration of c9,t11-CLA with SO increased from 2.09 g/100 g FA (2 h after feeding) to 2.31 g/100 g FA (4 h after feeding). The concentration of c9,t11-CLA with LO was the highest 4 h after feeding (2.07 g/100 g FA). Overall effects of the oil supplements and time after feeding on short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA) and long-chain fatty acids (LCFA) in the rumen fluid were evident. A strong interaction of oil supplements and time after feeding was detected in the concentration of UFA and SFA (P < 0.001). A significant effect of LO on the rumen ciliate population was observed; the total protozoan concentration and the number of Entodinium spp. were decreased as well as Dasytricha ruminantium, Isotricha spp., Polyplastron multivesiculatum, Ophryoscolex c. tricoronatus and Eremoplastron dilobum.

The influence of long-term regular mineral fertilization on the soil environment considering the total sulphur and the sulphur balance in the habitat of the permanent mountain meadow was investigated. The experimental field (set up in 1968) is situated at Czarny Potok (20°8' E, 49°4' N) in the central part of the Polish Carpathian. With completed annual NPK fertilisation 1.8 kg S/ha was introduced into the soil. The highest sulphur amount was found in the 0-10 cm horizon and this value slightly exceeded the content considered as natural. The sulphur content in the sward from Czarny Potok was lower than the mean sulphur content calculated in Poland for grasses (0.21% S). In the case of full NPK fertilisation the amount of removed sulphur ranged from 11.4 to 14.0 kg S/ha. The mean sulphur leaching into the soil profile from surface of 1 ha can be estimated from 1.1 to 3.7 kg S/ha.

The article aims to analyze the development of the basic characteristics of the demographic dynamics in the CR in urban areas divided according to size in 1993-2004 and to express the changes in the development of the natural increase. Urban areas in the CR were divided into 3 groups according to their size (size-related groups): urban areas of up to 2 000 inhabitants - a country type, urban areas with 2 000 to 10 000 inhabitants - a transition type, urban areas with more than 10 000 inhabitants - towns. In 2004, there were 26% of inhabitants living in the country group, 20% in the transition group and 54% in towns. There was a decline in marriage rate in all the groups; in the country, with its higher level, the decline was more moderate. The divorce rate shows a moderate increase except 1999, when it dramatically fell thanks to the legislation. The divorce rate was the highest in towns and the lowest in the country. The birth rate continued its sharp decline in urban areas of all sizes during the first four years of the researched period, then it levelled off, and it has even been slightly rising in the last years. It was considerably lower in bigger towns than in the other two groups, which had practically an identical development. There was a kind of balance at the end of the period. The death rate was generally going down; it was the highest in the country areas, however, it was approximating the values in the other two groups. The dramatic fall of the natural increase levelled off and it also showed a moderate rise. Trends are expressed with polynomial functions. The article presents the characteristics development in graphs and the reasons for changes are being commented upon.

Height and diameter growth and volume production of 22 different clones of poplars were evaluated in Sliepkovce populetum at the age of 12 years. The populetum is situated on medium-heavy and medium humic uninundated alluvia of the Laborec river; typologically, the group of forest types is Ulmeto-Fraxinetum populeum. The results of evaluation documented that among the poplars under study the clones Gigant, OP-229 and BL achieved the best growth and maximum volume production while their mean height amounted to 22.9-23.8 m, mean diameter to 31.9-33.2 cm and average annual volume increment was 25.1-28.3 m³ per 1 ha. The growth of P. Rochester 20/66 poplar was considerably much slower: its mean height amounted to 17.3 m, mean diameter to 18.7 cm and average annual volume increment was 6.3 m³ per 1 ha. It will be necessary to carry out further studies to obtain more detailed values for these clones.

The paper summarizes the results of institutional research aimed at new types of combined plywood materials. Under pilot plant conditions, three variants of combined plywood materials were pressed, namely with the layer of fibreglass, with a core cork layer and with a cork wear layer on one side of the plywood surface and a cork core. Tests of selected physical and mechanical properties were carried out on these materials including the basic statistical evaluation. Comparisons with plywood materials Multiplex 15 and 20 mm in thickness were also made.

The aim of this work was to use ultrasound pre-treatment as a potential method prior to the subsequent processing in the food industry, for button mushrooms, Brussels sprouts, and cauliflower in order to observe the impact of ultrasound on the vegetable surrounding media properties in the processing conditions. The samples treated with 20 kHz probe and 40 kHz bath for 3 and 10 min were compared with blanched (80°C/3 min) and untreated samples. The effect was followed of ultrasound and blanching treatments on pH, electrical conductivity, and temperature changes. The effect of ultrasound on the sample tissue surface was also studied. The pH decreased after the ultrasound treatment with the probe, the largest change having been observed after using a 20 kHz probe for 10 min in all samples as compared with the blanching treatment, whereas it increased in mushroom and cauliflower and decreased in Brussels sprouts. Electric conductivity of the surrounding water before and after the ultrasound and blanching treatments of vegetables increased with all the treatments suggesting the loss of electrolyte. The highest increase was observed with the blanching treatment in all samples, followed by the treatments using an ultrasonic bath (10 min > 3 min) and an ultrasonic probe (3 min > 10 min). The temperature increase in the surrounding water during the ultrasonic treatments was by 1°C using the bath, and by 25&des;C using the probe. Staining of cauliflower and button mushroom tissues surfaces carried out for the damage determination showed that cavitation damage (blue spots) was present after the ultrasonical treatment with 20 kHz probe for 3 min, followed by 20 kHz probe for 10 min, while very little cavitational damage occurred after sonication with 40 kHz bath for 3 and 10 min. In Brussels sprouts, the results showed cavitation after sonication with 20 kHz probe for 3 min, followed by 20 kHz probe for 10 min, but no cavitation was present after sonication with 40 kHz bath.

This study was conducted to determine the resistance to powdery mildew in 218 barley landraces collected in Near East (Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Iran, Iraq), North Africa (Egypt, Algeria, Morocco) and Southern Europe (Greece, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Italy, Spain). Plants with resistant reactions were found in 31 (14%) landraces from which 41 single plant lines were selected. These lines were tested with 20 differential isolates of powdery mildew. Eight (19.5%) lines originated from 7 landraces (5 from Israel, 1 from Syria and 1 from Greece) were resistant to all powdery mildew virulence genes prevalent in Europe. The value of new identified sources of highly effective powdery mildew resistance to breeding programes and barley production was discussed.

Verticillium wilt causes serious losses in the cultivation of shade trees, especially Norway maple (Acer platanoides L.).In 1993 research was started aiming at the development of Verticillium resistant rootstocks for Norway maple. Efficientmethods to select and screen for resistance in maple were developed, leading to several large-scale selection experimentscarried out in the period 1994-1996. This resulted in a first selection of about 300 plants out of a total of nearly 20 000 seedlingplants. An attempt was made to propagate these plants vegetatively in order to develop small clones for resistancetesting. During this stage of the research many plants were lost because of failure to propagate. After a second screeningfor resistance 35 plants were selected for further examination. Vegetative propagation was continued and from 2000 onthe performance of about 15 clones could be tested on naturally infested fields as well as after inoculation. The resultsof the field test show a clear selection response with disease incidence in plants of the selected clones being 50% lessthan in the seedlings and the randomly chosen clones. Within the group of selected clones there was a substantial variationbetween the clones with some clones having no disease at all whereas in other clones some plants showed serioussymptoms. Results of the field tests will be presented and the possibilities for solving the Verticillium wilt problem inmaple by means of using clonal root-stocks that are resistant to Verticillium wilt will be discussed.

An in sacco technique was used to measure the release of Mg, Ca, Na, K from six forages - lucerne hay from the 1^st and 2^nd cut (LH1 and LH2), orchard grass hybrid Rela (GR) and hybrid Niva (GN), grass silage (GS), red clover silage treated with Feedtech (CSFT) and/or with Kofasil (CSKO). The forages differed in the content of macrominerals (Ca 15.82-3.66 g/kg DM; Mg 3.68-1.46 g/kg DM; Na 0.20-3.02 g/kg DM; K 21.57-34.79 g/kg DM), and large differences (P < 0.01) were also in the element release in the rumen between experimental forages. The lowest DM effective degradability was determined for grass forages (49.5%-51.5%) and forages from legumes had higher degradability (62.9%-67.1%). The extent of disappearance of macroelements was also higher from LH1, CSFT, CSKO than from G and GS. The release of individual elements in all incubation times is expressed very well by cubic polynomials. Maximum disappeared portions of individual minerals from forages are as follows: Ca 86.3% and Mg 93.2% from CSFT, Na 98.7% from GN and K > 98% from all feeds. Potassium solubility is rapid and is not affected by the incubation time.

The goal of the investigations was to assess the average contents of heavy metals (Pb, Zn and Cd) in the surface soil layer (0-30 cm), in drainage water and their uptake by growing plants, in the experimental amelioration field for four different variants of drainpipe spacing (15, 20, 25 and 30 m) during the three-year period. Maize and winter wheat were grown in all variants throughout the trial period. In all variants of drainpipe spacing, heavy metals in soil, drainage water and plant material were within the limits. The highest average level of Pb was 13.5 mg/kg, Zn 88 mg/kg and Cd 0.7 mg/kg in soil. Drainage water concentration of heavy metals was below 50 µg/dm³ for Pb, below 2 µg/dm³ for Cd, while the highest average value of Zn amounted to 20 µg/dm³. In grain of the crops grown, the concentration of Pb was below 0.4 mg.kg-1 and that of Cd below 0.1 mg/kg.

Partial characterization of iron binding compounds in spinach above ground biomass and differences between binding of Cd, Zn and Fe in spinach biomass were investigated on two soils treated by sewage sludge in model pot experiment. After application of sludge to both soils, Cd and Zn accumulation in spinach biomass was increased in sludge treatments. Total Fe content in biomass showed opposite trend with these treatments and was decreased 2.5-2.7 fold. Results of sequential analysis of spinach biomass showed lower portions of iron in all individual fractions of both sewage sludge treatments compared to control treatments. The largest differences in iron content between control and sludge treatments were determined in ethyl acetate fraction. While majorities of Cd and Zn were found in fractions methanol + H2O and H₂O and methanol + H₂O + HCl, iron content determined in these two fractions was only 7-8% in control treatments and 15-20% in sludge treatments of total iron. In fraction, Fe portion was 87.7-90.7% in treatments without sludge and 76.1-83.5% in sludge treatments in spinach biomass. Results showed tighter iron binding to plant cell membranes in contrast to cadmium and zinc.

Winter hardiness of genotypes pre-selected from Cerapadus × Prunus avium L. crosses was studied for 3 years (2000-2002) in comparison with clonal cherry rootstocks, presently grown in the Czech Republic using artificial freezing of the budwood applied just after the phase of deep dormancy. With a temperature drop to freezing, both the mean and the maximum rate of general frost injury was markedly increased. The greatest damage of the tested material (roughly at the level of LD 50 on the average) occurred after the application of combined low temperatures -25°C for 4 hours + -20°C for 66 hours. The results of laboratory tests were compared with the damage of natural frost that occurred during the first half of January, 2002. The single observed years did not differ from each other in the extent of injury, on the average. From standard cherry rootstocks, P-HL-B was generally the most sensitive to freeze injury. Its weak winter hardiness was approximately the same, or even somewhat worse, than that of rootstock Colt. The rootstock P-HL-C was classified as medium sensitive to winter frosts, while rootstock P-HL-A was scored as winter hardy. The average frost injury score of all 48 selected Cerapadus × Prunus avium L. genotypes included in the study was 6.7, whereas that of all control cherry rootstocks was only 5.9. According to the results of this study, the tested genotypes were classified into 5 groups with different classes of frost resistance or susceptibility. The most frequent was the class of medium resistance. The following five genotypes were the most winter hardy: CPH VODÁRNA, CPH 43, CPH 17, CPH 22 and CPH 49. On the basis of the obtained results, suggestions for improving testing procedures are also given.

The influence of various supplements (extruded maize, maize, defatted soy flour and maize/soy flour blends, lecithin and wheat straw) on the pasta quality has been examined. Noodles were prepared by means of conventional laboratory equipment. Common wheat flour supplemented with 1% lecithin powder, 20% extruded maize flour, 20% maize flour, 10% defatted soy flour, 20% defatted soy and maize flour blend (1:1), and 7.5% wheat straw was used. The produced pasta was dried at 55&grad;C in a laboratory dryer (Instrumentaria, Croatia) to 13.0% moisture. Pasta colour was evaluated with fresh pasta by measuring L*, a*, b* parameters by means of a reflectance colorimeter (CR 300 Chroma-metter, Minolta, Japan). The following parameters of cooked noodles were determined: volume increase coefficient, water uptake (g/g), optimum cooking time (min), and cooking loss (%). Sensory quality was evaluated on a scale of 1-5 for: odour, external appearance, flavour and mouth feel, and total quality scores. The noodles made with extruded maize flour, maize flour, and wheat straw supplements had the highest total sensory score. Cooking losses of these samples were below 10%. Regardless of the fact that the sample with lecithin had the lowest cooking loss, it was not acceptable for the panel members. Supplementation with extruded maize, maize and defatted soy flours, and wheat straw could be used to produce pasta without eggs, with a reduced cholesterol content, enriched with dietary fibre and possessing a lower glycemic index.

Leaf spot pathogen is characterized as a highly developed parasite after investigation of development peculiarities of the fungus in pure culture and natural conditions. The degree of correlation depended on the medium. Impact of incubation temperature on Blumeriella jaapii (Rehm) Arx growth was different. Fungi colonies formed more intensively and their diameter increased significantly under higher temperature. Optimal conditions for the disease prevalence are 15-20°C and moisture. Relative humidity and precipitation influenced maturation of ascomycetes and discharge of ascospores (r = +0.89). Microscopic analysis of leaves showed that during winter thaw, when the average temperature is about 0 ± 5°C and relative humidity is higher than 70%, was possible to detect mature ascomycetes and conidia. It is possible to affirm that lower temperature than it was assumed is sufficient for formation of ascomycetes.

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of oleic (OA), linoleic (LA) and α-linolenic (ALA) acid used as supplements (3.5% wt/wt) to a diet containing 80% lucerne and 20% barley on rumen fermentation and lipid metabolism in an artificial rumen (Rusitec). The experiment lasted 12 days with 6 days of stabilization period. The fatty acid (FA) supplementation to a mixed diet did not affect any parameters of rumen fermentation (degradation of DM, NDF, ADF, total VFA production, production of acetate, propionate and butyrate). The methane production was decreased numerically (NS) by FA supplements (OA, LA, and ALA by about 8, 8.3 and 13.2%, respectively). The stoichiometric parameters of rumen fermentation such as NM (nitrogen incorporated by microflora), OMF (organic matter fermented) and EMS (efficiency of microbial protein synthesis) were affected by unsaturated C18 FA to a different extent. EMS calculated from NM and OMF was significantly (P < 0.01) increased by OA, ALA and decreased (P < 0.01) by LA. The lipid metabolism was also affected by C18 FA supplements. The concentration of total FA and proportion of LCFA (long chain fatty acids, > C_18:0) increased and proportion of MCFA (medium chain fatty acids, C_14:0 - C_17:0) decreased after OA, LA and ALA addition. The biohydrogenation (BH) of fatty acids was characterized by increased (NS) accumulation of stearic acid and trans isomers C18:1 and lower SFA/UFA ratio in the effluent. The concentrations of two main BH intermediates, TVA (trans 11 C_18:1) and CLA (cis 9, trans 11 C_18:2), significantly (P < 0.001) increased (TVA - 1.06, 1.29 and 1.10; CLA - 0.32, 0.43 and 0.36 mg/g rumen fluid DM, respectively) after OA, LA and ALA supplementation compared to the control (TVA - 0.7; CLA - 0.23).

At the turn of 2005 and 2006, cecal samples from 302 pheasants, from two flocks from a farm with intensive production, and from 200 wild birds were collected. The prevalence of Campylobacter spp. in the intestinal contents of pheasants from the farm was 70.20%. 50.47% of isolated strains were identified as C. coli and 41.40% as C. jejuni. In samples from wild pheasants, positive cultivation of Campylobacter spp. was proven in 27.5% of cases. A total of 15 PFGE subtypes were noted among the Campylobacter spp. isolates. C. jejuni strains could be divided into 16 fla-RFLP subtypes. No PFGE profile specific for C. jejuni and C. coli, respectively, was found. When comparing wild birds with farmed pheasants, there were eight possible combinations of PCR/RFLP and PFGE subtypes in wild birds and 40 combinations in farmed pheasants. No preferred combination of both subtypes was detected and all combinations were randomly ordered. To determine the significance of pheasants as a source of C. jejuni infection in humans, the RFLP and PFGE patterns of pheasant isolates are currently being compared with those of isolates from diarrheic patients.

We determined the factors affecting trout production in the Black Sea Region, Turkey, on 55 trout farms. The factors affecting trout production were studied using the Cobb-Douglas production function. The explanatory variables in the model explained 99.4% of the variation in trout production. The partial percentage of the feed-use variable was 99%, whereas that of all other variables was 1%. The education level of operators, feed use and capital use positively affected trout production, whereas the stocking density and pond size negatively affected trout production. Technical assistance and extension programs concerning stocking, feeding and disease control that resulted in decreased stocking density and increased feeding efficiency may increase trout production by approximately 20%.

Chromosomes of potato (Solanum tuberosum) are terminated by telomeres, which are formed by tandemly repeated [TTTAGGG]n oligonucleotide sequence. The total length of blocks of telomeric DNA has been known to vary largely among plant species and their varieties, and also among individual chromosome arms within a single nucleus. To check for such differences in potato varieties, which could be of a possible use in genotyping, we performed pulsed-field gel electrophoretic analysis of terminal restriction fragments in selected potato varieties. We found a typical range of telomere lengths of 20-60 kb in most analysed varieties. In one of analysed varieties (Monalisa), telomeres of wider span (up to 80 kb) have been observed. Most of restriction enzymes (PvuII, HaeIII, TaqI) produced a resulting smeared hybridisation pattern of telomeres. When using BglII, however, a doublet hybridisation band could be observed. This may reflect differences in composition of telomere-associated sequences at different chromosome ends.

In 25 to 40-years-old stands damaged by snow in the Beskids, the fauna of cambioxylophages was analyzed both on standing breaks and lying break-off stems. Breaks are characterized by the gradually drying phloem, watered phloem and secondary fauna (Hylurgops palliatus, Hylocoetes dermestoides, Dryocoetes sp., Monochamu sp.), which does not represent any danger to spruce stands. The phloem on lying breaks withered and died till the end of the growing season. The competing species Pityogenes chalcographus (L.) (46-52% cov-er) and species of the genus Dryocoetes (20% cover) colonized the breaks in particular. The upper and the lower side of the lying breaks-off differ in the intensity of attack and the degree of cover of these species. In young broken and open stands with the unprocessed wood of lying breaks-off there occurs a risk of the creation of bark beetle circles in the subsequent year after the damage.

The paper concludes the research results performed on the Faculty of Economics and Management, Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague, concerning the utilization and validation of external and internal software quality measures (metrics). The aim of this research was the validation of measures (metrics) recommended in the ISO/IEC 9126-2 and 9126-3 technical reports, with the intention to incorporate selected measures to international standards. The research presents the serious deficiencies and users provisions concerning these measures and the necessity of a deep revision of the set of measures before the decision about incorporating these measures into the ISO/IEC 250xx standards series, developed within the SQuaRE international research project. The main part of this contribution was presented at the conference Agricultural Perspectives XV, organised by the Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague, September 20 to 21, 2006.

Water-insoluble β-(1,3)-D-glucan (lichenan) was determined in 43 samples of various cereal (oats, barley, wheat, millet) and pseudocereal (buckwheat, amaranth) cultivars using a modified procedure with fungal α-amylase (Fermizyme P 300). The content of water-insoluble β-glucan varied in the dependence on the cereal species and cultivars. The highest content was registered in covered oat cultivars (Cyril and the new breeding cultivar PS-100) ranging from 26.7 to 28.2 g/100 g dry matter (d.m.) followed by less traditional cereals such as millet (Panicum miliaceum L.), amaranth (Amaranthus sp. L.), and buckwheat (Fagopyrum) - more than 20 g/100 g d.m. A somewhat lower average content of water-insoluble β-glucan was found in wheat - 12.7-16.2 g/100 g d.m., in spelt wheat - 8.5 g/100 g d.m., and in oats - varying between 15.3 and 18.7 g/100 g d.m.

Systemic induced resistance (SIR) in a plant enhances disease resistance to a broad spectrum of pathogens. Under climate chamber conditions, oxalic acid's ability to elicit SIR in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) against wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici (Fol) was tested with a susceptible cultivar (Danish Export). Oxalic acid (OA) was sprayed onto the green part of the tomato plants, at concentrations 2.5, 5, 10, and 20 mM. Two days later, each plant was challenged with 10 ml of Fol suspension (10⁶ conidia/ml) inoculated into the soil around the root system. After inoculation, disease incidence (DI) was quantified visually to assess SIR expression. OA-induced resistance (concentration-dependent) by otherwise susceptible tomato plants was obtained.

101 samples of faeces, colonic mucosa and rectal swabs taken from 100 pigs (29 commercial herds) were cultivated on Trypticase Soy Agar with 5% of sheep blood, spectinomycin (200 mg/l), vancomycin (50 mg/l), rifampicin (12.5 mg/l) and colistin (12.5 mg/l). Plates were incubated in an anaerobic container at 37°C for 5-7 days. 25 samples (10 faeces, 15 scrapings of colonic mucosa) were examined by darkfield microscopy for the presence of spirochaetes. In 80 samples (21 faeces, 31 rectal swabs, 28 scrapings of colonic mucosa) from diarrhoeic pigs 44 isolates of spirochaetes were identified by PCR method as Brachyspira hyodysenteriae. In 21 samples (20 rectal swabs, 1 scraping of colonic mucosa) taken from apparently healthy pigs in herds with swine dysentery were isolated weakly haemolytic spirochaetes: B. intermedia in 5 samples and phenotypic group III brachyspirae in 4 samples. Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of tylosin, tiamulin and valnemulin was determined by the agar dilution method. To tylosin 16 out of 17 strains of B. hyodysenteriae were resistant (MIC 64 and 256 µg/l), one strain was susceptible (MIC l µg/ml). To tiamulin 17 out of 19 strains were susceptible (MIC from 0.016 to 0.25 µg/ml), one strain was intermediately susceptible (MIC 2 µg/ml) and one resistant (MIC 32 µg/ml). To valnemulin 17 out of 19 strains were susceptible (MIC from 0.016 to 0.064 µg/ml), one strain was intermediately susceptible (MIC2µg/ml) and one was resistant (MIC 8 µg/ml). Valnemulin resistant strain was also resistant to tiamulin.

In 2006-2010, resistance to the powdery mildew pathogen was studied in 277 spring barley cultivars. They were represented by 54 cultivars in Czech official variety trials, of which 42 were foreign, and 223 cultivars in variety trials conducted by domestic breeding companies in that period. Sixty-eight domestic cultivars (28.8%) exhibited heterogeneity in the examined trait, i.e. they were composed of lines with different resistances to powdery mildew. Thirteen known resistances were identified (Ab, Ar, HH, La, Ly, Mlo, Ri, Ro, Ru, Sp, St, Tu2 and We). The most frequent resistance was Mlo detected in 160 homogeneous cultivars (= 76.6%). The newly described resistance Ro was found in 13 cultivars. Frequency of other resistances was low (maximally 2.4%). Unknown resistances were found in 16 cultivars, in five of which they were effective to all used pathotypes of the pathogen. Research on cultivars possessing unknown resistances and registered heterogeneous cultivars continues.

Porcine oocytes matured in vitro were activated for parthenogenetic development using either calcium ionophore (50μM for 10 min) or nitric oxide donor SNAP (2mM for 23.5 hours). Protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors, bisindolylmaleimide I or rottlerin, are able to inhibit parthenogenetic activation induced by calcium ionophore. The rate of activated oocytes decreased from 69% to 2% (P < 0.05) under the effect of bisindolylmaleimide I at a concentration of 0 or 20nM, respectively. The activation rate decreased from 68% to 0% (P < 0.05) under the influence of 0 or 20μM rottlerin, respectively. PKC inhibitors Go6976 or hispidin had no effect on the oocyte activation using calcium ionophore or on oocytes activated by a nitric oxide donor. The activation of oocytes by a nitric oxide donor is not significantly influenced even under the effects of bisindolylmaleimide I or rottlerin. Based on these data we can conclude that the oocyte activation induced by calcium ionophore depends on PKC, especially on PKC-δ. On the other hand, the oocyte activation induced by nitric oxide is independent of the tested isotypes of PKC.

In the years 2004 and 2005 precise field trials were performed with the aim to evaluate the effect of variety, year of cultivation, N, P, K and Mg fertilization, and the cover with white propylene fibre Paegas-Agro UV 17 on the total carotenoid content (TC) in potato tubers. TC was determined by absorption UV-VIS spectrophotometry and obtained results were statistically evaluated (ANOVA and MANOVA variance analyses, Scheffe's test). Statistically significant differences (P = 0.05) in the ability of varieties to synthesize carotenoids were found (Karin, Agria and Marabel with high TC × Impala and Saturna with low TC) and also the year of cultivation significantly affected TC (5.8 mg/kg fw in 2004, 20.9 mg/kg fw in 2005). The effect of fertilization with N, P, K and Mg on TC in potatoes did not show any significant effect; however significant differences were observed among varieties. The effect of white polypropylene fibre in two early potato varieties (Adora and Impala) during three dates of harvest on TC in potato tubers was not significant. Contrariwise, statistically significant effects on TC were reported in the case of potato tubers maturity, year of cultivation and potato variety.

Forty-three European (Prunus domestica L.) and twelve Damson (P. insititia L.) plum accessions originating from different and important growing regions in former Yugoslavia were studied to assess the overall degree of polymorphism, detect similarities among accessions and assess important agronomic, fruit quality and sensorial traits. Twenty variables were scored and subjected to multivariate analysis. Results showed a considerable phenotypic diversity among plum germplasm. A high correlation was found among some evaluated variables. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that traits related to fruit weight, yield and soluble solids content accounted for a large proportion of the observed variability. Accessions Bela Požegača, Crvena Ranka Bardaklija, Mudara, Požegača, Car Dušan, Julka, Turgonja and Crna Petrovka cvs are recommended for fresh consumption, while Požegača, Korajka, Bosanka and Bilska Rana cvs are recommended for drying. Most of accessions can be used for processing, particularly into plum brandy, whereas some can be used as rootstocks.

The triterpenoid hydrocarbon squalene, C₃₀H₅₀, abundantly occurring in nature, is known as a substance with a high anti-tumour activity proven by a number of research studies. A high content of squalene was found mainly in shark liver oil and also in olive oil and amaranth seed oil. Our work was aimed at examining squalene contents in fresh water fish. Altogether 20 fish species were analysed. Squalene was determined in the unsaponifiable matter of muscular and visceral fat by a capillary gas chromatography method using a flame ionisation detector; the analysis of the unsaponifiable matter was augmented by cholesterol assay. The quantity of squalene found in muscular and visceral fat of individual fish averaged hundreds of mg/kg, ranging from 98.0 to 1536.8 mg/kg in muscular fat and from 70.1 to 1803.8 mg/kg in visceral fat. Muscular cholesterol amounted from 0.011% to 0.170% and visceral cholesterol from 0.104% to 0.297%.

A total of 20 healthy green iguanas (14 males and six females with body weight ranging from 280 to 720 g) were divided into three groups and used for the experiment. Carprofen (2.0 mg/kg, i.m.) was administered to seven iguanas for 10 days, five were treated with meloxicam (0.2 mg/kg, i.m.) for the same period, and eight iguanas received the same volume of saline solution (0.04 ml/kg). All iguanas were blood sampled on Day 1 and 11 to obtain haematological and biochemical parameters. Comparing the values within particular groups, a decrease in haemoglobin concentration and packed cell volume accompanied by an increase in azurophils (P < 0.05) was observed in iguanas treated with carprofen. Decreased values of haemoglobin and packed cell volume were also found in control iguanas (P < 0.05). Increased ALT levels (P < 0.01) were found in all three groups of iguanas. A decrease in the concentration of Ca (P < 0.01) was observed both in meloxicam-treated iguanas and in the control ones. Mean ALT values of carprofen-treated iguanas (2.42 ± 0.52 μkat/l) were considerably higher (P < 0.01) than those in iguanas treated with meloxicam (0.49 ± 0.18 μkat/l) or saline (0.43 ± 0.13 μkat/l). Repeated doses of carprofen induced higher levels of AST (0.82 ± 0.26 μkat/l) compared with saline (P < 0.01, 0.31 ± 0.16 μkat/l) or meloxicam (P < 0.05, 0.38 ± 0.16 μkat/l). All blood parameters of green iguanas following the 10-day intramuscular administration of both carprofen and meloxicam were within the physiological reference values of this species.within the physiological reference values of this species.

The research objective was to investigate the influence of different pipe drainage systems on the concentration and quantity of atrazine leached in drainage water, as well as in surface (0-30 cm) and sub-surface (30-60 cm) soil horizons in the production of agricultural crops on drained Gleyic Podzoluvisol. Investigations involved four different variants of drainpipe spacing (15, 20, 25 and 30 m, i.e. four variants in four repetitions). In a particular trial year, the same crop was grown and the same agricultural practices applied in all trial variants. Maize was grown in the first two trial years and wheat in the last year. Soil and water samples were qualitatively and quantitatively analysed for the presence of atrazine by gas chromatography. Atrazine concentrations in drainage water ranged from those within the limits tolerated for drinking water (out of the growing season) up to 458 ng.dm^-3. Maximum quantity of leached atrazine was recorded in 1998 (0.500 g.ha^-1), namely, from atrazine application in May 1997 to March 1998 incl., 0.630 g.ha^-1 or 0.052% of the initially added quantity was leached. Maximum atrazine concentration in the surface soil layer was recorded in traces or it was not recorded at all (0.013 mg.kg^-1), whereas no atrazine was recorded in the subsurface layer during the trial period. Analysis of variance produced no statistically significant difference in the atrazine concentration and leaching in drainage water and in the surface soil layer between different variants of pipe drainpipe spacing.