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Risks, including food risks, are found to be different between the perceptions of 'experts' and consumers, thus understanding the potential difference in the perceptions of the effective food risk management (FRM) between consumers and experts is important in developing effective FRM strategies. This information enables policy makers to integrate societal concerns and values into risk management and communication regarding food safety and to enhance the public confidence in the authorities' approach to the food safety management. The purpose of this study is to understand how consumers evaluate the quality of the food risk management practices that are performed by the government and to determine the underlying psychological factors influencing consumer evaluations of food risk management quality (FRMQ). A comparative survey study was conducted in China and Korea, and the measurement scales used in the structural model were found to be configurally and metrically invariant between these two countries. The results show the difference in the perception of Chinese and Korean consumers regarding their evaluation for the FRMQ. While the perceived expertise of food risk managers was found to be the most important determinant in China, the proactive consumer protection was found to be the most important one in Korea. The scepticism in risk assessment and the communication practice was found to be second most important factor both in China and Korea. These results shed lights at the future policy recommendations.

Ten clonal dwarf or semi-dwarf rootstocks were evaluated in a trial that was established in the spring of 1999 at Holovousy. Lapins cv. was used as a scion tester for all these rootstocks; five of them were tested also by Regina cv. Among the new rootstocks G 195/5 was evaluated as the most promising for Lapins cv. The highest rate of mortality and symptoms of poor scion compatibility with Lapins cv. were observed on Weiroot 53 and Weiroot 158. The most vigorous of the tested rootstock was G 497/8 followed by Gisela 7 and Gisela 4. Intermediate vigour was recorded on trees on G 154/7, P-HL-A, Gisela 3 and Tabel Edabriz. The least vigorous were G 195/20, Weiroot 158 and Weiroot 53. The highest accumulated yield per hectare of the Lapins cv. (21.2 tons) was harvested from Gisela 7 rootstock. With Lapins cv. higher yield efficiencies were calculated for P-HL-A, G 195/20 and Tabel Edabriz. In the case of the Regina cv. the highest yield efficiency was on Gisela 7. The mean fruit weight of the Lapins cv. had a span from 8.2 g (Weiroot 53) to 9.7 g (G 195/20). With the Lapins cv. less fruit cracking was observed on fruits from Tabel Edabriz and Gisela 7. Significant differences between tested rootstocks were found also at the time of tree flowering and ripening.

Microbial biomass and community catabolic diversities at three depths (0-10 cm, 20-30 cm, and 40-50 cm) in Chinese Mollisols as influenced by long-term managements of natural restoration, cropping and bare fallow were investigated. Microbial biomass was estimated from chloroform fumigation-extraction and substrate-induced respiration (SIR), and catabolic diversity was determined by using Biolog® EcoPlate. Experimental results showed that microbial biomass significantly declined with soil depth in the treatments of restoration and cropping, and not in the treatment of bare fallow, where the microbial biomass had a positive relationship with the total soil C content. The inspections into the catabolic capability of the microbial community at the same soil depth showed that the treatment of natural restoration had a relatively stronger metabolic ability than the cropping and bare fallow treatments. Shannon"s diversity index, substrate richness and substrate evenness calculated from the Biolog data were higher in the treatments of natural restoration and cropping than the bare fallow treatment with the same soil depth, and with the highest values in the top soil. Principal component analysis indicated that the catabolic profiles not only varied with the soil depth in each treatment, but also differed in the three treatments within the same soil depth. The catabolic profiles of the three treatments were similar to each other in the soil depth of 0-10 cm and distinctly different in the soil depths of 20-30 cm and 40-50 cm. These results suggest that it was microbial biomass rather than community function that was influenced by the different soil management in the topsoil (0-10 cm); in the relative depths, the soil microbial community function was more easily influenced than microbial biomass.

In Moravia in 1995 to 2006, the abundant occurrence of Galerucella lineola (F.) was used to study its occurrence, biology and harmfulness. An "alder" biological form was studied in Alnus glutinosa and A. incana mainly in Polnička Forest District (Žďár region) and a "willow" form in Salix viminalis, S. triandra and S. caprea in riparian and accompanying stands of the Svitava river near Bílovice nad Svitavou (Brno region). Imagoes leave their sites usually in the 1st half of May. In the course of 2.5 to 3 months, they damage on average 22.6 cm² leaves of A. glutinosa and S. caprea (of this value, males 3.2 times less than females). Males eat on average 15 times during 24 hours for a period of 3.5 minutes, i.e. in total 52 minutes (3.6% day). Females eat on average 36 times for a period of 7 min, i.e. 252 min (17.5% day). Imagoes copulate on average 10.2 times per day for a period of 67 min. For the whole period of reproduction (about 42 days), they copulate on average 428 times, i.e. for 20 days. Eggs are laid into groups of 3 to 20 (on average 14) pieces. Females lay 457 to 791 (on average 612) eggs, i.e. about 15 eggs per day. Medina collaris (Fall.) (Tachinidae) and Townesilitus fulviceps (Ruthe) (Braconidae) belong, among others, to the enemies of imagoes.

Potato tuber specimens of two varieties (Nicola and Saturna) were deformed in a compression loading/unloading test. The tuber complex permittivity spectrum at frequencies 0.1-500 kHz was measured repeatedly during the deformation. The results show that both parts of relative permittivity (real and imaginary) decrease with increasing deformation and vice versa. The same trend was observed at all studied frequencies even if it was not equally strong in all cases. The permittivity plots versus frequency were similar in both the tested varieties and in different stages of deformation. The influence of tuber deformation on the permittivity values as well as the reversibility of the permittivity changes during the deformation are changed substantially at strains about 20% in comparison to strains up to 10%. The obtained results support the hypothesis that permittivity measurements can serve as an alternative indication of the internal structural changes in potato tissue during its loading.

The reverse transcription polymerace chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay was successfully used for the detection of Apple stem pitting virus (ASPV) and Apple stem grooving virus (ASGV) in four apple cultivars of a 25 years old orchard. These two main pome fruit viruses were detected frequently in all tested apple cultivars. ASGV and ASPV occurred in as many as 16 trees (in the cultivar Spartan) and 13 trees (in the cultivar Idared) out of 20 tested trees, respectively. Mixed infection by ASGV and ASPV was found in all tested cultivars (as many as 9 out of 20 tested trees of the cultivar Spartan).

Soil infiltration capacity is one of the key factors in the soil protection against unfavourable effects of water erosion. The purpose of its measuring was to compare and evaluate the changes of the soil physical properties and of water infiltration into soil caused by different intensity of soil cultivation at two individual sites. The ploughing (PL), shallow tillage (ST), and direct drilling (NT) effects on the soil physical properties, water infiltration into soil, and soil surface coverage with the crop residua under the soil condition loamy Haplic Luvisol, with long-term growing of maize (Zea mays L.) - Agroservis, 1^st Agricultural, a.s., Višňové - and clay soil of Calcic Chernozem (Cooperative farm Klapý), were compared. Soil bulk density values in the variant with ploughing showed in the depth up to 0.20 m considerably lower values as compared with the variants shallow tillage and direct drilling. Nevertheless, in the subsoil layer the bulk density of soil in the variant with ploughing increased in comparison with other variants. The results were also confirmed by the cone index values. At the plots in Višňové the infiltration was evaluated utilising the double ring infiltrometer, and by means of the coloured water infiltration. The results revealed significant differences in the water infiltration rate at various stages of the soil loosening. The highest average values were recorded for ploughing (1.00 dm³/min). The lowest values were found for the shallow soil tillage (0.18 dm³/min). The variant with direct drilling showed values of 0.53 dm³/min. The coloured water infiltration evaluation showed a different character of water flow in soil. The variant with ploughing showed water saturation in the top layer, the variants with reduced tillage were characterised by vertical macropores and crack effects with the water drain into deeper layers. Ploughing proved its advantage for the short-term rainfall retention. Similar results were also brought in the evaluation on the plot with clay soil (Klapý). The loosening effect was evident during coloured water infiltration in the period of snow thawing. The loosed soil layer showed a significantly higher soil water holding capacity as compared with variants with reduced soil tillage. The result showed major differences in the water infiltration rate into soil and different characters of water infiltration into soil at different soil tillage.

The effect of addition of treated sewage sludge on the accumulation of Zn in plants was tested in pot experiment. The additions of eight months preincubated sewage sludge at temperature of 20°C under aerobic and anaerobic conditions with addition of peat and straw were tested. Two different combinations were designed: first consisted of 50% sludge + 35% peat and 15% straw, and second was made of 50% sludge + 5% peat and 45% straw (expressed as dry matter). Three different soils Chernozems, Luvisols, and Fluvisols and three sludges were tested in the experiment. Oat (cv. Pan) was planted as experimental crop. All treatments were fertilized by NPK. Green biomass of oat was harvested and analyzed. At treatments with addition of both composted sludges pH dropped down causing higher mobility of Zn in sewage sludge. Oat grown in these treatments contained higher amount of Zn compared to untreated soils. The application of anaerobically treated sludge led to increased Zn content in biomass compared to aerobically incubated one. Predominant effect on Zn accumulation in plants was determined by tested soil. The highest content was determined in plants grown on Fluvisols. The biomass yield was more affected by source of sewage sludge than by the soil type used. Treatments amended by anaerobically incubated sludge showed tendency to higher biomass production due to their higher content of nitrogen and carbon.

The objective of this study was to identify optimal growing conditions for the production of high-quality mini-plug seedlings of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia [L.].). Two seed origins (Greek and Hungarian), two growing media (enriched peat and stabilized medium) and four mini-plug densities (975; 1,460; 1,820 and 3,500 mini-plugs.m^-2) were tested in two phases, in growth chambers and in a nursery after transplanting the mini-plugs into larger containers. Measurements included seedling survival, growth traits (root length, shoot height, leaf area, root dry mass, shoot dry mass, root/shoot ratio) and root growth potential (RGP). In addition, the ratio of variable to maximal fluorescence (F_v/F_m) and the effective quantum yield of photosystem II (ΔF/F'_m) were measured. It was found that growing medium produced significant effects mainly in the first phase and seed origin in the second phase while mini-plug density was important in both phases. The F_v/F_m ratio was found to be significantly affected by growing medium while the effective quantum yield was influenced by density. Early survival of seedlings was closely correlated with fluorescence and growth traits (particularly with plant height) suggesting that these parameters might be useful for the grading of black locust seedlings prior to transplanting.

Genotypic characterisation of the members of the genus Erwinia, based on the PCR-RFLP analysis of a fragment of the rpoS gene was done. PCR primers deduced from described rpoS gene sequences of E. carotovora allowed the amplification of about 880 bp DNA fragments from all tested Erwinia species. The rpoS fragments, amplified from 20 species of the studied Erwinia genus, were compared by RFLP analysis with 4 enzymes (AluI, Hin6I, HinfI, and Tru1I). Restriction analysis allowed drawing 63 common profiles of RFLP products for all tested Erwinia. From 1 to 3 specific RFLP profiles were identified among most of the species tested. However, in two cases: E. chrysanthemi and E. c. subsp. carotovora 15 and 20 specific RFLP groups were detected, respectively. High variability of genetic profiles of the E. chrysanthemi and E. c. subsp. carotovora can be explained by the wide spectrum of plants, which they infect. The results indicated that rpoS PCR-RFLP analysis is a useful tool for identification of species and subspecies belonging to the former Erwinia genus, as well as for differentiation of strains within E. c. subsp. carotovora and E. chrysanthemi.

Several alterations of growth physiology and bulb formation in garlic (Allium sativum L.) crops, such as "rough" and "burst" bulbs, have been related by different authors with low temperatures during bulbs storage and crop development. These physiopathies affect both the yield and the quality of garlic crops. Incidence of such diseases in Spanish garlic (variety "purple of Las Pedroñeras") were studied during two consecutive years. Experimental design was factorial taking the bulb storage temperature (5°, 10°, 15° and 20°C) as variable factor. Growth indexes during crop development and final quantity of defective bulbs were evaluated. Experimental results show significant differences between treatments, with the higher incidence of both physiopathies in those bulbs stored at 5°C. The 15°C and 20°C storage temperatures clearly reduce the risk of these abiotic diseases and tend to increase the yield and the final quality of the crop.

Technical information and data on the physical and mechanical properties of agricultural and animal products are necessary to design various equipments for agriculture and industry. In this study some physical properties such as mass, length, diameter, geometric mean diameter, surface area, sphericity, volume, coefficient of friction and packaging coefficient were determined for Japanese quail eggs. Furthermore, the mechanical behaviour of Japanese quail eggs was determined in terms of average rupture force, deformation and toughness (energy absorbed by the Japanese quail eggs per unit volume). Egg samples were compressed along their X and Z-axes. The average values of their mass, length, width, shell thickness, geometric mean diameter, surface area, sphericity, volume and packaging coefficient were measured to be 12.69 g, 34.87 mm, 26.20 mm, 0.27 mm, 28.82 mm, 2 608.5 mm², 1.10, 359.17 mm³, 0.469, respectively. The values of the coefficient of friction for quail eggs on the surfaces of plywood, glass, galvanized steel and fibreglass were 0.301, 0.282, 0.274 and 0.266, respectively. The highest rupture force, deformation and toughness were obtained when Japanese quail eggs were loaded along their X-axis. Compression along the Z-axis required the least compressive force to break the eggs as compared to the other compression axes. Rupture force, deformation, absorbed energy and toughness for the X-front axis were determined to be 10.51 N, 1.5 mm, 7.88 Nmm and 0.219 Mj/mm², respectively.

Most of the works published since the beginning of the 20^th century have brought interesting results about beneficial effects of titanium (Ti) on plants, but much less is known about its phytotoxic effects at higher doses. Here we demonstrate the influence of Mg treatment on the phytotoxic effects of Ti. Mg, Ti + Mg and two different concentrations of Ti leaf sprays were applied on oats (Avena sativa L. cv. Zlaťák) grown on three different soil types (Fluvisol, Luvisol and Chernozem). Physiological parameters of oats as well as some essential elements contents were analyzed. The foliar applications of Ti caused significant toxic manifestations on oats at ≥ 10 mg/kg concentrations. Mg partially ammeliorates these toxic effects if applied together with Ti. The effect was strong on Fluvisol, but weaker on Chernozem and Luvisol. Ti effects are more significant the further the soil is from the nutritional optimum of the plants. This is most evident in the case of Fluvisol, which is deficient in Mg, Fe, Mn, and Zn. It seems that Ti possesses a generally equalizing effect on the elements content in the plant.

Using the Ames bacterial mutagenicity test and an in vivo micronucleus test, we investigated the antigenotoxic effect of ellagic acid on the genotoxicity of three mutagens: amino-methylimidazo-quinoline (IQ), aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), and N-nitroso-N-methylurea (MNU). Ellagic acid is a naturally occurring phenolic compound which is found in a variety of soft fruits and vegetables. The effect of this compound on the immunosuppressive activity of mutagens was followed in vivo by the chemiluminescence test. In the Ames assay, ellagic acid at concentrations of 300 and 30 μg/plate demonstrably inhibits the mutagenic activity of two indirect mutagens: IQ and AFB1. The concentration of 300 μg/plate had the strongest effect on mutagenicity of all concentrations of IQ in strain TA98 of Salmonella typhimurium, whereas in strain TA100 concentration of 30 μg per dish of ellagic acid was more effective than 300 μg per plate. Also in combination with different concentrations of AFB1, ellagic acid proved to be a strong antimutagen. In this case the lower of the two effective concentrations - 30 μg/plate - had a much greater antimutagenic effect on both strains tested than 300 μg/plate. In combination with the direct mutagen MNU, ellagic acid did not show any marked antimutagenic effect at most of the concentrations tested in strain TA100. Only the highest concentrations of ellagic acid reduced the mutagenic effect of MNU weakly and only in combination with two lower concentrations of MNU. In the micronucleus test, three-day oral application of ellagic acid prior to the applicaton of AFB1, IQ, or MNU, respectively, markedly reduced the numbers of micronuclei induced by these three mutagens in polychromatophilic erythrocytes of mice. Chemiluminescence test with mouse granulocytes proved that ellagic acid not only prevents the inhibitory effects of mutagens on free oxygen radicals and hydrogen peroxide production, but that this production is stimulated by ellagic acid in combination with mutagens even to a greater extent than by ellagic acid alone. From these results we can deduce that ellagic acid repairs strong immunosuppressive effects of all mutagens applied.

This paper presents the results of investigations on natural forest regeneration in Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.) monocultures in the Ukrainian Beskids with the use of FORKOME model prognostic possibilities. Different variants of regeneration methods are presented. Selective cutting with planting was determined as the most effective: spruce selective cutting with simultaneous planting of target species: beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and fir (Abies alba Mill.) with admixture of ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.). Beech and fir biomass increases rapidly over the first 20 years - then it stabilizes. After another 20-30 years the initial form of beech forest is recognizable and it is possible to speak about an increase of beech forest, which in the course of time achieves a higher degree of similarity to natural stand. In the Ukrainian Beskids the potential forest stand consists of beech and fir (Dentario glandulosae-Fagetum).

The levels are reported of the free 3-chloropropane-1,2-diol (3-MCPD), its bound forms, the recognised precursors of 3-MCPD, and the factors influencing its formation in 5 selected coffee surrogates and 18 malts in the Czech Republic. The coffee surrogates had the free 3-MCPD level in the range of < 9.0 to 32 µg/kg while the highest amount was found in roasted barley. In malts, the free 3-MCPD levels were similarly low (< 9.0 to 45 µg/kg) being the highest in roasted malts (16-45 µg/kg). Nevertheless, the values found in either surrogates or malts, calculated after normalisation to 40% dry matter content, did not exceed the European Union limit of 20 µg/kg adopted for soy sauces and acid-HVP. The risk for consumers could arise from the bound 3-MCPD, its elevated levels having been found in both coffee surrogates and malts. In coffee surrogates, the bound 3-MCPD levels varied between 145-1184 µg/kg product; the highest level was found in roasted barley. The bound 3-MCPD levels exceeded the free 3-MCPD levels 32 to 81 times. In malts, the bound 3-MCPD levels ranged from 4.0-650 µg/kg, the highest amount having been found in roasted malts (463-650 µg/kg). The bound 3-MCPD levels exceeded the free 3-MCPD levels 0.4 to 36 times.

We evaluated the need for low temperatures (vernalization) and the photoperiodic reaction of three collections of winter oats (1. Pedarn, Maris Quest, Peniarth; 2. Gerald, Solva, Kymon, Pendragon; 3. Pewi, Silwi, Wiskas) in a comparison with spring oats varieties. All three collections of varieties showed little need for low temperatures, mostly as few as 10-20 days, which does not represent an obligatory need; this influence is only quantitative and constitutes no precondition for a passage of plants into the generative stage. Only in the case of the Maris Quest variety, the need for vernalization approached 30 days. As compared with the reaction of winter barley varieties that had and in some cases still have worse overwintering in the Czech Republic, the length of vernalization is equal. In the photoperiodic experiment, the reaction to a short autumn day turned out to be the critical condition for a possibility of autumn sowing and overwintering; in the case of these varieties, a short day inhibits the development until arrival of winter. We evaluated this reaction according to the length of the induction period. This period was only 10-15 days in the case of the spring oats Český žlutý, 30 days in the case of winter oats Maris Quest, 25 days for Pedarn, 20 days for Peniarth and 21 days for Pendra-gon; the induction period was 14-21 days in the case of varieties Gerald, Kymon and Solva. When compared with figures for winter barley, it had the longer photoperiodic induction period. The evaluated varieties of winter oats do not reach such a degree of a reaction to a short day, which manifests itself in their lower frosthardiness than that of winter barley. We verified that in provoking tests for frosthardiness, and also by lower critical values of temperatures for dying out of 50% of plants, the so-called LT 50.

Eight different mixing feeding wagons (MFW) were investigated under identical conditions in preparing total mixed rations (TMR) for three various cattle categories. Investigated were the uniformity of distribution of the feed into the trough, homogeneity of TMR distributed, the machine capacity in feed extracting from storage and loading, TMR mixing and distributing into the trough, fuel consumption and power consumption required. The least uniformity was found for TMR with a high hay proportion (average value of standard deviation 49.9%). Better results were achieved with MFW designed with horizontal mixing augers (average standard deviation 33.7%). MFW with vertical augers distributed feeds at average standard deviation of 61.3%. Standard deviation of the proportion of feed particles on the separator screens which is considered as a measure of TMR homogeneity, was bellow 20% in most cases. This suggests a hint of a very good mixing efficiency of all the MFW followed up. No influence of different designs of the working elements of MFW on TMR homogeneity has been proved. With respect to the machine capacity (output) in preparing and distributing TMR, no large differences between various MFW were found and their output averaged from all measurements varied within the range of 4.79-5.48 t/h. The least average specific consumption of fuel for preparing and distributing TMR was found in the MFW equipped with vertical mixing augers (1.10-1.11 l/t). MFW with one horizontally mounted mixing auger showed a rather higher fuel consumption (1.30-1.43 l/t). The highest fuel consumption was found with MFW equipped with two parallely mounted mixing augers (1.59-1.63 l/t).

Manganese (Mn) is an important micronutrient for growth and development in plants, however, excess Mn is harmful by disrupting photosynthesis system and inducing oxidative damage in leaves. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play key roles in regulating Mn toxicity tolerance in plants. Here, we identified Mn toxicity-responsive miRNAs in Arabidopsis by using small RNA sequencing. Eighteen differentially expressed miRNAs were identified in Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings in response to Mn toxicity. These differentially expressed miRNAs are involved in regulating nutrition homeostasis, transport, stress response, and developmental processes. Our results indicated that these miRNAs play a key role in Mn toxicity response in plants.

Sustainable food consumption is a core policy objective of the new millennium in the national and international agenda, as a consequence, the attention towards sustainable consumption has significantly increased in the last decade. However, the consumer attitudes and buying behaviours of sustainable food are still not completely understood. In this context, this paper aims to investigate the factors affecting consumers' attitudes towards food products with sustainable attributes. The first part of the work presents an overview of the theoretical concepts of sustainable consumption. Subsequently, the results of an empirical analysis with a sample of 300 consumers aimed at assessing factors' affecting consumer attitudes towards food products with sustainable attributes, such as Organic, Fair Trade and typical products, are presented. The results presented in this paper are valuable for both producers in the formulation of marketing strategies and for public institutions in the planning of the programs of education and information for the promotion of sustainable consumption.

Milk production is one of the most important areas of the Czech agrarian sector, as evidenced by its 50% share (at 2017 prices) in revenues from livestock production. As for any business, a certain level of profitability is a prerequisite for long-term and sustainable development of dairy farms. This study's aim was to evaluate the economic efficiency of milk production from both Czech Fleckvieh (C) and Holstein (H) cows based on data collected each year from 48 to 70 Czech dairy farms in the period from 2012 to 2017. Total costs per feeding day and litre of milk, level of profitability, and income over feed costs were calculated. The influences of herd size and milk yield on profitability and break-even points were examined while sensitivity analysis and model calculations were utilised to predict profitability. The farms with higher average milk yields (>7 500 and >9 500 L per lactation for C and H, respectively) had higher costs per feeding day, lower costs per litre of milk, and improved profitability (p < 0.05). Average break-even points were estimated for milk price (0.31 and 0.32 EUR) and milk yield (7 257 and 9 209 L) in C and H herds, respectively.

This paper presents the experimental research of factors influencing the UDS 214 excavator efficiency. The hydraulic oil flow rate is measured in hydraulic circuits for controlling the moving of the bucket of the UDS 214 ex­cavator. From the measured values, the total power losses of the individual hydraulic circuits and their efficiencies are evaluated by calculations and measurements. Furthermore, the times of the excavator cycles during a soil excavation and loading of the transport vehicle were measured. From the measured operating cycle times of the excavator, the average value of the operating cycle time was evaluated and, from this average time, the theoretical performance and the operating performance of the given excavator in the given operational states were calculated. Then, at the end of the paper, the individual calculated power losses as well as the efficiencies of the hydraulic circuits for controlling the moves of the excavator are evaluated. According to the findings, the swing hydraulic circuit of the excavator, which has the second highest power loss of 5.926 kW and its percentage in the average tested cycle time of the excavator is 48%, seems to be a suitable hydraulic circuit for the innovation.

Industrialization and urbanization are important for economic development which makes the human life easy by providing different job opportunities, increasing the production level of cheaper goods and standard of living. Despite its many positive effects, industrialization has had a negative impact on the natural ecosystem through environmental pollution. It is responsible for a greater input of potentially toxic and non-toxic substances into essential environmental components such as air, soil and water. Continuous industrialization has resulted in significant environmental problems due to the release of pollutants and extremely difficult treatment of contaminated areas. This review focuses on the recent literature dealing with the role of Plant Growth Promoting Microbes (PGPMs), i.e. bacteria and Arbuscular mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) in the remediation of polluted sites.

This study aimed to determine the effect of tea planting age on stoichiometric ratios of microbial biomass carbon (MBC), nitrogen (MBN), and phosphorus (MBP) and soil microbial quotient (SMQ, expressed as qMBC, qMBN, and qMBP, respectively). A chronological sequence of tea plantations (3, 8, 17, 25, and 34 years) was selected in a small watershed in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area, and a slope farmland was selected as control. The results showed that with the increase of tea plantation age, soil and microbial biomass C, N, P contents, soil C : N and C : P elevated significantly, while soil N : P overall declined; the MBC : P and MBN : P increased first and then decreased, but MBC : N varied insignificantly. The tea plantation age affected SMQ notably. qMBC first decreased and then increased following the tea planting age, while qMBN and qMBP went up in a fluctuating pattern. In this study, qMBC positively correlated with soil N : P and microbial biomass C : N : P, but negatively correlated with soil C : N and C : P; on the contrary, qMBN and qMBP negatively correlated with soil N : P and microbial biomass C : N : P, but positively correlated with soil C : N and C : P. Generally, the variations of soil microbial biomass and SMQ could reflect the soil quality of tea plantations.

Crop growth is a key factor that effects nitrous oxide (N₂O) emission in farmland soil. Clarification and quantification of the impact of maize growth on N₂O emission are important to guide maize planting and patterns, which is also useful for building model to simulate N₂O emission in an agroecosystem. In this study, we carried out a three-year (2013-2015) field experiment to evaluate the contribution of maize growth on N₂O emission using a split-plot design. The factors included planting versus not planting maize, and four rates of nitrogen (N) application (0, 150, 300, 450 kg N/ha). Our results showed the impacts of maize growth on N₂O emission decreased linearly with the growth of maize from the 43^rd day after sowing (y = -1.07x + 26.85, R² = 0.95). Nitrogen fertilizer application can reduce the impacts of maize growth on N₂O emission. The impact of maize growth on soil NH₄⁺-N and NO₃^--N are similar to N₂O emission, and they have a strong correlation. We concluded that maize growth reduces soil N₂O emission but N application can exert an antagonistic effect, and the impact of maize growth on soil NH₄⁺-N and NO₃^--N largely determines the impacts of maize growth on N₂O emission.

Filamentous fungi were isolated from ten spices collected from markets in Indonesia. The aim was to enumerate fungal contamination and to determine the toxigenicity of Aspergillus flavus strains on each of the spices. Viable fungal populations were determined using a dilution method. Toxigenicity of Aspergillus flavus was determined by culture on a quick screening coconut agar and by PCR using four sets of primers specific for aflatoxin pathway genes. All the tested spices were contaminated by storage fungi, Species of Aspergillus was the most commonly isolated moulds followed by species of Fusarium, Mucor, Penicillium and Rhizopus. The greatest number of Aspergillus flavus isolates were found on white pepper, followed by nutmeg, cardamom, and black pepper. The greatest number of Aspergillus chevalieri isolates were found on coriander, followed by nutmeg. Fifty strains of A. flavus were isolated, all of the strains produced large sclerotia and biseriate conidiophores. Their toxigenicity was assayed by the presence of yellow pigment on a quick screening coconut agar medium and PCR amplification of regulatory and structural genes in the aflatoxin pathway.

One of the most significant environmental problems in Europe is the land use change as a result of urbanization. The estimate of future agricultural land takes in the Czech Republic previously published in this journal is alarming; however, this is based on arbitrarily determined assumptions. Our contribution brings a more realistic assessment of the extent of expected land takes (example of the Hradec Králové Region). For this purpose, the data from the municipalities' Planning Analytical Materials (PAM) on buildable areas (and redevelopment areas) and data on the existing expansion of built-up areas are used. Particular attention is paid to the best quality soils included in the 1^st and 2^nd protection class of agricultural land resources (ALR), because some municipalities located in fertile agricultural areas argue about the necessity to build up good-quality land. The Pearson correlation coefficient has been used for the evaluation to what extent the share of the soils included in the 1^st and 2^nd protection classes of ALR out of the total area of the municipality is really related to the share of best quality soils in planned buildable areas. The spatial statistics method ‒ geographically weighted regression (GWR) has been used to find spatial deviations from the global relationship model. There is a clear differentiation between the municipalities as to whether they are able to rather protect the best soil or whether they are planning future construction predominantly on it. E.g. in municipalities with about 30-50% of the land included in the 1^st and 2^nd ALR protection classes, buildable and redevelopment areas are designed from 0 to 100% for these highest classes of ALR protection. However, the total strength of the association (Pearson's r) between these indicators is large, r = 0.80 (or r = 0.95 when "the point-index value of agricultural land" was used instead of ALR protection classes). The results of GWR show that higher deviations from the model value, both positive and negative ones, are not spatially clustered but located next to each other. Greater deviations occur more frequently in the more fertile western part of the region, where there is a higher pressure on good-quality land, which is either intended for development or protected on the basis of local factors (including spatial planning of individual municipalities). Estimation of future developments has revealed a substantial over-dimensionality of planned buildable areas - they will potentially be built up in more than 100 years.

Knowing the time of death of animals can be helpful for the forensic determination of death due to cruelty. We aimed to determine the time of death of companion animal carcasses, euthanised at an outpatient's department (Small Animal Clinic) of the University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Kosice. The reasons for euthanasia included age of animals, medical state or incurable disease which affected the quality of life. Animal carcasses (33 bodies) were divided into seven groups according to their weight, species and environmental conditions into which they were placed, which were chosen so as to imitate real conditions under which dead animals could be found. We continually measured body temperature until it dropped down to ambient temperature. The post-mortem cooling curve revealed dependencies related to the temperature drop, the weight of carcasses, the place where animals rested and the internal and external environment. Results from the cooling process and obtained time of death may be deduced from a nomogram in field practice.

The poor state of health and increased mortality rate of young roe deer, as reported by South Moravian hunters, caused by the increasing numbers of adult nematodes in the lungs of roe deer prompted us to identify the parasites using a combination of morphological measurements and a phylogenetic SSU rRNA analysis. The study was conducted in a 294 ha game reserve in South Moravia, Czech Republic. Molecular and morphometric techniques were used to identify adult nematodes collected from the respiratory tracts of nine 4-5 months old roe deer in poor health (low body weight of 3-4 kg, poor haircoat quality, and, in some cases, symptoms of diarrhoea). The morphological identification was based on a combination of adult worm characteristics corresponding to Dictyocaulus capreolus. A small subunit rRNA (SSU) partial sequence analysis showed the highest identity scores (99%) corresponding to the sequences of D. capreolus from a roe deer (GenBank: AY168859) from Sweden and the outcomes of the phylogenetic analyses resulted in a tree with a high branch support for two groups, with our sequences forming a well-supported clade with D. capreolus and Dictyocaulus sp. ex Capreolus capreolus (FJ589016) and Dictyocaulus sp. ex Rupicapra rupicapra (FJ589019) sequences from Spain. The examined roe deer have shown symptoms of diarrhoea, anorexia, and respiratory tract inflammation indicating that there might be a connection to the clinical importance of the Dictyocaulus infection.

In recent times, consumers and politicians from Central and Eastern Europe complain that some food products sold in their regions are of lower quality and less healthy if compared to those sold under the same brands in Western Europe. This situation, that concerns exclusively food produced and sold under even well-known multinational brands, is brought back by many food Multi-National Companies to the necessity to adapt their products to local tastes and gastronomic traditions. Many tests and studies carried out at European level prove poorer-quality products offered by Multi-National Companies to Central and Eastern Europe consumers even if with the same packaging and prices (or even more expensive) of Western countries. This is a very novel issue, and to the best of our knowledge, there is not any scientific paper yet dealing with this issue. Therefore, the aim of the study is to add new knowledge to this field and to shed light on the multiple aspects linked to dual quality food. The analysis, essentially theoretical, has pointed out that in addition to the traditional problems of market failures, there can be positive implications in terms of opportunities of competitiveness for multinational food companies.