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This study was conducted to evaluate the occurrence of the genus Arcobacter in cats and dogs in the Czech Republic. These animals may be carriers of the bacteria and potential sources of human infection. Oral smears were collected from animals using smear swabs and brushes. Based on previous studies, commercially available DNA kits were used for DNA isolation. Samples were analysed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and evaluated using gel electrophoresis. Overall, 178 oral smears were tested, of which 108 were from dogs and 70 were from cats. Out of all smears, five were positive, of which four samples were from dogs and one from a cat. In all five positive cases, PCR confirmed the presence of Arcobacter butzleri. In follow-up sampling, the presence of Arcobacter butzleri was demonstrated in two samples from a dog.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the levels of cis- and trans-isomers of resveratrol and piceid contained in the shoots, leaves and tendrils of six grapevine varieties and three locations processed under two different drying conditions. The highest trans-resveratrol content was found in the shoots; trans-piceid was contained in lesser amounts (7%) and cis-forms only in very small amounts (~1%). In leaves, both forms of piceid were dominant, while in tendrils trans- and cis-forms of piceid were dominant in samples dried in the laboratory oven at 40°C. Pinot Noir differed from other varieties with a high trans-resveratrol amount. Growing location affected trans-resveratrol levels. Our results suggest that the trimmed clippings might be used as a valuable and inexpensive source of stilbenes. Clippings preserved by drying might be further processed to nutraceuticals or as an additive to the feed.

The article concentrates on the changes of ownership ongoing in Polish agriculture in the period 1989-2004. Since Polish agriculture was above all private in nature throughout the period of communism, the changes in question were actually more limited than in other Central and East European Countries (CEEC). Those that have taken place have first and foremost involved the privatisation of the old State Farms, whose assets were taken over by individually-owned farms or commercial-law companies, with the intermediation of the Treasury Agricultural Property Agency established for the purpose. A major element of the assets undergoing privatisation was agricultural land. The size of the ownership change has varied from region to region. In the West and North, where more than half of all farmland was in the State Farm hands to 1989, there was a marked increase in the share of land under private ownership. On the other hand, in Central and Eastern Poland, the changes were very limited, concerning only the transfer of land between private farms. Important reasons accounting for the limited activity on the market for land in this part of Poland include the agrarian overpopulation and the widespread treatment of land as a form of the "insurance policy" against job losses. The ownership changes have further encouraged polarisation where farm size structure is concerned. Farms increased in size in the regions where the large average area has long been a typical feature. In turn, the areas characterised by the excessive agrarian fragmentation have not seen any more major changes in the size structure over the recent period. A detailed analysis of the changes in ownership over the market economy period is preceded by a discussion of the history of land ownership in Polish agriculture, with a particular emphasis being placed on the Communist era. The legal and social bases conditioning ownership change are also discussed.

The study evaluates how sixty years of application of organic manures and mineral fertilizers (ten fertilizer treatments altogether), planting of cultivars with different length of stem (long- and short-stem cultivars) and preceding crops (potatoes and alfalfa) affected grain and straw yields of winter wheat in the Prague-Ruzyně long-term fertilizer experiment (RFE). Fertilizer treatments did not affect grain yield during the first ten years of the RFE experiment (1959-1968), but influenced straw yield. The grain yield ranged from 5.08 (control) to 5.43 (farmyard manure) t/ha, straw yield varied from 6.02 t/ha (control) to 8.31 t/ha (poultry slurry (PS) + N₄P₂K₂). In the last ten years of the RFE experiment (2004-2013) grain yield ranged from 7.01 t/ha (control) to 8.88 t/ha (stale + N₄P₂K₂), while straw yield decreased and varied from 3.12 (control) to 6.21 t/ha (PS + N₄P₂K₂). Comparing the potatoes and alfalfa as preceding crops, the grain yield was 0.5 t/ha higher after alfalfa, but straw yield was 1.3 t/ha higher after potatoes. Introduction of short-stem cultivars increased average grain yield about 2 t/ha and decreased average straw yield about 0.85 t/ha.

The 28-day incubation experiment was carried out to evaluate the impact of the application of digestate (Dig); digestate with straw (DigSt); pig slurry (Slu) and mineral fertilizer (NPK) on Cd, Cu, Mn and Zn availability, on K₂SO₄-extractable carbon content and on the soil pH value in long-term contaminated soil. At days three and seven of the experiment, the 0.01 mol/L CaCl₂-extractable fractions of Cd, Zn and Mn significantly decreased under organic treatments (Dig, DigSt and Slu) with the most pronounced effect under Dig treatment. The NPK treatment caused the increase of risky element concentrations since day 21 of incubation which was accompanied with pH decrease. The contents of 0.5 mol/L K₂SO₄-extractable carbon were the highest at day 3 and 7 of incubation in organic treatments. The significant correlations between 0.5 mol/L K₂SO₄-extractable carbon and CaCl₂-extractable metal concentrations showed a close relationship between fresh organic matter added in organic fertilizers and risky element availability, suggesting that newly added labile organic matter can form temporary ligands with risky elements and release them later following its decomposition.

The effects of red wine maturation on the contents of selected parameters of bioactive compounds in wine were determined. Samples of Alibernet, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Torysa wines were studied by spectrophotometric analysis after 3, 7, 11, 19, and 28 months of aging and the selected parameter content was statistically evaluated. Statistically highly significant changes in total polyphenol content, total anthocyanin content, antioxidant activity, and wine colour density were found depending on the aging according to the used statistical analyses. The obtained results can be used for the optimisation of the wine aging process and they allow producers to time the optimal date of wine release onto the market, depending on the desired content parameters.

In the last twenty years, stone fruit production in Slovenia has considerably decreased. Acreage with peaches and nectarines has been significantly reduced. Orchard renewal has decreased for various reasons; among them, the frequent occurrence of various diseases is the most significant. These diseases make the economic feasibility of stone fruit production difficult if not impossible. This review addresses the most important stone fruit diseases in Slovenia: European stone fruit yellows, sharka, bacterial leaf spot, bacterioses caused by Pseudomonas spp., perennial canker, and Fusicoccum canker. Additionally, this review focuses on the possibilities of reducing the damage caused by these diseases.

Two experiments conducted on laying hens, aged 50 and 52 weeks, were carried out to evaluate the effect of dietary Mg and its relationship to the Ca : NPP (non-phytate phosphorus) ratio using a various grain-size of limestone. The Ca : NPP ratio in each experiment was 12.8 and 18, respectively. Two Mg levels were evaluated in the first (1.56 and 4.0 g/kg) and the second experiment (1.52 and 4.0 g/kg). A fine-grained limestone (< 0.5 mm; FL) or a coarse-grained limestone (0.8-2 mm; CL) was used in the first experiment. In the second experiment, a mixture of both the aforementioned limestone forms (FCL) was used as the third alternative. The main parameters estimated in this study were egg production and egg shell breaking strength. In the first experiment, CL significantly increased hen-day egg production (P = 0.043) and Mg (in dietary concentration up to 4 g/kg) increased egg weight (P < 0.001). The addition of Mg to the mixed feed, together with CL, decreased yolk percentage (P = 0.008), increased egg shell percentage (P = 0.044), increased egg shell thickness (P = 0.014), and egg shell breaking strength (P = 0.003). Higher dietary Mg, together with a wider Ca : NPP ratio in the second experiment, increased egg production and egg weight (P < 0.001), but it did not influence egg shell breaking strength. CL increased egg shell breaking strength compared to the addition of FL, as well as FCL (P < 0.05), regardless of the Mg levels. Lower level of Mg with FL decreased ash content of shells (P = 0.004).

Pyometra is a widely detected, chronic infection of the uterus. One of the complications of this infection is renal disease. Kidney biopsy, urinary biomarkers and blood tests were done to detect pyometra-associated renal disease. To our knowledge, no reports are available describing values for renal Doppler measurements in the bitches with pyometra. Doppler ultrasonography is a relatively new method used for evaluation of the renal diseases. The aims of this study were to determine whether renal vascular resistance does increase in dogs with pyometra and to make an early diagnosis of renal disease in dogs with pyometra. Eighteen bitches diagnosed with pyometra and ten healthy bitches were evaluated. Mean values for renal resistive index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) were 0.65 ± 0.02 and 1.73 ± 0.09 for dogs with pyometra; 0.55 ± 0.03 and 1.18 ± 0.03 for the healthy ones, respectively. Of these, four animals had increased RI values and fourteen had an increased PI level. In conclusion, renal vascular resistance determined by renal RI and PI, was increased in some dogs with pyometra. In early detection of the disease intrarenal PI values were more sensitive than intrarenal RI.

The purpose of the study was to establish quantitative and qualitative composition of soil-borne microorganisms in the cultivation of carrot. The experiment considered rye, white mustard, buckwheat and sunflower as cover crops and three systems of cultivation. The population of bacteria and fungi having an antagonistic effect towards selected fungi pathogenic to carrot was determined. The greatest total population of bacteria as well as Bacillus spp. and Pseudomonas spp. was observed in the soil when rye was the cover crop. The greatest quantity of fungi was found in the control, a slightly smaller amount - after using sunflower, buckwheat and white mustard. The system of tillage had no effect on the communities of the investigated microorganisms. Rye and white mustard had the most positive effect on the quantity of antagonistic Bacillus spp., Pseudomonas spp., Clonostachys spp., Myrothecium spp., Penicillium spp. and Trichoderma spp. Regardless of the tillage system, the smallest quantity of antagonistic microorganisms occurred in the conventional cultivation of carrot.

The aeroponic system is a viable technological alternative for potato minituber production within a potato tuber seed system. The aim of the study was to evaluate the productivity of potato minitubers grown in aeroponic culture and collected in 14 successive periods of the growing season. The minitubers of cvs. Ametyst and Tajfun were tested in an experimental field after a storage period. It was found that cv. Ametyst was characterized by higher yield and number of tubers than cv. Tajfun. Yield of cv. Ametyst averaged 42.6 t/ha, and cv. Tajfun 37.3 t/ha. The number of tubers over 3 cm of cv. Ametyst averaged 644.2 per ha, and cv. Tajfun 437.7 per ha. The yield and number of tubers was dependent on the physiological age of minitubers harvested on successive dates. Comparing the productivity of minitubers grown in aeroponics and in the soil, a significant difference was found in the number of tubers with a transversal diameter over 3 cm. There were more daughter tubers from minitubers grown in soil. They are the result of different-size minitubers used for planting, smaller ones from aeroponics and larger from soil.

Romania is also included among the European Union countries where deforested areas have radically increased in recent years, with mountain areas being the most affected. The pressure on the forest fund was analysed in the Maramureş County, as one of the most deforested counties of Romania. In view of assessing the forest area evolution, forested and deforested areas have been calculated for the period 2001-2012, using the Global Forest Change 2000-2012 database provided by the Department of Geographical Sciences, Maryland University. The economic pressure quantification was monitored by developing a database on economic activities based upon the loggings carried out in the period 2001-2012. This database comprises the number of companies, their turnover, profit and the number of employees for the economic sectors causing pressure on the forest fund. The outcomes show a dramatic increase in deforested areas, amounting to over 16,500 ha in the Maramureș County. Nearly 5,000 ha have been deforested in Borșa, the commune with the largest deforested areas in the period 2000-2012, causing major imbalances to the local ecosystem.

Epifluorescence microscopy (EFM) was used to study the biofilm formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa after 6, 24, 30, 48, 54, 72, 78, and 96 h growth in a chamber slide system. For this purpose, the biofilm was stained with the Live/Dead BacLight, wherein live and dead cells were visualised based on the cell membrane integrity. With the use of EFM we described 8- of 9-stage biofilm characteristics after 78 h of growth, since the majority of microscopic fields were fully covered with attached cells. However, the 96-h growth resulted in the cell detachment and revealed 30% of dead cells of all those cells that remained on the surface. The susceptibility testing of planktonic and biofilm cells to two disinfectants, chlorine-based and quaternary ammonium compound-based, revealed that biofilm cells were more tolerant to a chlorine-based sanitiser than planktonic counterparts. P. aeruginosa was inhibited by lower concentrations of the quaternary ammonium compound-based sanitiser than the chlorine-based sanitiser, which on the other hand was more effective in cell inactivation, as both the MIC/MBC (inhibitory/bactericidal) measurement and the CFDA/PI (carboxyfluorescein diacetate/propidium iodide) staining indicated.

This study was aimed at determining the presence of C. burnetii in cattle and sheep herds in the Kars region of Turkey using serological and molecular methods. As a serological technique, C.burnetii IgG in blood sera and milk samples were investigated with ELISA. The results of these examinations revealed that 108 (43.2%) out of 250 sheep blood serum samples and 52 (14.85%) out of 350 cattle blood serum samples were seropositive for C. burnetii antibodies by ELISA. Out of 350 cattle and 250 sheep milk samples examined with ELISA, 36 (10.28%) and 42 (16.8%) were found to be seropositive, respectively. For molecular analysis, a Trans-PCR amplifying the IS1111A transposase gene of C. burnetii was conducted. Five (1.42%) out of 350 cattle milk samples, and one (0.4%) from 250 sheep milk samples were found to be positive for C. burnetii DNA. The results obtained in this study have demonstrated the presence of Q fever in cattle and sheep in the Kars region, and the dissemination of the infectious agent within milk. This situation poses a potential risk for animal and human health. Ultimately, this study points the way to future investigations into the presence of C. burnetii, which causes Q fever in cattle and sheep, and will contribute to the protection and control of the disease.

Cyprinid herpesvirus 3 also known as koi herpesvirus is a causative agent of highly contagious disease (koi herpesvirus disease) and can cause significant losses in fish stocks. The disease is restricted to koi and common carp, but recent investigations have shown that other cyprinids as well as non-cyprinid species are asymptomatically susceptible to this virus and can play either a role as a potential carrier or can contribute to biological conservation of this virus. The susceptibility of two non-target species, stone loach (Barbatula barbatula) and sterbel - a hybrid between sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus) and beluga (Huso huso) to cyprinid herpesvirus 3 was tested by means of their co-habitation together with naïve koi and intraperitoneally KHV-infected koi (primary challenge). On the 15 ^th day post-infection (dpi), a secondary challenge was started (a portion of the surviving stone loach and sterbel were transferred to tanks with other naïve koi). All dead as well as surviving fish were investigated for the presence of KHV DNA in pooled samples of tissue from individual fish by nested PCR. Sampling for PCR from surviving fish was performed on the 15^th dpi and on the 30^th dpi of the primary challenge, and on the 30^th dpi of the secondary challenge. During the primary challenge (up to the 30^th dpi), average cumulative mortality in duplicated experimental groups was as follows: koi 100%, sterbel and stone loach both 5%. In the primary challenge, no surviving stone loach or sterbel sampled on the 15^th dpi or those that died previously were found to be positive for viral DNA. Results of PCR revealed the presence of KHV DNA in 95% of co-habited naïve koi samples. PCR analysis of tissues taken from surviving fish on the 30^th dpi revealed the presence of viral DNA in 77.8% (7/9) of stone loach and in 22.2% (2/9) of sterbel. Cumulative mortality of fish in the secondary challenge was 100% for stone loach and for koi co-habitating with them, and 50% for koi co-habitating with sterbel, which all survived. Despite the high mortality of koi and stone loach in the secondary challenge (probably caused by malfunction of biofilters or bacterial infection), none of them, nor any of the sturgeon hybrids were considered to be positive for KHV DNA. In summary, the hybrid between sterlet and beluga and the stone loach seemed to be susceptible to cyprinid herpesvirus 3, but we could not prove that they can transfer this virus to naïve koi.

The aim of the paper was to evaluate the efficiency of winter rape growing which is based on the calculations and an analysis of production and economic indicators in the given branch. The development analysis of yields per hectare, costs, revenues and production profitability was carried out over the years 2003-2009 in the Agro Žlunice and it was compared with the results of the Czech Republic as a whole. In the enterprise, it deals with the traditional growing technology with a higher intensity of the intensification factors inputs in growing. Yields per hectare in the farm reached very favourable values which supported the stable position of the enterprise in the market with this agricultural commodity. It is possible to see a competitive advantage in the level of the per hectare yields. An average yield in the joint-stock company from 2003 to 2009 was 4.34 t/ha and an average yield in the CR over the last seven years was 2.9 t/ha. The enterprise's yield is by 1.44 t per ha higher compared to the average yields in the CR. In comparison of the average costs per hectare over the evaluated period in the enterprise and in the CR - in the enterprise, the costs were by 2.71% higher comapred to the CR (the enterprise 21 991 CZK/ha, the CR 21 394 CZK/ha). However, the enterprise Agro Žlunice, a.s. reached in comparison of the cost per 1 tonne of production by 31.31% lower costs than is the CR average. The amount of expenses incurred was compensated by high yields per hectare which the enterprise reached and thereby it improved the profitability of growing of this crop-plant. The highest share in the total costs belonged to direct material costs. The share of material costs in the enterprise over 7 years was 55.28%. Among the direct material costs, there are mainly seeds, fertilizers and chemical prophylactics. From the indicators of production profitability, there are expressed the profit achieved per 1 t of seedsfrom 1 ha of the area under crop and cost profitability. The profitability indicators considerably fluctuate during the evaluated years in the monitored enterprise and in the CR in dependence on the fluctuation of the seed price.

Soybean yields can be considerably improved by inoculation with selected Bradyrhizobium japonicum strains and foliar fertilization. An exact field experiment was carried out in 2012-2014 at the Experimental Station of Cultivar Assessment in Przecław, Poland. The test plant was soybean cv. Aldana. The experimental factors were: bacterial inoculant Nitragina (Bradyrhizobium japonicum); foliar fertilization with Mikrokomplex; combined applications Nitragina + Mikrokomplex and the control treatment. Significant effect of Nitragina on an increase in the number of plants prior to harvest, plant height and the number of pods per plant was indicated. Fertilization with Mikrokomplex caused an increase in the number of pods per plant and thousand seed weight. Nitragina + Mikrokomplex increased the number of plants prior to harvest, plant height, the number of pods per plant and thousand seed weight. Seed yield was significantly higher in all the treatments compared to the control (2.31 t/ha). Higher soil plant analysis development values were found after the application of Nitragina + Mikrokomplex, and in the stage of pod development, also after foliar fertilization with Mikrokomplex. Application of Nitragina and Nitragina + Mikrokomplex resulted in an increase in leaf area index and mean tip angle and total protein in seeds. Fe content in seeds was the lowest in the control (69.2 mg/kg) and significantly higher in the other treatments (Nitragina, Nitragina + Mikrokomplex), and Mg content significantly increased after the application of Mikrokomplex and Nitragina + Mikrokomplex.

The paper deals with gaseous emissions generated in biomass combustion in water boilers. It provides results of analyses of gaseous emissions and boiler efficiency in combustion of branches of apple trees from spring pruning, spruce cuttings and corn cobs obtained from kernel harvest. Measurements were done in laboratory conditions. Average CO emission values observed in combustion were from 334.7 to 650.18 mg/m³ and average NO_x emission values were low, between 50.1 and 157.2 mg/m³. Boiler efficiency in applewood combustion was lower - this was caused by its higher moisture.

Maximum aphid numbers on wheat are positively related to the length of the period elapsed from immigration to the population peak. We predicted that maximum abundances on late maturing cultivars would be greater than on early ones. This was tested using 8 spring wheat cultivars that differed in the length of time to senescence. In a 4-year experiment, numbers of aphids were checked at weekly intervals. Maximum abundances on late-maturing cultivars were significantly greater than those on early cultivars. However, the length of the vegetation period affected maximum abundances less than did the annual variation in aphid abundance. Genetic disposition for early ripening thus tends to decrease aphid numbers, but manipulation of this character is unlikely to become an important source of aphid resistance.

"Hyperostotic tympanic bone spicules" (HTBS), or "mucoperiosteal exostoses" (ME, syn.) are small, globular (≥ 1 mm in diameter), mostly stalked and drumstick-like, bony structures, which arise from the inner wall of the tympanic bulla and project into the middle ear cavity. HTBS present as mineral densities inside the tympanic bulla on radiographs or computed tomographic (CT) images. They have previously been referred to as "otoliths" and were thought to represent mineral concretions secondary to otitis media. Recently, it was shown that HTBS actually consist of regularly composed bone tissue, covered by normal middle ear mucosa. So far, HTBS have only extensively been described in dogs, where they occur with a prevalence of up to > 45%. A recent study detected ME, most likely representing HTBS, in the tympanic cavities of skeletonised skull bones of African lions. To estimate the occurrence of HTBS in other mammal species, the middle ears of adult animals of 78 different domestic, wild, and zoo species undergoing routine necropsy at the Institute of Veterinary Pathology of the LMU Munich, Germany were examined in the present study. HTBS were found in the tympanic bullae of carnivorous species, such as canids (wolf, fox), and in several large felid species (lion, tiger, leopard, cheetah). In contrast, HTBS were not present in domestic cats (more than to 200 cases), small carnivorous species such as mustelids, nor in any primate, ungulate, ruminant, pig, insectivore, or rodent species. The detectability of HTBS by CT of the tympanic bullae of large felids was demonstrated in an African lion. Histologically, HTBS consisted of mature lamellar bone, covered by periosteum and a partially ciliated, flat epithelium, regularly without any apparent inflammatory alterations. The present study demonstrates that HTBS may frequently occur in large felids and in different canid species. These findings should be taken into account when examining the middle ear, or interpreting bulla radiographs/CT-images of the respective species. However, the factors triggering the development of HTBS remain to be identified.

Histological examination of thymi from juvenile Acipenser ruthenus and Acipenser brevirostrum after haematoxylin and eosin staining revealed the presence of Hassall's corpuscles, in a scattered distribution within the thymic medulla in two of seven, and one of nine examined specimens, respectively. Morphologically, the Hassall's corpuscles were of the juvenile and premature type and no degenerative changes were seen.

Every year, an analysis of economic results of a sample of agricultural enterprises farming in various production and climatic conditions in the territory of the Czech Republic is carried out by applying economic statistical methods. Based on these results, long-term trends of economic results and their influencing factors are defined. This article is based on the analysis of development of economic indicators of a sample of agricultural enterprises in the Czech Republic in the period 2003-2009, divided according to the proportion of the LFA. The year 2009 brought, in comparison with the previous years, a strong deterioration in economic results. In 2009, the economic result was the worst during the whole monitored period. The decrease in the average number of workers together with the increase in labour productivity manifests a long-term tendency. Agricultural subsidies tend also to grow in the long-term even though their growth has been slowing down.

Among Meliaceae derivatives, neem cake is usually used as a fertilizer; however its origin and industrial processing are often unknown, so that its effect on soil fertility is not predictable. In this study, the effect of soil incorporation of 6 commercial neem cakes and leaves of Melia azedarach L. on nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) dynamics was investigated in a 118-day laboratory incubation experiment. Neem cake at a rate of 8 g/kg of soil and melia leaves at 16 g/kg were incorporated into the soil and their net N and C mineralisation were evaluated 2 h after application and at day 1, 2, 6, 12, 26, 54 and 118, by analysing a 50-g soil sample placed in 250 glass jars. The apparent net N mineralisation was well predicted by N concentration and C/N ratio of derivatives. The derivatives with a C/N ratio < 24 caused a net N mineralisation, whereas those with a C/N ratio ≥ 24 caused net N immobilisation. C mineralisation ranged between 15% and 25% and was not related to chemical composition of the derivative. Neem cake with a C/N ratio < 24 can be used to add N, while neem cake with a C/N ratio > 24 can be used to reduce soil mineral N.

The effect of mineral nitrogen (N) nutrition on seed production and acquisition of ¹⁵N from fertilizers by components of cereal-pea mixtures was investigated. Yields of wheat-pea and oats-pea mixtures raised together with the increase of cereals percentage in the pot, and higher seed yields of mixture with barley was affected by a larger share of pea plants. The percentage of nitrogen derived from fertilizers was significantly higher in cereals as compared with pea. Pea accumulated the greatest quantity of nitrogen from fertilizers in straw and roots, and cereals translocated ¹⁵N mainly to ears - grain and glumes with rachis. The percentage of ¹⁵N in seeds of pea amounted to 15% on the average, and in grain of cereals - 54% to 60% of the total N taken up.

Assemblages of earthworms were evaluated in spruce and beech stands in the Kienhaida Nature Reserve (Krušné hory Mts., Czech Republic) and its immediate surroundings, where site conditions were modified by the soil preparation for forest regeneration. The beech stands of the reserve showed low diversity but higher earthworm abundance than did the spruce stands, which in turn showed the lowest Lumbricidae abundance (18 individuals.m^-2). The highest abundance of earthworms (124 individuals.m^-2) was found in the soil of mounds created 30 years prior to sampling from the organic soil of the A_h horizon. The highest species diversity and low abundance were characteristic of areas between the mounds, the soil surface of which was greatly disturbed after removal of the A_h horizon to create those mounds. The degree to which the reforested clear-cuts created due to air pollution were overgrown with weeds contributed positively to the diversity and abundance of Lumbricidae.

Information on the historical background of the present forest conditions is needed for proper decisions on forest management. Disturbances play a major role in the formation of forest structure and composition. This paper compares the present break-up of mountain spruce stands in the Bohemian Forest (in the Šumava Protected Landscape Area) with conditions during their initiation using dendrochronological techniques. On three selected localities we established two study plots within relatively old stands of unknown origin. Stands were recently broken up by a windstorm. The present situation was described by diameter and decay class distribution. To describe the situation at the stand initiation, we cored at least 40 stems on each plot to get the age structure and growth series of trees. Disturbances were marked by discovering synchronous releases on tree-ring series. Main population waves were initiated in association with severe disturbances during a relatively short period, leading to the establishment of relatively even-aged, homogeneously looking stands. The disturbances were synchronized between plots and accounted for by historically known windstorms or bark beetle outbreaks; notwithstanding, logging as a disturbance factor is also particularly possible.

The area of forest destruction as well as the annual growth loss due to road construction before constructing a road was predicted. To do this, road cross sections of 88 points along the 10 km proposed road were predicted using Multilayer Perceptron Neural Network with two input parameters of hillside slope and rock share within MATLAB software. Then according to the predicted width, the area of road earthwork as well as the area of roadside with a 10 m width was calculated in ArcGIS software. Finally, by overlaying the inventory network layer on the road map and by knowing the annual growth (m³) for each plot the growth loss of the area of road earthwork was calculated and one-third of the annual growth increment was considered to calculate the growth loss of the roadside. According to the results, for the construction of a 10 km long road in the region, 12.98 ha of forest area is destructed due to road construction, of which 5.36 ha is destructed resulting from earthwork operations and 7.61 ha occurs in the roadside and its growth is influenced by road construction. With the construction of the road, in total, 32.606 m³ of growth will be lost annually, of which 22.221 m³ is due to road earthwork that is completely removed from the forest annual growth cycle and 10.384 m³ of the growth loss belongs to the roadside which is decreased resulting from road construction.

The morphology and biology of immature stages and the distinguishing characters of generations in summer are briefly reviewed. The time of migration of the overwintered generation and the use of the median flight time are given. The longevity of overwintered adults, and the start and course of oviposition by overwintered females were observed mainly during June and July. The interval between adult emergence and flights from carrots appears to be very short, 2-3 days. Departure from developmental summer host plants culminates at the beginning of September. The sex ratio of the overwintered generation is not persistent, since it is usually female-biased. In emerged adults in summer the ratio is 50:50, with weak protandry. The systemic action of sucking for the curling of leaves was found by Láska already in 1964. Inliterature records, both subspecies of Daucus carota dominate as developmental hosts, more recently Coriandrum sativum was shown to be more suitable than Petroselinum hortense. Norway spruce, and to a lesser extent other conifers, are predominantly mentioned as overwintering shelter plants. It is not clear how overwintering occurs in regions without coniferous forests, and only undefined shrubs or trees are given in the literature. The first damage was reported inDenmark about in 1896, spreading from about 1918 over just a few years to the other Fennoscandian countries, and later in some other European countries. The spring migration is discussed, which occurs in central and northern Europe on the same date, perhaps explicable by the orientation of this pest or its particular populations to long days, despite the climate and phenology of each region. It is hypothesised that a particularly aggressive race evolved inSjaelland (Denmark) at the turn of the nineteenth and twentieth century, which later spread to other regions of northern and centralEurope.

Nine different visual evaluations of Plum pox virus (PPV) presence were carried out in four nurseries during 2012-2015. Results of visual evaluation were verified by ELISA. The presence of PPV was confirmed by ELISA in all the trees showing PPV symptoms. PPV has never been detected by ELISA in trees without PPV symptoms on leaves. A very low occurrence of PPV was proved in plums in all the four nurseries. There were two cases of higher occurrence of PPV in plum cultivars, where PPV originated from infected grafts. The PPV occurrence was 0.126 and 1.59%. The average occurrence of PPV in plums was 0.075%, 93 trees out of 123 630 inspected were PPV-infected. All the PPV-infected trees were destroyed immediately. No new PPV infection was proved later in season (August-September). In comparison with the situation in the 60s of the last century, the PPV occurrence in plums was 2.48% in one nursery in 1963 and there were nurseries with PPV occurrence exceeding 5%. All growing plants were destroyed in this case. The occurrence of PPV in the Czech fruit nurseries today is more than hundred times lower in comparison with the situation fifty years ago. The incidental occurrence of PPV in nurseries cannot be excluded in countries and areas with the endemic presence of PPV (in the Czech Republic and in most European countries). Visual inspection of PPV symptoms in nurseries confirmed by ELISA testing is sufficient. Infected plants must be removed immediately.

Autotransplantation of teeth is the most natural technique to for replacing missing teeth in exposed parts of the dental arch. Reports from human patients indicate great progress toward successful transplantations. However, complications such as inflammation and ankylosis still occur. To understand regenerative processes after autotransplantations, several animal models have been used (monkeys, rodents, rabbits, cats and dogs) and histological/molecular methods have been established. This review aims to summarise knowledge from animal models and discuss their advantages or disadvantages with respect to possible usage in research.