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Deslorelin acetate, a GnRH agonist, is commonly used to prevent folliculogenesis in several species. However, little is known of the effect of deslorelin acetate implants on the oestrous cycle of female guinea pigs. Fifteen intact healthy female guinea pigs were investigated in this study. Signs of sexual behaviour, the presence of a vaginal membrane along with plasma concentrations of oestradiol (E₂)and progesterone (P₄), were monitored during two consecutive oestrous cycles. At the beginning of the third oestrous cycle each guinea pig was administered an implant of the GnRH analogue, deslorelin acetate, (4.7 mg). When compared to the untreated state, deslorelin implantation was associated with altered signs of oestrus. The average time to opening of the vaginal membrane was delayed. After opening, the vaginas were found to be variably opened and closed. A significant reduction in P₄ (to less than 1.0 ng/ml) and cessation of P₄ cyclical variation was observed. Plasma E₂ remained high during the whole experimental period. This study shows that cessation of the oestrous cycle by the deslorelin implant might be useful in preventing pregnancy in guinea pigs.

A domestic shorthair cat was referred with a history of dyspnoea and lethargy that had arisen gradually within the last few days. The cat had been hit by an automobile 10 days earlier. A thoracic radiograph suggested stenosis of the intrathoracic trachea, proximal to the tracheal bifurcation. Endoscopic examination confirmed a narrowing of the tracheal lumen due to the presence of a fibrotic ring, with remaining patent lumen of about 2 mm. A surgical treatment with a right lateral thoracotomy approach and resection of the narrowed portion of the trachea (a length of about 1 cm) was performed under endoscopic vision. The procedure was unsuccessful because of the size of the tissue removed and the laxity of the remaining tracheal tissue that caused dehiscence of sutures between the tracheal stump and tracheal bifurcation. After consultation with the cat's owners, an intraoperative euthanasia was performed.

To investigate the effect of fertilization practice on dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) in aggregates, the study was conducted and involved four fertilization treatments: no fertilizer; mineral fertilizer (MF); pig manure matched with mineral fertilizer (MFP) and crop straw matched with mineral fertilizer (MFR). The results showed that DON content and storage were the highest in > 5 mm aggregates and were the lowest in < 0.25 mm aggregates. Compared with MF, MFP and MFR significantly increased DON contents in > 5 mm by 404.7% and 184.4%. In comparison with MFR, DON content and storage in > 5 mm aggregates for MFP were significantly enhanced by 77.5% and 75.0%. A significantly positive linear correlation relationship between DON content and microbial biomass carbon content was observed in aggregates (R² = 0.84; P < 0.01). The results suggest that pig manure matched with mineral fertilizer is a preferred strategy for retaining DON nutrient due to enhanced microbial biomass in aggregates on sloping upland of purple soil.

The aim of this study was to compare the incidence of pathogens and pesticide residues in rapeseed samples depending on integrated and organic cultivation systems and cultivars. No pesticide residue was detected in seeds coming from the organic production system. However, trace amounts of pesticide residues admissible in rapeseed protection were detected for samples from integrated pest management. Seeds from both cultivation systems were most frequently infested by fungi Alternaria brassicicola and A. alternata. The greatest number of Leptosphaeria spp. cultures was obtained from seeds from organic cultivation.

The research aimed at the assessment of the influence of mineral nitrogen (CaNPK) fertilization and lupine cropping on the N₂O emissions from agricultural soil. Observations were collected from CaNPK and Ca fertilization systems (further referred to as NIL due to the absence of nitrogen (N) fertilizers) in two consecutive years (2012 and 2013) on a long-term (since 1923) field experiment in Skierniewice in Central Poland. N₂O emissions from the soil were measured in situ by the means of infrared spectroscopy using a portable FTIR spectrometer Alpha (Bruker). N₂O fluxes from soils treated under CaNPK and NIL treatments were similar. No significant influence of the current treatment or cropping on the N₂O emissions was noted in the CaNPK treated soil. N₂O emissions in 2012 (barley, ammonium nitrate application) and 2013 (lupine, no mineral nitrogen application) were similar (0.17-23.04 g N₂O-N/ha/day, median 4.29 and 0.09-19.46 g N₂O-N/ha/day, median 4.45, respectively). During the growing period of 2012 (barley, ammonium nitrate application), the N₂O-N emissions from the CaNPK treated soil (uncorrected for NIL) represented 1.02% of the applied N dose. In the growing period of 2013 (lupine, no mineral nitrogen application), the yield-scaled N₂O-N emissions from CaNPK and NIL treatments equaled respectively to 4.4 g and 5.4 g N₂O-N per 1 kg of nitrogen accumulated by lupine.

We studied effects of repeated applications of nitrogen on stem growth of mature Scots pine at four sites with yield potential around 3 - 4.5 m³ ha^‑1 yr^‑1. Treatments included control (0) and fertilization with ammonium nitrate at 100 and 200 kg N ha^‑1. Some plots were supplied with corresponding doses of urea. Applications were repeated up to five times, at five to twenty years intervals. Plot size was 22 x 22 m with buffer zones of 4 m. Measurements were made on an inner plot, 14 x 14 m. Tree ring widths usually reached a maximum two to four years after fertilization, returning to about the original level after seven to ten years. Responses were larger to 200 than to 100 kg N ha^‑1. Annual volume increment over the experimental period was 1.5 to 2.0 m³ ha^-1 larger in plots provided with 200 kg N ha^-1 than in control plots, or even more as the buffer zones of 4 m did not completely exclude tree roots from growing into neighbouring plots.

European ash (Fraxinus excelsior) and sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus) are considered amongst tree species as some of the most attractive forage for red deer (Cervus elaphus). The aim of this paper is to estimate branch and foliage mass browsing by red deer in young Sycamore maple and European ash in Central Slovakia and to analyze interspecific differences in browsing frequency and quantity. Altogether 665 ash trees and 701 maple trees were measured for height and stem diameter at the ground level. Red deer browsing, defined as leader shoot or lateral branch cropping, was recorded for all trees. A combination of the diameter of browsed branches and branch regression models allowed for the estimation of browsed (potentially consumed) mass by red deer. Results show that browsing occurred more frequently on maple (5 cases per tree) compared to ash (3 cases per tree); however, more total branch biomass was consumed in ash (10.7 g per tree) compared to maple (2.6 g per tree). This is because browsed branches were larger in ash than in maple. We assume that the difference in the size of browsed branches between ash and maple is relative to species-specific branch morphological and structural features.

Macrocybe gigantea (Massee) Pegler & Lodge is a species of edible mushrooms which has important nutritional, medicinal, and economic values. Discrimination of M. gigantea with different storage periods is helpful to guarantee the authenticity and to promote marketing of this species. We focused on the establishment of the fingerprints based on UV spectroscopy to discriminate the wild-grown M. gigantea samples stored for different years and to distinguish the wild-grown and cultured samples which were stored for the same years. The analyses of the data were performed by multivariate analyses such as principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis (CA). UV spectral fingerprints showed that the major composition and content of the main components were significantly variable over time. All the M. gigantea samples which were stored for different years could be successfully grouped by PCA and CA. The results demonstrated that this qualitative assessment could be regarded as a rapid and reliable method for discrimination of M. gigantea with different storage times.

The biological efficacy of some biorational and conventional insecticides against different stages of Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) was evaluated under laboratory and semi-field conditions. Seven different commercial products were tested, including the biorational insecticides: Spinosad, Mectin, Fitoverm, Match, Neemix in addition to two conventional insecticides: Actara and Actellic. Data indicated that all tested insecticides showed low toxic effects to L. decemlineata eggs, but most hatching neonates died shortly after hatching. All tested insecticides at their field rates showed high toxicity to larvae of L. decemlineata. The highest mortality was obtained in earlier instars, as compared to older ones, and mortality increased with the time of exposure. Moreover, the lower concentrations (up to 25% of the field rate) of Actara, Mectin, Spinosad, and Fitoverm showed high efficacy against L. decemlineata third instar larvae. Also, Actara caused the highest mortality in L. decemlineata adults, followed by Spinosad, Mectin, and Fitoverm as compared to Actellic, Match, and Neemix. In pupal bioassay, Fitoverm caused the greatest reduction in L. decemlineata adult emergence followed by Mectin, Actara, Actellic and Spinosad. In translocation bioassays, Actara caused the highest mortality in L. decemlineata 3^rd instar larvae or adults followed by Spinosad and Mectin. The residual activity of tested insecticides against third instar larvae was also evaluated. Actara, Spinosad, and Mectin were more persistent under field conditions, consequently the mortality rates after 30 days of application were 46.67%, 44.44%, and 35.56%, respectively.

Russian wheat aphid is an important pest in many wheat growing countries of the world. Different resistance genes to the pest have previously been identified. However, some biotypes of the pest are virulent to most of these genes. Swedish wheat-rye and wheat-Leymus, consisting of 235 accessions with substitutions and translocations, were investigated for resistance to the aphid. A total of 86 accessions were shown to be either resistant or moderately resistant. Resistance was found particularly in accessions having substitutions of 1R instead of 1D [1R(1D) or 1R(1D) + 6R(6D)], in translocations to 3D or 5A (3DL.3RS and 5AL.5RS) and in accessions with introgressions of Leymus mollis. Resistances to Russian wheat aphid obtained from the hereby reported chromosomes and combinations have not previously been reported. These rye and Leymus genes can thus be useful for widening the pool of resistance genes for future breeding of cultivars resistant to Russian wheat aphid.

Taxonomical bias for the intensity of research in natural sciences is well documented but less data exists for crop protection, weed and phytopathology sciences. Here we test a hypothesis predicting a positive relationship between the number of pests recorded in various taxa ("pest-taxa") in the Czech Republic, their economic importance and numbers of persons engaged in research of crop protection, weed, and phytopathology. In contrast, we established an imbalance in the distribution of manpower and the number of pest species. The most counterintuitive result of this study was that the number of scientists was weakly inversely related to the average economic importance of particular taxa.

A rare case of a liver biliary duct cystoadenoma in a dog is reported. Tissue changes are described with an emphasis on immunohistochemical patterns that aid in the identification of the tumour and differentiation from similar macroscopical features that arise due to congenital abnormalities. Finally, we provide hints on comparative pathology.

Paddy rice is important for Chinese agriculture and crop production, which largely depends on the leaf nitrogen (N) levels. The purpose of this study is to discuss the relationship between the fluorescence parameters and leaf N content of paddy rice and to test their performance in inversing N content of crops through back-propagation (B-P) neural network. In the correlative analysis of the fluorescence parameters and the N content, we found that the correlation between fluorescence ratios (F740/F685 and F685/F525 (F740, F685, F525 - intensity of fluorescence at 740, 685 and 525 nm, respectively)) and the N content (R² are 0.735 and 0.4342, respectively) is weaker than that between the intensity of fluorescence peaks (F685 and F740) and N content (R² are 0.9743 and 0.9686, respectively). Our studies show that the accuracy and precision of N content inversion which is acquired from the intensity of fluorescence peaks through the B-P neural network model are significantly improved (root mean square error (MSRE) = 0.1702, the residual changes between -0.1-0.1 mg/g) compared with the fluorescence ratio (MSRE = 0.3655, the residual changes from -0.3-0.3 mg/g). Results demonstrate that the intensity of fluorescence peaks can be as a characteristic parameter to estimate N content of crops leaf. The B-P neural network model will be serviceable approach in inversing N content of paddy leaf.

The study presents the impact of management practices on greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and nitrogen (N) losses calculated with a denitrification-decomposition model. Two cropping systems were analysed. The first rotation (A) consisted of potato, winter wheat, spring barley and corn. The second (B) included potato, winter wheat, spring barley and clover with grasses mixture. In A1 and B1 scenarios, fluxes were estimated on the basis of mineral fertilizers input, whereas in A2 and B2 scenarios the assessment of emissions was made with regards to manure. The results indicated that the application of manure in A rotation led to the increase of nitrous oxide (N₂O) emission, N leaching, N surplus, crop yields, and the decrease of nitrogen use efficiency higher than in B rotation. Additional doses of manure in A2 scenario increased the potential of the accumulation of soil organic carbon (SOC) and global warming potential (GWP) by 157%. In B2 scenario, SOC augmented more than three-fold but GWP increased only by 10%. The N losses and GHG emissions could be minimised by controlling N application through the implementation of nutrient management plan in which N doses are defined based on the crop needs and soil quality.

The article describes the concentration process, structural changes and competitiveness in the German agri-food sector over the last decade. This descriptive analysis aims to outline the developments at the individual stages of the food chain and to identify the challenges the sector will face in the upcoming years. The study is based mainly on the data published by the German Statistical Office and the ZMP1, and the evaluation of the primary and secondary literature sources. The data shows that small and medium-sized enterprises were sustainable alongside the large ones and have played an important role in the German agriculture and food processing sectors in the recent years. Various business strategies can be expected to make the coexistence of small and large-scale enterprises also possible in the future.

Water distribution in landscape is essentially influenced by the nature of the catchment rainfall-runoff process. Firstly, this paper presents an analysis of trends in the rainfall-runoff regime of the Lomnice river basin (South Bohemia, Czech Republic), using a single and double mass curve method. Secondly, the analysis of the rainfall-runoff regime is supplemented by an analysis of the evolution of temperature and snow conditions. Finally, a water balance analysis is performed for three selected years, using the Bilan hydrological model. The aim of the present paper was to find out (1) whether any changes have occurred in the trend of the rainfall-runoff regime of the catchment since 1970, and (2) to what extent these changes may have been caused by anthropogenic activities in the catchment. The results show several changes in the runoff scheme that are not related to the amount of precipitation. This statement follows from the comparison of single mass curves of precipitation and discharges. A comparison of the hydrological balance data for the Lomnice river basin, and the Otava and the Upper Vltava (a higher order stream) river basins led to the following conclusions: (1) There has been a change in the trend of the Lomnice river runoff regime. (2) The runoff regime of the Lomnice river basin differs from the regime of the higher order river basin (the Otava, the Upper Vltava). (3) The changes in the runoff regime in the Lomnice river basin were probably caused mainly by anthropogenic activities, the influence of which disappears within the larger basin (a higher order catchment area). Therefore, when planning sustainable water resources management, it is necessary to consider the impact of human activities not only globally, but also at the local scale.

Seedlots of sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus L.) originating from three different provenance regions were collected in autumn 2012. The seed quality, namely vitality and germination rate, was assessed according to Czech conventions. There were four replications within each seedlot, i.e. twelve treatments altogether for each experimental variant. The effect of gibberellic acid on germination and vitality was studied using three treatments including a control for germination capacity and three treatments including a control for emergence rate. The data shows that the gibberellic acid did not substitute for the stratification procedure as it did not improve the germination capacity of seeds with pericarp when compared with stratified seeds; however for seeds without pericarp the gibberellic acid improved the germination capacity to the level of stratified seeds. The data also shows the positive influence of gibberellic acid on emergence rate. All variants where acid gibberellic was applied have a statistically higher emergence rate than the control. The increase was about 50% higher than in the control, i.e. without the influence of gibberellic acid.

The occurrence of chestnut blight (Cryphonectria parasitica) was studied in 2011-2012 at 13 locations in the main chestnut growing areas of Romania. Infections were detected at four localities. The symptoms and the fungus were detected on European chestnut (four localities) and also on oak trees (two localities). A total of 89 isolates of C. parasitica were isolated and characterised. Based on canker and isolate morphology (culture morphology and the Bavendamm test), both virulent and hypovirulent samples were isolated; hypovirulent isolates were found at only one locality. Two vegetative compatibility types corresponding to EU-12 and EU-2 were identified among isolates. Both mating types were found, with a dominance of MAT-1 in southern Romania and MAT-2 in northern Romania.

Adhesion formation involving the genitourinary tract is common following laparoscopic procedures. To evaluate the effectiveness of intraperitoneal lidocaine hydrochloride 1% solution for the prevention of abdominal adhesions, twenty four Santa Ines ewes submitted to laparoscopic ovum pick-up, uterine puncture and local rinsing, were randomly distributed into two groups of 12 animals, according to rinsing solution: normal saline (SG) or 1% lidocaine hydrochloride solution (LG). Laparoscopy for manipulation of the reproductive tract (uterine puncture trauma model and ovum pick-up) was applied. A standard laparoscopic approach using three ports in triangulation was employed. The uterus and ovaries were rinsed at the end of the procedure (using either saline or lidocaine hydrochloride) for removal of blood clots from the ovaries and uterine horn surfaces. Inflammation was assessed postoperatively by plasma fibrinogen, and all animals underwent a second laparoscopic procedure 21days after surgery for macroscopic assessment of adhesion formation. Four cases of adhesion were observed in each group. The plasma fibrinogen did not differ between groups and among different time points, indicating an absence of systemic inflammation following laparoscopic procedures. There were no significant differences between treatments. Both normal saline and 1% lidocaine hydrochloride were similarly effective in the prevention of adhesion formation.

Phosphorus (P) availability limits crop growth in most of cultivable soils in north-west India. The beneficial rhizosphere microorganisms such as phosphate-solubilising fungi (PSF) were found to increase P availability in soil and improve crop yields. In view of this, field experiments were conducted during 2009-2011 to evaluate the effect of seed inoculation with PSF (Penicillium bilaii) at different rates of fertilizer P on P content in leaves and grain yield of irrigated wheat in India. The soil was low in Olsen P at the Bathinda site and medium at the Ludhiana site. In no-P treatment, PSF significantly increased grain yield by 12.6% over non-inoculated control. The effect of PSF on grain yield was generally more pronounced in a soil with low Olsen-P compared to medium Olsen-P level. Inoculation of PSF along with 50% P fertilizer increased wheat yield equivalent to 100% P with no PSF. Spike density was significantly higher in PSF + 50% P than all the other treatments. There is need to study a long-term effect of Penicillium bilaii on P-fertilizer saving in wheat on soils varying in P availability, pH and P fixation capacity for different wheat-based cropping systems.

The aim of the studies was to determine the effect of the used herbicides and their mixtures on the level of glycoalkaloids (TGA) in the leaves and tubers of three edible potato cultivars. The studied factors were: I - three cultivars: Cekin, Satina and Tajfun. II - five ways of care: 1. mechanical care - the control object and four objects using herbicides Command 480 EC, Afalon Dispersion 450 SC and Stomp 400 SC. The content of glycoalkaloids both in the leaves and in the tubers of the edible potato significantly depended on the genotype. The highest content of TGA characterised the cv. Cekin - 623.5 mg/kg and 67.21 mg/kg of fresh weight (FW), respectively, while the smallest was found in cv. Satina - 339.3 mg/kg and 33.60 mg/kg of FW, respectively. Herbicides used in the experiment caused the increase of the content of glycoalkaloids compared to the tubers from the control object. However, a significantly higher concentration of TGA was stated after using the mixture of herbicides Command 480 EC + Afalon Dispersion 450 SC and Stomp 400 SC + Afalon Dispersion 450 SC.

Forests have been subject to human intervention since the inception of human civilization. With enhanced knowledge, understanding and capacity humans exert an increasing pressure and influence on forests. Forests in general have undergone different ownership patterns. The requirements for forests have changed over time. The objectives of forest management are shifting from timber production to biodiversity conservation and nature protection. On the other hand, in many places the forests are dwindling due to the anthropic pressure. The management paradigms are changing in response to these triggering mechanisms. In this paper an attempt has been made to summarize the evolution of forest management practices and discuss some recent trends in forest management.

Compost leachate is produced by conversion of municipal waste to compost. It contains significant amounts of organic materials, nutrients, soluble salts and small amounts of some heavy metals. Adding compost leachate to the soil can pollute it, and also improve soil fertility. In this study, we investigated absorption and growth performance of Populus deltoides under irrigation with leachate of the Compost Plant of Rasht. At the beginning of the growing season, in mid-March 2013, cuttings were processed from young, one-year-old seedlings of Populus trees in the greenhouse of the Safrabaste Poplar Research Station. Cuttings were planted in pots filled with loamy-sandy soil in the vicinity of the area with 40cm depth. Compost leachate was taken from a collection reservoir where leachate from the open composting of organic municipal wastes and various gardening and plant wastes had been collected. Five treatments were applied to plants: (C) tap water (control), (P) pure leachate, (3:1) three units (by volume) of leachate mixed with one unit of tap water, (1:1) and (1:3). The growth of tree diameter and height was measured bi-monthly. Aboveground (stem, branches and leaves) and root biomass was inventoried at the end of the growing season. Concentration of elements was determined every three months. Overall, growth parameters in 1:1 and 1:3 treatments were similar together and there were no significant differences between them (P < 0.05). Pure treatment had minimum growth because of a high concentration of solvable salts in leachate such as sulphur that causes salinity and high EC in soil. Treatment1:3 exhibited the greatest overall aboveground and root dry mass. Total aboveground dry mass of leachate treatments and water was 202.25 and 47.58 g, respectively.

Viruses cause many diseases in plants, animals, and humans. They are strict intracellular parasites with cellular specificity. Viral particles can be transmitted by different routes, such as contaminated food and water. People usually get infected orally, after ingestion of products contaminated during processing or subsequent handling or preparation. This review article is focused on the most severe foodborne viruses specific for humans, of the following genera: Norovirus, Enterovirus, Hepatovirus, Astrovirus, and some others. Methods for detecting viruses in food and strategies for preventing virus transmission via food are also discussed.

Field validation of spot-fumigation with phosphine (PH₃) applied by a subcontracted pest-control company in a farm grain store infested by pests was conducted. Inside and outside of the fumigated grain spot, containers with adults of 5 species of coleopteran stored-product pests were regularly spaced. The beetle pests were the internally feeding Sitophilus granarius and Rhyzopertha dominica, and the externally feeding Tribolium castaneum, Oryzaephilus surinamensis, and Cryptolestes ferrugineus. A 100% mortality of all pest species inside the fumigated spot under the sheet used for the application was stated. The efficacy (maximal) sharply declined with the increasing distance from the fumigated spot: 50% mortality was observed at 5 m from the spot, 38% mortality at 10 m, and a mortality of 23% was observed at 15 m. Mortality was different among the species, and the most sensitive was O. surinamensis, whereas the most tolerant were S. granarius, R. dominica, and T. castaneum. Although an efficient fumigation within the spot was found, the efficacy was low in the grains surrounding the spot. The practical implications of the findings are discussed.

The aim of this investigation was the analysis of the variability within the internal and external ophthalmic artery in the chinchilla (Chinchilla laniger, Molina). The head vasculature of 65 individuals was analysed, with particular emphasis on the internal ophthalmic artery originating from the central and rostral part of the cerebral arterial circle. Head blood vessels were filled with acrylic latex for vascular corrosion casting. The results showed ten variants of blood supply for the orbit, with a predominance of the first variant (66.1%) = bilateral presence of the external ophthalmic artery originating from the maxillary artery. Other variants differed in symmetry and asymmetry, sites of origination and the coexistence of both internal and external arteries. Vascularisation of the brain in chinchillas originates mainly from the vertebra-basilar system. The observed variability seems to confirm the role of the basilar artery in the arterial blood supply of the brain in this species.

Collie eye anomaly (CEA) is an inherited congenital visual impairment with heterogeneous signs. The first symptoms are already visible in the early embryo. Among the most affected breeds are Collies and Shetland Sheepdogs but the disease has spread to different breeds depending on the country of origin. Dogs affected with this disease share a 7.8 kb deletion in intron 4 of the NHEJ1 gene. Inheritance of this disease is autosomal recessive with incomplete penetrance. Thanks to a commercially available genetic test breeders can identify genetically affected recessive homozygotes and clinically healthy but genetic carriers of the mutation and thus select healthy parents for the next generation of dogs. However, the exact cause of the disease is not known and it is not known whether the causative mutation influences the occurrence of some other diseases (e.g. immunodeficiencies).

Polymorphic SNPs were identified using BovineSNP50 BeadChip in three groups of cervids: farmed Red deer (n = 3), and free range Red deer (n = 5) and Fallow deer (n = 2). From the total of 54 609 SNPs, 53.85% could be genotyped. Out of 28 502 successfully genotyped autosomal SNPs only 5.3% were polymorphic. The average minor allele frequency within cervids was 0.23 (number of polymorphic SNPs ranged from 467 to 686). Results of the molecular variance analysis showed that 67.38% of variation occurred within individuals and the rest was explained by a species difference (F_ST = 0.32). The value of F_IT (0.33) indicated a higher proportion of homozygote genotypes in the analyzed dataset. Pairwise F_ST values showed very clearly the genetic differentiation between Red and Fallow deer which ranged from 0.06 (farmed and free range deer) to 0.74 (farmed Red and Fallow deer). A similar result was found for Nei's genetic distances that ranged from 0.01 (among Fallow deer) to 0.79 (among farmed Red and Fallow deer). The genetic differentiation of the analyzed cervid species was evaluated also by the principal component analysis with the involvement of 6 other species from the family Cervidae, which showed a division of the Cervidae cluster into 7 subpopulations. The panels of SNPs primarily produced for a model species are becoming the marker of choice for the application in other species, but the best methods of their discovery, validation, and genotyping in non-model species need further investigations.

The present studies determined the antagonistic activity of selected fungi of the soil environment of root chicory -a high-inulin plant, with considerable pro-health values - towards such fungi pathogenic towards this plant as: Altenaria alternata, Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium culmorum, F. oxysporum, Thanatephorus cucumeris and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. The cultivation of root chicory took into consideration soil mulching with cover crops (oats, tansy phacelia and common vetch) as well as the conventional cultivation, i.e. without any cover crops. The total population of fungi after soil mulching with common vetch was almost twice as small as in the control and smaller than with phacelia as a cover plant. Antagonistic Clonostachys spp., Myrothecium spp., Penicillium spp. and Trichoderma spp. displayed differentiated activity towards the studied fungi. The greatest antagonistic effect was observed after the mulch of oats. Besides, oats and common vetch the most positive effect on the antagonistic activity was that of Clonostachys spp., Myrothecium spp., Penicillium spp. and Trichoderma spp. Those fungi were most effective in inhibiting the growth and development of F. oxysporum, T. cucumeris and S. sclerotiorum.

Winter Orychophragmus violaceus (OV)/spring maize is a novel eco-agricultural system in North China Plain, but little is known about OV's nitrogen (N) effects on succeeding maize growth and its contribution to maize N uptake and utilization during the growth. A pot experiment using ¹⁵N was conducted, including five treatments: (1) Control - without OV incorporation and N fertilizer; (2) G - high ¹⁵N labelled-OV incorporation; (3) 50%G - lower ¹⁵N labelled-OV incorporation; (4) F - ¹⁵N labelled urea fertilizer merely; (5) G + F - high OV incorporation combined with urea fertilizer. Increasing OV incorporation rate increased maize dry matter, yield, and total N uptake. Approximately 84-97% of the released OV's nitrogen was absorbed before the V8 (the 8^th leaf fully expanded) stage in G and 50%G treatments. However, only 19% of the released OV's nitrogen was taken up at this period in G + F, and the rest was absorbed from V8 to maturity. G treated maize doubled the OV's nitrogen uptake than the 50%G at maturity, and also had higher percentage contribution of OV's N to total N accumulation. The G and 50%G maize obtained similar OV's nitrogen use efficiency of 30%; however, this efficiency was further improved to 43% in the G + F. And more, G + F treatment further improved the maize yield by 9% compared to F treatments.