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The aim of the study was to select wheat-Aegilops biuncialis addition lines carrying Aegilops biuncialis chromosomes differing from those which were introgressed into the wheat-Ae. biuncialis addition lines produced earlier in Martonvásár, Hungary. In the course of the experiments new wheat-Ae. biuncialis addition lines carrying chromosomes 2U^b, 6M^b, 6U^b; 5U^b, 3U^b, 7U^b; 5M^b, 6M^b and 7M^b were selected. The 2U^b disomic addition line is relatively stable, as 91% of the progenies contain this chromosome pair. The 6M^b disomic addition line proved to be dwarf and sterile, but it still exists as a monosomic addition line. Progenies analysed from the 6U^b monosomic addition line did not carry the 6U^b chromosome. One plant containing the 5U^b, 3U^b and 7U^b chromosomes and one plant carrying 5M^b, 6M^b and 7M^b chromosomes showed very low fertility. Each of the plants produced a single seed, but seeds of the parent plants are still available. Line No. 49/00 carried a submetacentric Ae. biuncialis chromosome pair and the chromosome number 44 has been constant for several generations. After FISH no hybridisation site was observed on the Ae. biuncialis chromosome pair using the pSc119.2 and Afa family repetitive DNA probes, so it was not possible to identify the Ae. biuncialis chromosome pair. However, the use of wheat SSR markers and the (GAA)_n microsatellite DNA probe allowed it to be characterised more accurately. These new lines facilitate gene transfer from Ae. biuncialis into cultivated wheat and the selection of U and M genome-specific wheat SSR markers.

The attacks of adult Apate monachus (Fabricius) on pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) and carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) trees in a plant nursery in southern Italy was described. The adult beetles produce circular holes and large sinuous tunnels on young trees that can involve the trunk and branches. The same plant can be affected by large numbers of such access holes. The adults appear during late June and reach a peak during the first three weeks of July. Given the increase in the spread of cultivation of these trees and, therefore, in the rate of spread of this pest species, further damage to crops is expected.

The present factorial experiment tested the thawed rumen fluid from frozen rumen contents against fresh rumen fluid from the same slaughtered cattle to estimate in vitro degradation of rapeseed meal (RSM) and grass nuts (GN) as two contrasting feeds at various times. Fresh rumen fluid showed higher (P < 0.05) in vitro dry matter (DMD) and crude protein (CPD) degradation than the thawed rumen fluid at most incubation times. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were found between fresh and differently prepared thawed rumen fluids for mean degradation constants (a, b, c) and effective degradability (P_0.02) of feeds. While the thawed rumen fluids had lower (P < 0.01) degradation than the fresh rumen fluid, their degradation values correlated very well (R² ≥ 0.95) with those for the fresh rumen fluid. It appeared that the thawed rumen fluid can be used to predict in vitro degradation of the selected feeds when frequent access to slaughtered or fistulated animals is restricted. Nevertheless it would be vital to improve the activity of thawed rumen fluid prior to testing its suitability for numerous feeds before recommending its routine use to estimate degradation of ruminant feeds.

This paper describes the partial results of an echocardiographic study in sixty outbreed Wistar rats. Animals of parity sex ratio were chosen for the experiment. The animals were grown up during the observation period (the minimum weight was 220 g; the maximum weight was 909 g) and were then sequentially anaesthetised (2-2.5% of isoflurane, 3 l/min O₂). The second, fourth and fifth examinations were performed under anaesthesia maintained by intramuscular injections with diazepam (2 mg/kg), xylazine (5 mg/kg) and ketamine (35 mg/kg). Transthoracal examination was done using the SonoSite Titan echo system (SonoSite Ltd.) with a microconvex transducer C11 (8-5 MHz). M-mode (according to the leading-edge method of American Society of Echocardiography) echocardiography data were acquired at the papillary muscle: systolic and diastolic interventricular septum (IVSs, d) and left vetricular posterior wall (LVPWs, d) thickness, systolic and diastolic left ventricular dimension (LVDs, d), aorta (Ao) and left atrium (LA) dimensions. According to standard formulas, the following parameters were obtained: ejection fraction (EF), cardiac output (CO), stroke volume (SV), left ventricle end systolic volume (LVESV), left ventricle end diastolic volume (LVEDV), interventricular septum fractional thickening (IVSFT), left ventricular dimension fraction shortening (LVDFS), and left ventricle posterior wall fraction thickening (LVPWFS). In our study we performed 300 examinations both in male and female Wistar rats of various body weights and calculated regression equations to predict expected normal echocardiographic parameters for rats with arbitrary weights. The rats were examined by an echo scan. The first and third examinations were performed during mono-anaesthesia induced by inhalation of isoflurane. Correlations, with one exception (LVDs), were very close, which means that the results of the calculations based on regression equations are very reliable.

Genetic diversity and genetic relationships of Czech apple cultivars were evaluated. Trees of 33 Czech apple cultivars and 97 reference foreign cultivars were analysed using the set of 10 SSR (simple sequence repeat) primer pairs. The total of 89 polymorphic alleles were amplified, while the number of alleles per locus ranged from 4 to 14. The SSR dendrogram, based on the Jaccard's similarity coefficient, divided apple cultivars into three major groups: Cox's Orange Pippin, McIntosh and Golden Delicious ancestries. The clustering highly depended on pedigree and origin of apple cultivars. Spontaneous mutated cultivars were identical with their progenitors. We proved that microsatellite markers were useful for evaluation of genetic resources, collection management and cultivar identification.

Globalisation is at the beginning of the new century a double-edged weapon: a strong driving force of economic growth, the development of new technologies and the growth of the level of living in the poor as well as rich countries, but also a controversory process which damages national sovereignty, undermines the local culture and traditions and presents a threat of the economic and social non-stability. The key question of the 21^st century then is, whether the states will be able to keep the process under control or whether they will become its victims.

Studies were carried out during 1987-1997 in four stands situated in the lower mountain zone, and representing the association Carici-Fagetum abietetosum (sample plots Facimiech and Walusiówka) and the community of a transitory character between Dentario glandulosae-Fagetum and Carici-Fagetum (sample plots Gródek and Przelecz Sosnów). The greatest volume increment was found in a pure fir (Abies alba) stand of Facimiech (9.4 m³/ha/year, i.e. 1.4% of actual stand volume determined in 1997) being in the optimum stage, phase of aging and regeneration, and the smallest one stand of Gródek (5.3 m³/ha/year, i.e. 0.9% of actual stand volume) being in the growing up stage, phase of selection forest. The stand of Przelcz Sosnów was characterized by the greatest mortality of trees (volume of loss, i.e. 13.5 m³/ha/year). In this stand of a transitory character between the growing up and optimum stages, due to rapid mortality of fir the break up of the stand took place, and in consequence the growing up stage, phase of a little diversified stratified structure was developed. Volume of recruitment was the greatest in the stand of Facimiech, i.e. 0.05 m³/ha/year. In three fir (Abies alba)-beech (Fagus sylvatica) stands the proportions of fir and beech in stand increment differed from their proportions in stand volume. The percentage of fir in volume increment was smaller, and that of beech greater, than their percentages in stand volume. Processes of increment and mortality of fir and beech pointed to a progressive process of changes taking place in stand species composition, expressed by the increase of beech and the decrease of fir. The knowledge about values of loss, recruitment, and increment, expressed by the number of trees and volume units, may be of help in determination of the amount of cut in productive and protective forests managed according to a close-to-nature silviculture.

The main aim of this study was to determine the intensity of hydrophobic/hydrophilic components of the soil's organic matter as well as its hydrophobicity. Non-destructive Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used for the diagnosis and characterization of the basic classes of the chemical groups (hydrophilic and hydrophobic components) from which the organic matter in the soils is formed. Soil samples (depth 0-30 cm) were taken from the topsoil of the 70 sampling sites from the experimental field at Prague-Ruzyne (Czech Republic) during 2007-2009, where a conventional soil tillage technology was used. It was found that the variability of the intensity of the hydrophobic components is greater (27.6%) than that of the intensity of the hydrophilic components (6.2%), which correlated significantly with the C_org (r = 0.58; P < 0.05) and N_t (r = 0.65; P < 0.05) in the soil. It was proven that the soil samples with a higher proportion of coarse grains are more hydrophobic than those with higher proportions of clay. Data about soil hydrophobicity can help to evaluate the soil quality parameters as well as the soil fertility.

Soil quality and fertility are associated with its productivity, and this in turn is connected to the soil biological activity. To study these effects, well designed long-term field experiments that provide comprehensive data sets are the most applicable. Four treatments (tillage methods) were set up: (1) conventional tillage (CT); (2) no tillage (NT); (3) minimum tillage + straw (MTS), and (4) no tillage + mulch (NTM). Our objective was to assess the relationships between soil microbial characteristics and winter wheat yields under these different techniques of conservation tillage within a field experiment, originally established in 1995. The differences in average grain yields over time period 2002-2009 between the variants were not statistically significant. Organic carbon in the topsoil was higher in plots with conservation tillage (NT, MTS, and NTM), than in the conventional tillage plots. There was a statistically significant correlation (P ≤ 0.01) between the grain yields and organic C content in topsoil.

The aim of the study was to describe the distribution of total mercury in the tissues of fish originating from important Czech fishing locations and to determine the level of methylmercury as a percentage of total mercury (Hg speciation). At six important fishing locations a total of 144 fishes of 13 species were caught and analysed. Samples of muscle, liver, gonads and scales were analysed for total mercury and in the case of muscles for methylmercury concentrations. Total mercury was determined by AAS using an AMA 254 analyser, and methylmercury determination was performed by GC/ECD using a GC-2010A chromatograph. Total mercury concentrations in muscle and other tissues of all the fish from all fishing locations were below 0.5 mg/kg, with the exception of 6 asps (Aspius aspius). A significant (P < 0.05) correlation was found between the total mercury concentrations in scales and other tissues. Methylmercury made up about 46-100% of total mercury in muscle. The overall results confirmed the good hygienic quality of fish from important Czech fishing locations.

The whole buckwheat flour (WBF) was used in Turkish flat bread, lavaş, up to 30% level without gluten, and up to 40% level with gluten and sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate (SSL) additions. Some physical, chemical, and sensory properties of lavaş bread samples were determined. While ash, crude fiber, phytic acid (PA), Fe, K, Mg, and P contents of lavaş breads increased with WBF addition, gluten supplementation caused an increase especially in protein and Ca contents. Leavening process decreased PA contents in the breads compared to raw material, but WBF substitution increased PA contents up to 729 mg/100 g. As a result, the utilisation of WBF in lavaş bread improved the nutrients contents of the bread except PA. The dark colour and slight bitter taste of the WBF affected the sensory score of lavaş bread negatively at 40% substitution level, but the overall acceptability values did not change significantly (P < 0.05) compared to control sample.

In present days composite materials are the indispensable part of many branches. They make a foray into the branch of agricultural production, where they are getting to intensive development of systems utilized e.g. at soil processing. Composites can be defined as materials which synergically combine properties of matrix and filler. One of possibilities of polymeric particle composites preparation is the application of suitable filler together with some types of epoxy resins. This application extends the usable properties of resins. For the exact definition of these materials use it is necessary to map their behaviour. In the paper the problems are described, which concern the composite hardness changes as a consequence of the filler particle sedimentation in the course of the resin curing. The composite matrix was the two-component epoxy resin and the filler were chips of materials cutting process. The use of waste filler suggests itself the ecological possibility of recycling, which should be preferred in consideration to the environment friendliness.

Spilanthes acmella (Asteraceae) is an endangered ornamental cum medicinal annual herb. This study reports on the effect of two arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Glomus mosseae and Acaulospora laevis) applied either alone or in combination on post-transplanting performance of micropropagated S. acmella. Complete plantlets of S. acmella were raised by direct organogenesis from nodal explants on Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with various cytokinins. S. acmella plantlets responded to all three mycorrhizal treatments in a significantly different way. G. mosseae enhanced the survival rate of S. acmella plantlets to 100%. Plant height, plant spread, number of branches per plant, number of leaves per plant, leaf area, biomass production, and chlorophyll content were significantly higher in AM inoculated plantlets as compared to the uninoculated ones. This clearly demonstrates that AM inoculation improved not only the survival rate of micropropagated plantlets but also their growth and biomass yield.

A 2 × 2 factorial design experiment examined the effect of dietary non-phytate phosphorus (NPP) (1.3 and 4.0 g/kg) and 3-phytase (F) (0 and 150 FTU/kg) on the performance indicators of hens, physical parameters of eggs, phosphorus (P) content of the eggshells, and the pH of the digestive tract of laying hens. Two hundred and forty hens (ISA Brown) were housed in enriched cages and fed a wheat-maize-based diet. A significant effect of both NPP and F was found for the yolk colour (P = 0.016) and shell thickness (P = 0.038). The F supplement or higher level of NPP alone and in combination increased the value of the yolk colour and shell thickness. The supplementation of the basal diet with F significantly increased the laying performance, especially with regard to the egg weight and feed conversion ratio. The higher dose of NPP had a negative effect on the egg production, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio. The lower level of NPP (1.3 g/kg) decreased the internal egg quality and shell quality, except for the shell strength. In contrast, the addition of 3-phytase to the diet increased the shell thickness and shell weight. The P content in the eggshells was not influenced by the dietary treatment. The higher level of NPP or F increased the pH in the gizzard to a value suitable for F activity. The hens fed a diet containing 1.3 g/kg NPP achieved a higher performance; moreover, the F supplement at 150 FTU/kg increased the external quality of the eggs.

This study was carried out to detect the distribution of antibiotic-resistant genes in Escherichia coli isolates from slaughtered commercial chickens in Iran by PCR. The investigated genes included aadA1, tet(A), tet(B), dfrA1, qnrA, aac(3)-IV, sul1, bla_SHV, bla_CMY, ere(A), catA1 and cmlA. According to biochemical experiments, 57 isolates from 360 chicken meat samples were recognized as E. coli. The distribution of antibiotic-resistance genes in the E. coli isolates included tet(A) and tet(B) (52.63%), dfrA1, qnrA, catA1 and cmlA (36.84%) and sul1 and ere(A) (47.36%), respectively. Nine strains (15.78%) were resistant to a single antimicrobial agent and 11 strains (19.29%) showed resistance to two antimicrobial agents. Multi-resistance which was defined as resistance to three or more tested agents was found in 64.91% of E. coli strains. The results indicate that all isolates harbour one or more of antibiotic resistance genes and that the PCR technique is a fast, practical and appropriate method for determining the presence of antibiotic-resistance genes.

The goal of this study was to investigate in vitro multiplication protocols for use with red currant cultivars grown in the Czech Republic. Cultivars Detvan, Vitan and Rotte Höllandische were successfully established in vitro using mercuric chloride in a concentration of 0.15% as a sterilization solution. The overall rate of contamination was 25.7%. Two proliferation media Murashige and Skoog medium (MS) and McCown woody plant medium (WPM) containing 1 or 2 mg/l of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) were tested. Initial explants produced new plants in the form of rosettes. Rosettes arose from the base of the initial explants in the form of adventitious bud formation. The shoot number was relatively low and varied between 1.0 and 2.1. Generally, the highest number was obtained for cultivar Rotte Holländische that produced 2.1 ± 0.1 new rosettes on MS medium containing lower concentration 1 mg/l BAP. In contrary, Vitan cv. had significantly lower shoot number ranging from 1.0 to 1.3. WPM medium with a lower concentration of mineral salts proved to be unsuitable for the multiplication of tested cultivars.

Agriculture ensures the physical existence of the population and it creates a fund of basic foodstuffs. In addition, it produces non-food commodities as well as being a region forming and political element. It fulfils the function of an internal political stabilising factor and it is a requirement for an overall, balanced, development. The article puts into context: global agriculture; agricultural production within the expanded EU, which is developing under the conditions of the integrated Common Agricultural Policy. It also draws attention to the current trends characteristic of agriculture within the EU. Emphasis is also put on how the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is perceived, as well as its consequences for the agrarian production and the position of the EU in the international trade of agricultural products.

A road network in forest lands provides easy access to forest resources for extraction, regeneration, protection and recreation activities. Erosion from forest roads and skid trails is a major concern in forest management due to the capability to cause adverse environmental effects. The objective of this paper is to introduce two methods for reducing erosion on forest roads and skid trails: water diversion and vegetation cover. Factors affecting erosion on forest roads and skid trails are climate, quality of forest road surfacing material, traffic, slope and vegetation cover. There are several management practices to mitigate the impact of logging and forest road and skid trail construction on stream water quality. Sediments delivered to streams from roads and skid trails lead to a number of dramatic effects on water quality and aquatic life. These management practices were found to be effective in controlling and reducing the runoff volume and soil erosion. Therefore, management and maintenance of forest roads and skid trails are essential elements to mitigate erosion.

Fluorine is essential in human and/or animal nutrition, thus it is important to know its concentration in a diet. One of the important sources of fluorine for humans is tea, containing relatively high amounts of this trace element. A method for fluoride determination in various kinds of tea using microwave supported sample preparation in a high pressure oxygen atmosphere followed by potentiometry with a fluoride ion-selective electrode were described. The parameters of the microwave device for such combustion procedure were checked and optimised in order to find settings ensuring complete sample combustion and/or absorption of the analyte in the absorption solution. For the ion-selective electrode measurement, the technique of standard addition was chosen. The Nernstian slope of the fluoride ion-selective electrode was measured and calculated in the concentration range in which the potential of samples occurred. Concentrations of fluorides in tea in the range from 24.5 mg/kg to 254.5 mg/kg were found. In order to check the accuracy of the method certified reference materials were used. The precision expressed as the relative standard deviation ranged from 3.7% to 15.9%. The method is fast, accurate and reliable for this kind of analysis.

The risk rate of sugar beet growing was analyzed by using the algorithm for modelling and generating the random numbers based on the conditions determined in advance and the statistical distribution of sugar beets yield, the total costs, earnings and gross profit. On the bases of results of the analysis of economic risks of sugar beet production in years 1995-2009, it follows that the sugar beet growing in all regions is highly risky in the Czech Republic. The subsidy SAPS and TOP-UP per 1 hectare of sugar beet have a positive impact on its economics though not sufficient enough. In practice, it means that it is highly probable that the break-even point will not be achieved and thereby it is highly probable that the fixed costs are not covered and the update of machines is significantly limited. This happens mainly in the marginal regions. If the agricultural companies count on the separate sugar payment, the sugar beet growing is in all regions of the Czech Republic with acceptable risk.

Water and nitrogen managements are both very important to increase crop yield. An experiment was carried out in split plot design to study the effects of urea types (normal urea and coated urea) and irrigation on soil and fertilizer nitrogen use in maize (Zea mays L.) field in 2006 and 2007. Irrigation was used as main plot, and urea types were used as split-plot. Two irrigation levels, no irrigation in the whole growth duration and 85 mm irrigation at the blister stage, were designed. There were five nitrogen treatments, which were no nitrogen used as control (N0), normal urea 75 kg N/ha (N1), normal urea 150 kg N/ha (N2), coated urea 75 kg N/ha (C1) and coated urea 150 kg N/ha (C2). The results showed that, at the same level of irrigation and nitrogen, the soil nitrogen contents of the treatments with coated urea (CU) applied were higher in 0~40 cm soil layers, but lower in deeper soil layers, than those with normal urea (NU) applied. Irrigation increased the nitrate losing, but the nitrate loss of CU was lower than those of NU. Using CU with irrigation could increase the nitrogen uptake by maize, and more nitrogen was transfered to grain. At the same nitrogen level, CU had higher N recovery efficiency but lower soil N dependent rate than NU. When applied with CU, the nitrogen release rate was lower and the nitrogen was quickly absorbed by maize, which reduced the risk of nitrogen loss and increased the use efficiency of soil and fertilizer nitrogen. These results suggest that coated urea combined with deficit irrigation should be applied for high yield and nitrogen use efficiency of maize on the North China Plain.

In total 228 enterococci strains isolated from food were studied. Enterococcus faecalis, E. faecium, and E. casseliflavus were found to be the dominant strains while E. durans and E. mundtii were present in a smaller extent. Antimicrobial activity determined by double layer technique revealed that 150 (65.7%) strains showed antimicrobial activity against the individual tested pathogenic strains of Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, and methicilin resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Cell-free neutralised supernatants (CFNS) were prepared from 150 potential bacteriocin producers. Of these 150, CFNS 107 (71.3%) strains were active in the bacteriocin production against one or more pathogenic strains tested. S. aureus and MRSA were found to be more sensitive to the antimicrobial substances than L. monocytogenes. Multiplex PCR for the detection of seven virulence genes in bacteriocin producing strains showed that 47.6% of strains were able to amplify one or more virulence genes. E. faecalis was the most virulent species. The presence of tyrdc gene was seen in all bacteriocin producing strains. None of the strains carried genes encoding the resistance to vancomycin.

This study provides new information on the distribution of the chestnut blight agent Cryphonectria parasitica and its vegetative compatibility groups (VCGs) in the Czech Republic. This study has revealed the presence of the disease in six localities. The VCG tests showed that each locality was represented by a single distinct VCG, which was different from the others collected in the country. The tests with 31 European testers of C. parasitica VCGs (EU-1 to EU-31) had assigned Czech isolates to VCGs EU-1, EU-4, EU-12, EU-13, EU-15, and EU-19. Moreover, the study showed that in the Czech Republic chestnut blight attacks young trees, not exceeding 35 years of age, and that climatic conditions in the country are suitable for C. parasitica. As two of the diseased localities were ornamental tree nurseries, one might expect its further spread over the country as a result of plant trade. The origin of infection remains unknown in all the localities where C. parasitica was detected.

The reaction of five apple cultivars to olive wilt caused byVerticillium dahliae Kleb was evaluated. Five apple cultivars (Royal Gala, Delicious Anabri, Double Red, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith) and one olive cultivar (Nabali Mohassan) were inoculated with V. dahliae and grown under partially controlled greenhouse conditions. Typical symptoms of the disease were developed on the inoculated olive seedlings. However, all tested apple cultivars did not show the typical symptoms of Verticillium wilt except cv. Delicious Anbari, which showed 8.31% disease severity. The average percentage of disease severity was 61.2% in Nabali Mohassan. The pathogen was positively re-isolated from the inoculated seedlings of cvs Nabali Mohassan and Delicious Anbari after 12 months from the inoculation date. Results indicate that an apple plantation to replace dead or severely diseased olive trees infested with Verticillium wilt is an appropriate low-cost and environmentally sound IPM alternative approach to control Verticillium wilt.

The present study was conducted to verify the effect of Ceylon cinnamon on experimentally induced excision wounds in rats. Thirty-two rats were divided into four groups of eight rats each. Group A received a placebo containing 1.5% of cinnamon and Group B a placebo containing 3%. Group C, as the control group, didn't receive any treatment and finally Group D received a blank placebo as the reference standard group. Wound healing was monitored on Days 3, 6, 9 and 14 and histological evaluation was carried out on the samples. The results show that cinnamon extract served to accelerate the wound healing process and specifically increased epithelialization in treatment groups compared to the other groups. Thus, this study demonstrates that Ceylon cinnamon may be effective in stimulating the enclosure of wounds.

This paper uses a dynamic, partial equilibrium econometric model to analyze the impact of the 2003 CAP reform and changes of exchange rate on agricultural markets and agricultural incomes in Slovakia. We evaluate three scenarios: (1) baseline scenario with no change in agricultural policies (Single Area Payment Scheme and top-ups are assumed until 2015), (2) CAP reform scenario with full decoupling from 2007 and with modulation from 2013, and (3) exchange rate scenario. In the baseline scenario, production increases. Consumption increases with some exceptions (like pork). Agricultural income rises significantly in the baseline scenario. The full decoupling has a minor impact on agricultural markets relative to the baseline. Weak Euro would lead to higher prices and higher production but lower consumption. Change in the exchange rate causes substitution in consumption of certain commodities due to the relative price changes.

The effects of five training systems on tree growth, fruit yield and some fruit characteristics were assessed in Jonagold apple cv. grafted on M.9 rootstock. The trees were trained in one of five ways: slender spindle (SS; 4,761 trees/ha), vertical axis (VA; 2,857 trees/ha), hytec (HT; 1,904 tree/ha) and two different tree densities of super spindle (L-Super S with 5,000 trees/ha; H-Super S with 10,000 trees/ha). Trunk cross-sectional area (TCA) was higher in HT and VA than SS, L-Super S and H-Super S in the 4^th year. While HT had the highest cumulative yield/tree, the lowest cumulative yield was observed in H-Super S. Although HT had the highest yield/ tree, it ranked the last in cumulative yield efficiency (CYE) due to high TCA. The highest (CYE) was measured in trees trained as L-Super S. When cumulative yields (CY)/ha were evaluated, the yield advantage of high density planting was clearly evident for the first three cropping years. H-Super S systems (10,000 trees/ha) had the highest CY/ha and achieved a yield of 91.24 t/ha in year 4. HT (1,904 trees/ha) had the lowest CY/ha (33.46 t). Training systems had no consistent effect on average fruit diameter, weight, firmness, soluble solid and titratable acidity.

Slovenia, like other developed countries, is characterized by the fact that the number of farm takeovers is decreasing and farms are not being transferred to successors in a timely manner. As an EU member state, Slovenia is entitled to financial incentives intended to halt or at least ameliorate this trend, but the situation is nonetheless not improving. This article proceeds from the hypothesis that economic factors are not the only ones that affect succession on Slovenian farms. The hypothesis was confirmed in a study limited to mountain farms. It was determined that, although economic factors have a significant effect on succession on Slovenian farms, at the same time other factors also affect this. Among these, the factors that stand out the most are those through which tradition or traditional thought and behavioral patterns are expressed, as well as the factors that express the standpoints, perceptions, and opinions of farm owners.