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The work was targeted on the study of egg white foam forming, including the influence of pH, aluminium ions, xanthan, maltodextrin, and phosphates on the whipping and stability of egg white foams. The whipping was studied with non pasteurised and pasteurised egg white using the blender with planet motion. Both types of egg white formed good foam in the acid area (pH below 4.5) and at neutral pH. Aluminium ions had a positive effect on the foam volume and stability, especially with the non pasteurised egg white. The addition of maltodextrin or saccharose decreased the foam volume but increased the foam stability. The addition of natrium pyrophosphate or natrium hexametaphosphate had a positive effect on the volume, density, and stability of foam. Foams with hexametaphosphate were applied into confectionary products.

Nitric oxide (NO) is a gaseous diatomic molecule with a wide variety of physiological and pathological implications in plants. Presence of unpaired electron in its molecular orbital makes it highly reactive; it can react directly with metal complexes, radicals, DNA, proteins, lipids and other biomolecules. Nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) are known to play essential role in a number of important plant physiological processes. This manuscript reviews the role of NO on these processes during various biotic and abiotic stresses.

The aim of the experiment was to test the capacity of NO to reverse harmfull effects of nickel on bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) seedlings. Bean seedlings were grown on culture medium and treated with NO-donor - sodium nitroprusside (0.3 mmol/L) and Ni (0.2 mmol/L NiCl₂). After 4 days, the parameters of antioxidative response were determined in roots and leaves, as well as the concentrations of essential cations and Ni. In the presence of Ni alone, soluble protein, proline and superoxide-dismutase activity were increased, while peroxidase and especially catalase activities were supressed. Also, Ni induced a depletion of K, Ca, Mg, Mn and Zn, while the contents of Cu and Fe in the roots were increased. In the presence of NO, Ni-induced stimulation of superoxide-dismutase activity, soluble protein and proline accumulations was decreased, while the inhibition of peroxidase and catalase activities was eliminated. Calcium and Zn concentrations were increased by Ni in NO-treated seedlings, suggesting specific activation of the uptake of these elements as part of the protective processes regulated by NO. However, NO had no effect on the impact of Ni on K, Cu, Fe, and Mn concentrations. In conclusion, exogenous NO efficiently attenuates oxidative stress in bean, but does not prevent Ni-induced ion leakage.

The fungus Ramularia collo-cygni is increasingly important as the causal agent of Ramularia leaf spot (RLS), a novel leaf spot disease of barley. The work aimed to identify gene resources suitable for developing new breeding lines of winter barley with improved resistance. During the first experimental period (2001-2005), RLS incidence was monitored in 711 cultivars and advanced breeding lines. Differences were detected in the intensity of symptomatic expression, but no material showed high resistance. During the second experimental period (2006-2009), response to natural RLS infection was evaluated in 19 winter barley cultivars (12 six-row and 7 two-row) registered in the Czech Republic. Highest susceptibility was detected in 6-row cvs. Luran, Laverda and Wendy while cvs Breunskylie (2-row), Merlot and Highlight (both 6-row) showed relatively lower disease incidence. High resistance was not detected. On average, 2-row cultivars showed lower intensity than 6-row cultivars and significant variation was observed among years.

Sorghum anthracnose is a disease of worldwide importance and host-plant resistance is the most practical method of disease management. In this study, 154 sorghum accessions from the Botswana collection maintained by the United States National Plant Germplasm System were inoculated with Colletotrichum sublineolum and evaluated for disease resistance at the Tropical Agriculture Research Station in Isabela, Puerto Rico during 2007 and 2008. A resistant response was observed for 69 accessions in 2007 and for 48 accessions in 2008 with no acervuli development observed on inoculated leaves. The low frequency of resistant germplasm is expected from a region of low annual rainfall. However, disease severity was low for the susceptible accessions with a mean severity of 11% for the 85 susceptible accessions observed in 2007 and 17% for the 106 susceptible accessions identified in 2008. The highest frequency of resistant accessions was observed for the Ngamiland district with 58% of the accessions rated as resistant, whereas the frequency of resistant accessions ranged from 22% to 36% for the other districts. The lowest mean disease severity was also observed for the susceptible accessions from the Ngamiland district with the highest mean disease severity observed for susceptible accessions from the Kgatleng district. The resistant accessions identified in this study would be useful for the development of disease resistant varieties and the results indicated an ecogeographic association with disease resistance.

The proteolytic system on the body surface of the honey bee has been insufficiently researched. In this study the body surface proteolytic activity was examined in queens at various developmental stages (eggs, larvae, pupae and imagines) in different seasons (spring, summer, autumn, winter). Extracts of the body surface material with water and detergent were used for an in vitro analysis of the proteolytic activity and protease inhibitor level assaying, as well as for an electrophoretic separation of the extracts in polyacrylamide gels. The following methods were used: protein content testing by the Lowry method (modified by Schacterle-Pollack), protease activity testing by the Anson method and protease inhibitor activity testing by the Lee and Lin method. Our studies revealed a high protease activity in an acidic environment (pH = 2.4; the material rinsed with detergent), as well as in neutral (pH = 7) and alkaline (pH = 11.2) environments (the material rinsed with water in both cases). The highest protein concentration values were observed in the imagines from summer. The lowest activities of the proteases and protease inhibitors were determined in the eggs from summer. The highest activities of the acidic, neutral and alkaline proteases were observed in the pupae from spring. The highest number of protease activity bands in PAGE zymography was obtained for the neutral and alkaline activities in the queens for all the seasons. In the queens all the catalytic protease types were present: asparagine and cysteine proteases at pH = 2.4; cysteine proteases and metalloproteases at pH = 7 and serine proteases at pH = 11.2. These results were crucial for the analysis of immunity mechanisms on the body surface of the honey bee.

The Hrubý Jeseník Natural Forest Region (NFR) is a border mountain territory which belongs to the areas most heavily impacted by air pollution in the Czech Republic. This paper compares results for soil properties investigated in non-limed forest stands during the years 1994 to 2007. Differences between the 2007 and 2000/01 surveys concerning Al, Ca and Mg content and pH in particular soil horizons are depicted using kriged maps. This means of interpreting laboratory analysis results allowed us to highlight the most endangered NFR areas from an acidification standpoint. Evaluation of results for Al, Ca and Mg content, their available forms and pH values in the Hrubý Jeseník NFR in the 1994-2007 period revealed the presence of an ongoing acidification process. The southern (Praděd region) and northwestern areas (Králický Sněžník region) may be singled out as the most depleted.

This paper describes the course and variation in the brain base arteries in fallow deer. The metrical features of the brain base arteries were determined with an image analysis system. The main sources of blood supply to the brain in fallow deer are internal carotid arteries; vertebral arteries rarely participate in blood supply. The brain base arteries in fallow deer show variation both in their course and in the way of descent of particular vessels. The highest variation was observed in the way of the opening of caudal cerebral arteries. The volume of the arterial circle of brain in fallow deer is similar to the volume of the basilar artery. Considering the correlation between specific parameters, it can be concluded that the volume of the basilar artery is highly correlated with the volume of the posterior part of the arterial circle of the brain, i.e., the volume of the caudal communicating arteries.

The abundance and species spectrum of cockchafers of the genus Melolontha and characteristics of the tribes in four forest regions of theCzechRepublic was explored. We used light traps, automatic meteorological stations and field investigations to study the course of swarming, species composition, abundance of the respective tribes, sex ratio during swarming and the dependence of swarming on the average daily temperature. Studies will continue in the next years and the objective is to use the results for prognosis of the occurrence of cockchafers and the damages subsequently caused by grubs in forest cultures.

In an Island of the Netherlands, Pine (Pinus nigra) was planted to stabilize the dunes and to protect the arable lands from the blowing sand. This research was conducted to understand the most important environmental factors responsible for a vegetation change in the Pine plantation and effect of this change on the rare orchid population: Goodyera repens and Listera cordata. Vegetation sampling was carried out according to the Braun-Blanquet phytosociologic method within the three sites of this Island. Twinspan analysis confirmed the definition of three site types and redundancy analysis showed a significant difference between the pure Pine stands and the plots with regeneration. The results revealed that the most significant explanatory variables were litter cover, broadleaved tree cover, and shrub cover indicating the vegetation change under the Pine plantation. The abundance of Goodyera repens is strongly associated with the Pine forest and negatively related to broadleaved cover. Listera cordata could apparently cope with vegetation change. Controlling the herbaceous layer in the Pine plantation can promote the orchid population but on the contrary, promoting the natural regeneration of broadleaved species might endanger them.

The polyphagous pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib) de Bary causes significant diseases of sunflower and oil-seed rape while Diaporthe wilt, invoked by the pathogen Diaporthe (Phomopsis) helianthi Munt-Cvet. et al., is another important disease of sunflower in Slovakia. Since 2001 we have identified S. sclerotiorum on Iva xanthiifolia Nutt. in three locations and the infestation of I. xanthiifolia by D. helianthi has been observed only in one location of western Slovakia. The infestation of I. xanthiifolia by Sclerotinia disease and by D. helianthi has been observed only after secondary ascospore infection in sunflower fields.

This work is aimed at the evaluation of the operating parameters and emission of two tractors: Hürlimann H-488 DT and Hürlimann XB Max 100. The measurements were done on a test bench in the laboratory of the Agroscope Reckenholz-Tänikon Research Station ART, Ettenhausen, Switzerland during February 2010. The goal of this paper was to evaluate the operating parameters of the two models of tractors by using classical diesel oil and biofuel, as well as to evaluate the emission (greenhouse gases, dangerous exhaust gases and carcinogens), to make statistical analysis of the results and the conclusion about the samples used and the impact on engine parameters, environment and human health. From the results achieved, it is possible to state the following facts. In each way, the emissions of rape seed methylester (RME) and diesel are equivalent. The values of CO and HC and also particles are lower for RME. But NO_x values are lower for diesel oil. It is liquid that the newer engine of Hürlimann XB Max 100 decreases emission of CO, HC and NO_x significantly.

This case report of multiple mammary tumours in a Spitz bitch revealed the presence of three tumour masses, T-1, T-2 and T-3, of variable size, shape and texture on different mammary glands. Histopathological examination revealed these tumours to be of different histological type (T-1 - fibrosarcoma, T-2 - malignant mixed mammary tumour and T-3 - papillary adenocarcinoma). The mitotic index and AgNOR count was high in all three tumours indicative of a higher proliferation status of neoplastic cells while T-2 and T-3 showed overexpression of the c-erbB2 oncoprotein.

European larch (Larix decidua Mill.) is one of the most important tree species in substitute stands of the Krušné hory Mts. (northern part of the Czech Republic). At present, young larch stands have dynamic height growth and their canopy is closing. Therefore, the proper forest treatment with respect to all functions of these stands is an urgent issue. The aim of the study is to recognise when it is possible to start with thinning and what types of thinning regimes are more suitable in larch stands with respect to their functions as substitute tree species stands. Research was conducted on experimental series Kalek established in a larch monoculture in 1999 (stand age of 12 years) at an elevation of 780 m above sea level in the category Piceeto-Fagetum oligo-mesotrophicum - Calamagrostis villosa. The presented analysis has two main parts: (a) effect of closing canopy on growth of larch - comparison of the groups of trees from border and inside rows and (b) effect of opening canopy on growth and development of young larch stands - comparison of two partial plots (500 m² each): the one without thinning and the other with thinning (negative selection mainly from above at the age of 13 years). Comparative analyses of trees from border and inside rows showed high growth dynamics of these young larch stands, and therefore the first thinning is necessary in this stage (by 15 years of age). In spite of air pollution, the growth of experimental stands is supernormal and exceeds the data from growth tables, but 60% of individuals showed some malformations, mostly one-sided or two-sided stem curvature. Five years after the first thinning we found a significantly lower h/d ratio of mean stem on the thinned plot in comparison with the plot without thinning. On the other hand, the applied thinning had no effect (five years after realisation) on the h/d ratio of dominant trees (200 thickest trees per hectare).

The Lusatian lignite-mining district (Eastern Germany) is characterized by a high share of marginal post-mining areas. At these sites, crop yield is generally low, and hence, conventional land use systems often fail in terms of reliable and efficient crop production. In this paper the attempt is made to evaluate the production of woody biomass for bioenergy in short rotation coppices (SRC) and alley cropping systems (ACS) with black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) and lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) from the aspect of possible ecological and economic benefits compared to the conventional agricultural recultivation practice. The results show that, due to both high establishment and harvesting costs and comparatively low prices of energy wood, land use systems such as SRC or ACS are currently hardly profitable compared to conventional agriculture. However, the cultivation of black locust resulted in a higher humus accumulation and in a lower harvest-related nutrient export than the cultivation of lucerne as a typical recultivation crop in this region. Therefore, it can be concluded that for an improvement of soil fertility woody biomass production is more beneficial than the conventional agricultural recultivation practice.

Little is known about the effects of air-drying and freezing on the transformation of phosphorus (P) fractions in soils. It is important that the way in which soils respond to such perturbations is better understood as there are implications for both P availability and loss to surface waters from soils. In this study, the effects of air-drying and freezing were investigated using two soils, one being a forest soil (FS) high in organic matter and the other being a sterile soil (SS) low in organic matter. Soil P was fractionated using a modified Hedley fractionation method to examine the changes of phosphorus fractions induced by air-drying and freezing. Generally, there were no significant differences of total phosphorus among the three treatments (CV% < 10%). Compared with field moist soils, freezing the soil evoked few changes on phosphorus fractions except that the resin-P increased in FS soil. On the contrary, air-drying significantly changed the distribution of phosphors fractions for both soils: increased the labile-P (especially resin-P) and organic-P (NaHCO₃-Po, NaOH-Po and Con.HCl-Po) at the expense of NaOH-Pi and occlude-P (Dil.HCl-P and Con.HCl-Pi). Resin-P significantly increased by 31% for SS soil and by 121% for FS soil upon air-drying. The effect of air-drying seemed to be more pronounced in the FS soil with high organic matter content. These results indicated that drying seem to drive the P transformation form occlude-P to labile-P and organic-P and accelerated the weathering of stable P pool. This potentially could be significant for soil P supply to plants and P losses from soils to surface waters under changing patterns of rainfall and temperature as predicted by some climate change scenarios.

The root system of six-year-old winter jujube (Zizyphus jujuba Mill. cv. Zhanhua) trees were manually pruned at 3, 5 or 7 times trunk diameter distance along both inter-row sides, to study the effects of root pruning on physico-chemical characteristics and biological properties of winter jujube rhizosphere soil. The results showed that the root pruning of 3 and 5 times trunk diameter distance increased the available nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium^[concentrations and pH values in the rhizosphere soil and decreased organic matter concentrations, the contents of amino acids, organic acids and total sugars in the root exudates, the populations of bacteria, actinomyces and fungi, and inhibited the activities of catalase, invertase and urease enzymes in contrast to the control in early stage when root pruning was applied. The determined indexes presented a reverse trend as those in early stage after new roots appeared. Compared to the control, the trees by root pruning had higher pesticides residues of the rhizosphere soil in the whole experiment. No differences were noticed between 7 times trunk diameter distance and the control. It is proposed that root pruning had greater impacts on physico-chemical characteristics and biological properties of the rhizosphere soil depending on root pruning intensity.

The leaf spotting disease complex is a major biotic constrain in enhancing grain production in the major wheat growing regions. Two leaf spotting diseases, tan spot, caused by an ascomycete fungus Pyrenophora tritici-repentis, and Stagonospora nodorum blotch besides causing average yield losses of 5-10%, cause significant losses in grain quality by red smudge, black point and grain shriveling. Conservation agriculture in combination with wheat monoculture involving cultivation of susceptible cultivars has resulted in frequent onset of leaf spots epidemics worldwide. Development of resistant wheat cultivars, in conjunction with crop rotation, will provide an effective, economical, and environmentally safe means of controlling leaf spot. International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Mexico has initiated major efforts to mitigate the threat of tan spot. Efforts include screening of wheat germplasm, identification of new sources of resistance, characterization of new tan spot resistance genes through classical and molecular genetic analysis, incorporation of resistance into adapted cultivars, and assessing the variability in the tan spot fungus. Screening studies reveal that elite CIMMYT germplasm has high level of resistance to tan spot caused by P. tritici-repentis race 1. These germplasm have diverse genetic make-up and the resistance is likely broad based. Association mapping studies done with CIMMYT germplasm reconfirmed the presence of previously identified genomic regions for tan spot resistance; however, novel genomic regions on long arm of chromosomes 6A and 7B have also been identified. Studies done to date indicate that CIMMYT germplasm possess high level diverse genetic based resistance to tan spot of wheat. Efforts are in place to develop desired wheat cultivars with tan spot resistance. Virulence studies indicate presence of P. tritici-repentis race 1 only with some variability in level of toxin Ptr ToxA produced in each of the 76 isolates studied.

The effects of temperature pre-treatment, thidiazuron, naphthaleneacetic acid, and 6-benzylaminopurine on in vitro gynogenic plant production from un-pollinated melon (Cucumis melo L.) ovaries were investigated. Simple sequence repeat (SSR) marker analysis was conducted to identify the homozygous diploid individuals. The temperature pre-treatment (4°C) for 4 days increased embryo formation frequency (63.3%) significantly. Addition of thidiazuron (0.04 and 0.02 mg/l) in the induction medium significantly increased the number of responding ovaries (46.6%, 65.83%), respectively. The maximum number of plantlet regeneration (22.5%) was achieved by culturing the ovary derived embryos on Murashigue and Skoog medium (MS medium) supplement with 0.6 mg/l 6-benzylaminopurine. Spontaneous doubled haploids originated directly through embryogenesis were subjected to genetic analysis using SSR molecular marker with 23 primers pair for homozygosity. SSR markers with microsatellite CMGA172, confirmed that the alleles in the parental material were also present in the gynogenic plantlets, but amplified only two alleles as compared to four alleles of the heterozygous parent material at same locus. Therefore these regenerated plantlets were consider homozygous and produced through a process of gametophytic embryogenesis.

Forest soil acidification and depletion of nutrient cations have been reported for several forested regions in North America, predominantly in the eastern United States, including the northeast and in the central Appalachians, but also in parts of southeastern Canada and the southern U.S. Continuing regional inputs of nitrogen and sulfur are of concern because of leaching of base cations, increased availability of soil Al, and the accumulation and ultimate transmission of acidity from forest soils to streams. Losses of calcium from forest soils and forested watersheds have now been documented as a sensitive early indicator and a functionally significant response to acid deposition for a wide range of forest soils in North America. For red spruce, a clear link has been established between acidic deposition, alterations in calcium and aluminum supplies and increased sensitivity to winter injury. Cation depletion appears to contribute to sugar maple decline on some soils, specifically the high mortality rates observed in northern Pennsylvania over the last decade. While responses to liming have not been systematically examined in North America, in a study in Pennsylvania, restoring basic cations through liming increased basal area growth of sugar maple and levels of calcium and magnesium in soil and foliage. In the San Bernardino Mountains in southern California near the west coast, the pH of the A horizon has declined by at least 2 pH units (to pH 4.0-4.3) over the past 30 years, with no detrimental effects on bole growth; presumably, because of the Mediterranean climate, base cation pools are still high and not limiting for plant growth.

As far as honey is concerned, microwave oven heating finds its use especially for crystallised honey reliquefying. We focused on monitoring the changes in hydroxymethylfurfural content which is an indicator of heat damage done to honey, among others. Microwave honey heating was carried out in four degrees of microwave power levels over seven variously long time periods. In total, 22 analysed honey samples came directly from bee-keepers from the Czech Republic from the 2004 and 2006 harvests. Hydroxymethylfurfural content was determined by HPLC method using a liquid chromatograph Alliance 2695 with a PDA detector 2996. We obtained relatively interesting results: despite the honey having reached relatively high temperature levels (80-90°C) at the highest power levels and the longest time periods, there was no gradual significant increase in hydroxymethylfurfural content which could be expected at conventional heating. On the other hand, hydroxymethylfurfural content varied in the course of heating of the individual samples, which is a very interesting result. A significant role was played also by the botanic origin of the honeys because the course of the changes in hydroxymethylfurfural content due to microwave heating was not the same in all honeys analysed.

Opium poppy (Papaver somniferum L.) is currently an important agricultural commodity, with the product being used in the food industry (seed) as well as in the pharmaceutical industry (morphine and other alkaloids). Intensive production of poppy leads to a specific direction of breeding with the aim to obtain highly productive cultivars of the so-called food industry or industrial type. The paper evaluates 57 genetic resources (mostly cultivars), comparing the groups of values representing the indicators of production-significant morphologic and agricultural characters (capsule size; morphine content in poppy straw; weight of dry, empty capsule) and content of morphine in the poppy straw, in relation to the ideotype of poppy, which in these indicators represents 100% of the value. On average lower values in the above indicators were achieved by cultivars with white-coloured seed, including morphine content; concrete data are specified in three cultivars with morphine content in the poppy straw above 0.40%. In blue-seed to grey-seed cultivars, except for the high-morphine cultivar Buddha (1.85% of morphine), we found only six materials with a minimum morphine content of 0.8% in the poppy straw (maximum of 0.92%). These genetic resources also achieved very good values in the morphological indicator and average value in the economic indicator. The results will be used in the selection and classification of suitable genetic resources of poppy in breeding of industrial forms.

The effects of storage on the lipid composition of three redgram (TTB-7, BRG-1, and ICP-8863) and three greengram (PUSA BISAKI, KDM-1, and CHINA MOONG) varieties were studied. Environment variables such as temperature and relative humidity were recorded during storage period. Moisture content was found to increase along with the percent incidence of storage insects. The incidence of storage moulds and insects was recorded in all the samples; results showed that storage moulds belonged to Aspergillus species and the insect Callosobruchus chinensis infested the stored samples. The total fat, triglycerides, phospholipids, free fatty acids and peroxide value were evaluated in the control and in samples stored for three and six months. Results showed that storage depleted total fat (1.94-1.75 g), triglycerides (1.46-1.07 g), whereas phospholipids (0.06-0.21g), free fatty acids (0.002-0.01 g) and peroxide values (2.14-4.46 meq) increased. The fatty acid content of palmitic (26.03-23.56%), stearic (7.4-5.46%), linoleic (56.2-45.2%) and linolenic acids (6.9-4.7%) decreased, but oleic acid content increased (8.3-21.6%) in all the varieties during storage.

A total of 842 wild boar of differing ages, originating from 29 (37.7%) of the 77 districts in the Czech Republic, were examined during the hunting seasons from 2002 to 2005. Of them, 274 (32.5%) of the animals were wild specimens and 568 (67.5%) from game parks. Out of 786 animals, the following were included in the study: 668 piglets, 61 juveniles, 32 adult males and 25 adult females. A total of 2 704 samples from various tissues and faeces were examined: 309 separately collected faecal samples from 309 (36.7%) animals, 2 332 samples from various tissues and 63 faecal samples from 533 (63.3%) animals. Mycobacteria were isolated from 75 (8.9%) animals from 11 of the districts. Neither a causative agent of bovine tuberculosis, nor any other members of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex were isolated from any of the animals. From one (0.1%) animal, M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis of IS900 RFLP type A-C10 was isolated from intestinal lymph nodes, which was also isolated within the same district during other studies of cattle and free living ruminants. The causative agent of avian tuberculosis, M. a. avium (IS901+ and IS1245+), was isolated from 7 (0.8%) animals; among them tuberculous lesions were detected in intestinal lymph nodes, with gross tuberculous lesions visible on two animals. The causative agent of avian mycobacteriosis M. a. hominissuis (IS901- and IS1245+) was detected in lymph nodes without gross lesions in one (0.1%) animal. From 45 (5.5%) animals without lesions, atypical mycobacteria of the following nine species were isolated from pulmonary lymph nodes, small and large intestine, intestinal mucosa and faeces: M. fortuitum, M. chelonae, M. scrofulaceum, M. triviale, M. terrae, M. phlei, M. abscessus, M. flavescens, and M. smegmatis. Due to a high density of wild boar and their large migration radius, they can be viewed as a potential source for mycobacterial infections as well as other infectious agents.

This study was performed to make a surgical model of osteoarthritis (OA) in the dog. Experimental medial patellar luxation (MPL) was surgically produced in the left stifle (index) of 24 skeletally mature mixed small breed dogs (age two to six years and weight 2.8 to 9 kg). The animals were randomly allocated in 2 groups; sham group (n = 12), where the right stifle was sham operated and control group (n = 12) with intact right stifle. Physical and radiographic examinations of both stifles were performed at 1.5 months intervals over a one-year experimental period. One dog was euthanatized every three months, and both stifles were explored, gross examination was performed and tissue samples from the articular cartilage, cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) and synovium were collected for histomorphology. The clinical signs of OA were obvious in the experimental dogs by 12 weeks of surgical induction of MPL, which was also evidenced in the histopathology of the joint tissues and electron microscopy of the articular cartilage. The radiographic changes of OA were not obvious until remarkable degenerative changes became abvious six months postoperatively. Surgically induced MPL can be a successful tool for experimental induction of OA in dogs.

The article discusses the prediction of the agrarian employment development in Slovakia in the new programming period, i.e. in the perspective of 2014-2020. The introduction covers the analysis of the current state in 2009 when 65.3 thousand of persons were employed within agriculture. The development of employment in the target years will be characterised by the increased number of self-employed persons, the increased social polarisation between the owners of enterprises or managers and agricultural employees. The class of the socially degraded agricultural pensioners characterised by income deprivation will be formed. Under the influence of the EU CAP reform, the decline in agrarian employment in the less-productive Northern districts of Slovakia and significant spatial changes in labour force distribution are being expected in dependence on the productive conditions of the agricultural production.

By the means of Land Consolidation is understood, in accord with law No. 139/2002 Coll., spending of funds on land consolidations and land offices, provided the accessibility of grounds in public interest. Land consolidations also ensure the conditions for improvement of the ecosystem, protection and reclamation of land resources, waterway management and the increase of the ecological stability of landscape. All mentioned measures are collectively called the Common Measures, rural roads being one of the most significant of these measures as far as the ground accessibility is concerned. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and the Central Land Office (MZe, ÚPÚ) statistics, for instance in 2008, over 707.4 million CZK was spent on the common measures projects from the public funds. Of this sum, 82 per cent was spent on financing of the land accessibility projects - rural roads and objects on them. The Cost & Benefit Analysis (CBA) method was applied. The analysis explains step by step what benefits the investment projects bring and to whom, as well as what and from whom it takes something away. Thus defined effects and impacts are aggregated, converted into financial flows and included in the calculation of criteria indicators. These calculations enable to make decision whether the concerned project is in its consequences generally contributive. There is a difficulty in the method - it is applied ex-ante, which usually leads to the exaggerated input parameters, which may be significantly affected by a number of variable effects (time factor, socio-economic impacts, inflation rate, etc.). The ex-post application of the method cannot be objectively used due to the absence of the statistically processed input data for the analysis. Such data must be collected during the operational period of the realized investments. This is caused by the fact that these analyses consider lifetime of these investments in terms of 25-30 years. The ÚPÚ statistics, however, say that the operational period of most of realized common measures has not reached one half of their lifetime yet. The ex-ante analysis enables to evaluate the possible difficulty and the general benefit of projects, including their impact on the broad spectrum of subjects.

Rhinanthus minor (yellow-rattle) can be used for restoration of species-rich grasslands but is vulnerable to competitive exclusion from high total aboveground biomass production of vascular plants. We asked (1) whether there is a threshold limit for total annual aboveground biomass production of vascular plants above which R. minor cannot establish viable population in grasslands and (2) how is cover of R. minor in grassland related to standing biomass of bryophytes. Data were collected in the Rengen Grassland Experiment (RGE) established in Germany in 1941 with following fertilizer treatments: unfertilized control, application of Ca, CaN, CaNP, CaNPKCl and CaNPK₂SO₄. Cover of R. minor and total annual aboveground biomass production of vascular plants were determined from 2005 to 2009. Further relationship between standing biomass of bryophytes and cover of R. minor was analyzed in 2006. Mean cover of R. minor over five years ranged from 0.7% to 12.3% in CaNPK₂SO₄ and control treatments, respectively. Cover of R. minor was significantly negatively related to total annual aboveground biomass production of vascular plants and cover of R. minor was below 3% in all plots with total annual aboveground dry matter biomass production of vascular plants higher than 5 t/ha. Although cover of R. minor was markedly reduced in highly productive plots in the RGE, high standing biomass of bryophytes (1.8 t/ha) in low productive control was not an obstacle for establishment of its viable population. We concluded, that viable population of R. minor can be established in grasslands only if total annual aboveground dry matter biomass production of vascular plants is below 5 t/ha regardless on standing biomass of bryophytes.

Declining water is a great concern in production of rice, because rice is more sensitive to water deficiency which restricts normal rice growth resulting in enormous economic loss. A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of hydrogel in different sowing techniques of aerobic rice viz. flat, ridge, and bed sowing. Observations on soil moisture percentage before every irrigation, yield, and yield components of rice were recorded. Application of hydrogel improved soil moisture contents in all the three sowing techniques as compared to soil without hydrogel. More soil moisture contents met the crop water needs and increased the number of germinated seeds. As a consequence of more emergence and better stand establishment, the yield components were also improved increasing the yield of rice in hydrogel amended soil in all sowing techniques. However, sowing of rice on beds with hydrogel amendment was found the most effective; it not only improved the performance of aerobic rice but also enhanced growth and yield of aerobic rice more than other sowing techniques.