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The paper analyses the relationships between the profitability of viticulture on the one hand and the sugar content and grapes yield in viticulture in the Czech Republic between 1995 and 2014 on the other hand. The paper aims to find out which of these has had a greater impact on the viticulture profitability in the Czech Republic over the last twenty years. One of the frequently debated questions is whether a higher yield of grapes may also bring a high or moderately above average sugar content, and also whether the production for sale is profitable. The answer can be achieved either via the micro-appraisal (repeatable and many times conducted experiments) or via the macro-appraisal - collecting average data for the appraised region. For this paper, the macro-appraisal was chosen, i.e. the statistical survey for the Czech Republic between 1995 and 2014. The period of 20 years comes from an annual examination conducted by the Association of Winemakers of the Czech Republic on the grapes yields in their members. In the Czech Republic, the price in the grapes market is set depending on the variety of vine and sugar content. It follows from the 20-year statistics of the Association of Winemakers CR, that the profitability of grapes production for sale is not achieved by the sugar content but by the per hectare yield. The yield per hectare should vary between 5.5 and 7 t/ha (tonne per hectare) at the average sugar content of 18.5 to 21 ^oNM (between 11.0 and 12.5% volume of the potential alcohol). The grapes yield of more than 6 t/ha does not increase the profitability because the price offered by the purchasing companies decreases.

Cultivating crops influences soil organic matter (SOM), but the effect of different crops remains unclear, particularly under long-term monocropping. The objective of this study was to identify how different crops influence the content and chemical structures of SOM under long-term monocropping. Here, soils were sampled (0-20 cm) under 27-year soybean and maize monocropping and separated into different physical fractions. The content and chemical structures of SOM in all fractions were determined. SOM contents were higher under soybean than maize in bulk soil and macroaggregates and their light-fractions instead of microaggregates and silt and clay. The difference in SOM chemical structure was observed in aggregates and density fractions rather than bulk soils and supported by the result of principal component analysis. The proportion of O-alkyl C in macro- and microaggregates and all free light fractions and that of aromatic C in mineral-associated fractions were higher, while that of carbonyl C was lower under maize than soybean. These results demonstrated that different crops monocropping influences the content and chemical structures of SOM, and the variations were mainly in the light-fraction SOM and highlight a higher sensitivity of physical fractions than bulk soil to different crops.

During the last few years, non-bread cereals, as a rich source of bioactive components, play an increasingly important role in the production of new healthier food. A large number of diet-related diseases in society requires developing and regular consumption of high-quality food. In this study, triticale flour was supplemented with residual oat flour (ROF), which is a by-product in the production of oat fibre concentrate, to obtain triticale-oat bread with improved chemical composition and quality. The flours obtained from 3 winter triticale cultivars were enriched with 10%, 15%, and 20% of ROF. An increasing level of ROF resulted in higher protein and lipids content and a two-fold increase in β-glucan content (from 0.3% for control breads to 0.6% for 20% ROF) what improved the quality of dietary fibre in breads (DF). The bread parameters, especially bread volume (BV), the shape of loaves, crust colour and crumb texture, decreased with the addition of ROF. The triticale-oat breads with the best quality were obtained from 10% addition of ROF. Results confirmed the possibility of utilisation triticale and ROF for the production of bread with a unique chemical composition constituting a simultaneously rich source of DF.

Enzymes benefit digestion and absorption of the ingredients and their addition to an animal-origin meal (AOM) can improve its nutritional quality. This research aimed to evaluate the effect of protease on nutrient digestibility, amino acids, and metabolism of AOM energy for broilers. Four hundred and eighty broiler chickens were distributed in a completely randomized design (4 × 2 factorial scheme), eight treatments, six replicates containing 10 birds/replicate. Treatments consisted of poultry viscera meal, swine viscera meal (SVM), bovine meat and bone meal, and basal diet; with and without protease addition. Two tests were performed. In the first test, the total excreta collection method was used with birds at 13 to 20 days of age and 25% of the reference feed was replaced by AOM. In the second test, a protein-free diet was administered to birds at 21 to 24 days of age and AOM replaced 25% of the starch. The inclusion of protease increased the apparent metabolizable energy corrected for nitrogen balance of SVM by 15.99% and the apparent metabolizable crude energy by 5.7%, and it also raised the coefficient of true ileal digestibility of the amino acids in the AOMs by 5.67% on average. The inclusion of protease improved the apparent metabolizable crude energy of AOMs, apparent metabolizable dry matter of bovine meat and bone meal, coefficient of true ileal digestibility of essential amino acids, and apparent metabolizable energy corrected for nitrogen balance of SVM. Dietary supplementation of protease may be a potential strategy to improve the digestibility of amino acids for broilers, a possibility of using animal-origin meals as a protein source of diets.

Abstract: Management of inbreeding is one of the crucial parts of breeding programs in livestock populations. Traditionally, the inbreeding coefficient is calculated using pedigree data; however, it can also be estimated from genomic data. Nowadays, various approaches to estimating genomic-based inbreeding coefficients are increasingly integrated into research and breeding practices. These genomic estimators can supplement or replace pedigree-based coefficients. Each genomic-based inbreeding coefficient has its own properties and different ranges of values, and some of them need specific settings for calculation. Moreover, depending on the methodological approach, genomic estimators are sensitive to the population structure, genotyping technology applied, and the quality control of obtained genomic data. It is important to consider all these factors when calculating and especially when interpreting the final genomic inbreeding values. For these reasons, using genomic-based inbreeding coefficients can be more challenging than using pedigree-based ones. In this review, we comprehensively evaluate the most commonly used genomic estimators of individual inbreeding in livestock, providing an in-depth analysis of their advantages and limitations while offering insights into the methodological considerations and best practices for their accurate calculation and interpretation.

Leaching is one of the most practical methods for improvement of saline soils and both the quality and the quantity of leaching water play an important role in desalinization of these soils. To determine the effects of different qualities and quantities of leaching water on salinity of drainage water during the growing season of wheat, pot experiments were conducted with a silty clay loam soil, a typical salt-affected soil in an arid region of central part of Iran. The experiment comprised the treatments of three irrigation water salinities (4, 9 and 12 dS/m) and four leaching levels (3, 20, 29 and 37%), using a factorial design with seven replications for each treatment. The results showed that at the beginning of the growing season the drainage water salinity was highest for all treatments. Then it started to decrease and depending on the quality and quantity of leaching water it became nearly constant or continued to decrease until the end of the growing season. The leaching of salts from the soil profile was more efficient during the first few irrigations and thereafter became less efficient. The increase of leaching level had a significant effect on the decrease of drainage water salinity. The comparison with steady-state mass balance of soil salt, sodium and chloride showed that the simple ratio of chloride in irrigation water to chloride in drainage water can be used to estimate the leaching fraction of saline soils with high accuracy.

This study aimed to estimate heritabilities of piglet birth-weight traits and to investigate the relationships between piglet birth-weight and litter-size traits using field data from Czech Large White and Landrace sows. Data including 86 241 piglets from 5 536 litters were analysed using repeatability, genetic, and genomic models. The investigated piglet-weight traits included arithmetic mean birth weight (MBW), within-litter standard deviation (SDBW), coefficient of variation in birth weight (CVBW), and the proportion of small piglets in the litter (SMALL). Heritability rates of piglet-weight traits were low, with the highest estimates for MBW (0.06–0.10) and SMALL (0.08–0.17), depending on the model used, while the other within-litter variability traits showed heritability rates from 0.03 to 0.05. The heritability rates of litter-size traits, including the number of piglets born alive (NBA) and the number of piglets weaned (NW), were low and ranged from 0.05 to 0.07. The realised accuracies of prediction were moderate to high, ranging from 0.50 to 0.72 for piglet-weight traits and from 0.54 to 0.77 for litter-size traits, with ssGBLUP improving realised accuracy by 4–15% in comparison to BLUP. Genetic correlations estimated using BLUP and ssGBLUP indicated that litter size at birth (NBA) tended to be negatively associated with MBW and positively or weakly associated with piglet-weight variability traits (SDBW, CVBW, and SMALL), whereas NW tended to show positive correlations with MBW and negative correlations with variability traits. However, none of the correlations were statistically significant.

Equine obesity currently represents a significant welfare concern, with its development influenced by seasonal changes in the nutritional value of pasture, which substantially affect the animals’ energy balance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the seasonal dynamics of pasture nutritional composition, assess the balance between energy requirements and actual intake of horses during the grazing season, and determine the impact of these factors on body weight and body condition. Pasture was analysed across three seasonal periods: T1 (May), T2 (July), and T3 (September). The highest concentration of digestible energy in pasture was recorded in T1 (10.81 MJ/kg DM), while the lowest was observed in T2 (9.67 MJ/kg DM). In T1, digestible energy intake (DE_i; 98.02 MJ/day) was markedly higher than the energy requirement (61.94 MJ/day), resulting in a positive energy balance (36.08 MJ/day). This surplus was accompanied by a significant increase in body weight from 444.6 kg to 534.7 kg (P = 0.006 1) and an increase in body condition score (BCS) from 5.1 to 6.7 (P = 0.000 1). In the subsequent periods (T2 and T3), when the energy balance was close to equilibrium (–0.02 and 0.14 MJ/day), no further significant changes were observed in body weight (534.7 vs 535.0 kg; P > 0.05) or BCS (6.7 vs 6.6; P > 0.05). Changes in BCS showed a strong positive relationship with the difference between DE intake and requirement (r = 0.696 1; P = 0.000 7). The results confirm that seasonal energy surplus, particularly at the beginning of the grazing season, represents a significant risk factor for body fat accumulation in adult horses maintained on ad libitum pasture.

This study aimed to compare patterns in the genetic structure of 27 mature stands and the natural regeneration of A. alba in the Eastern and Western Carpathians within the introgression zone of two refugial lineages from the Apennine and Balkan peninsulas. The distribution of the genetic diversity of fir stands was analysed using paternally inherited chloroplast DNA and five nuclear dominant inter simple sequence repeat markers (ISSRs). The study showed that the Balkan haplotype prevailed in both parental and progeny populations, and this haplotype was found in many mature Eastern Carpathian stands. Relatively high levels of genetic diversity were found in the mature stands (effective number of alleles Ne = 1.517, Shannon index I = 0.436, expected heterozygosity He = 0.295) and progeny (Ne = 1.515, I = 0.436 and He = 0.294) of silver fir. The analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed slight differences among the mature fir stands from the Western and Eastern Carpathians, with a value of 1.1%. According to principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) and STRUCTURE analyses, the populations, including stands of mature and progeny trees, were genetically separated into two groups. Slight genetic differences between the mature and progeny populations in the Polish Carpathians indicate sound gene pool transmission, which is essential for creating new selection and breeding programmes.

The results are presented of the estimation of sensory quality (shape, odour, colour, taste, consistency, crust, crumb etc.), mould and yeast counts, aw value, and pH in 8 bakery croissant-type products with nougat cream filling during storage under laboratory conditions (20 ± 2°C) for the periods of up to 90 days (0; 30; 45; 60; 75 and 90 days). The products differed in the type of dough (brioche, croissant), the aw value of the cream, and in the presence or absence of sorbic acid in the spirit spray applied onto the surface of the products under investigation. The above-indicated parameters were examined also in the nougat cream samples on day 0 and 90 of the storage. The selected quality parameters permitted to estimate the shelf life of the products in the dependence on various technological conditions (sorbic acid, recipe, aw value).

Drought-tolerant rootstocks with better performance regarding water deficit is important for sustaining orchard productivity, especially in regions where water availability is unpredictable. By selecting appropriate rootstocks, fruit growers can mitigate the adverse effects of insufficient water on yields. However, the response of specific rootstocks to drought remains unknown. Our study examined the drought tolerance of five plum rootstocks (Wavit, Torinell, Adesoto, Penta, and St. Julien) focusing on their physiological and biochemical responses. To assess their tolerance under drought conditions, we evaluated leaf relative water content (RWC), chlorophyll fluorescence, lipid peroxidation, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), proline, and phenolic content. The results showed that Torinel exhibited the highest performance index (PIABS), maximum PSII photochemical efficiency (F_v/F_m), RWC, lowest lipid peroxidation and H₂O₂ during the drought-stress condition. Based on our results, we identified Torinel as a rootstock with a great ability to withstand drought, suggesting that it could be applied in the breeding program to increase plum resistance to drought. The study provides insights into the drought tolerance of different plum rootstocks, identifying which ones are better suited for cultivation in water-limited environments.

Combining phosphorus management with phosphorus-efficient cultivars is an effective strategy for improving rice quality. To investigate their effects on root characteristics and photosynthetic traits, a pot experiment was conducted with two rice cultivars differing in phosphorus efficient: Liangeng 7 (weakly efficient) and Yongyou 2640 (highly efficient). Four phosphorus rates (0, 0.44, 0.88, and 1.32 g/pot, designated as P0, P1, P2, and P3, respectively) were applied. A significant cultivar-phosphorus interaction was observed. Most root traits (the length, dry weight, volume, total absorption area, active absorption area, oxidation activity, and acid phosphatase activity) and photosynthetic traits (photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, and stomatal conductance) initially increased and then decreased with increasing phosphorus rates, while the leaf intercellular CO₂ concentration showed the opposite trend. Liangeng 7 performed optimally under P2, whereas Yongyou 2640 reached its peak under P1. Compared with Liangeng 7, Yongyou 2640 exhibited better appearance quality, root traits, and photosynthetic parameters. Correlation analysis showed that root length, root physiological activity and leaf photosynthetic parameters (except intercellular CO₂ concentration) were significantly negatively correlated with chalkiness degree. These findings demonstrate that matching phosphorus supply to cultivar‑specific efficiency optimises root‑photosynthesis synergy, leading to superior grain appearance quality with less phosphorus input.

This study was conducted to examine the effects of Moringa oleifera (MO) seed powder on the performance and gut health of broilers challenged with E. coli. A total of 720 one-day-old Ross 308 broiler chicks were randomly allocated to 72 pens across two separate rooms, following a 2 × 6 factorial design. The factors per room included (i) challenge: no or yes, and (ii) feed additive: control (none), antibiotic [oxytetracycline (OTC) at 0.5 g/kg], MO 0.1%, MO 0.2%, MO 0.4%, and MO 0.8%. At 9 days old, birds in both challenged and non-challenged rooms were inoculated with 1.5 ml of E. coli-O157:H7 inoculant (3.8 × 10⁸ CFU) and 1.5 ml of saline, respectively. Performance data showed that, throughout the study, unchallenged birds had better weight gain (WG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) than challenged birds. On day 35, broilers given OTC and all MO levels showed improved WG (P < 0.001) and FCR (P < 0.003). Interactions between challenge and additives were observed on day 10 for FCR (P = 0.031); on days 24 and 35 for WG (P < 0.001); and on days 24 and 35 for FCR (P < 0.004 and P = 0.002, respectively). On day 24, challenged birds fed all MO levels exhibited higher WG and better FCR than challenged controls, while on day 35, both challenged and unchallenged MO-fed birds showed improved WG and FCR compared to control groups. E. coli significantly increased crypt depth (CD), jejunum muscle thickness, and caecal E. coli colonies. MO significantly enhanced villus height (VH), the VH : CD ratio, villous tip width, and surface area, while decreasing CD, muscle thickness, and E. coli colonies. Challenged birds had significantly lower serum total protein, albumin, and Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) titres, while serum alanine aminotransferase ALT activity was higher than in non-challenged birds. Overall, Moringa at 0.4% showed comparable or better results than OTC in preventing E. coli-induced declines in broiler performance and gut health.

Water deficit severely constrains sugar beet productivity by impairing photosynthetic capacity. However, the underlying structure-function mechanisms conferring photosynthetic resilience remain poorly characterised. This study investigates the temporal dynamics of photosynthetic limitations and structural adaptations in sugar beet during water deficit and subsequent rehydration. We found that water deficit significantly reduced the maximum net CO₂ assimilation rate (A_Nmax) and the Rubisco carboxylation rate (V_cmax) by impairing CO₂ diffusion and biochemical processes. The reduction in photosynthetic capacity is primarily and stably attributed to mesophyll limitation, while contributions from stomatal and biochemical limitations flexibly change with deficit degree and rehydration. Severe water deficit caused irreversible structural damage that hinders recovery even after rehydration, while moderate water deficit allows partial restoration of leaf and chloroplast function. Partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) demonstrated that CO₂ diffusion was governed by the volume fraction of intercellular air space (f_ias, β = 0.28) and surface areas of the chloroplasts exposed to leaf intercellular air spaces (S_c/S, β = 0.35), with S_c/S indirectly influencing mesophyll conductance (g_m) through fias mediation (β = 0.53). Severe water deficit caused irreversible fias reduction and chloroplast interface damage (59% cell volume loss). These findings establish that resilience to water deficit in sugar beet depends on mesophyll structural integrity, with f_ias and S_c/S as key modulators of gm recovery. The study advances understanding of stress recovery mechanisms in sugar beet and provides a framework for multiscale crop improvement in the context of climate change.

National parks (NP) are the last refugia of forests dominated by the Nothofagus species in Chile. However, frequent, careless human-caused fires are destroying these forests even within the national parks. After large-scale fires, N. pumilio stands are unable to recover naturally neither in generative nor in vegetative ways and artificial regeneration must be resorted to in order to maintain their extent. However, even artificial regeneration is not successful without protection against browsing. Therefore, the aim of this study was to experimentally test a range of repellents and other methods of mechanical protection of seedlings against browsing. Five replicates of plots were placed in Torres del Paine NP, in different habitat conditions and with different methods of protection against browsing (11 repellents, wire mesh, plastic tube and control). In each plot, 12 seedlings were treated with each type of protection. In our experiment, only 8% of the seedlings were damaged by browsing, while the mortality rate was 38%. The results indicate a more significant effect of abiotic factors (mainly frost, drought or wind) on seedling mortality than browsing. In parallel, however, it is clear that, compared with the control, six of the eleven repellents used in the experiment showed a significantly positive effect. We suggest the use of plastic tubes as the best option to protect seedlings, which, in addition to providing 100% protection against browsing, are likely to provide more favourable microclimatic conditions for seedlings, similar to leaving the burned snags.

Iris × germanica L. (bearded iris) is a popular ornamental plant with numerous commercially important cultivars; however, little is known about the genetic diversity and population structure of the species, as limited DNA markers have been explored. In this study, 34 722 expressed sequence tag (EST)-simple sequence repeat (SSR) loci were identified from RNA sequencing data. The most abundant SSR motifs belonged to the tri-nucleotide type, of which the most common were AGG/CCT followed by AAG/CTT. Overall, 50 primer pairs derived from these EST-SSRs were randomly selected and synthesized, and 22 primer pairs with good polymorphism effects were used for the following experiment. Correlation analysis of nine floral traits showed that most floral traits had significant correlations with each other. Association analysis between SSR molecular markers and nine floral traits showed that 11 EST-SSR markers were associated with 3–6 floral traits. The cluster tree constructed by using the unweighted pair group method demonstrated that the cultivars that had the same parents or similar colour were clustered together. The genotypic relations of most cultivars were consistent with their pedigree-based relationships. The EST-SSR loci identified in this study will facilitate the exploitation of genetic resources and molecular breeding of I. × germanica.

Surface mulch is an important factor of soil protection technology in the cultivation of potatoes. Presented herein are the results of three years (2009-2011) of field trials at two sites (Leškovice and Uhříněves), where two cultivars (Finka and Katka) were grown. Three mulching treatments (grass mulch after planting, grass mulch before germination and black polypropylene mulch textile) were used in the study. The weight of marketable tubers (tuber over 40 mm) and tuber size distribution were influenced significantly by mulching. The application of grass mulch on surface of the row ensured a 20.5-24.8% increase of weight of marketable tubers and higher occurrence of tubers over 56 mm (resp. tubers 56-60 mm and over 60 mm). There was no consistent effect of grass mulch on the aboveground biomass of weeds. Higher occurrences of larvae of Colorado potato beetle was found on the plots with black polypropylene textile in warmer site Uhříněves.

In the present study, free amino acid (AA) regulation in the arsenic (As) hyperaccumulating ferns was evaluated in a pot experiment to determine the relationship between As stress and the characteristic change in metabolism of AAs. The ferns Pteris cretica cv. Albo-lineata (Pc-Al) and cv. Parkerii (Pc-Pa) were exposed to As treatments at 0, 20, 100, and 250 mg As/kg for 90 days. Greater As content, as well as higher biomass production, were identified in Pc-Al compared with Pc-Pa. Ferns showed changes in the stress metabolism of free AA homeostasis. These results indicate a disturbance in nitrogen metabolism and depletion of pool assimilated carbon metabolism. In the fronds and roots, Pc-Pa accumulated higher amounts of free AAs than Pc-Al. The total free AA content, as well as the ratio of the main AA family pathway (glutamate family), were increased by the accumulation of toxic As in the ferns. Results suggest that Pc-Al tolerates higher As doses better due to changes in AA biosynthesis; however, at higher As doses, Pc-Pa upregulated AA biosynthesis due to As toxicity. The most abundant free AAs of ferns was glutamine, which was enhanced by As. Furthermore, the ratios of selected individual free AAs revealed a characteristic phenotype difference between ferns.

Soil aggregate structure and soil organic matter are closely interrelated and commonly considered as key indicators of soil quality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of different fallow durations on indices of soil structure and humus status indicators. Studies were conducted on abandoned agricultural fields (15, 20 and, 35 years after abandonment). As a reference site, we used a cultivated field in the area. The experimental soil fields are classified as Gleyic Cambisols. Soil macroaggregates were separated with the sieve (dry sieve) to seven aggregate size fractions, i.e.> 10, 10-5, 5-2, 2-1, 1-0.5, 0.5-0.25 and < 0.25 mm. The humus status parameters of soils included the following indicators: soil organic carbon (C_org), humus reserves (Q_H), the degree of humification of organic matter (SOM_dh), fractions of humic acids (HA) (free and bound with monovalent cations and Al₂O₃, Fe₂O₃, bound with Cа²⁺ which forms humates, bound with clay minerals), fulvic acids (FA) (free aggressive) and ratio of HA to FA (C_HA : C_FA). After a fallow period of more than 20 years on the surface formation of a sod layer. A long-term fallow period had an impact on the mean weight diameter of the aggregates (MWD) and agronomically valuable aggregates (AVA). Fallow soils have a significantly better structure than soils under a cultivated field. Long-term cultivation leads to the deterioration of soil structure and the formation of large aggregates (>10 mm). The C_org content remains at the level of the background content when the soils are left fallow for less than 15 years and increases over time. The C_org in the upper 0-20 cm soil layer has been shown to increase from 3.55 to 8.74% on arable land that has been fallow for 35 years and has been largely associated with significant accumulation of organic matter within the plant root mass. Mature sites are characterized by an increase of fulvic acids in the humus composition in comparison with their arable analogues. The abandonment of soil agricultural use and the cessation of mechanical tillage results in the restoration of the natural structure of soils and the improvement of their agrophysical properties. Such studies have not been previously conducted in the Primorsky region of the Russian Far East.

The main goal of this paper was to evaluate structure dynamics in the fir-beech, old-growth forest Badínsky prales. Measurements were taken on four permanent research plots (0.5 ha each) between 1970 and 2018, typically in ten-year intervals. In order to assess long-term structure dynamics, this study used basic stand characteristics and selected structural indices - the relative density (RD), coefficient of homogeneity (H), and structural complexity index (SCI). Species composition was quantified by the relative importance value (RIV), and a detrended correspondence analysis was carried out for the visualisation of long-term changes. The long-term mean of the stand volume reached 634 ± 99 m3.ha-1, and the mean of the basal area was 36.6 ± 4.0 m2.ha-1. Calculated values of the coefficient of homogeneity (1.46-2.54) were similar to values in other old-growth forests with a comparable tree species composition. An increasing trend in beech RIV values was observed; on the other hand, fir RIV values fell by approximately 20%-25%. In 2018, maximal values of the basal area, stand volume and relative density were recorded. These high values may indicate better growth conditions due to climate change, as well as fewer disturbance events in the last few decades.

Two varieties of palm date seeds (PDS), Sukkari and Khalas, were examined for their antioxidant and antibacterial activities. Total phenol content was 2 014.37 ± 212.05 and 2 060.40 ± 176.0 mg GAE 100 g-1 dry weight (DW); and total flavonoid content was 83.98 ± 1.10 and 94.97 ± 1.36 mg QE 100 g-1 DW for Sukkari and Khalas, respectively. PDS extracts showed potential scavenging activity against ABTS, DDPH, and hydroxyl radical; the calculated IC50s were 431.17 ± 12.45, 400 ± 10.87 and 680 ± 18.12 µg for Sukkari, and 476 ± 20.25, 302.24 ± 14.08 and 284.18 ± 11.62 µg for Khalas, respectively. PDS extracts did not show potential activity against superoxide anion. Both extracts showed a high percentage of reducing power as the calculated FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power) concentrations were 12.66 ± 1.08 and 16.14 ± 1.94 mmol ascorbic acid equivalent 100 g-1 for Sukkari and Khalas, respectively. Bacillus subtilis showed a remarkable sensitivity to PDS extracts; the inhibition zones were 21 ± 0.82 and 22 ± 0.67 mm for Sukkari and Khalas, respectively. PDS extracts possess good antioxidant and antibacterial activity, and therefore PDS could be effectively used as a natural source of antioxidants and to be detected against gram-positive bacteria.

Pityogenes chalcographus (Linnaeus, 1758) is a significant pest of young spruce stands up to the age of about 20 years. Predation can be a significant part of decreasing its population density. The aim of the research was to determine the relationships between captured P. chalcographus and its major predator Nemosoma elongatum (Linnaeus, 1761). The research was conducted in 2006 and 2007 in five areas with the following conditions: two clear-cuts covered with freely distributed brushwood, two clear-cuts which had no brushwood remaining and the last locality was an older (more than two years older) clear-cut with no brushwood. The catches from the pheromone baited traps used to lure P. chalcographus showed a strong positive correlation between P. chalcographus and N. elongatum. Furthermore, comparisons were drawn between the N. elongatum catches from each clear-cut. The differences in the proportions of the predator N. elongatum to the trapped P. chalcographus were identified between the types of clear-cuts with the highest proportion of trapped N. elongatum in the clear-cuts with the brushwood and the lowest proportion in the clear-cuts with the removed brushwood.

Canine visceral leishmaniasis is a protozoan disease affecting most vital organs and also causing myocardial and/or renal damage. P-wave dispersion, a newly used non-invasive ECG indicator, is used to follow atrial arrhythmias, atrial fibrillation, valvular disease in both human and veterinary medicine. The purpose of this study involving Canine Visceral Leishmaniasis (CVL)-infected dogs in stage III and IV was to verify whether the P-wave dispersion was related to the renal failure. For this purpose, a total of 17 dogs of different ages, both sexes, comprising eleven animals with CVL (at stage III and IV) diagnosed using a rapid ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) test and serological IFAT (immunofluorescence.antibody titres) and six healthy dogs used as controls were enrolled. Significant differences between the P-wave dispersion (regarding the mean values) of the control, stage III and IV-infected groups (P = 0.003) were detected as follows: 21.8 ± 0.5, 20.6 ± 1.2 and 25.0 ± 0.4 ms, respectively. The P-wave dispersion value was moderately longer in the stage IV-infected group compared with the control one (P = 0.022), however, the aforementioned relationship was determined as significant between the stage IV and III-infected groups (P = 0.003). Regarding all of the biomarkers of the renal function monitored within this study, there were differences between the control and stage IV-infected group for the creatinine (P = 0.002), the control and stage IV-infected group for the urine protein/creatinine ratio (P < 0.001), and the stage III and stage IV-infected groups for the urine protein/creatinine ratio (P < 0.001). In conclusion, an increased P-wave dispersion was not associated with renal failure. It might be related to the limitation of our study including small sample sizes in the groups. Therefore, the cardiac indicators were not analysed. For more accurate results, it is desirable to perform further studies including a larger sample size along with an investigation of the cardiac and renal indicators.

The aim of this study was to determine the proportion of feed consumed by pigs when they had the choice to meet their nutrient requirements offering a low (LND) or a high (HND) nutrient dense diet on animal performance and feeding behaviour. In total 120 barrows and gilts were allotted to three dietary treatments (LND, HND and a feed choice group, FC). Diets were calculated to keep a constant ratio of megajoule net energy (MJ NE) to nutrient standardised ileal digestible (SID) lysine, SID methionine and cysteine, SID threonine, SID tryptophan, Ca, available P and Na. Pigs of the feed choice treatment that could choose between LND and HND chose an energy content between 13.3 and 13.6 MJ ME or rather 10.1 and 10.4 MJ NE. The ratio between LND and HND changed during the growing period to a higher percentage of HND (26.2% : 73.8% in the starter, 22.0% : 78.0% in the grower and 20.0% : 80.0% in the finisher phase). No differences between barrows and gilts were detected regarding the selected diet. As a result, similar zootechnical performance data were observed for HND and FC, whereas LND led to a declined (P < 0.05) performance. Regarding the feeding behaviour no differences in the parameters meal size and daily feeder visits between LND and HND (P > 0.1) were observed. However, within the FC treatment more and greater meals were consumed (P < 0.05) at the HND feeder compared to the LND feeder. Pigs of modern genetics still have the ability to cover their nutrient requirements choosing between diets differing in nutrient density without impairing performance. Furthermore, the results give no indication for the necessity of different energy levels in diets for sexed pigs.

The cropping of six sweet cherry cultivars that originated in the Research and Breeding Institute of Pomology at Holovousy, and a standard one, 'Burlat', were evaluated on three rootstocks in the period of 2007-2017. Trees planted in a spacing of 1.5 m × 5.0 m were trained as tall spindle axes utilising their natural tendency to develop a central leader. On the standard rootstock, P-TU-2, 'Tim' was the most productive with a mean total harvest of 47.6 kg per tree. 'Sandra' yielded the most on the PHLC rootstock with 56.2 kg per tree and 'Helga' yielded the most on Gisela 5 with a mean total harvest of 55.9 kg per tree. The mean impact of the rootstock on the tree vigour, measured upon the trunk cross section area, ranged from 148.4 cm2 on the standard rootstock P-TU-2 to 114.1 cm2 on the PHLC and 125.2 cm2 on Gisela 5 . On the standard rootstock P-TU-2, the most vigorous one according to this criterion was 'Jacinta' (178.0 cm2) whereas 'Justyna' (109.7 cm2) was the least vigorous. On the PHLC, the most vigorous was 'Sandra' (147.2 cm2) and the least was 'Amid' (94.0 cm2). The other tree characteristics were mainly dependant on the cultivar and minimally, or not at all, influenced by the rootstock vigour.

The hazards from wind, sand, and soil erosion caused by human activities, such as residue slopes in abandoned urban mines, have resulted in a vicious circle of environmental degradation. Selecting the optimal protective engineering method in mountainous areas has become a major difficulty in recent years, and the primary goal of our research is to accelerate the process of ecosystem reconstruction to maintain water and soil quality. In this study, cover soil of 10, 20, and 30 cm in depth was spread on the 30° accumulation slopes composed of loose residue from the Huangyuan Quarry, Beijing, and combined with two protection measures: eco-bags and bamboo fences. Runoff and soil loss from the aboveground, soil and residue layers were measured under rainfall intensities of 30, 60 and 120 mm/h generated with a rainfall simulator. The results indicated that both eco-bags and bamboo fences decreased runoff and soil loss. Bamboo fences were better at intercepting water under low runoff, whereas soil loss was more strongly reduced by eco-bags. The analysis also demonstrated that the depth of soil cover had an effect on runoff and soil loss. These findings will enrich the understanding of the effects of human activities on surface mines and provide a scientific basis for the ecological restoration of mines using engineering methods.

The long-term effect of 87.3 kg/ha P on the yield elements and nutrient content of maize was studied at the National Long-Term Fertilization Experiment of the Karcag Research Institute in Hungary. The soil of the experiment site is non-calcareous Luvic Phaeosem, and its soluble phosphorus (P) and zinc (Zn) content in 0-20 cm soil layer are: ammonium lactate P: 141.1 mg/kg and diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA)Zn: 0.85 mg/kg, respectively. The effect of foliar Zn fertilization was studied at three levels of nitrogen (150, 200 and 250 kg/ha) and under 87.3 kg/ha P and 82.6 kg/ha K application in four replications. The applied Zn amount was 700 g/ha. We measured the grain yield and the thousand-kernel weight. Leaf and grain samples were analyzed for phosphorus, zinc, potassium, calcium, magnesium and manganese content. Foliar Zn application did not increase the yield significantly, but it enhanced the thousand-kernel weight. The element content did not change significantly - neither in leaves nor in kernels. Under the examined habitat circumstances even the long-term application of 87.3 kg/ha P dosage did not cause Zn deficiency to such an extent which would lead to significant yield depression of maize.

The efficiency of three modified plastic digesters (3.6 m³ each) using food waste for biogas generation in cooking food was evaluated. The experiment was laid out based on a completely randomised design. A plastic tank was modified as a biodegradation system for food waste digestion to generate a biogas. The biochemical and chemical oxygen demand ranged from 44.58 to 49.62% and 130.42 to 139.20%, respectively, before digestion, but decreased significantly (P < 0.05) after digestion. The pH of the fermenting slurry fluctuated (6.24-6.86) and an average biogas of 0.574 m³ (505-601 L.day^-1) per day was generated from the three experimental waste proportions which would be sufficient to cook three meals per day for 3 to 4 people. The methane gas significantly increased (P < 0.05) while the carbon-dioxide significantly decreased (P < 0.05) at the peak of the biogas production. The generated biogas significantly cooked (P < 0.05) faster than kerosene, but not faster than liquefied petroleum gas. The flammable biogas generation and high significant (P <0.05) percentage change in the physico-chemical properties of the wastes after digestion implied high efficiency performance of the digesters modified from the plastic tanks.

The objective of this study was to explore the internal variability in six established F7 commercial wheat cultivars for breeding purposes. They are sown traditionally in the region of Western Macedonia, Greece. Spikes of the six cultivars were sown in 2008 in separate rows. A head to row selection scheme was applied for two growing periods in order to select lines within the cultivars, based on various traits such as: the total spike number, the spike weight per row, the 1000-kernel weight and the specific weight . The final selection was based on the specific weight and the four best rows from each cultivar were selected. All selected lines were tested in a field trial with a randomised complete block design (RCB). The original seed of the cultivars were used as controls. Statistically significant differences were found for all the studied traits. The line selections differed from the original cultivars, sometimes highly significantly. In conclusion, commercial cultivars that are sown traditionally for many years may contain exploitable variability, which reveals, that the continuous selection within cultivars is necessary to avoid cultivar deterioration and to improve the yield and other traits. The results indicate a degeneration of grain yield from 8% to 20%. Although eye-selection restricts off-types, our results mainly indicate new variability and cultivar performance deterioration under extreme biotic and abiotic stress.

Glässer's disease of swine caused by Haemophilus parasuis (H. parasuis) is one of the major bacterial diseases affecting pig farms worldwide. Vaccination is a crucial measure for controlling the H. parasuis infection. Adjuvants are employed to enhance the immunity effects of inactivated vaccines or subunit vaccines. In the present study, a red clover isoflavone extract (RCIE) was investigated as an adjuvant for the H. parasuis inactivated vaccine. Thirty colostrum-deprived (CD) piglets (mixed-breed: Large White × Landrace) aged 15 days were vaccinated on days 0 and 14 with an inactivated H. parasuis vaccine with or without an adjuvant. The adjuvant groups' vaccines were mixed with a high-dose RCIE (20 mg/ml), a middle-dose RCIE (10 mg/ml), a low-dose RCIE (5 mg/ml), or with Montanide Gel 01 (10%, v/v). Phosphate buffer saline (PBS) was also given as a blank control. Fourteen days after the booster immunisation, the piglets were challenged with H. parasuis LY02 (serotype 5). The IgG antibody, cytokines, T lymphocyte subpopulations, and clinical and pathological signs of the piglets were evaluated. The results showed that the RCIE enhanced the H. parasuis vaccine and elicited strong antibody levels as well as the cytokines IL-2, IL-4, and IFN-γ in serum, and the levels depended on the RCIE dose. Moreover, the piglets vaccinated with the inactivated LY02 containing the Middle-dose RCIE had a higher survival rate in the challenge experiments. In conclusion, RCIE can enhance the H. parasuis vaccine immunity by promoting titres of IgG antibody and by improving the Th1-type cellular immunity.