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The Slovak milk industry has overcome substantial changes during last period and has achieved many criteria comparable with the Western Europe. From this viewpoint, we can state that the quality of milk and milk products, technological equipment and labour efficiency has been improved. Entering of the foreign capital into the Slovak milk processing enterprises increases the quality of products and the volume of processed raw material. The foreign investors choose Slovak enterprises for many reasons. These are: the limited assortment of milk products, cheap labour force in comparison with its value in the EU, cheaper material for production and the necessary energy. In the world, the process of internationalization is necessary together with fusion, strategic alliances and acquisitions, including the private or co-operative companies. The biggest foreign strategic investors are in the following joint stock companies, for example - Liptovská mliekareň, a.s. Liptovský Mikuláš (Bongrain France), Milsy, a.s. Bánovce nad Bebravou (Lactoprot Austria), Rajo, a.s. Bratislava (Meggle Austria and Germany), former Zempmilk, a.s. Michalovce, now Syráreň Bel Slovensko, a.s. (Fromageries Bel France) and others. These companies include more than 52% of the number of big industrial milk processing enterprises in total and during the last period they bought more than 52.5% of the whole milk production in Slovakia.

The paper documents the effects of forest stands of different species composition on the humus form state and soil profile chemistry. It compares the situation in mixed broadleaved (ash, oak, hornbeam), basswood and spruce stands. Spruce demonstrates the site degradation effects: raw humus accumulation, soil acidification, negative effects on nutrient dynamics. Both broadleaved stands were similar as for site effects, lower litter accumulation, more rapid organic matter mineralization and more rapid nutrient cycling and intense uptake were documented in the basswood stand.

The species composition, frequency and abundance of insect pests (Coleoptera) occurring outside a grain store were explored. Wheat bait traps were used for pest monitoring; they were changed every month from April to September. For the first time the outdoor occurrence of primary and secondary stored-product pests was documented in the Czech Republic. Seven species of Coleoptera were found outside the grain store. Pest abundance and frequency were in high correlation. The primary pest Sitophilus granarius was dominant.

During a five year period (2000-2004), the incidence of bovine and human tuberculosis in cattle and other animals from six Central European countries was evaluated: Croatia (HRV), the Czech Republic (CZE), Hungary (HUN), Poland (POL), Slovakia (SVK), and Slovenia (SVN). These countries, lying between the Baltic and the Adriatic seas, cover an area of 610 402 km² and had more than 68 million inhabitants and 9 330 264 cattle in 2003. Successful national control programmes against bovine tuberculosis in cattle were carried out up until 1980: HRV (1953-1966), CZE (1959-1968), HUN (1962-1980), POL (1959-1975) SVK (1959-1968), and SVN (1962-1973). During the entire monitored period skin testing with bovine tuberculin in all cattle older than two years was carried out regularly either once a year or every second year. Five of these countries (CZE, HUN, POL, SVK, and SVN) joined the EC on May 1^st, 2004. CZE and SVK were officially declared free of bovine tuberculosis in cattle on March 31^st, 2004 (Commission Decision No. 2004/320/EC) and March 4^th, 2005 (Commission Decision No. 2005/179/EC), respectively. Bovine tuberculosis was diagnosed in a total of 188 cattle herds in the study area: 145 (77.1%) outbreaks in small herds (< 10 cows) and 43 (22.9%) outbreaks in large herds (≥ 10 cows). The last cases of bovine tuberculosis in cattle in SVK and in the CZE were diagnosed in 1993 and 1995, respectively. During the monitored period, bovine tuberculosis was diagnosed in animal species other than cattle found in zoological gardens: in two Bactrian camels (Camelus ferus) in the CZK, in one Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris f. altaica) in HUN, in one bison (Bison bison) and one eland (Taurotragus oryx) in POL, and in one dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius) and two bison in SVN. In wild animals, bovine tuberculosis was diagnosed in wild boar (Sus scrofa) in HUN (n = 14) and HRV (n = 1), in six red deer (Cervus elaphus) in HUN, in 14 European bison (Bison bonasus f. bonasus) and two roe deer (Capreolus capreolus f. capreolus) in POL. Infections caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis were also diagnosed in four cattle and two pigs in POL, in one cattle in SVN, in one dog (Canis lupus f. familiaris) in the CZE and in one dog in HUN. M. africanum was diagnosed in one hyrax (Procaria habessinica) in a zoological garden in HRV.

Amino acid content before and after heat treatment was assessed in grain of six selected amaranth varieties and four species: Amaranthus cruentus, A. hypochondriacus, A. caudatus and A. hybridus, cultivated in the Czech Republic. High content of Lys and Arg was detected in both heat treated and untreated grains, as well as satisfactory content of Cys and lower levels of Met, Val, Ile and Leu. The latter three amino acids appear as limiting. Chemical scores of essential amino acids and essential amino acid index (EAAI) were determined. EAAI value of 90.4% shows the favourable nutritional quality of amaranth protein, which is almost comparable with egg protein. Heat treatment by popping at 170 to 190°C for 30 s resulted in decreased EAAI to 85.4%. Of the essential amino acids under study, Val and Leu contents decreased significantly (P < 0.05). The relatively high content of essential amino acids in amaranth grain predetermines its use as a substitution of meat-and-bone meals.

Hair roots are a very attractive source of DNA for microsatellite-based parentage control of breeding animals. However, unlike blood samples, irregular DNA typing results have been observed in assays utilizing hair follicles. The amount of starting material and DNA preparation method are the crucial factors. In order to improve DNA typing results for horse hair roots, two quick preparation methods and additional purification steps were evaluated. PCR efficiency for each approach was expressed as percentage of samples with complete DNA profiles for 12 horse microsatellites. The lowest percentage (22%) of complete DNA profiles was obtained for samples prepared by the proteinase K digestion method. The best genotyping results (94%) were achieved after phenol-chloroform extraction of DNA from samples prepared by the proteinase K digestion method. Direct cleanup of DNA samples with an ethanol-sodium acetate mixture gave comparably good results of microsatellite genotyping (91%). DNA preparation from hair roots with proteinase K digestion followed by DNA purification with ethanol was chosen as the most efficient approach for horse DNA typing under parentage testing.

The results of three-year trials (1999 to 2001) conducted with six winter wheat varieties in which was investigated the effect of sites, years and varieties on the final grain yield and technological quality showed statistically significant differences (LSD, 95%) among sites in grain yield and these parameters of quality: test volume mass, wet gluten content, sedimentation test, protein content, falling number and flour water absorption capacity. As to the quality, the Žatec site showed itself as generally most suitable, and the Jaroměřice site as the least suitable one. Climate conditions showed a statistically significant effect (LSD, 95%) on grain yield and all quality parameters, beside the percentage of complete grains and swelling capacity of gluten and falling number, which were insignificant. The most favourable weather conditions, a lot of precipitation and high temperature in the course of ripening from three years were proved in the year 2000. Among the varieties were statistically significant differences (LSD, 95%) in grain yield and these parameters of quality: test volume mass, thousand grain weight, ash content, percentage of complete grains, sedimentation test, protein content, reologic properties of dough and baking tests. From the six varieties the best profits were shown from variety Sulamit (loaf volume 595 ml/100 g of flour), the worst was Semper (loaf volume 543 ml/100 g of flour) and Vlasta (loaf volume 532 ml/100 g of flour). The best grain yield was in 2001 (average of sites 8.84 t/ha) and the variety Semper had the highest grain yield of 9.17 t/ha, that is higher at 13.41% compared with Sulamit (7.94 t/ha).

In the market economy, agriculture ranks among the important political and economic issues. Risks associated with agricultural activity can be catastrophic. For farmers and farms, damages resulting from materialized risks represent significant and existence-threatening problems. For the state, damages in agriculture can endanger the food supply chain, cause fluctuation in employment or jeopardize the state's foreign-policy position due to lack of self-sufficiency. This is why it is necessary to discuss the methods and ways to deal with the problem, to eliminate agricultural risks or to minimize their occurrence and materialization. One of the possible ways is insurance. With regard to these facts, the author attempts to make an analysis of the possible ways to eliminate risks that endanger agricultural production and, according to this analysis, to describe the basic approaches to minimizing or eliminating the materialization of risks associated with agricultural activity. Subsequently, the author focuses on agricultural insurance systems in the countries of the European Union, and on the present-day situation in the field of agricultural insurance in the Czech Republic.

The causal agent of the chestnut blight, the fungus Cryphonectria parasitica (Murrill) M. E. Barr (syn. Endothia parasitica (Murrill) P. J. Anderson et H. W. Anderson), was found out at new localities in the Czech Republic. The chestnut blight was observed for the first time in the Czech Republic in 2002. Two new localities were discovered in southern Moravia in May and June 2004. The disease was identified both on the sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) and on the red oak (Quercus rubraL.). Infected trees were treated according to the order of the State Phytosanitary Administration of the Czech Republic.

Campylobacter species, in particular C. jejuni and C. coli, cause infections which vary in symptoms, ranging from asymptomatic to severe chronic illness. The only ISO method for the detection of Campylobacter spp. until now has been the cultivation by selective enrichment and distinct conditions of growth taking several days to complete. We compared the Singlepath^® Campylobacter test which involved 24 h of enrichment in Bolton broth, with PCR-based identification. Chicken meat salad with mayonnaise was spiked with C. jejuni and C. coli and the detection limit was determined. PCR provided the same detection limit of 10² CFU/ml for both strains. The immunotest Singlepath^® was positive with C. jejuni only, the quantity of cells being 10³ CFU/ml. C. coli was undetectable by Singlepath^®, even the concentration of 10⁵ did not reveal a positive reaction.

New methods covered in this contribution describe the behavior of modeling algorithms that can be added to the parts and their assembly in the input data dependents. These input conditions could be of various types - dimensions, forces, moments, temperature and friction. The method includes the setting of requirements, combination of requirements, test of feasibility and test of sensibility. For consideration of user defined conditions of geometric and mass optimization can be made. Behavior modeling is a new programming product, which can stay as a part of CAD systems.

Using seven experimental approaches, we attempted to solve the question of possible participation of colicinogeny and colicin-sensitivity in the pathology of the post-weaning diarrhoeic enteritis of piglets. In our research, both enterotoxic E. coli strains (ETEC) and normal, commensal E. coli strains in the intestinal microflora of 803 weaned piglets were followed. In diarrhoeic piglets, colicinogeny was more frequent in the ETEC strains than in the simultaneously isolated commensal ones. ETEC strains were largely insensitive to the most frequently appearing colicin types and the inhibitive effect of their colicins on commensal E. coli was less likely than the opposite (inhibition of ETEC strains by colicins of the commensal ones). Bolstering the diet of healthy piglets with a mixture of symbiotic colicinogenic strains and colicin-sensitive ETEC strains could not prevent diarrhoeic enteritis due to established dominance of ETEC. In all parts of the intestinal tract during the post-weaning diarrhoea (PWD), mostly non-colicinogenic strains of the commensal flora survived. In six serotypes of ETEC strains, the frequency of colicinogenic strains ranged from 7% (in the serotype O139) to 66% (in serotype O141). From 9 frequent colicin types, colicin V (mainly against the serotypes O8 and O147), E2 (against O139 and O8), D (mainly against O8) and E3 (mainly against O138) met most sensitive strains among ETEC. Hence, colicinogeny was no pathogenetic factor of PWD. Nevertheless, colicinogenic commensal strains gradually regained dominance during the decline phase of the disease in surviving piglets.

One hundred and twenty captive chukars (Alectoris chukar) and other hosts from a pheasant farm in Jinacovice (Czech Republic) were searched for chewing lice from July 2003 to April 2004. Seven species of chewing lice were found on chukars: Amyrsidea perdicis, Menacanthus pallidulus, Menopon gallinae (Amblycera); Goniodes colchici, Lipeurus maculosus, Goniocotes microthorax and Cuclotogaster heterographus (Ischnocera). Except for the last two mentioned species, the other five louse species are recorded for the first time on chukars. The prevalence, mean intensity of infestation and mean abundance of the lice from chukars were recorded. The species diversity and distribution of chewing lice from another eight species of gallinaceous birds kept in the pheasant farm were also recorded.

An episode of mortality in waterbirds occurred on a sedimentation reservoir with effluents from the sugar beet processing plant at Hrusovany n.J. (South Moravia, Czech Republic) in summer 2003: tens of black-headed gulls (Larus ridibundus), several lapwings (Vanellus vanellus), one little ringed plover (Charadrius dubius), one ruff (Philomachus pugnax), one wood sandpiper (Tringa glareola), and two avocets (Recurvirostra avosetta) died. One of the two avocets and the plover, local breeders, were examined and found positive for Clostridium botulinum type C toxin by use of the toxin-neutralization test. Avocet is classified as a rare bird species according to Red Book data and is listed as critically endangered species in theCzechRepublic, and is therefore protected. Avian botulism can occasionally cause deleterious effects to waterbird fauna and its protection.

The covariance structure was estimated by REML for a joint genetic evaluation of production and reproduction traits for Czech Landrace (58 258 records) and Czech Large White (167 161 records) pigs using four-trait animal models. The following traits were analysed: lean mean percentage at the end of the performance test in the field, estimated from ultrasonic measurements unadjusted for live weight (LM), average daily gain in field test (in g/day) calculated as weight at the end of the test divided by age at the end of the test (ADG), number of piglets born alive in parity 1 (NBA1) and number of piglets born alive in parity 2 and subsequent parities (NBA2+). The heritabilities were in the range from 0.30 to 0.37 for LM, from 0.13 to 0.18 for ADG, from 0.09 to 0.13 for NBA1 and from 0.10 to 0.14 for NBA2+, depending on the breed and on the model (herd-year-season random or fixed). Genetic correlations between production and reproduction traits were estimated to be non-zero. Correlations between traits caused by the herd-year-season effect were mostly positive. As a general conclusion, the joint genetic evaluation of production and reproduction traits is recommended. The herd-year-season effect should be preferably considered as random.

In Central Slovenia within a long term static experiment IOSDV we investigated the impact of mineral nitrogen (N) fertilisation (0, 65, 130, 195 kg/ha) on the N content and the N amount in winter wheat (larger roots, stems, spikes and leaves) in EC 81/82 and EC 90/91, employing three systems of management: farmyard manure ploughing in before forecrop maize, straw ploughing in and green manure, no organic fertilisation. At EC 81/82 the N content in larger roots was around twice as high as the N content in stems and around twice as low as the N content in spikes and leaves. There was 80% of the whole N amount in plant located in the spikes and leaves (33-168 kg/ha) in EC 81/82 and 90% in EC 90/91. Calculated N recovery from mineral fertiliser was 68-87%; it increased with the increasing N rates in the system with farmyard manure ploughing in and in the system with no organic fertilisation, but not in the system with straw ploughing in and green manure. Between EC 81/82 and EC 90/91 wheat gained from 4 to 34 kg N/ha, but there were more important translocations of N inside the plants, which were higher at higher mineral N rates. There was a significant impact of management system on the N uptake at the highest mineral N rate.

The ownership of land has always been the important precondition for lasting socio-economic situation and the development of the country. Despite that, there is a process of learning going on in practically all the new member countries, which are still learning that productive ability of the agriculture depends in a big degree on the stability of ownership of land and its tranquil farming. Despite many fundamental and substantial differences, we can say that hitherto development in land law was tremendous. But it also follows that significant social and economic divergences have not made full liberalisation of the land market possible without "yes, but".

Observations of the beech assimilatory apparatus in different levels of a model tree were realised from 1993 to 1999 in a research demonstration plot situated in Poľana. Different observations of the natural ecosystem condition were carried out. A model beech tree was chosen and marked as No. 228 for the above-mentioned analyses. The different ecophysiological and morphological characteristics of beech leaves were analysed in three (or two) tree crown levels. The results confirmed significant differences in these characteristics in dependence on three crown levels of mature beech tree. The differences in the mentioned characteristics were also shown in the course of particular years of research. In this paper we have presented the results of analysed beech leaves, their average maximum length, width, their average area, thickness, chlorophyll fluorescence during the research period.

Expansion and invasion of plants indicate successful colonization and competitive abilities of species. There are fewer invasive and expansive woody plants than herbs. Main expansive (native species) trees and shrubs are Acer platanoides, Acer pseudoplatanus, Clematis vitalba, Crataegus sp. div., Fraxinus excelsior, Prunus spinosa, Rubus sp. div., Sambucus nigra. Main invasive (alien species) are Acer negundo, Ailanthus altissima, Amorpha fruticosa, Cytisus scoparius, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Lycium barbarum, Mahonia aquifolium, Physocarpus opulifolius, Pinus strobus, Populus × canadensis, Prunus serotina, Quercus rubra, Rhus typhina, Robinia pseudoacacia, Symphoricarpos albus, Syringa vulgaris. Dominant characteristics of expansive and invasive species are dispersibility of seeds and capacity of vegetative propagation.

Interference in PCR and transcription amplifications by mixed virus templates is described. The yields of PCR amplification of closely related PVY isolates in a mixture were lower than those of the separate amplification of each individual virus strain, i.e. the two virus templates mutually interfered in their amplification process. When PCR products of mixed PVY isolates served as templates for transcription, RNA synthesis was also inhibited. This interference could be avoided by applying strain-specific primers in the separate amplification of each target sequence in the mixture. The use of strain-specific primers in PCR amplification of a mixed virus infection thus enabled detection of each virus isolate without interference.

Routine access to the bovine oviduct for in vivo culture accomplishes various demands on embryo production for scientific as well as commercial purposes. The experiments conducted in the present study focused on the efficiency of recovery methods after temporary in vivo culture of bovine embryos in oviducts of the homologous species using transvaginal endoscopy (Experiment I) and on the quality assessment of recovered blastocysts (Experiment II). In Experiment I in vitro matured oocytes were fertilized, cultured for 1 to 3 days and transferred unilaterally into the ipsilateral oviducts of 54 heifers by the means of transvaginal endoscopy. After 4 to 6 days of in vivo culture embryos were re-collected either by non-surgical flushing of uterine horns (U-group) or by combined flushing of the oviducts and uterine horns (OU-group). In total the recovery rate was 38.4% (780/2029). After flushing at day seven, 106 blastocysts (blastocyst rate: 13.6% ) were found. The additional 24 h of in vitro culture (day eight) resulted in 153 blastocysts (blastocyst rate: 19.6% ). The recovery rate in the OU-group was twice as efficient as in the U-group (390/1358 vs. 390/671, P < 0.01). The recovery rates among the different stages of transferred embryos did not differ significantly; likewise cross-effects among the stages and the recovery methods were non-significant. The recovery methods (P < 0.001) and the interaction between the recovery methods and the stages of transferred embryos (P < 0.01) had an influence on blastocyst yields on day seven (U-group 37/1358 vs. OU-group 69/671) and day eight (U-group 48/1358 vs. OU-group 105/671). In Experiment II embryo quality was assessed by the survival rate of blastocysts after freezing in ethylene glycol. Day seven embryos were produced in vitro (in vitro group D7) or by IVM/IVF followed by a combined culture procedure (2 to 3 days in vitro prior to 4 to 5 days in vivo) (in vivo group D7) or after superovulation and collection at day seven (superovulation group). Embryos from in vitro group D7 re-expanded only for 6 h after thawing, embryos from in vivo group D7 and superovulation group were alive for 24 h and 72 h of culture, respectively. Only embryos derived by superovulation showed hatching activity. Blastocysts from the in vitro group D7 and the in vivo group D7 that were held in culture medium for additional 24 h (day eight) showed an analogous post-thawing culture behaviour. In conclusion, the results of the present study demonstrated that some embryos transferred for in vivo culture remain in the oviduct even at day seven. Hence, combined flushing of oviducts and uterine horns after in vivo culture in the bovine oviduct is necessary for effective embryo re-collection. The quality of recovered embryos after temporary in vivo culture assessed by cryotolerance was in-between those produced in vitro or recovered after superovulation.

The present study was designed to determine the effects of dietary heavy metal intake on malondialdehyde levels (MDA, product of cellular lipid peroxidation) in the tissues of gastrointestinal tract, kidneys and liver of sheep. The experiment was carried out on twelve female sheep of mixed breed, weighing from 30 to 35 kg, one year old. The first group of sheep was bred in the conditions of laboratory farm. They had free access to hay and 300 g of barley per sheep was added daily. The second group grazed on a natural pasture in the environs of a factory processing copper ore. The second group of sheep had significantly higher concentrations of copper and cadmium in the tissues of rumen wall, duodenum, colon wall, liver and kidneys. The concentration of lead was significantly higher in the rumen wall, colon, liver and kidneys, but no differences were found in duodenum. The concentration of mercury was significantly higher only in the kidney tissue, but no differences were found in rumen wall, duodenum, colon wall and liver. The concentration of malondialdehyde was found significantly higher in reticulum epithelium, omasum, duodenum and colon. The significantly higher concentration of MDA was measured in colon wall and kidney medulla. The highest concentration of MDA was found in liver. Our results confirm that lipid peroxidation is one of the molecular mechanisms of cell injury in chronic heavy metal poisoning. The epithelium of the gastrointestinal tract of sheep is more sensitive to the oxidative damage induced by dietary heavy metal intake.

A total of 36 samples of feed - 19 samples of hays and 17 samples of silages were used for estimation of in vivo and in vitro digestibility. The organic matter digestibility (OMD) was estimated by in vivo and two in vitro techniques (method of Tilley and Terry and two-stage pepsin-cellulase method (Pepcel)). The regression equations were calculated from the results obtained in the experiment. Tilley and Terry method provided consistent results of OMD estimation for both the groups of roughages: in vivo OMD = 14.7 + 0.782 × [Tilley and Terry] (n = 18; R² = 0.76); in vivo OMD = 36.3 + 0.513 × [Tilley and Terry] (n = 16; R² = 0.75) for hays and silages, respectively. Different accuracy was found out in Pepcel method: in vivo OMD = 37.0 + 0.478 × [Pepcel] (n = 19; R² = 0.49); in vivo OMD = 37.8 + 0.484 × [Pepcel] (n = 17; R² = 0.87) for hays and silages, respectively.

An in sacco technique was used to measure NDF degradability and release of Mg, Ca, Zn, Cu, Fe from six forages - lucerne hay from the 1^st cut (LH₁), from the 2^nd cut (LH₂), orchard grass (G), grass silage (GS), red clover silage treated with Feedtech (CS_FT) and/or with Kofasil (CS_KO). The forages differed in the content of NDF and minerals. There were large differences (P < 0.01) in element release in the rumen between experimental forages and the particular elements. The rate of release of elements was higher from LH_1, LH_2, CS_FT,CS_KO than from G and GS. The release of individual elements and NDF over all incubation times is very well expressed by cubic polynomials (R²> 0.9). Overall, across forages the release of mineral elements ranked as follows: Mg > Fe > Cu > Ca > Zn. The minimum and maximum disappeared portions of individual minerals from forages are as follows: Mg 74.7% from G and > 91.5% from LH₁, Fe 29.7% from G and 99.9% from LH₁ and LH_2, Cu 64.3% from G and 99.8% from LH₁ and LH₂, Ca 28.4% from G and 75.4% from CS_FT, Zn 12.0% from G and 38.2% from LH₁, respectively. Calcium and zinc need a longer time for their maximum release. It can be concluded from the results of multiple regression analyses that only the Mg and Ca release is associated depending on NDF and time of observations, with a highly significant influence of forage on Zn and Cu.

The Czech agricultural policy after the EU accession is the set of both the EU and national measures related to the Czech agro-food sector. The paper defines possible scenarios of the agricultural policy developments in 2004-2013 and presents expected impacts of the policy scenarios on the Czech farm structure and land usage.

The yield, cluster drop and nut traits of the hazelnut cultivars Tombul, Palaz and Çakildak in Turkey were examined during 2001-2002. The cluster drop ranged from 7.5 to 17.0%. The highest yield per shrub with 2,930 g in 2001 and 3,190 g in 2002 was found in cultivar Tombul. This cultivar was also better in terms of the studied fruit traits compared with the other cultivars. In this cultivar (in 2001 and 2002), nut numbers per cluster were 3.87 and 3.46, nut weights were 1.53 and 1.70 g, kernel weights 0.93 and 0.99 g, and kernel proportions were 50.9 and 53.8%.

In the past ten years, meat and meat products consumption has changed dramatically. It has been caused by price and non-price factors. This article gives a brief recapitulation of the development of the consumption of meat and meat products and identifies the key factors which, in the past ten years, have had a major impact on this development. This article presents results of the secondary data analysis and the results of an inquiry into meat and meat products consumer behaviour carried out in the late 2004.

The paper evaluates the growth, structure, production, quality, leaf area index and dendrochronology of 100 years old Austrian pine (Pinus nigra ARNOLD) monoculture situated in the forest type group Fageto-Quercetum in the locality Horné Lefantovce (Nitrianska Streda Forest District, Topoľčianky Forest Enterprise). Codominant trees, trees with stem of high quality, with medium-sized crown, medium dense and straight crown are the most abundant in the stand. The tree number in the stand is 1,024 trees/ha, basal area 51.75 m2/ha, growing stock 571.56 m3/ha, aboveground biomass stock 348.76 t/ha and leaf area index 21.85 ha/ha. Dendrochronological analyses examined the response in individual sample trees and minimum annual ring width was found in 1920, 1922, 1925, 1929, 1933, 1938, 1944, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1952, 1954, 1963, 1968, 1976, 1982, 1990, 1993, 1998, 2001. Marked maximum values of annual ring width in the years 1919, 1923, 1926, 1930, 1936, 1937, 1941, 1948, 1951, 1955, 1959, 1966, 1972, 1975, 1980, 1985, 1997 were found as a positive productive feature. Beginning in the year 1993, dry Austrian pine trees occurred in the stand as a result of the fungal infection by Sphaeropsis sapinea (Fr.) Dyko et Sutton.

Phyllactinia corni, a powdery mildew on Cornus mas, is reported for the first time from Slovakia. The conidial state and mature cleistothecia found at two locations in Slovakia are described and illustrated.