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The study concerned the determination of nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions under conventional and reduced tillage conditions. In the reduced cultivation, a soil cultivating seed drill was used for simultaneous sowing of seeds and subsurface application of fertilizer. The emission levels of the gas tested were dependent on the year of the study and the method of soil tillage, and were subject to considerable changes during the growing season. The use of reduced soil tillage significantly limited emissions of the analysed gas into the atmosphere. Depending on the year of the study, N₂O emission in the reduced tillage system was from 15% to 40% lower than in the conventional system. Low levels of easily mineralized components in soil could have been the cause of the reduction in N₂O emissions to the atmosphere.

Diphallia or penile duplication is a rare congenital abnormality thought to result from duplication of the cloacal membrane in the early developmental stages in the uterus. The present case concerned a 4-year old intact male German shepherd dog. The patient presented with a complaint of paraphimosis. Clinical, laboratory, radiological and ultrasonographic examinations were carried out. Semen samples collected prior to surgery were examined. Following amputation, the penis with paraphimosis was sent for histopathological investigation. Karyotype analysis of the patient was also performed. As well as the first report of this abnormality in Turkey, this case report represents the first report of this condition in a German shepherd dog.

The efficiency of microbial transglutaminase (MTG) obtained from Streptoverticillum ladakanaum fermentation of sorghum grain and DDGS hydrolysates (HMTG) in increasing the mechanical properties of restructured meat and fish products was evaluated in this study. Gels were obtained by adding HMTG or commercial MTG at 0.3 U/g, and controls lacked enzyme. All treatments were supplemented with 2.0% NaCl. The gels with enzyme showed a lower amount of expressible water, similar to those obtained with CMTG (6% for fish gels and 8% for beef gels). Texture values were also similar. The results showed the feasibility of employing MTG obtained from sorghum hydrolysates.

In the past decade, next-generation sequencing (NGS) platforms have changed the impact of sequencing on our knowledge of crop genomes and gene regulation. These techniques are today acquiring a great potential in metagenomic and agrigenomic research while showing prospects for their utilization in plant breeding. We can now obtain new and beneficial information about gene regulation on the cellular as well as whole-plant level through RNA-sequencing and subsequent expression analyses of genes participating in plant defence reactions to pathogens and in abiotic stress tolerance. NGS has facilitated the development of methods to genotype very large numbers of single-nucleotide polymorphisms. Genotyping- by-sequencing and whole-genome resequencing can lead to the development of molecular markers suited to studies of genetic relationships among breeding materials, creation of detailed genetic mapping of targeted genes and genome-wide association studies. Plant genotyping can benefit plant breeding through selection of individuals resistant to climatic stress and to pathogens causing substantial losses in agriculture.

The possibility of reduce the length of poppy plants and their risk of lodging by applying selected plant growth regulators and effects on the plant and yield were studied in field experiments during 2010-2012. Statistically significant reduction was achieved only with ethephon (576 g a.i./ha) in all experimental years. In 2010 reduction for metconazole (60 g a.i./ha) was recorded. In 2012, ethephon at rates of 576 and 288 g a.i./ha prevented significantly poppy lodging. The 576 g a.i./ha rate was phytotoxic and decreased yield. The commonly used 576 g a.i./ha rate diminished heights by 16-20 cm in all experimental years and significantly reduced lodging in 2012, but decreased yields in two of the 3 years.

Humic acid urea fertilizer (HA-N) is a new type of slow-release nitrogenous fertilizer that can enhance utilization rate of urea, and consequently increases crop yield. However, there were few researches about the effect of HA-N on the nitrogen absorption and utilization in sweet potato production. Hence, the effect of HA-N on nitrogen accumulation and distribution, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), and yield of sweet potato was studied in the field using the ¹⁵N tracer technique. Results showed that HA-N significantly increased the number of storage roots per plant and the average fresh weight per storage root, as well as the yield increased by 29.6% compared with urea fertilizer. Furthermore, nitrogen accumulation of total plant was higher under the HA-N. In addition, HA-N significantly increased nitrogen production efficiency of fertilizer and nitrogen production efficiency. Results of a ¹⁵N tracer experiment revealed that the percentage of nitrogen absorbed by plant from fertilizer increased from 31.1% to 38.7% and NUE increased from 33.5% to 44.8% with application of HA-N when compared with single N treatment, respectively. HA-N significantly increased sweet potato storage root yield, nitrogen absorption and NUE, as well as it reduced the loss of nitrogen fertilizer.

Propolis is a popular subject of research worldwide due to its therapeutic potential. The antimicrobial activity of propolis appears to be promising but depends on many variables related to its origin such as the content of phenolics and flavonoids. To address this issue with Croatian propolis, which has two major origins (Mediterranean and continental), we exposed bacteria (Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus) and yeasts (Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger) to different propolis concentrations (two-fold microdilution method with TCC/formazan endpoint). Total phenolic and flavonoid content and chromatographic profile along with antioxidant activity were assessed. The majority of the 24 propolis samples tested exhibited potent antimicrobial activity against S. aureus bacteria and the yeast C. albicans. Most propolis samples also exhibited robust antioxidative capacity which correlated polyphenol and flavonoid content. To the best of our knowledge this is the first study in which the antimicrobial activity of Croatian propolis is correlated with its constituents.

Key scale insects that have long been considered as having high economic importance in Tunisia and for which several research studies and pest management programs have been undertaken include the mealybug species Planococcus ficus (Signoret) and Planococcus citri Risso, the soft scale Saissetia oleae (Olivier) and the armoured scale Parlatoria ziziphi (Lucas). The host plants, bio-ecological aspects, auxiliary fauna of each of the aforementioned species as well as the related economic losses and pest management strategies adopted are explored and discussed. Among these species, P. ficus is considered herein as the most economically important in Tunisia. Still, the present contribution constitutes the first review article on key scale insects infesting plants in the South Mediterranean Maghreb area.

During 2014-2016, damage by the oriental chestnut gall wasp Dryocosmus kuriphilus Yasumatsu (Hymenoptera, Cynipidae) was found on sweet chestnut trees at 4 localities in Slovakia. Dryocosmus kuriphilus is a specific plant pest on Castanea spp. In Europe it is considered as the most harmful insect pest on Castanea sativa. It is the first report of the oriental chestnut gall wasp occurrence on chestnut trees in Slovakia.

The paper presents the results of a laboratory experiment aimed at the assessment of N₂O emissions, NO₃^-, NH₄⁺ and carbon (C) leaching from agricultural soils subjected to long-term mineral and organic fertilization. Our results show that long-term treatment impacts the N₂O emissions from loamy-sand Luvisols to a greater extent than the recent single application of mineral or organic fertilizers. The N₂O fluxes from soils with higher C_org content that results from long-term organic fertilization exceed those from soils with lower C_org content subsequent to long-term mineral fertilization. Our research confirms previous reports that the intensity of N₂O emission is related to soil moisture. The NO₃^- leaching depended on the recent application of fertilizers with a stronger influence of single application of NH₄NO₃ than farmyard manure. Long-term fertilization did not impact the NO₃^- leaching.

Soils harbour enormously diverse bacterial communities that interact specifically with plants generating beneficial interactions between them. This study was the first approach to assess bacterial communities before sowing with three cotton genotypes, including both transgenic and conventional ones. The structure of bacterial communities was identified using the next generation sequencing analysis, ion torrent PGM (Personal Genome Machine™) sequencer technology, based on the V2-V3 16S rRNA gene region. Quantitative insights into microbial ecology pipeline were used to identify the structure and diversity of bacterial communities in bulk soil samples collected in the northeast of Mexico. Bulk soil textures and chemical properties, including most nutrients, were homogeneous in these bulk soil samples. Relative abundance analysis showed similar bacterial community structures. Dominant taxonomic phyla were Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, Gemmatimonadetes and Bacteroidetes, whereas the main families were Bacillaceae, Chitinophagaceae and Rhodospirillaceae with an abundance average of BS1 (bulk soil sample), BS2 and BS3 (24.85, 19.74 and 19.71%, respectively). Alpha diversity analysis showed a high diversity (Shannon and Simpson index) and a large value of the observed species found in bulk soils samples. These results allowed establishing the previous bacterial structural community in an unused soil before sowing it with a transgenic crop for the first time.

The efficacy of a brief exposure (1, 7, and 10 days) to a nitrogen-controlled atmosphere (N-CA) for major storagepests in a field validation study in the Czech Republic is reported. The main goal was to estimate how quickly themobile adult stages of six species of storage beetles (Oryzaephilus surinamensis, Cryptolestes ferrugineus, Triboliumconfusum, Tribolium castaneum, Sitophilus granarius, and Sitophilus oryzae) are killed after introduction of theinfested commodity to prevent their further spread to the surrounding storage bins. The trials were conducted in ametal bin containing 25 t of seeds using the system of continual top-down nitrogen filling to replace the oxygen. Thecomposition of N-CA in the silo was measured continually. The target N-CA concentration (i.e., ≤ 1% O₂ and 99% N₂)was reached at the bottom of the silo after 12 h of the purging phase of nitrogen silo filling. A one-day exposure toN-CA corresponds to top-down filling, which initially gives higher concentrations of N2 in the upper than in the lowerpart of the silo: low efficacy was reached at the silo bottom (0-33.3%), while higher efficacy (16.7-100%) was reachedat the top of the silo bin. The mortality variation at both locations was species dependent: the most sensitive was O.surinamensis, and the least sensitive were S. granarius and S. oryzae. Seven days of N-CA exposure led to 100% mortalityof all tested species except for S. granarius (96.7% mortality at the bottom), while 10 days of N-CA exposure ledto 100% mortality of all adults located at both the bottom and the top of the silo. This experiment showed that oneday of exposure to N-CA caused significant mortality to reduce the spread of insects from the top of the silo but notfrom the silo bottom, and 10 days of exposure completely prevent the adult mobile pest stages of all tested speciesfrom spreading from the treated silo and causing cross-infestation in the storage facility.

Three moss (Pleurosium spp., Polytrichum spp., Rhytidiadelphus spp.) and two lichen taxa (Hypogymnia physodes L., Pseudevernia furfuracea L.), were exposed for four weeks in six petrol stations, two consecutive years (2015-2016), in urban area of the Prešov city (Slovakia), to assess accumulation of selected airborne elements Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn. Significantly highest (P < 0.01) ability to accumulate Zn, Ni, Co and Fe was found in Pleurosium spp.; Pseudevernia furfuracea was determined the best accumulator of Hg, whereas Rhytidiadelphus spp. was found as the least suitable for this purpose. No significant differences in heavy metal accumulation between moss and lichen taxonomic group were found. Samples of conifer (used as a moss/lichen bag holder) showed significantly lower content of heavy metals compared to mosses and lichens. Major content of heavy metals trapped in the air around petrol stations, did not originate from the petrol combustion, but predominantly from the car body, which is mechanically disrupted during fuelling.

This study investigated changes in stem and spike characteristics resulting from breeding in Iranian wheat cultivars, and their relationship with grain yield. Eighty-one wheat cultivars released between 1930 and 2006 were examined under well-watered (WW) and terminal drought stress (DS) conditions in Karaj during 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 and under WW condition at Parsabad in Moghan region during 2010-2011. A genetic improvement over time in stem specific weight (SSW) along with significant positive correlations between this trait and grain yield were found at Karaj under DS conditions and at Parsabad, suggesting that SSW could be used as an indirect selection criterion for yield in these environments. Time-dependent changes in spike dry weight showed that the magnitude of partitioned photoassimilates to the spike during the phase anthesis - 16 days after anthesis (16 DAA) was not changed by breeding. However, during the 16 DAA ‒ maturity phase, modern cultivars had more photoassimilates allocated to the spike than the old ones. This suggests that the sink is more limited during early grain growth than during the end of grain filling.

Severe symptoms of root rot on sugar beet have been observed in Poland and Germany since 2001. The symptom classification suggested girth scab as it was mistakenly classified on the basis of current classification, e.g. in LIZ. However, the cause of the disease was Aphanomyces cochlioides infection, not Streptomyces spp. According to these findings we cannot call the symptoms caused by A. cochlioides as 'girth scab'. The typical scab (girth scab) symptoms can be promoted by A. cochlioides infections. In many cases, A. cochlioides developed at the beginning of the season, during the seedling stage. Its further development was due to rainfall and was not routinely recognised in disease-changed tissues if in the middle of the summer the rainfall level was reduced. According to the described findings, renewed description and differentiation of the girth scab symptoms caused by Streptomyces spp. and root rot caused by A. cochlioides on sugar beet roots are suggested. Typical symptoms of the disease caused by A. cochlioides occur mainly on the upper part of the root but can also occur on its lower part, if weather conditions are favourable for the pathogen. The coexistence of A. cochlioides and Pythium spp. in the same niches is also possible. Currently the illustrations showing these symptoms are included in the 'girth scab' descriptions.

In this study, a simulation experiment by farm warming with infrared ray radiator was carried out, and results showed that the broad bean (Vicia faba L.) growing days were shortened by increased temperature. The seedling, ramifying, budding, blooming, podding, and maturing stages were shortened by 1-4, 1-2, 1, 2-3, 1-2, and 2-4 days, respectively, and the whole growing period was shortened by 7-16 days when the temperature increased by 0.5-2.0°C. The broad bean yield increased by 10.1-16.6% when the temperature increased by 0.5-1.0°C, and significantly decreased by 38.1-90.1% when the temperature increased by 1.5-2.0°C. Increased temperature significantly improved the fat, carbohydrate, ash and energy contents.

This paper is part of a broader study which aims to investigate the success factors of agricultural enterprises. It attempts to present the partial results of a questionnaire survey whose goal was to determine the quality of HRM (Human Resource Management) departments in basic agricultural enterprises. Studies focusing on the HRM of basic agricultural enterprises have been published in many countries. In the Slovak Republic, experts and academics from the Slovak University of Technology in Nitra, and the Slovak Research Institute of Agricultural and Food Economics have arrived at perceptive conclusions on the current state of human capital in the agri-food sector and have proposed innovative directions for further development. Surprisingly, however, academia still fails to perceive HR management as a partner in an enterprise, rather than simply a service unit in the organisational structure of the agricultural enterprise. Therefore, an in-depth analysis of the role of HRM departments is missing and this paper aims to fill that gap. The methodology of research is based on Ulrich's model of the mixed roles of HR departments (2009), which is used as a framework to determine the quality levels of role performance, defined by the model, of HRM departments. The survey sample consists of 70 basic agricultural enterprises.

The purpose of this investigation was the identification of chicken, beef and sheep meat in pork sausages using PCR-RFLP and PCR with pecies-specific primers. Six dry fermented pork sausages were produced by adding beef, sheep and chicken meat to each in the amount of 1 and 5%. DNA was extracted from five regions of each sausage and PCR-RFLP together with PCR using species-specific primers was performed. PCR-RFLP analysis was successful only for chicken meat, while species-specific PCR was effective for identification of chicken, eef and sheep meat in all ratios and from all regions of the sausages. The results of our study show that discovering adulteration using PCR-RFLP is suitable only for chicken meat in the investigated products, while for detection of beef and sheep meat use of species-specific oligonucleotides is more effective.

The different materials and methods used to develop biopesticides with entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) still limit the quality of the final product, reducing field efficacy and complicating application strategies. Therefore, the objective of this review is to identify priority areas to improve the EPN formulation process based on the scientific and technological research developed so far. The results show great progress in the EPN survival time, from 7 days to 180 days, through two types of formulations: water dispersible granules and calcium alginate capsules. Also, EPNs formulated and applied as insect cadavers showed higher efficacy for the pest control than the EPNs applied in an aqueous solution. We consider that the priority areas of research are: automated massive formulation and exploration of new additives with better properties that may lead to increase the infectivity in the field. It is concluded that the study of these aspects requires a systemic approach with greater involvement of the invertebrate physiology and systems modelling disciplines.

Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) allows efficient biological confinement of transgenes if pollen-mediated gene flow has to be reduced or eliminated. For introduction of CMS maize in agricultural practice, sufficient yields comparable with conventional systems should be achieved. The plus-cultivar-system in maize offers a possibility for biological confinement together with high and stable yields whereas pollinator amount and distribution within the CMS crop is crucial. The aim of this EU-funded study was to identify the best proportion (10, 15, and 20%) and spatial arrangement (inserted rows, mixed seeds) of the pollinator within the CMS maize cultivar under field conditions in the Czech Republic, in Germany and in Spain. In Germany and in the Czech Republic, a pollinator proportion of 10% produced significantly lower yield than the treatments with a pollinator proportion of 15% and 20%. Differences in yield between row and mix arrangements were not detected. No differences between the tested arrangements occurred in Spain. With respect to practical conditions, a pollinator proportion of 15% can be recommended for achieving a satisfactory yield. CMS maize cultivar released no or merely a small amount of pollen and self-pollinated plants developed no or only a small number of kernels indicating that currently recommended isolation distances between genetically modified (GM) and non-GM fields can be substantially shortened if the CMS confinement tool is used.

Biochar has been studied extensively in terms of its influence on soil hydrophysical properties, but only small part of results was obtained from the field experiments. In this study, the soil water content was measured in 5-10 cm depth at experimental plots which received 20 t/ha and 0 t/ha (control) of biochar amendment at the Malanta area (Slovakia). The experimental area was cultivated with maize in 2015 and spring wheat in 2016. Our field measurements show that the positive effect of biochar amendment (20 t/ha) on soil water content is strongly related to the type of the crop grown and not straightforward. Unexpectedly, during the monitoring campaign in 2015 the soil water content of the biochar-amended soil was lower than control. In 2016, negligible differences were observed in soil water contents at both experimental plots, especially during the dry spells. However, higher soil water content was measured at the plot with biochar amendment after the series of precipitation events during the physiological maturity of the spring wheat. Moreover, the biochar amendment did not increase the biomass production and yields of maize in 2015, but it significantly increased the biomass production and yields of spring wheat in 2016.

The specificity of the agricultural sector (seasonality, the methods of obtaining human resources and so on) affects the situation in the labour market. The demand of agriculture companies for qualified workers is relatively high; unfortunately, people still prefer to work in the related or other fields where they have more suitable work conditions related. Building the brand of the employer, improving the awareness of the public and increasing the loyalty of the present employees can raise the offer of vacancies and obtain new qualified employees. The aim of the paper is to identify the benefits of human resource branding in businesses arising therefrom. A partial aim is to identify the present key managerial challenges of agriculture businesses. In the work, the data collected from a questionnaire survey (n = 108) were used together with the information from the Czech Statistical Office, in the opinion of which the labour market in the agricultural sector does not exhibit a positive trend. As a part of the evaluation, a factor analysis was carried out identifying three categories of benefits (the stabilisation of workers, organisational processes, and other benefits) crucial for the employer branding in agriculture.

The first record of vanda thrips (Dichromothrips corbetti [Priesner, 1936], Thysanoptera, Thripidae) in Slovakia is presented. An economically important pest with heavy infestations on flowers of Phalaenopsis orchids was recorded as introduced most probably from North African plantations. Potential infiltration of this exotic species into Central European glasshouses refers to the globalisation of trade in biological commodities.

In this research, laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) technique combined with back-propagation neural network (BPNN) was employed to analyse different nitrogen (N) fertilization levels in paddy rice. Leaf fluorescence characteristics (FLCs) were measured by using the LIF system built in our laboratory and exhibited different FLCs with different nitrogen fertilization levels. The correlation between fluorescence intensity ratios (F685/F460, F735/F460 and F735/F685) and the dose of N fertilization was established and analysed. Then, the BPNN algorithm was utilized to validate that the different N fertilization levels can be classified based on the three FLCs. The overall identification accuracies of 2014 and 2015 were 90% and 92.5%, respectively. Experimental results demonstrated that the three FLCs with the help of multivariate analysis can be served as a helpful tool in the evaluation of paddy rice N fertilization levels. Besides, this study can also provide guidance for the selection of LIF Lidar channels in the following research.

New requirements regarding agriculture production together with the increased pressure on environmentally friendly practices leave almost no space for the routine agriculture production. Innovations that include environmental changes are therefore essential. Agricultural research faces various challenges associated with the quality and effectiveness of agriculture production and recently also with the environmental and sustainability issues. The paper provides a case study focused on the environmental and social evaluation of a biological asset that constitutes an agricultural innovation. This paper also shows a concrete example of how the social and environmental reporting can be constructed and implemented by providing an evaluation of a Bumblebee Nest. As a result, the total value consisting of the market, ecosystem and aesthetic value is provided. Although the market value comprises the largest proportion of the total value, it does not exceed 64%.

In 2012-2015 the virulence of the wheat leaf rust (Puccinia triticina Eriks.) population was studied on Thatcher near-isogenic lines with Lr1, Lr2a, Lr2b, Lr2c, Lr3a, Lr9, Lr10, Lr11, Lr13, Lr15, Lr17, Lr19, Lr21, Lr23, Lr24, Lr26 and Lr28. Samples of leaf rust were obtained from different parts of the Czech Republic. A total of 163 wheat leaf rust isolates were analysed. No virulence for the resistance gene Lr9 was found. Virulence for Lr19 was found only in one isolate in 2015. A lower frequency of virulence to Lr24, Lr2a, 2b, 2c and Lr28 was also observed. The presence of Lr10, Lr24, Lr26, Lr28 and Lr37 in registered cultivars was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) molecular markers.

Vegetation restorations of degraded meadows have been widely implemented. The evaluation of soil nutrient changes as affected by degradation is vital for efficient restorations. However, while macronutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) have been widely investigated, sulfur (S) as one important element correlated tightly with other nutrients has not been thoroughly studied. Two studies were conducted to determine changes of sulfur as affected by degradation and elevation gradients. The results showed that available S (AS) changed non-linearly with elevation and the first principal component based on other soil nutrient variables. Soil AS depended on degradation levels and contributed substantially to the separation of meadows with different degradation levels. Moreover, AS responded stronger to changes in elevation gradients and degradation levels compared with other major nutrients. Thereby, AS could be an important nutrient responding to meadow disturbance, which should be considered in future studies on meadow soil nutrients cycling and vegetation restorations. The findings have implications for ecological restoration of degraded meadows with respect to soil nutrient management and conservations.

Research and development (R&D) represents a significant expenditure and investment into the future competitiveness of a given firm. The behavioural theory of the firm assumes that these expenditures are subject to changes caused by performance feedback. This paper builds upon these assumptions and extends them by considering the possible effect of national cultures on the nature of these responses to the performance feedback. The research follows 119 firms from nine countries over the period 2001-2015 and analyses their behaviour using generalized linear mixed models. The findings mostly support an effect of national cultures, measured by Hofstede's cultural dimensions, on changes in R&D expenditure and indicate that national culture is one of the factors which needs to be taken into account when utilizing the behavioural theory of the firm.

Carcass fat cover is used in many countries as a predictor of meat quality, although studies relating this parameter to sensor y quality of meat are scarce and are mainly based on acceptability or palatability evaluation. The samples of calf chops with three different degrees of carcass fat cover were analysed according to a specific method for sensor y quality assessment. A trained panel evaluated the samples and scored the sensor y quality related to odour, texture, flavour, and persistence. Samples with higher carcass fat cover presented significantly better scores for texture, flavour, and persistence, although not for odour. When calculating global sensor y quality by integrating the cited parameters, significant differences were found between the three fat cover groups. Texture, f lavour, and persistence were also correlated with fat cover and marbling degree. Specific sensor y characteristics (medium tenderness, slightly tough, rancid odour, cooked meat aroma, equal or higher than fat aroma, ver y low aroma intensity, dominance of fat aroma, obvious liver aroma and milky aroma) contributed to explaining the quality differences obser ved among the groups.

Sixty-two endophytic bacteria from the leaves, roots, and stems of healthy Lepidium perfoliatum L. were isolated and characterised. From the results, 89, 87, 90, and 97% isolates could tolerate 12% NaCl, 30% PEG 6000, 50°C and pH 10, respectively. 74% isolates could form a biofilm. Besides, 28 isolates could improve the germination rate of host seeds under different degree of drought stress. These data suggest that the endophyte isolates show considerable resistance to abiotic stress and assist their plant hosts to germinate under drought stress.