Acta Fytotechnica et Zootechnica Online (Faculty of Agrobiology and Food Sciences, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra)
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Biocompounds content in organic and conventional raspberry fruits
Get PDFRaspberry fruits are a source of vitamin C, phenolic acids and flavonoids, including anthocyanins. There is scientific evidence that allows to assume that organic fruit and vegetables contain more bioactive compounds with antioxidant properties than plant crops from the conventional farming. The aim of the presented studies was to compare the contents of antioxidant compounds in two varieties of raspberries fruits came from certified organic and conventional production. The vitamin C content was determined using the titration method and spectrophotometry, and the content and composition of polyphenols (flavonols, anthocyanins and phenolic acids) was determined by HPLC method, with identification of individual phenolic compounds according to the Fluca and Sigma Aldrich standards. Significant differences were found between raspberry fruits in the content of the analyzed compounds. Organic raspberries contained more flawonols, phenolic acids and anthocyanins in comparison to conventional ones. The applied method of cultivation did not impact the content of vitamin C in raspberries tested. The results show that the cultivation system is one of the factors influencing the content of certain substances with antioxidant character in raspberry fruits. However, there is a need for further detailed research, especially research carried out in similar growing conditions.Keywords: raspberries, organic fruits, flavonoids, phenolic acids, vitamin
Association study of bovine candidate loci to meat quality
Get PDFThe aim of this study was to determine the potential association between candidate loci and indicators of meat quality in Czech Simmentals. For the study, loci for calpain (CAPN530) and myostatin (MSTN) were chosen. The analysis revealed 258 bulls (locus CAPN530) and 228 bulls (locus MSTN) of Czech Simmental cattle. Genotyping was carried out by PCR/RFLP method. The association analysis was performed for polymorphisms of both loci and shear force of the raw and grilled meat on the 1st, 14th and 28th day after slaughter. The CAPN530 locus showed a statistically significant effect on the power cut for raw and grilled meat in the 1st day after the slaughter (P<0.05), and for grilled meat significant changes were stated in the 14th and 28th day post mortem (P<0.05). No significant relationships in locus MSTN between genotype and shear force (P<0.05) were found. The MSTN genotype affected the ability to bind water. However, the findings should be interpreted with caution to the unequal representation of genotypes for the locus MSTN in the study
Wing morphometry of Slovak lines of Apis mellifera carnica honeybee population
No full textReceived: 2015-11-02 | Accepted: 2015-11-10 | Available online: 2016-05-30dx.doi.org/10.15414/afz.2016.19.02.41-44 Samples of honeybee workers and drones forewings from 16 hives belonging to various lines of Slovak Carniolan bee kept by queen breeders in Slovakia were taken in year 2013 to perform wing morphometry measurements. The Dawino, complex wing morphometry method, has been applied for workers samples and measurements of Cubital index for drones samples. Worker bees samples showed similarity to Carniolan bee standard from 50 to 84% in 15 cases, on sample was out of standard. Cubital index of drones samples comply with a carnica bee standard in 14 cases, 2 samples were out of the range. The future of use wing morphometry for detection of hybridization in A. m. carnica populations is discussed. Keywords: Apis mellifera carnica, workers, drones, wing morphometry, cubital index, DawinoReferencesBOOKSTEIN, F. L. (1991) Morphometric tools for landmark data. Geometry and biology. New York: Cambridge University Press.BOUGA, M. et al. (2011) A review of methods for discrimination of honey bee populations as applied to European beekeeping. Journal of apicultural research, vol. 50, no.1, pp. 51-84. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.3896/IBRA.1.50.1.06ČERMÁK, K. and KASPAR, R. (2003) Morphometrical analysis and taxonometrical classification of honey bees by wing characters. [Online]. Retrieved September 2015 from doi:http://beedol.cz/dawino/DAWINO_prosp_EN.pdfDE LA RÚA, P. et al. (2009). Biodiversity, conseravation and current threats to European honey bees. Apidologie, vol.40, no.3, pp. 263-284. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/apido/2009027DUPRAW, E. J. (1965) Non-Linnean taxonomy and the systematics of honey bees. Systematic Zoology, vol. 14, no.1, pp. 1-24. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/2411899FERT, G. (1997). Breeding Queens: Production of Package Bees: Introduction to Instrumental Insemination. Argentan: OPIDA. 104 p.GARNERY, L. et al. (2004) Genetic diversity of European honeybees. First European Conference of Apidology, Udine 19-23 September, pp. 35.KOPERNICKY, M. and CHLEBO, R. (2004) Carniolan bees. In KADLEČÍK, O. et al. Endangered breeds of animals in Slovakia. Nitra: SPU, pp. 79-85 (in Slovak).MEIXNER, M. D. et al. (2013) Standard methods for characterising subspecies and ecotypes of Apis mellifera. Journal of Apicultural Research, vol. 52, no.4, pp. 1-28. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.3896/IBRA.1.52.4.05RUTTNER, F. (1988) Biogeography and taxonomy of honeybees, 1st ed. Berlin: Springer-Verlag. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-72649-1SHEPPARD, W.S. et al. (2003) Apis mellifera pomonella, a new honey bee subspecies from Central Asia. Apidologie, vol. 34, no.4, pp. 367-375. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/apido:200303
On-farm examination of main-crop potato varieties in Hungary
Get PDFCharacterisation of potato varieties in Hungary is based on conventional breeding and examination processes. Therefore organic growers need experimental data about the performance of new multi-resistant potato varieties under organic conditions. In order to provide sufficient information in 2012 we initiated a participatory-research program for testing resistant potato varieties under local organic conditions. 2012-2014 ten main-crop varieties were tested by participating organic farmers. Among the varieties Bettina, Desirée, Démon, Hópehely, Katica and Tiamo reached the highest yields. In the qualitative assessment the Streptomyces infection appeared to be most frequent. Among red-peel varieties Démon, among yellow-peel varieties Hópehely showed highest resistance to examined infections. The on-farm program is still running, in 2014 participant farmers’ number grew to 22. Achievements and results underline the importance of on-farm participatory research networks.Keywords: potato, resistant varieties, on-farm examination, participatory research, Streptomyce
Effect of Rhizobium and AM fungi inoculation on soybean
Get PDFSymbiotic effectivity of two- and tripartite symbiotic agents was investigated in a pot experiment on three soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) cultivars with special regard to compatibility. Host plants were single and co-inoculated with two Bradyrhizobium japonicum strains and two commercial arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) products. Significant differences were found in infectivity and effectivity of the microsymbionts. While infectivity of AMF inocula was very poor, the benefits of AMF treatments were more expressed than that of the rhizobial ones. In case of commercial AMF inoculants we should also check the effect of the ingredients of the explain medium.Keywords: Bradyrhizobium sp., arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, soybean, host compatibility, biomas
What do humus balances really tell about soil organic matter?
Get PDFHumus balance methods (HBM) are applied as tools for decision support and environmental impact assessment in arable farming. For reasons of applicability in practice, several HBM avoid a demand for comprehensive site data and are only sensitive to management. As a consequence, these methods, from a methodological point of view, cannot quantify SOM changes. Still, we show that such HBM can be used to assess the relative impact of different management scenarios at a defined site. To do so, we calculated humus balances for treatments in two long-term field experiments according to the well-recognized VDLUFA (2014) method, and compared the variation of treatments in humus balances to the variation in SOM level changes by applying analysis of correlation. In fact, the variables were positively correlated, even though the absolute deviation between balances and SOM changes was considerable. The application of another HBM that considers management impact on SOM as a site-dependent process (HU-MOD-2) showed that the ability to predict absolute SOM changes actually is dependent on sensitivity to environmental drivers of OM turnover in soils.Keywords: humus balance, decision support, environmental impact assessment, methodolog
Social factors in the decision by Swiss farmers to convert to organic farming
Get PDFThe number of organic farms in Switzerland has remained stable since 2009, although several studies have shown that financial arguments should mean that more farms convert to organic production. These results suggest that either farmers do not behave rationally, or there are other reasons that inhibit farmers from conversion. In this study, 39 organic and non-organic Swiss farmers were interviewed with the aim of identifying barriers to conversion and learning how these have been overcome. The results suggest that the structural conditions for conversion are in place but a range of social factors create barriers. These factors include negative attitudes towards organic farming held by family members; problems with mutual acceptance between organic and non-organic farmers; technical reasons such as fear of weed infestation; and a fear of losing independence. Organic farmers however suggested that these barriers are overestimated. Farmers who are considering conversion are reluctant to ask for advice because this is seen as an irreversible step to conversion. This allows the conclusion that informal events and platforms that enable communication between organic and non-organic farmers could inspire farmers to take the first steps.Keywords: conversion, organic farming, barriers, enablers, motivation
Associations between LEP G2548A polymorphisms and lipids metabolism
Get PDFThe aim of this study was to determine the population structure based on identification of G2548A polymorphism in leptin gene and analyse its impact on selected traits related with lipids metabolism as well as obesity. Totally, 236 human samples were included in SNP genotyping using PCR-RFLP method and endonuclease HhaI. The impact of locus was assessed for biochemical parameters: BMI, level of total, HDL and LDL cholesterol. In population the prevalence of A allele was detected. The highest proportion was found for heterozygous individuals (0.44). The observed heterozygosity indicated relative sufficient proportion of heterozygotes but the FIS index showed positive value (0.1) that can signalize the increase of homozygotes proportion. The association analysis using GLM procedure proved significant impact of LEP genotypes on each of selected parameter. The results showed the significant role of leptin in human nutritional status and confirmed its value as candidate gene of lipids metabolism disorders
Genetic parameters for first calving interval in beef cattle
Get PDFThe aim of this study was to estimate genetic parameters for first calving interval in beef cattle population of the Czech Republic. Database of performance testing of 64 thousand of cows with repeated records was used to analyse. There were significant effects (P<0,001) of age at first calving, herd-year-season, breed, calving difficulty and heterosis of cow (P=0.038). Genetic parameters were estimated by AIREML. Heritability of first calving interval (0.1) was estimated
Genetic differentiation of the edible dormouse Glis glis in the Stolowe Mountains (Poland)
Get PDFThis is a continuation of our study started in 2013, where we dealt with genetic diversity of the edible dormouse in the Stolowe Mountains National Park (south-western Poland). A total of 48 dormice from 5 localities were studied. Molecular study involved 12 microsatellite sequences. Low genetic variability of the studied population was found.