The Influence of Egg Set Weight on Chicken Hatching

Ladislav VETERÁNY, Martin HALAJ, Svätoslav HLUCHÝ, Jaroslav JEDLIČKA   (Slovak Agricultural University, Nitra)
Paper is in English
(2 tab., 17 ref.)

    The influence of different egg set weight of the Rhode Island breed and the ISA 715 Vedette hybrid on chicken hatching was investigated. The highest hatchability (88.55±10.35% and 86.95±8.56% respectively) was determined for the eggs of a medium weight (58.0±0.5g and 59.0±0.5g respectively). The highest embryonic mortality was observed close to the end of incubation. The highest egg set weight losses during incubation were noted for the Rhode Island breed hatching eggs with a weight of 58.0±0.5g (31.83±1.48%) and for the ISA 715 Vedette hatching eggs with a weight of 59.0±0.5g (31.60%±1.96%). The highest weight of hatched chicks (42.54±2.31g and 44.25±2.85 g respectively) was found for the highest weight egg set (60.0±0.5g and 62.0±0.5g respectively). A weight of hatched chickens ranged between 68% and 75% of the egg set weight

Key words: weight, embryonic mortality, egg weight losses, hatchability

Adress: doc. Ing. Ladislav Veterány, PhD., Slovenská poľnohospodárska univerzita v Nitre, Agronomická fakulta, Katedra fyziológie a anatómie hospodárskych zvierat, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76 Nitra, tel. +421-37-6508 466

A Role of Thrombopoietin and Different Protein Kinases in the Regulation of Proliferation, Apoptosis and Steroidogenesis in Porcine Ovarian Cell In Vitro

Pavel SANISLÓ, Alexander SIROTKIN, Adriana BUDÁČOVÁ, Iveta FLORKOVIČOVÁ, Hans-Jorg SCHAFFER   (Vyskumny Ustav Zivocisnej Vyroby, Nitra)
Paper is in Slovak
(2 tab., 8 ref.)

    The involvement of thrombopoietin (TPO) and protein kinase A (PKA) in the regulation of the functions of porcine ovarian cells, as well as possible mechanisms of their effects were studied. The effects were investigated of TPO and PKA inhibitor, analog of cAMP (Rp-cAMPS), and their combination on the content of PCNA (indicator of proliferation), BAX (indicator of apoptosis), MAPK/ERK1,2 (MAP kinases), PKA (A kinase protein) and CREB (transcription factor, stimulated by PKA and MAPK/ERK1,2) respectively and on the release of steroid hormones (progesterone - P, androstendione - A, estradiol - E) by in vitro cultured porcine ovarian follicular cells. The inhibitory influence of TPO on PCNA and the stimulatory effect of TPC on BAX, PKA, MAPK/ERK1,2 and CREB were detected. TPO stimulated P secretion and inhibited A and E release, Rp-cAMPS inhibited BAX, MAPK/ERK1 2, P, E and stimulated PKA and CREB. This PKA blocker had no influence on PCNA and A. Rp-cAMPS increased the effect of TPC on PCNA, PKA, CREB, P, A, E and reduced the effects of TPO on BAX and MAPK/ERK1,2. These results suggest: 1) the ability of TPC to stimulate apoptosis and to inhibite proliferation of ovarian cells, 2) the involvement of TPO in the regulation of ovarian steroidogenesis, 3) the role of PKA, MAPK/ERK1,2 and CREB in mediation of the TPO effect on ovaria and 4) the involvement of cAMP/PKA in the regulation of proliferation, apoptosis and steroidogenesis of porcine ovarian follicullar cells

Key words: pig, ovary, TPO, protein kinase, steroids


Adress: Ing. Pavel Sanisló, Laboratórium endokrinológie, Ústav genetiky a reprodukcie hospodárskych zvierat, Výskumný ústav živočíšnej výroby v Nitre, Hlohovská 2, 949 01 Nitra, , tel. +421-37-654 336, e-mail:endo@vuzv.sk

Influence of Atonik on Sugar Beet Root Yield and Quality

Ivan ČERNÝ, Vladimír PAČUTA, Jana ŠIMURKOVÁ   (Slovak Agricultural University, Nitra)
Paper is in English
(3 tab., 2 ill., 18 ref.)

    In the field trial carried out in 1998 and 1999 the effects of weather conditions and Atonik (a growth stimulator, product of Asahi Chemicals MFG. CO., Ltd., Japan) application on sugar beet root yield and root quality (digestion, refined sugar, refined sugar yield) were studied. The trial results have confirmed the statistically high significant effect of weather conditions on the above-mentioned parameters. Comparison of the results obtained with the average values of the whole experiment period showed higher root yield (+8.49 t/ha) and higher yield of refined sugar (+0.70 t/ha) in 1998 and higher values of digestion (+0.70) and of refined sugar (+0.77%) in 1999. Atonik was found to have the significant effect on root yield (+5.23 t/ha, treatment C), refined sugar yield (+0.96 t/ha, treatment C), digestion (+0.53 S, treatment C) and refined sugar (+0.78%, treatment C), compared to the average values of the control during the whole trial period. The results obtained for the production and technological parameters of sugar beet indicate good possibilities of using Atonik as a growth stimulator in growing sugar beet

Key words: weather conditions, Atonik, root yield, digestion, refined sugar yield


Adress: Ing. Ivan Černý, PhD., Agronomická fakulta, Katedra rastlinnej výroby, Slovenská poľnohospodárska univerzita v Nitre, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76 Nitra, tel. +421-37-6508 231, e-mail:Ivan.Cerny@uniag.sk

Deficiency Symptoms of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium and Sulphur in Radish Plants

Peter KOVÁČIK, Ján JANČOVIČ   (Slovak Agricultural University, Nitra)
Paper is in English
(7 tab., 1 ill., 10 ref.)

    The effect of inharmonious nutrition on the plants of the radish (Raphanus sativus var. radicula) variety Granat was investigated in a pot experiment in the greenhouse. Sterilized siliceous sand deficient for the essential nutrients (N, P, K, S) was used as a substrate in the trial (treatments: -N, -P, -K, -S). Deficiency of nitrogen was found to have the most adverse effect on an amount of the biomass formed. With nitrogen deficiency, the cotyledons untimeously died off and the right leaves were dwarfish. In addition, violet dotted pigmentation occured on their blades and the outer crenated part of leaf blade had a violet edge. Phosphorus defficiency was reflected in the formation of small and solid leaves growing at a sharp angle, both right leaves and cotyledons, and in hyperchlorophyllation. Deficiency of potassium resulted in premature yellowing or dying off cotyledons as well as the right leaves, which did not wither, but rotted. Sulphur deficiency had the least adverse effect on the radish biomass formation, but it caused some leaves to curl up in spoon-like shape. The intensity and the extension of leaf yellowing observed during the trial did not correspond with the knowledge reported in literature. A height and a weight of the plants were decreasing in the following order of treatments: C, -S, -K, -P, -N

Key words: radish, symptoms of deficiency, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulphur


Adress: Ing. Peter Kováčik, CSc., Agronomická fakulta, Katedra agrochémie a výživy rastlín, Slovenská poľnohospodárska univerzita v Nitre, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76 Nitra, tel. +421-37-6508 381

Productivity and Quality of Simple Clover-Grass Mixtures under Different Sowing Portions

Helena GREGOROVÁ, Jaroslav ŠPANKO   (Slovak Agricultural University, Nitra)
Paper is in Slovak
(2 tab., 1 ill., 16 ref.)

    The productive ability and quality of four simple mixtures of Trifolium pratense (Sigord 4n) with Dactylis glomerata (Dana) - M 1, Lolium perenne (Mustang 4n) - M 2. Festulolium (Hykor) - M 3 and Festulolium (Felina) - M 4 respectively were studied in the field experiments at submountain region (Liptovsky Mikulas, Central Slovakia) during the period of 1997-1998. Two sowing rates of components (80 : 20 and 50 : 50) were used in the trial. In a total of two years, the mixture of T. pratense with L. perenne produced the highest yield. There were no statistically significant ditferences in the yields of mixtures at an average of years. The contents of crude protein, PDI and NEL corresponded with a portion of red clover in mixtures. The smallest content of crude protein, PDI and NEL and the highest content of crude fibre and CPFI were determined in the mixture of T. pratense with D. glomerata

Key words: clover-grass mixtures, Trifulium pratense, Dactylis glomerata, Lolium perenne, intergeneric grass hybrids (Festulolium)


Adress: doc. Ing. Helena Gregorová, CSc., Agronomická fakulta, Katedra krmovinárstva, Slovenská poľnohospodárska univerzita v Nitre, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76 Nitra, tel. +421-37/6508 237

Formation of Soil Aggregates in Tetra-culture

Vendelín MUCHA   (Slovak Agricultural University, Nitra)
Paper is in English
(4 ill., 10 ref.)

    This work is based on the research results from a stationary field trial. The aim of the research was to enhance the present-day knowledge and to help in search for optimal methods of soil cultivation and fertilization enabling sustainable formation of the water-resistant and structural aggregates of Orthic Luvisol within the tetra-cultural farming system (spring barley, pea, winter wheat, and corn). The percentage of both structural and water-resistant aggregates was unsatisfactory at the beginning of this research in 1994. The most valuable 0.5-3 mm category of water-resistant aggregates amounted on average to only cca 16%. Seven years later, this category contained cca 30% of total aggregates. Fertilization contributed to this development more than soil cultivation. The percentage of a 0.5-3 mm size category of structural aggregates was on average cca 47% for conventional cultivation, compared to only cca 44% for the cultivation without two-way ploughtng (this difference is statistically significant). The values for different fertilization treatments are balanced. The obtained results indicate the possibilities of ensuring the long-term creation of favourable categories of soil aggregates, particularly the water-resistant ones, for Orthic Luvisol by an appropriate choice of grown crops and rational soil cultivation

Key words: soil agregates, Orthic Luvisol, tetraculture


Adress: doc. Ing. Vendelín Mucha, Agronomic Faculty, Department of Pedology and Geology, Slovak Agricultural University , Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76 Nitra, Slovak Republic, tel. +421-37-511

Cicadas (Auchenorrhyncha) Associated with Redroot Pigweed, Amaranthus retroflexus L., in Slovakia

Monika VRÁBLOVÁ, Peter TÓTH, Vladimír JANSKÝ, Ľudovít CAGÁŇ   (Slovak Agricultural University, Nitra)
Paper is in English
(5 tab., 50 ref.)

    A survey of cicadas (Auchenorrhyncha) population on redroot pigweed, Amaranthus retroflexus L. in maize field carried out in Slovakia during 1995-1997 by sweep netting revealed 24 species that belong to the families Oixiidae (2 species), Cercopidae (1 species), Delphacidae (2 species) and Cicadellidae (19 species). The most abundant species from the family Cicadellidae were Empoasca decipiens (Paoli, 1930), Empoasca solani (Curtis, 1846), Psammotettix allienus (Dahlbom, 1851) and Zyginidia pullula (Boheman, 1845). The most important species from the family Delphacidae was Laodelphax striatella (Fallen, 1826). Cicadellid populations did not significantly affect the growth and the development of host plants. Hyalestes obsoletus (Signoret, 1 865) (Cixiidae) was also revealed during the survey. This has been the first record of the species during the last 30 years in Slovakia

Key words: cicadas, Auchenorrhyncha, species composition, population density, Amaranthus spp.


Adress: Ing. Monika Vráblová, Fakulta záhradníctva a krajinného inžinierstva, Katedra trvalo udržateľného rozvoja, Slovenská poľnohospodárska univerzita v Nitre, Mariánska 10, 949 01 Nitra, tel. +421-37-526 637, e-mail: vrablova@sai.uniag.sk