Agricultural Research Institute Kromeriz

This study brings new knowledge about the taxonomy of some fungal species that originally belong to the polyphyletic genus Leptosphaeria. Molecular-phylogeny and morphology methods were carried out for taxonomic revision of some taxa in the genus Leptosphaeria (L. clavispora, L. barriae, L. rubicunda and its similar species) and defined new taxonomic combinations of these species, namely Ophiobolus clavisporus (J. H.Mill. & Burton) Mlčoch, Chaetosphaeronema barriae (Shoemaker) Mlčoch and Paraphoma rubicunda (Rehm ex G. Winter) Mlčoch. In the genus Chaetosphaeronema, Ch. misuriniensis sp. nov. was described, and in the genus Paraphoma, Paraphoma betonicicola sp. nov. and P. moravica sp. nov. were described. Furthermore, the synoptic keys of species from Paraphoma rubicunda (Rehm ex Winter) Mlčoch comb. nov. morphological species group, and dichotomous keys for phragmosporous species of the order Pleosporales, which are known from dead stems of Lamiaceae and phragmosporous taxa associated with Lupinus (Fabaceae), are provided.

Microdochium bolleyi is a fungal endophyte of cereals and grasses proposed as an ideal model organism for studying plant-endophyte interactions. A qPCR-based diagnostic assay was developed to detect M. bolleyi in wheat and Brachypodium distachyon tissues using the species-specific primers MbqITS derived from the ITS of the ribosomal gene. Specificity was tested against 20 fungal organisms associated with barley and wheat. Colonization dynamics, endophyte distribution in the plant, and potential of the seed transmission were analyzed in the wheat and model plant B. distachyon. The colonization of plants by endophyte starts from the germinating seed, where the seed coats are first strongly colonized, then the endophyte spreads to the adjacent parts, crown, roots near the crown, and basal parts of the stem. While in the lower distal parts of roots, the concentration of M. bolleyi DNA did not change significantly in successive samplings (30, 60, 90, 120, and 150 days after inoculation), there was a significant increase over time in the roots 1 cm under crown, crowns and stem bases. The endophyte reaches the higher parts of the base (2-4 cm above the crown) 90 days after sowing in wheat and 150 days in B. distachyon. The endophyte does not reach both host species' leaves, peduncles, and ears. Regarding the potential for seed transmission, endophyte was not detected in harvested grains of plants with heavily colonized roots. Plants grown from seeds derived from parental plants heavily colonized by endophyte did not exhibit any presence of the endophyte, so transmission by seeds was not confirmed. The course of colonization dynamics and distribution in the plant was similar for both hosts tested, with two differences: the base of the wheat stem was colonized earlier, but B. distachyon was occupied more intensively and abundantly than wheat. Thus, the designed species-specific primers could detect and quantify the endophyte in planta.

Challenges in timing of lung transplantation (LTx) in patients on antifibrotic treatment were recently acknowledged in 2021 ISHLT consensus document. <b>Aim:</b> To retrospectively analyze, if idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients under 65 years at diagnosis, who fulfill criteria for LTx listing, profit from antifibrotic treatment or LTx (assessed with survival). Cohort A included 67 IPF patients, who underwent LTx for IPF in 2000-2021. Cohort B included subjects from EMPIRE registry diagnosed IPF in 1999-2021 meeting criteria for LuTx listing: under 65 years, BMI ≤ 30, nonsmokers or exsmokers, drop in forced vital capacity (FVC) of more than 10 % and/or drop in lung diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLco) of for more than 15 % in previous six months and absence of LTx absolute contraindications (Figure 1). LTx listing criteria were enriched with dyspnea grade NYHA III at the time of diagnosis, as historic patients were usually diagnosed very lately. Only those never listed for LTx were put in cohort B. Median survival since diagnosis of transplanted patients was longer then in those, who were not transplanted (158 vs 95 months). Difference was not statistically significant (HR 0.66, 95% CI 0.42-1.05; p=0.17). Survival of transplanted patients adjusted to age was significantly higher than in not transplanted group (HR 0.53, 95% CI 0.32-0.91; p=0.02).&nbsp;Patients in cohort B on antifibrotic treatment had similar survival as patients in cohort A, adjusted to age at the time of diagnosis (HR 0.75, 95% CI 0.41-1.37; p=0.35). LTx in carefully selected IPF patients adds years of life to them and prolongs patient´s survival compared to antifibrotic treatment without LTx.

Twelve pigmented wheat genotypes, one tritordeum, andone commonwheat were grown in three field experiments under varying nitrogen(N) fertilization rates to investigate the contributions of genotype,environment, and fertilization on the levels of phenolic acids, anthocyanins,carotenoids and antioxidant capacity of the grains. Soluble phenolicacids increased significantly (+16%) in the environment with highsoil N content, while bound phenolic acids and anthocyanins decreased(−16 and −57%). N fertilization affected the agronomicand qualitative traits but had limited effects on some bioactive compounds(bound phenolic acids and anthocyanins). The greatest differencesappeared among the color groups and within the same color types, withthe black group showing the most anthocyanins and phenolic acids (34.4and 1207 mg·kg–1) and the highest antioxidantcapacity. Some of the cultivars could be promising for the developmentof innovative supply chains and the production of functional foods,as they showed good yield and quality performances, and good antioxidantfeatures.

Historical Czech malting barley varieties Chlumecký, Stupický staročeský, Opavský Kneifel, and Diamant were tested in pilot malting and brewing tests (50 L) of 12% pale lager and compared with five Czech barley varieties recommended for the production of the beer with the protected geographical indication ‘České pivo’. The grain yield of the historical varieties (6.00–7.83 t/ha) was lower compared to the current varieties (8.23–9.39 t/ha). The malts from the historical varieties had high nitrogen content (12.45–13.89%), and low extract (75.2–78.6%, proteolytic (Kolbach index 37.4–40.9%) and cytolytic modification (friability 46.2–57.7%) was also low. Apart from lower extract yield and lower beer filtration rate, the experimental malts from the historical varieties were well processable in the pilot brewery. The sensory quality of the beers was very good (overall impression 3.3–3.8 points), fully comparable to beers made from malts from current barley varieties (3.4–3.9 points). Cluster analysis clearly differentiated the sensory profile of beers of historical and current barley varieties. The historical malting barley varieties under study may find their use mainly in the production of regional microbreweries.

Inhaled fibers can potentially cause inflammation of the lung tissue and interstitium, which after long-term exposure may lead to lung cancer, malignant mesothelioma, or pulmonary and pleural fibrosis. To reduce the risk and set the appropriate occupational hygiene regulations, it is important to be able to precisely calculate the fate of inhaled fibers depending on their physical characteristics and inhalation conditions. In the absence of experimental data on the real behavior - trajectories, orientation and flipping - of inhaled fibers, a new test rig was assembled for visualization and recording of flowing fibers in a replica of the human trachea and the first bronchial bifurcation. Fibers prepared from commercially produced glass fibers have been processed, dispersed, and introduced into the airway replica. Visualization was performed using a powerful LED light and a high-speed camera. The flow of fibers was evaluated upstream and downstream of the realistic asymmetrical bifurcation and dependence on flow conditions was sought. The fractions of parallelly and perpendicularly flowing fibers were statistically evaluated in three locations. The frequency of flipping was also analyzed. The results show that the parallel orientation of the fibers is less dominant than expected. The fiber orientation tables for various conditions can be used to adjust and improve computational simulations of inhaled fibers in the human airways.

Crop losses caused by plant pathogens are a primary threat to stable food production. Stripe rust (Puccinia striiformis) is a fungal pathogen of cereal crops that causes significant, persistent yield loss. Stripe rust exhibits host species specificity, with lineages that have adapted to infect wheat and barley. While wheat stripe rust and barley stripe rust are commonly restricted to their corresponding hosts, the genes underlying this host specificity remain unknown. Here, we show that three resistance genes, Rps6, Rps7, and Rps8, contribute to immunity in barley to wheat stripe rust. Rps7 cosegregates with barley powdery mildew resistance at the Mla locus. Using transgenic complementation of different Mla alleles, we confirm allele-specific recognition of wheat stripe rust by Mla. Our results show that major resistance genes contribute to the host species specificity of wheat stripe rust on barley and that a shared genetic architecture underlies resistance to the adapted pathogen barley powdery mildew and non-adapted pathogen wheat stripe rust.

Cilem me prace je prezentace kazuistiky pacientky s již dřive diagnostikovaným angiomyolipomem leve ledviny, ktera přichazi na urologickou pohotovost pro akutně vzniklou bolest v oblasti leve ledviny při praci s teleskopickou pilou. Zjistěna ruptura tumoru s retroperitonealnim krvacenim, jež řesena operacni revizi a nefrektomii.

A set of 92 genetic resources of spring barley split into groups according to the areas of origin was studied in terms of grain malting quality. The following malting parameters were monitored in this study: nitrogen content in barley grain, malt extract, relative extract at 45 °C, Kolbach index, diastatic power, apparent final attenuation, friability, β-glucans in wort, haze of wort measured at the angles of 15° and 90°. In the studied set, the largest variability was found in the haze of wort (90°), the smallest in the apparent final attenuation. The optimal values of the extract content in the malt dry matter according to the malting quality index were only detected in the genotypes originating from Europe. The group of the genetic resources from South America and Australia, together with the genotypes from the Middle East and Africa, differed statistically significantly in the values of the Kolbach index from other groups. The two-row genotypes differed statistically significantly in the values of the malt extract content, relative extract at 45 °C, Kolbach index, diastatic power, friability and β-glucan content in wort. Although the European and non-European groups differed in a number of traits, the non-European groups also included genetic resources that in their malting parameters approached or equaled the European malting varieties (such as Psaknon). In this study, several significant correlations were found; the strongest correlations were between friability and malt extract (r = 0.85), friability and Kolbach index (r = 0.84).

Research Highlights: Determination of merchantable wood volume is one of the key preconditions for sustainable forest management. This study explores accuracy of calibrated predictions of merchantable wood volume of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst.) using stem taper curves (STC) in a form of a mixed model. Background and Objectives: The study is devoted to the determination of merchantable wood volume (over bark) of individual standing stems based on the integration of an STC model calibrated using upper diameter measurements. Various options of upper diameter measurement were tested and their impact on the accuracy of merchantable wood volume prediction was evaluated. Materials and Methods: To model stem taper curves, a Kozak 02 function was applied in a form of a nonlinear, mixed effects model. Accuracies of calibrated merchantable wood volume predictions obtained through remote (optical) upper diameter measurements were compared to accuracies corresponding to contact measurements by a caliper. The performance of two alternative methods used in the Czech National Forest Inventory (NFI) and forestry practice, involving diameter at breast height and total tree height as the only predictors, were also tested. The contact measurements were performed at identical stem positions after felling the respective sample tree. The calibration was done in order to account for factors inherent in particular location, and, optionally, also in a particular sample stem (within the respective location). Input data was sourced as part of a dedicated survey involving the entire territory of the Czech Republic. In total, 716 individual spruce trees were measured, felled and analysed at 169 locations. Results: In general, the best merchantable volume predictions were obtained by integrating the STC fitted (and calibrated) by minimising errors of stem cross-sectional areas instead of diameters. In terms of calibrated predictions, using single-directional, caliper measurement of upper diameter at 7 m (after felling) led to the best accuracy. In this case, the observed mean bias of merchantable volume prediction was only 0.63%, indicating underestimation. The best optical calibration strategy involved upper diameter measurements at two heights (5 and 7 m) simultaneously. Bias of this volume prediction approach was estimated at 2.1%, indicating underestimation. Conclusions: Concerning the prediction of merchantable stem volume of standing Norway spruce trees, STC calibration using two optical upper diameter measurements (at 5 and 7 m) was found to be practically applicable, provided a bias up to 3.7% can be accepted. This method was found to be more accurate than the existing national alternatives using diameter at breast height and the total tree height as the only predictors.