Fungi representing Alternaria spp. are ubiquitous pathogens that may under certain conditions cause spoilage of various food crops. Several Alternaria species are known producers of toxic secondary metabolites in some fruits and vegetables, nevertheless, only limited knowledge is available on the occurrence of these mycotoxins in legumes and/or oilseeds used for human nutrition. In the first part of the presented study, the analytical method employing reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with fluorescence detection (FLD) was implemented to enable the examination of these food commodities for the presence of altenuene (AE), alternariol (AOH), and alternariol monomethyl ether (AME); the limits of detection were 1, 3 and 2 µg/kg for AE, AOH, and AME, respectively. Altogether 122 flax and 84 pea seed samples grown under organic and/or conventional farming conditions were analysed in the years 2002–2003. AME was detected in 20 flax seed samples; AE and AOH were present in only 2 and 4 samples, respectively. More frequent incidence of Alternaria toxins was recognised in fibre flax seeds as compared to linseed samples. Compared to the crops from the conventional farming, the concentrations of these mycotoxins found in positive organic samples were higher. No Alternaria mycotoxins were detected in the pea samples, probably due to the presence of antifungal compounds in the respective crop.  

SummaryGarlic (Allium sativum L.) belongs to well known vegetables. Garlic is considered a valuable source of health benefit compounds. S-amino acids, namely S-alk(en)yl-L-cysteine sulfoxides, are one of the major garlic constituents. We evaluated a set of garlic genetics resources representing namely valuable germplasm from Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland and former Soviet Union. We showed that differences exist among analysed genotypes in S-amino acids (alliin/methiin) level and donors of high level of alliin/methiin can be identified. High alliin/methiin level was found within genetic resources and registered cultivars under the use. Level of alliin and isoalliin did not correlate with measured level of methiin. Donors of high methiin level were found within accessions marked as being "wild" in EVIGEZ database. Sufficient variability was found by AFLP analysis as well. Accessions were divided by PCA basically into two categories: hardnecks (Ophioscorodon group, Longicuspis group) and softneck (sativum group). Presented work showes possibility to find suitable donors of biologically active compounds in garlic.

The location of the c.1-69C polymorphism in a GATA motif whose disruption is known to result in a Fy null phenotype, together with the perfect correlation between the presence of the FY*A(-69C) allele and the Fy(a-) phenotype support a cause-effect relationship between the two.

ABSTRACT:In the period between 2001 and 2003 selected biological, morphological and technological characteristics were experimentally investigated in the pepper assortment. 12 traits that are important characteristics of individual varieties were studied for different growing methods and for utilisation in breeding work.

Background and objectives The aim of the study was to optimize routine non‐invasive prenatal detection of fetal RHD gene from plasma of RhD‐negative pregnant women (the median of gestational age was 25 weeks, range 10–38) to detect RhD materno‐fetal incompatibility and to avoid the redundant immunoprophylaxis. Materials and methods Initially only one exon of RHD gene (exon 10) was investigated in 281 plasma samples (144 verified after delivery), in the second phase three RHD exons (5, 7, 10) were analyzed in 246 samples of plasma and maternal genomic DNA (204 verified) by real‐time PCR method. Detection of Y‐chromosomal sequence DYS‐14 and five X‐chromosomal insertion/deletion polymorphisms was used to confirm the fetal cfDNA detectability in plasma. Specific polymorphisms in RHD gene were detected by sequence‐specific primer PCR in nine samples. Results When only the RHD exon 10 was tested, 2·8% of verified samples were false positive and 3·5% false negative. With three RHD exons (5, 7, 10) and maternal genomic DNA testing, only one case was false negative (0·5%). Nine samples were inconclusive due to RHD‐positive results in maternal genomic DNA. These samples were analyzed for specific mutations in RHD gene. Combination of both methods for fetal cfDNA verification succeeded in 75% of tested group. Conclusion Implementation of analysis of three RHD exons and maternal genomic DNA to routine practice lowers dramatically the ratio of false positive and negative results. This method enables more accurate determination of fetal RHD status with the reduction of unnecessary medical care and RhD immunoprophylaxis.