The choice of rootstock is the main precondition for establishing of high yielding and sustainable plum orchards. Therefore influence of rootstock on the plum cultivars wintering in Latvia climatic conditions becomes more and more actual. Investigation was carried out with the aim to clarify influence of rootstock on the wintering and health status of plum cultivar 'Victoria'. Investigation was carried out at Pure Horticultural Research Centre during two different wintering seasons of 2008/2009 and 2009/2010, in the orchard planted in 2001. The winter of 2008/2009 was characteristic with sharp temperature fluctuations, but winter of 2009/2010 was snowy with stable low temperatures. Sixteen widely used rootstocks known in Europe were included. Plum general tree health status (scored by 1-5 points) and percentage of dead trees were evaluated. No statistically significant differences among rootstocks were established according to the evaluation of tree health status. Differences in wintering ability among rootstocks were stated between two years of investigation. Trees grafted on Brompton seedlings and St. Julien d' Orleans demonstrated the highest winter hardiness (4.3 points). No one dead tree was registered on these two rootstocks. Rootstock GF8/1 was the least suitable for Pure conditions - with general health status scored at 2.3 points after severe winter of 2009/2010, and only 25% of alive trees.

Potassium (K) is one of the most important nutrients necessary for many life functions of plants, like shoot growth, fruit and flower bud set, and fruit size. The aim of this study was to determine the content of potassium in orchard lawn for reduction of potassium fertilizer application and to include the potassium from mown grass into K balance and turnover calculation. The investigation was done at the Latvia State Institute of Fruit-Growing in Dobele in 2009, on the basis of an established field experiment planted in 1997 with apple (Mains domestica Borh.) cultivar 'Melba' (rootstock B9), trees spaced at 1.5 x 4 m distances. Three different treatments of soil moisture management were compared: control, sawdust mulch, and fertigation. Soil of the experimental plot was Pisocalcic Cutanic Luvisol (Hypereutric, Hyposkeletic); loam. Organic matter - 25 g kgE-1, soil reaction pH - 6.5. Plant-available P was 130.9, K - 157.7, and Mg - 102.2 mg kgE-1. Inter-row strips were covered with grass vegetation (Lolium perenne L. and Poa pratensis L.). Grass samples were collected during cutting, 3 times per season of 2009: May 19, June 20, and August 11. The uptake and removal of potassium was calculated as kilograms per hectare area. The concentration of potassium in the lawn and the height of grass growth were significantly influenced by the mowing time and the soil moisture treatment. These results can be a base for further studies of potassium turnover in an orchard, as well as for fertilizer planning and management.

The current research focuses on the study of anthocyanin content changes in Latvia wild growing as well as cultivated cranberries during convective and microwave vacuum drying. The research was accomplished on fresh Latvian wild and cultivated cranberries. The berries before drying in a convective drier were pre-treated using perforating, steam-blanching and halving; berries dried in microwave vacuum drier – using steam-blanching and halving; part of berries was dried in microwave vacuum drier without pre-treatment (whole berries). For air drying experiments, a convective dryer “Memmert” (Model 100-800) was used. For drying experiments in microwave vacuum a dryer „Musson-1” was used. Anthocyanin was determined by means of spectrophotometric method. Data are expressed as mean ± standard deviation; variance analysis, homogeneity were used for the evaluation of changes of anthocyanin in cranberries during drying depending on pre-treatment methods. The initial content of anthocyanin among wild and cultivated fresh cranberries was differing: very similar anthocyanin content was detected in cranberry cultivars ‘Pilgrim’ and ‘Early Black’, it was on average three times higher comparing to wild fresh cranberries. However, the lowest anthocyanin content was detected in wild fresh cranberries – 306.81 ± 4.19 mg 100gE-1 (in dry matter). With the probability of 95%, detected by means of the analysis of variance, it may be presumed, that pre-treatment method of cranberries influenced anthocyanin changes during convective and microwave vacuum drying (p=0.001, is less than =0.05). Halving is advisable as a pre-treatment method for berries processing in a convective or microwave drier, because decrease in anthocyanin content is smaller.

Colour, texture and aroma are the main quality attributes of food influencing consumer acceptability of food products. Colour of the product is one of the factors affecting hedonic evaluation. Strawberry mass for a consumer is characteristic by its distinct red colour. The stability of anthocyanins becomes most significant in the case of colour quality. To investigate colour quality, it is necessary to measure colour, as well as pigment concentration. Fresh and thermally treated strawberry mass was analyzed. Formation and stability of anthocyanins, which is the main colour formation substance of berries, are determined by different factors. Anthocyanin colors can be enhanced and stabilized by the addition of different natural or artificial acidifiers. Data of the research indicate that anthocyanin amount during storage period decreases. After 2 days storage their amount increased, but afterwards decreased, both, in fresh and thermally treated mass. The taste evaluation of strawberry mass was essentially affected by the enhancers added. The aim of research was to analyze the quality parameter – colour of strawberry mass with added acidifier which further could be used in production of different products for the needs of public catering, e.g. in production of desserts. The anthocyanin content in strawberry mass with acidifiers was determined to see the organic acid impact to colour stability. Research shows, that natural enhancers – quince and sea buckthorn juices used in the research, did not substantially affect each other’s pH in the product.

Apples (Malus domestica L.) are the most consumed fruits in Latvia. Apples are used as one of ingredients for the fresh cut fruit salad preparation. The evaluation of physical, chemical and sensory properties is important; they could influence the nutritional value of fruit salads. The objective of this research is to select for fresh cut salad production the most appropriate apple cultivars grown in Latvia and evaluate their physical, chemical and sensory properties. Ten commercial apple cultivars grown in Latvia were selected for experiments: ‘Zarya Alatau’, ‘Saltanat’, ‘Belorusskoe Malinovoe’, ‘Auksis’, ‘Antei’, ‘Sinap Orlovskii’, ‘Orlik’, ‘Korichnoe Novoe’, ‘Alesya’, ‘Kovalenkovskoe’. The research was carried out in the Latvia State Institute of Fruit Growing (LSIFG), the years 2010 – 2011. The apple physical indices (average mass, diameter of fruit, flesh consistency and colour) and chemical parameters (total sugar, soluble solids content, titratable acidity ratio between soluble solids and titratable acidity) were analyzed as well. The sensory properties were determined using quantitative descriptive analysis and affective method by hedonic scale. The physical and chemical properties of fruits were analyzed and for fresh cut fruit salad production as the best the following apple cultivars: ‘Zarya Alatau’ and ‘Sinap Orlovskii’ were selected; however, the cultivars ‘Antei’, ‘Auksis’ and ‘Alesya’ could be successfully used for mentioned aim as well.

Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli are the most commonly registered cause of human campylobacteriosis. Mainly the source of these bacteria is from the contaminated foods of animal origin and especially broiler chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) meat. The aim of the present study was to determine the occurrence of Campylobacter spp. in fresh broiler chicken carcasses at the retail level in Latvia. Sampled broiler chicken carcasses originated from two biggest Latvian chicken companies/slaughterhouses and samples were taken during the year 2010. A total of 56.7% of the fresh broiler chicken carcass samples were positive for Campylobacter. There was no distinct seasonal variation in Campylobacter contamination in Latvia. Additionally, only slight differences between the proportions of Campylobacter-positive broiler chicken meat samples of the studied companies were determined.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the histological status of lymph nodes lnn. inguinales superficiales sinister et dexter, lnn. mesenterici cranial, and lnn. tracheobronchales for porcine circovirus-2 (PCV2) seropositive and seronegative pigs from two Latvian farms. The research was carried out in 2009. Two Latvian farms were investigated – conditional farm A in Latgale, and farm B in Kurzeme. Pigs from farm A had never been vaccinated against PCV2, but on farm B the PCV2 vaccination programme had been stopped six months ago. Ten pigs, 5-15 weeks old, were selected from each farm for investigation. Generally, four lymph nodes were taken from each animal. The blood serum of all 20 pigs was serologically tested for the PCV2 antibody of ELISA Synbiotics, Serelisa PCV2 Ab Mono Blocking kits. Four structural parameters of a lymph node were detected on histological slides: visualization of follicle structure, lymphocyte depletion, amount of histiocytic cell infiltration, and amount of multinucleate giant cell infiltration and localization in the lymph node. Only in lymph nodes of PCV2 seropositive pigs multinucleate giant cells were detected, which is an important additional parameter for serological test and is suggestive of PCV2 infection. As a result, an interrelation between the amount of histiocytic cells and the follicle structure was detected in pigs' lymph nodes: the more histiocytic cells in the lymph node, the greater the loss of the lymphoid follicle structure.

The present study was conducted to justify that keeping birth weight (BWT) records have little or no significance in genetic improvements of market or adult weights of small ruminants while implementation of community based breeding program (CBBP). Analyses of Pearson correlations ("r") between BWT and six month (6MW), BWT and nine month weight (9MW), three month weight (3MW) and 6MW and 3MW and 9MW were conducted for three indigenous Ethiopian goat breeds, namely Abergelle (AB), Central Highland (CH) and Woyto-Guji (WG).

The objective of this study was to understand the perception of agricultural producers in Colombia who currently do not own livestock about the role of cattle in alleviating poverty in their farms. Data came from direct survey interviews in 2002 with 143 farmers who did not own cattle in the five most important regions of animal production in Colombia to elicit their perception about the role of livestock as a pathway out of poverty. Selected regions were: Piedmont, Caribbean, the Coffee-growing region, the highlands of Antioquia, and the Cundiboyacense altiplanicie. Most smallholders interviewed in the Piedmont had cattle in the past (85%), followed by producers in Antioquia (60%) and least in the Coffee-growing region (39%). The most important reason for selling their cattle in all regions was due to financial crisis and needed cash (ie., from 27% of smallholders interviewed in the Caribbean and the Cundiboyacense altiplanicie to almost 50% in the Piedmont). Most smallholders surveyed used the money from the sale of animals to pay health bills of family members, to pay off debts, and/or to use the cash to survive due to crop failure from extreme weather conditions (ie., drought or frost damage). The most striking result is that 76% of farmers in Antioquia to 97% of smallholders in the Cundiboyacense altiplanicie would like to own cattle if they had the opportunity. The most important reason for owning cattle in all regions was as a mechanism for savings and building capital. The second most important reason in all regions was to obtain milk and beef for family consumption, except in Antioquia where this issue was irrelevant. Other reasons for owning cattle were to reduce and diversify risk due to crop failure and to utilize manure as fertilizer. The preferred animal category to own in all regions was by far the milking cow, ranging from 52% of smallholders in Antioquia to 96% in the Cundiboyacense altiplanicie. Results from this study show that cattle are perceived by small-holder farmers as a contribution to the improvement in the quality of life. The challenge is to develop novel mechanisms to provide smallholders with livestock, either through credit loans or thru the Fondos Ganaderos of Colombia, whose objective is to help small farmers who have production capacity but lack the resources to buy cattle.