Experiment was conducted twice: in spring of 1999 and 2000. Two greenhouse cucumber varieties (Aramis and Corona) with different susceptibility to spider mires were employed to compare the harmfulness of the two-spotted spider mite and the carmine spider mite. Effects of the rwo-spotted spider mite and the carmine spider mite feeding either on the fruit production or on the content of some organic compounds were measured. Moreover, development of spatially separated populations of the two-spotted spider mite and the carmine spider mite was analysed. Two abiotic parameters were taken into account: temperature and sunlight duration. Increment of the carmine spider mite population density was faster during the season of higher temperature and sunlight duration (spring of 2000). Differences in the development of rwo-spotted spider mite were not observed. The increase of fruit weight was closely correlated with increase of densiry of spider mires. The feeding of relatively low populations of the carmine spider mite (up to 5-7 mobile stages per leaf) stimulated the weight increase of fruits collected from Aramis and Corona varieties. The feeding of rwo-spotted spider mite and the carmine spider mire affected the distribution of organic compounds produced in plants. In quire severely infested leaves (2-3 damage level of De Ponti scale) rota! amount of sugars and phenolic compounds increased as compared ro control leaves.

The paper present results from the studies carried out in the years 1999-2000 on the effectiveness of seed dressing of spring barley with the insecticide Gaucho 350 FS (a.i. irnidachloprid) to control frit flies, gout flies, aphids and thrips in piedmont conditions.

The purpose of the studies carried out in the years 1996-1998 was to establish the composition of bacteria and fungi communities in the potato rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soil. Besides, in the examined samples the studies established the proportion of bacteria and fungi antagonistic towards soilbome pathogens. The microbiological analysis of 1 g of dry weight of soil coming from the rhizosphere of potato revealed from 3.96 x 10' to 7 .26 x 10 6 bacteria colonies and from 51.38 x 103 to 69.96 x 103 fungi colonies. In the case of nonrhizosphere soil of 1 g of dry weight of soil revealed from 3.50 x 10' to 4.75 x 106 bacteria colonies and from 16.16 x 103 to 34.1 0 x 103 fungi colonies. Moreover, potato cultivation had a positive effect on the increase of numbers of antagonistic bacteria (Bacillus spp. and Pseudomonas spp.) and fungi (Gliocladium spp., Penicillium spp., Trichoderma spp.). A larger number of the communities of bacteria and fungi, including antagonistic ones, in the root area of potato, indicates considerable biological activity, which contributes to a better phytosanitary condition of the soil.

Minimum Entropy Deconvolution (MED) has been recently introduced to the machine condition monitoring field to enhance fault detection in rolling element bearings and gears. MED proved to be an excellent aid to the extraction of these impulses and diagnosing their origin, i.e. the defective component of the bearing. In this paper, MED is revisited and re-introduced with further insights into its application to fault detection and diagnosis in rolling element bearings. The MED parameter selection as well as its combination with pre-whitening is discussed. Two main cases are presented to illustrate the benefits of the MED technique. The first one was taken from a fan bladed test rig. The second case was taken from a wind turbine with an inner race fault. The usage of the MED technique has shown a strong enhancement for both fault detection and diagnosis. The paper contributes to the knowledge of fault detection of rolling element bearings through providing an insight into the usage of MED in rolling element bearings diagnostic. This provides a guide for the user to select optimum parameters for the MED filter and illustrates these on new interesting cases both from a lab environment and an actual case.