ABSTRACT. Baccharis dracunculifolia DC. is a pioneer plant native from Brazil that has great importance due to its secondary metabolites (essential oil and Brazilian green propolis) and its potential in the recovery of degraded areas. The main goal of this study was to evaluate the propagation techniques of B. dracunculifolia by sexual reproduction and asexual propagation of male and female stem cuttings. For reproduction, female individuals from a natural population were periodically monitored for their reproductive development and their diaspores were collected to evaluate the maximum dry mass accumulation to determine physiological maturity. The germination test was performed by testing four temperatures (20, 25, 30, and 20-30°C), in addition to the germination speed index (GSI) and first count. For vegetative propagation, stem cuttings (8 cm) of male and female individuals were treated with an indole butyric acid (IBA) solution at 0, 1,500, 3,000, 4,500, and 6,000 mg L−1. The cuttings were evaluated for mortality, survival, rooting, sprouting, leaf retention, callogenesis, number of roots, and average length of roots (cm) after 120 days. The physiological maturity of diaspores occurred at 40 days after anthesis, which was the best time for collection in the field. The temperatures of 25 or 20-30°C should be used in the germination tests of the species. The first count was identified four days after sowing and the last count after 11 days. The rooting of B. dracunculifolia cuttings is very low. Sex did not influence the evaluated parameters, but increasing IBA doses positively influenced rooting, number of roots, and average length of roots and negatively influenced calluses formation.

HIGHLIGHTS Essential oils from populations of B. dracunculifolia were investigated. β-pinene and (E)-nerolidol were the main compounds in B. dracunculifolia populations. The difference in the chemical profile of the essential oils is quantitative only. There is a negative correlation between the antioxidant activity and spathulenol.

ABSTRACT: Bees generally use different botanical sources of resins for the production of propolis. The elucidation of botanical sources of propolis and identification of the effects of seasonality on the chemical profile of propolis are recognized as two important aspects in the development of a high quality product. Thus, our objective was to elucidate the botanical source and identify the effect of the seasons on the chemical profile of propolis produced in southern Brazil. The chemical profile of the samples was analysed by spectrophotometric and chromatographic techniques and the results were coupled to multivariate analysis. Field observation of the foraging behaviour of Apis mellifera L. revealed its preference for the Baccharis dracunculifolia DC. species. p-Coumaric acid, 3, 4-dicaffeoylquinic acid, 3, 5-dicaffeoylquinic acid, drupanin, and artepillin C which were identified in both plant and propolis samples. Moreover, higher artepillin C amounts have been detected in samples collected in the summer and autumn, while the main compounds of p-coumaric acid and quercetin were available in spring and winter sampled propolis, respectively. Baccharis dracunculifolia has been identified as a plant species preferred by A. mellifera in foraging resin for the production of propolis in southern Brazil. The contents of balsam, total phenolic compounds, and flavonoids varied significantly over the seasons, with values above the minimum required by the legislation, thus assuring a quality pattern for this biomass.

RESUMO Passiflora actinia Hook (nome popular: ‘maracujá-do-mato’) é uma espécie medicinal relevante devido às suas propriedades sedativas e ansiolíticas. Para uma exploração comercial da planta, no entanto, são necessários estudos de propagação, especialmente visando melhorar o enraizamento em estacas caulinares. O presente estudo foi desenvolvido para avaliar o efeito do extrato da alga marinha parda (Ascophyllum nodosum (L.) Le Jol.) aplicado na base de estacas caulinares de P. actinia. Foram avaliadas cinco concentrações do extrato diluído em água destilada: 0% (água destilada pura), 10%, 20%, 30% e 40%. O delineamento experimental foi o inteiramente casualizado com 4 repetições e 12 estacas por unidade amostral. As estacas foram avaliadas 45 dias após o plantio. Os dados foram analisados por meio de análise de regressão polinomial e coeficientes de correlação de Pearson foram calculados para todas as variáveis. Em média, verificou-se 51,27% de enraizamento. A porcentagem de enraizamento aumentou linearmente de acordo com as concentrações de extrato de alga marinha. Quando comparado ao tratamento controle, observou-se aumento de 10% no enraizamento quando as estacas foram tratadas com 40% de extrato de alga marinha. A resposta de retenção foliar às concentrações de A. nodosum também foi ajustada em modelo linear positivo. Um aumento de 15,6% na retenção foliar foi observado na concentração de 40% de extrato de alga quando comparado ao controle. Correlações positivas foram observadas para retenção de folhas e porcentagem de enraizamento e retenção de folhas e comprimento de raízes. A imersão das bases de estacas de P. actinia em extrato de A. nodosum em uma concentração de 40% pode promover efeitos positivos no enraizamento e facilitar a propagação desta espécie.

ABSTRACT Passiflora actinia Hook (common name: ‘maracujá do mato’) is an important medicinal species due to significant sedative and anxiolytic activities. In order to commercially exploit the plant, however, studies on propagation to improve rooting in stem cuttings are needed. The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of the brown seaweed (Ascophyllum nodosum (L.) Le Jol.) extract when applied on P. actinia stem cuttings bases. Five concentrations of the extract in distilled water were evaluated: 0% (pure distilled water), 10%, 20%, 30% and 40%. The experimental design was completely randomized with 4 repetitions and 12 cuttings per experimental unit. Cuttings were evaluated 45 days from planting. Data were analyzed through polynomial regression analysis and Pearson's correlation coefficients were calculated for all the variables. On average, 51.27% rooting was achieved. Rooting percentage increased linearly according to the brown seaweed extract concentrations. When compared to the control treatment, about 10% increase in rooting was observed at the treatment with 40% seaweed extract. Leaf retention response to A. nodosum increasing concentrations was also adjusted in a positive linear model. A 15.6% increase in leaf retention was observed at the 40% seaweed concentration when compared to the control. Positive correlations were observed for leaf retention and rooting percentage and leaf retention and roots length. The immersion of P. actinia stem cuttings bases in A. nodosum extract at a concentration of 40% promote positive effects on rooting and facilitate the species propagation.