ABSTRACT The native conifer lleuque (Prumnopitys andina (Poepp. ex Endl.) de Laub.) grows in southern Chile, and has an edible and fleshy ovoid fruit. Some species of the genus Prumnopitys are valuable for the medicinal value of their edible fruits. Thus, the aim of this research was to characterize the phytochemical and antioxidant compounds in four ripening stages of P. andina fruits from La Araucanía Region, Chile. Fruit quality related parameters, bromatological, antioxidant and phenolic compounds analyses were performed in order to highlight their potential for human consumption. Our study showed that fresh weight, equatorial diameter, and soluble solid content significantly increased (P < 0.05) in P. andina fruits during ripening, reaching 4.02 ± 0.2 g, 17.9 ± 0.6 mm, and 23.7 ± 0.5 °Brix, respectively, per fruit at stage IV. Our bromatological analyses showed that P. andina fruits had 1.17 ± 0.1 g 100 g-1 DW protein, 1.55 ± 0.2 g 100 g-1 DW crude fiber, and 10.76 ± 2.2 g 100 g-1 DW fruit of ash at fruit ripe. Likewise, we found 2.6 ± 0.2 mg g-1 FW total phenols, 2.2 ± 0.2 mg trolox equivalent g-1 FW of antioxidant activity, and 6.4 ± 0.2 mg rutin equivalent g-1 FW total flavonoid in P. andina fruits. Interestingly, ripening stages I and II showed higher antioxidant compound levels compared to stages III and IV, with the exception of total anthocyanins, which did not change throughout the ripening process. This study shows that P. andina has great potential as a fruit with significant functional properties, which could help promote the propagation, care, and use of this native conifer.

Semimytilus algosus (Gould) 1850, constitutes a potencial resource for cultivation in Chile. The geographic distribution extenas from Manta, Ecuador to the Gulf of Arauco in Chile (Osario & Bahamonde, 1968). Juveniles with a 7 mm mode were collected from the mouth of the Bio-Bio River (36º 48'S, 73º10'W), and were encorded using the Spanish and French systems. These cords, 3 m long, were suspended from an experimental raft (4x4 m) in the western part of Concepción Bay (36º 42'S, 72º 02'W). After 11 months of suspension the mussels had attained a modal lenght of 52 mm, and absolute increase of 45 mm. The maximun length measured was 67 mm. A parallel study of the natural population revealed a slow growth rate, with much smaller maxima than those obtained with the raft. The experimental population seemed to exhibit a short life cycle, as demostrated in part by the rapid growth rate and a high natural death rate before completing a year of suspension. A histological analysis showed S.algosus to be hermafroditic, with mature gametes during the entire year. The gametes varied only slightly in shape and size from the gametes described for other mussel species. Canning tests were made in the local industries. Individuals with a modal length of 36-38 mm yielded 30%, while those of 30 mm individuais used in this experiment, S. algosus demonstrated a yield that compared favorably with that of other comercially important mussels, and would seem to present a great potential for a future induslrial resource.