ABSTRACT Despite the great economic importance of yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis A. St.-Hil.), information about clonal plantations and planting conditions of this tree is still scarce. Thus, we evaluated initial field establishment of five clonal yerba mate cultivars, planted at three seasons of the year (summer, autumn, and spring) in a shaded environment, and in the autumn, we also established blocks in a full sunlight environment, to compare both cultivation environments. We evaluated plants at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after planting, counting the surviving plants, shoots number, and measuring height and canopy diameter. At 12 months we also analyzed the caffeoylquinic acids (CQA) contents in mature leaves from different environments. Plant survival and growth were not affected by planting seasons. Cultivars Aupaba and BRS 409 had the highest survival rates in all seasons evaluated. The shaded environment provided greater survival and growth than full sunlight, also showing higher CQA levels in the leaves. Clonal cultivars Aupaba, BRS 408, and BRS 409 presented higher growth in both environments. The severe drought in the first year may have affected survival; however, growth was considered satisfactory and plants’ initial establishment was better in the shaded environment. Ilex A St.Hil., StHil St. Hil. , St Hil St.-Hil.) scarce Thus summer, summer (summer autumn spring environments 3 6 9 1 number diameter (CQA 40 408 however St.Hil. St.-Hil. 4 St.Hil St.-Hil

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.

RESUMO Piper cachimboense é registrada apenas para a região amazônica do Brasil e Colômbia, e o objetivo deste estudo foi relatar, pela primeira vez, a composição fitoquímica dos óleos essenciais (OEs) desta espécie coletada na floresta amazônica, em Novo Progresso/PA, Brasil. Amostras de folhas foram submetidas a hidrodestilação em aparelho tipo Clevenger. A identificação química foi realizada por cromatografia gasosa e o rendimento dos óleos foi de 11,03 ± 5,94% para as folhas frescas e de 1,07 ± 0,27% para as folhas secas. A análise mostrou 36 compostos voláteis para folhas frescas e 49 para folhas secas. Os constituintes principais dos OEs de folhas frescas e secas de P. cachimboense foram (E)-cariofileno, germacreno-D, γ-amorfeno, δ-cadineno e apiol.

ABSTRACT Piper cachimboense is recorded only for the Amazon region of Brazil and Colombia, and the objective of this study was to report the first phytochemical assessment of the composition of the essential oils (EOs) from this species collected in the Amazon rainforest, in Novo Progresso, Pará State, Brazil. Samples of leaves were subjected to hydrodistillation in a Clevenger-type apparatus. The chemical identification was carried out by gas chromatography. The yield of oils was of 11.03 ± 5.94% for fresh leaves, and 1.07 ± 0.27% for dry leaves. The analysis showed 36 volatile compounds from fresh leaves and 49 from dried leaves. Main constituents in EOs of both fresh and dried leaves from P. cachimboense were (E)-caryophyllene, germacrene-D, γ-amorfene, δ-cadinene and apiole.

RESUMO. A toxicidade dos óleos essenciais (OEs) de 18 espécies de Piperaceae brasileiras foi avaliada sobre ovos da lagarta da soja, Anticarsia gemmatalis. Os óleos foram extraídos por destilação de arraste de vapor d´água e as diluições foram feitas para os bioensaios em concentrações de 0,25; 0,5; 1,0; 2,0 e 4,0%. Todos os OEs reduzidam a eclosão larval. As menores concentrações letais foram observadas em Piper fuligineum (SP), Piper mollicomum “quimiotipo 1” (SP), Piper mosenii (PR), Piper aduncum (PA) e Piper marginatum (PA). A atividade ovicida observada está relacionado com a toxicidade potencial de alguns compostos, especialmente o dilapiol, a miristicina, a asaricina, o espatulenol e a piperitona. De acordo com nossos resultados, os OEs de 16 espécies de Piper brasileiras têm potencial para uso como inseticidas vegetais bioracionais.

ABSTRACT. The toxicities of essential oils (EOs) from 18 species of Brazilian Piperaceae were assessed on eggs of the velvetbean caterpillar, Anticarsia gemmatalis. Oils were extracted using steam distillation, and dilutions were made for bioassays at concentrations of 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0%. All EOs reduced larval hatching. The lowest lethal concentrations were obtained from Piper fuligineum (SP), Piper mollicomum “chemotype 1” (SP), Piper mosenii (PR), Piper aduncum (PA) and Piper marginatum (PA). Ovicidal activity is related to the potential toxicity of several compounds, especially dilapiolle, myristicin, asaricine, spathulenol and piperitone. According to our results, EOs from 16 Brazilian Piper species have potential for use as biorational botanical insecticides.