The commercial use of pollinators can be beneficial to many crops. In the case of passion fruit, the supply of nests of Xylocopa frontalis in crop areas was shown to be effective for the improvement of the production and quality of fruits, but little is known about how the manipulation of native bees could change the genetic patrimony of local populations. The aim of this study was to describe the genetic composition of X. frontalis bees attracted to two agroecosystems, one natural reserve and one urban area based on mitochondrial DNA (partial sequencing of the gene cytochrome oxidase I) and microsatellite markers. One of the study areas comprised most of the exclusive haplotypes (50%); however, the microsatellite data showed no structuring between areas. Based on our data, we suggest a plan for exchanging nests of X. frontalis to passion fruit areas taking into account the genetic composition of local populations, avoiding then disturbances to their natural genetic patrimony. Xylocopa frontalis / mtDNA / microsatellites / pollination service / bees' management

Historical research of public spaces provides a better understanding of the social formation and preserve cultural and landscaping heritage. José Bonifácio Square, located in Picacicaba, São Paulo State, Brazil, is an important public space. We carried out a historical survey in the archives of municipal public institutions and a landscape record was done by identifying tree species implanted in the square. We verified a strong church influence in the development of the square landscape project. The first landscaping work occurred in 1885, and it became known as City Public Garden. It presented naturalistic features, using exotic and native species, mainly trees, for landscaping composition. Several modifications and reforms were made from 1885 to 2005. José Bonifácio Square was considered highly diverse (H’ = 3.18) with 151 individuals, distributed in 36 species belonging to 14 botanical families. The native species from Atlantic Forest represented 82.6% of Bignoniaceae, Arecaceae, and Fabaceae species. The high diversity of native species found in José Bonifácio Square allowed us to infer a lower ecological fragility and a higher environmental balance than other Brazilian squares. The analysis of historical information from the years 1885 to 2019 and the analysis of the square’s floristic composition in contemporary times demonstrated José Bonifácio Square’s relevance in forming and conserving Piracicaba’s urban identity.

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The princess earring is an ornamental plant native to the southern region of Brazil, much appreciated due to the beauty of its outstanding and colorful flowers. This study evaluated the effect of different doses of synthetic auxin indolebutyric acid (IBA) on the rooting of herbaceous cuttings of Fuchsia regia (Vell.) Munz, native species, and Fuchsia hybrida Hort. Ex Siebert & Voss commercial variety ‘General Monk Red Blue’. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse following a randomized block design with a 2x5 factorial arrangement (two genotypes of Fuchsia x five IBA doses). The IBA doses consisted in the concentrations of 0, 200, 400, 600 and 800 mg.L-1. Evaluations were performed 20 days after staking. The parameters evaluated were length of the largest root, number of roots per cutting, fresh weight and dry weight of the aerial part and roots. The concentration of 800 mg.L-1 of indolebutyric acid resulted in greater rooting of the cuttings of both Fuchsia materials tested. Therefore, the use of IBA (800 mg.L-1) provided better quality rooted cuttings, with greater length and number of roots.

No abstract