The potential of pomegranate peel and heartwood extracts as a source of new bioacaricides to control the carmine spider mite Tetranychus cinnabarinus

Extracts of seven pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) accessions were evaluated for their potential as sources of bioactive ingredients with significant acaricidal activity, which could lead to the development of new and safe bioacaricides. The crude extracts (96% ethanol) of this plant were tested for their acaricidal activity against the carmine spider mite, Tetranychus cinnabarinus Boisduval, under controlled conditions. Mortality, repellency, and the number of eggs laid were determined. Extracts from the peel of five pomegranate accessions (C13, P.G.130-31, 7/34, P.G.132-33, and P.G.119-20) caused more than 63% repellency. The other two accessions, P.G.106-7 and P.G.127-28, caused 40% and 50% repellency, respectively, compared with the untreated control. All extracts significantly reduced the number of eggs laid (99%), compared with the controls. Four extracts of four pomegranate accessions (heartwood mixed with a very small ratio of leaves) caused significant repellency and significant reduction in the number of the eggs laid. Our results show that pomegranate extracts have a good potential as acaricidal agents and that pomegranate accessions differ in their acaricidal activity.