The preliminary study of kaolin on damage reduction of pomegranate fruit moth, Ectomyelois ceratoniae (Lep., Pyralidae) in Garmsar region

Pomegranate fruit moth (PFM), Ectomyelois ceratoniae (Lep., Pyralidae), is the most important pest of pomegranate in Iran. Application of the kaolin particle film (Sepidan® WP) might be an alternative for control of the pomegranate fruit moth and reduction of pomegranate sunburn. To assess the impact of kaolin on damage of pomegranate fruit moth, preliminary trials were conducted in the fields during spring to summer 2009 in Garmsar region of Iran. The different concentrations of kaolin (2.5, 5, 10 and 15%) were sprayed over the whole canopy and fruits four times at 4–5-week intervals from early May to early September. Based on the field studies, the infection rates of PFM were 9.3 and 2.4% for control and kaolin treatment (at 15% concentration), respectively. Sunburn damage of fruits was reduced in the kaolin WP-treated fruits. Also the result showed that, the flower & fruit drop, fruit cracking, aphids damage was reduced in kaolin treatments. Therefore, kaolin could be used successfully to reduce biotic and abiotic harmful agents on pomegranate.