Abstract

PINO, O et al. CHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION AND ACARICIDAL ACTIVITY OF THE ESSENTIAL OIL FROM Piper aduncum subsp. ossanum against Varroa destructor. Rev. Protección Veg. [online]. 2011, vol.26, n.1, pp. 52-61. ISSN 2224-4697.

Varroosis is one of the main problems of apiculture in Cuba and worldwide. Nowadays, new methods are searched to control Varroa destructor, causal agent of this disease, minimising the risk of resistance occurrence and the contamination of beehive products and the environment. In this context CENSA has studied a group of Cuban plants as source of pesticides and the aim of this work was to establish the potential of the essential oil from Piper aduncum subsp. ossanum as a candidate for developing a new product for varroa control. The acaricidal effect was evaluated by vapour and complete exposure. The chemical composition of this oil was determined by GC/MS. The components associated to biological effect were identified fractionating the oil using normal phase dry column chromatography. The essential oil from Piper aduncum subsp. ossanum showed a selective and promissory effect against varroa. The main components of this oil were camphene, camphor, piperitone and viridiflorol. Several volatile components contributed to the acaricidal activity and the effect by complete exposure was related to oxygenated terpenoids, mainly camphor and piperitone. The essential oil from Piper aduncum subsp. ossanum is a promissory candidate for developing a botanical acaricide and it can be use in the future as part of varroa integrated management.

Keywords : Apis mellifera; Piper aduncum subsp. ossanum; botanical pesticides; Varroa destructor.

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