Residue levels and storage decay control in Cv. Star Ruby grapefruit after dip treatments with azoxystrobin

A novel validated simple derivatization liquid chromatographic method with diode array detection for the simultaneous determination of mancozeb, azoxystrobin and difenoconazole in pesticide dosage form

A novel, rapid and simple reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method for the simultaneous determination of three pesticides - mancozeb, azoxystrobin and difenoconazole by derivatization with ethyl iodide is presented. Analysis was performed on a C18 column (Agilent Eclipse plus, 150 mm × 4.6 mm; 5 μ) with the mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile + methanol (90 + 10 v/v) - water (0.1% v/v trifluoroacetic acid) (60 : 40, v/v) pumped isocratically at a flow rate of 1.0 mL min^-1 and detection wavelength of 205 nm and 272 nm. The factors affecting the derivatization reaction and separation conditions were carefully evaluated and optimized. The method was linear over the concentration range of 3.50 mg L^-1 to 31.48 mg L^-1 for mancozeb, 0.32 mg L^-1 to 2.85 mg L^-1 for azoxystrobin and 0.32 mg L^-1 to 2.89 mg L^-1 for difenoconazole. The new method was successfully applied for the analysis of mancozeb, azoxystrobin and difenoconazole in the pesticide formulation with range recoveries of 99.46% to 100.76%, 99.07% to 101.09% and 98.59% to 101.59%, respectively. The present method is suitable and favorable for the simultaneous separation and analysis of tertiary mixture analytes on account of its sensitivity, rapidity and cost-effectiveness. In addition, it could have excellent application prospects for the simultaneous determination of all three pesticides in other formulated products.

Determination of strobilurin fungicide residues in fruits and vegetables by nonaqueous micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography with indirect laser-induced fluorescence

A nonaqueous micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography method with indirect LIF was developed for the determination of strobilurin fungicide residues in fruits and vegetables. Hydrophobic CdTe quantum dots (QDs) synthesized in aqueous phase were used as background fluorescent substance. The BGE solution, QD concentration, and separation voltage were optimized to obtain the best separation efficiency and the highest signal intensity. The optimal BGE solution consists of 40 mM phosphate, 120 mM sodium dodecyl sulfate, 15% v/v water and 15% v/v hydrophobic CdTe QDs in formamide, of which apparent pH is 9.5. The optimized separation voltage is controlled as 25 kV. The resultant detection limits of azoxystrobin, kresoxim-methyl, and pyraclostrobin are all 0.001 mg/kg, their linear dynamic ranges are 0.005-2.5 mg/kg, and the recoveries of the spiked samples are 81.7-96.1%, 86.5-95.7%, and 87.3-97.4%, respectively. This method has been proved to be sensitive enough to detect the aforementioned fungicides in fruits and vegetables at the maximum residue limits.

Development of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for residue analysis of the fungicide azoxystrobin in agricultural products

A direct competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (dc-ELISA) was developed for residue analysis of azoxystrobin in garden crops, for which the maximum residue limits (MRLs) are 0.5-50 mg/kg in Japan. For hapten synthesis, an ethyl carboxyl group was introduced to the 4-position of the 2-cyanophenoxy group in azoxystrobin, and its cyano group was changed to a methyl group. An anti-azoxystrobin monoclonal antibody was prepared from mice immunized with hapten-keyhole limpet hemocyanin conjugate. The dc-ELISA using prepared antibody showed 50-250-fold higher sensitivity compared to the MRLs. The working range of the dc-ELISA was 10-200 ng/mL. The dc-ELISA showed high specificity to azoxystrobin. When methanol extracts from nine kinds of garden crops spiked with azoxystrobin ranging near the MRLs were analyzed, the determined results by the dc-ELISA agreed well with the results of their controls. In addition, azoxystrobin spiked in garden crops homogenates was satisfactorily extracted by methanol solution and easily analyzed. The recovery rate of dc-ELISA was 96-109% and correlated well with the results obtained by HPLC analysis.

Control of postharvest diseases of fruit by heat and fungicides: efficacy, residue levels, and residue persistence. A review

Extensive research has been done in recent years to reduce the heavy dependence on chemical fungicides to control postharvest diseases and disorders of horticultural crops. Alternative strategies were based on improved cultural practices, biological control, plant-defense promoters, and physical treatments such as UV illumination, radiofrequency treatment, heat therapy, and storage technologies. Among these, postharvest heat treatments such as hot water dips, short hot water rinsing and brushing, and hot air conditioning have reduced rot development and enhanced fruit resistance to chilling injury in sensitive cultivars while retaining fruit quality during cold storage and shelf life. Additive or synergistic increases in effectiveness were observed by integrating heat therapy with various chemical compounds, thus leading to significant reductions in the application of active ingredients to protect produce from decay. This paper highlights the knowledge on this topic with emphasis on heat therapy effects and factors affecting the uptake, persistence, and performance of fungicide residues when they are applied in combination with hot water.

Postinfection activity, residue levels, and persistence of azoxystrobin, fludioxonil, and pyrimethanil applied alone or in combination with heat and imazalil for green mold control on inoculated oranges

The postinfection activity of azoxystrobin (AZX), fludioxonil (FLU), and pyrimethanil (PYR), applied alone or in combination with imazalil (IMZ), in controlling postharvest green mold in 'Salustiana' oranges inoculated with Penicillium digitatum was studied. Fruits were immersed for 30 or 60 s in (i) water or water mixtures at 20 degrees C containing AZX, FLU, or PYR at 600 mg/L; and (ii) IMZ at 600 mg/L, alone or in combination with AZX, FLU, or PYR at 600 mg/L. Similar treatments were performed at 50 degrees C using the active ingredients at half rates with respect to the treatments at 20 degrees C. Fungicide residues in fruits were analyzed following treatments and after 14 days of simulated shelf life at 17 degrees C. AZX or FLU mixtures at 20 degrees C for 30-60 s similarly but moderately reduced green mold decay with respect to control fruit; differences due to dip time were not significant. Superior control of decay was achieved by PYR and, especially, IMZ, applied alone or in combination with AZX, FLU, or PYR. The activity of PYR at 20 degrees C was significantly dependent on treatment time, whereas that of IMZ and combined treatments at 20 degrees C was not. The effectiveness of FLU or PYR mixtures at 50 degrees C in controlling decay was similar and superior to that of AZX. The action of single- or double-fungicide application was not dependent on dip time in most samples. IMZ or combined mixtures at 50 degrees C were consistently more effective with respect to single-fungicide treatments with AZX, FLU, or PYR. The application of heated fungicide mixtures resulted in significantly higher residue accumulation in most fruit samples compared to treatments performed at 20 degrees C. The degradation rate of fungicides was generally low and dependent on treatment conditions such as time, temperature, and the presence or not of other fungicides.

Optimizing Efficacy of New Postharvest Fungicides and Evaluation of Sanitizing Agents for Managing Citrus Green Mold

Three new fungicides, azoxystrobin, fludioxonil, and pyrimethanil, that belong to different chemical classes are highly effective in managing citrus green mold and are being registered for postharvest use in the United States. Recirculating in-line drenches provided a significantly improved efficacy compared with standard low-volume spray applications. To prevent pathogen contamination of drench solutions, two oxidizing disinfectants, sodium hypochlorite and hydrogen peroxide/peroxyacetic acid (HPPA) solutions, were evaluated. Inhibition of conidial germination of Penicillium digitatum was dependent on the pH of the solution and the exposure time for each sanitizing agent. Chlorine (50 mg/liter) and HPPA (2,700 mg/liter) effectively inhibited germination in 40- and 240-s exposures, respectively, at pH 7. All fungicides tested were compatible and effective with HPPA, whereas fludioxonil, azoxystrobin, and thiabendazole, but not imazalil and pyrimethanil, were compatible with chlorine. In laboratory studies, sodium bicarbonate (SBC, 3%) significantly increased the efficacy of the three fungicides (250 mg/liter) and had no adverse effect on their stability in aqueous solutions. Fludioxonil (300 mg/liter)-SBC mixtures were still highly effective when applied 24 h after fruit inoculation. In experimental packingline studies, SBC or SBC-chlorine improved the efficacy of fludioxonil, whereas azoxystrobin was effective with and without these additives. Heating of drench solutions of fludioxonil (300 mg/liter) to 50°C did not improve decay control. In conclusion, in-line recirculating drench applications and fungicide-sanitizer-SBC mixtures significantly increased fungicide efficacy and provide an integrated approach for optimizing fungicide efficacy. These strategies also should minimize the selection for resistant isolates of the pathogen.

Photochemical transformation of azoxystrobin in aqueous solutions

The photochemical behaviour of azoxystrobin fungicide (AZX) in water was studied under laboratory conditions. Photodegradation was initiated using a solar simulator (xenon arc lamp) or a jacketed Pyrex reaction cell equipped with a 125 W, high-pressure mercury lamp. HPLC/MS analysis (APCI and ESI in positive and negative modes) was used to identify AZX photoproducts. The calculated polychromatic quantum efficiencies (phi) of AZX at pH 4.5, 7 and 9 were 5.42 x 10(-3), 3.47 x 10(-3) and 3.06 x 10(-3) (degraded molecules per absorbed photon), respectively. The relatively narrow range of values indicates the stability of AZX with respect to photodegradation in the studied pH range. Results from the HPLC/MS analysis suggest that the phototransformation of AZX proceeds via multiple, parallel reaction pathways including: (1) photo-isomerization (E-->Z), (2) photo-hydrolysis of the methyl ester and of the nitrile group, (3) cleavage of the acrylate double bond, (4) photohydrolytic ether cleavage between the aromatic ring giving phenol, and (5) oxidative cleavage of the acrylate double bond.

Residues of the quinone outside inhibitor fungicide trifloxystrobin after postharvest dip treatments to control Penicillium spp. on citrus fruit

The effectiveness of postharvest dip treatment with trifloxystrobin (TFX) or imazalil (IMZ) was compared for controlling green and blue mold (caused by Penicillium digitatum and Penicillium italicum, respectively) of citrus fruit. Residues retained by fruit were determined as a function of treatment time, dip temperature, and storage conditions. Trials on 'Avana apireno' mandarin oranges artificially inoculated with P. digitatum or P. italicum revealed that treatments with 200 to 600 mg/liter active ingredient TFX at 20 degrees C were less effective than 100 mg/liter TFX at 500C for controlling P. digitatum but equally effective for controlling P. italicum. IMZ treatments with 200 mg/liter IMZ at 20 degrees C or 25 mg/liter IMZ at 50 degrees C resulted in more than 98% reduction of P. digitatum and ca. 93% reduction of P. italicum compared with untreated fruit. Total suppression of pathogens was achieved when higher IMZ doses were applied. Studies on artificially wounded lemons, oranges, clementines, and mandarins revealed that treatment with 100 mg/liter TFX at 50 degrees C effectively controlled decay development (mainly due to P. digitatum) after 7 days of storage at 20 degrees C. These results were confirmed on nonwounded oranges of cv. Tarocco and on grapefruits of cvs. Marsh Seedless and Star Ruby during 3 weeks of simulated quarantine at 1 degrees C, storage (5 weeks at 8 degrees C for oranges and 8 weeks at 11degrees C for grapefruits), and an additional 1 week of simulated marketing conditions at 20 degrees C. IMZ at 50 degrees C was highly effective for controlling decay during storage and the simulated marketing period. TFX treatment at 50 degrees C was as effective as IMZ for controlling decay in most samples. After treatment with 100 mg/liter TFX at 20 degrees C, fungicide residues in 'Tarocco' oranges doubled from 0.15 mg/kg to 0.30 mg/kg when dip time increased from 0.5 to 3 min, whereas when treatments were performed at 50 degrees C TFX residues were not related to dipping time. Residues of TFX were significantly correlated with dip temperature. A 3-min dip treatment at 50 degrees C resulted in a deposition of TFX that was approximately twofold higher than that obtained when treatments were carried out at 20 degrees C.

Pre- and Postharvest Treatments to Control Green Mold of Citrus Fruit During Ethylene Degreening

Two approaches, fungicide applications to trees before harvest and drenching fruit after harvest, were evaluated to minimize postharvest green mold, caused by Penicillium digitatum, particularly among fruit subjected to ethylene gas after harvest, a practice termed "degreening" that eliminates green rind color. Preharvest applications of thiophanate methyl (TM) controlled postharvest green mold consistently. In five tests, green mold among degreened orange fruit was 16% when TM was applied 1 week before harvest; whereas, among fruit not treated, the incidence was 89.5%. Thiabendazole (TBZ) applied to harvested fruit in bins before degreening also was very effective. TBZ effectiveness was enhanced by mild heating (41°C), adding sodium bicarbonate, and immersing fruit, rather than drenching them, with the solution. With these measures, an isolate of P. digitatum with a high level of TBZ resistance was significantly controlled. In semicommercial tests with naturally inoculated fruit, TBZ and sodium bicarbonate treatment reduced green mold incidence from 11% among untreated orange fruit to 2%. TBZ residues in lemon fruit at 41°C were about twice those treated at 24°C. Neither TM before harvest nor TBZ and sodium bicarbonate applied after harvest influenced green color removal during degreening of orange fruit. Sodium bicarbonate slightly reduced the rate of lemon color change.