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This study aimed to investigate the dissipation pattern, risk assessment, and waiting period of myclobutanil on apple fruit (Malus domestica Borkh.) under temperate conditions in Kashmir, India. The study involved the application of myclobutanil 10 WP at a single recommended dosage (125 g a.i. ha−1) and double dosage (250 g a.i. ha−1) on Red Velox apple trees, 2 months before harvest. GC equipped with an electron capture detector was used to analyze myclobutanil residues in fruit samples. The study revealed that myclobutanil, at both recommended and double recommended doses, dissipated rapidly and became nondetectable after 55 and 60 days, respectively. The waiting period for myclobutanil application was determined to be 12.41 days for the single dose and 25.58 days for the double dose, respectively. These waiting periods were based on the maximum residue limit of 0.6 ppm as prescribed by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, and European Commission. The study concludes that myclobutanil 10 WP is safe for consumers at both recommended and double recommended doses when applied 2 months before harvest. Risk assessment, considering the average daily apple consumption in India and theoretical maximum residue contributions (TMRCs), indicates negligible health hazards even at double the recommended dosage. The calculated TMRC values at Day 0 were significantly below the maximum permissible intake. For average and maximum myclobutanil residues at single and double doses, the TMRC values were found to be 0.0069 and 0.0070 mg day−1 person−1 and 0.0105 and 0.0106 mg day−1 person−1, respectively. These results indicate that myclobutanil, when used according to recommended dosages and waiting periods, poses minimal health risks to consumers. The study emphasizes the importance of prudent fungicide use to minimize fungicide residues on fruits, thereby ensuring their safety for consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apple, a major fruit of temperate Himalayas, is sprayed with chemical pesticides around 12 times during the cropping season. Various systemic and contact fungicides are applied for the management of major diseases. In order to manage disease, flusilazole 40 EC is frequently used. However, excessive chemical application has been found to be detrimental for consumer safety. Keeping in view consumer safety, risk assessment, the half‐life and waiting period for flusilazole 40 EC were evaluated on the Red Velox variety of apple. The QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe) method and high‐performance liquid chromatography were adapted for sample processing and analysis, respectively. The recovery percentages of flusilazole at three fortification levels (0.04, 0.09 and 0.50 mg kg−1) were 98.85, 99.83 and 98.98%, respectively. Flusilazole at the recommended dose (80 g a.i. ha−1) left an initial deposit of 0.733 mg kg−1, which dissipated by 93.45% in 60 days and was non‐detectable beyond this period. Meanwhile flusilazole at double the recommended dose (160 g a.i. ha−1) left an initial deposit of 0.913 mg kg−1, which dissipated by 93.43% in 70 days and was non‐detectable beyond this period. Based on the maximum residue limit of 0.3 mg kg−1 as prescribed by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, a waiting period of 28.74 and 46.03 days was recorded for single and double doses, respectively. Moreover, in order to assess the consumer risk, theoretical maximum residue contributions (TMRCs) were derived using flusilazole residues (average and maximum) recorded at various time intervals and compared with the maximum permissible intake, which was found to be 0.42 mg per person per day. Based on the average per capita daily consumption of 6.76 g apple in India, the TMRC values were computed. Although the values of TMRC decreased below maximum permissible intake at the first day after application, indicating minimal consumer health risks, fruits sprayed with a double dose of flusilazole carried the risk even up to the tenth day after flusilazole application. The results of the present study will be valuable for safe and timely use of flusilazole on apple. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, an analytical method was developed and validated for the assessment of pesticide residues in commonly consumed vegetables and fruits. Fresh samples of apple, green peas, tomatoes, and cucumbers were processed and subjected to analysis using a modified QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, safe) extraction technique. Subsequently, quantification of pesticide residues was conducted utilizing gas chromatography (GC)‐electron capture detector. Extraction and cleanup parameters were meticulously optimized, resulting in a modification of the original QuEChERS method. This modification aimed to reduce solvent consumption, making the study more environmentally friendly. The developed method was validated in terms of selectivity, specificity, linearity, precision, and accuracy by following the SANTE guidelines. Calibration curves showed good linearity (r > 0.99) within the test range. Precision was evaluated by intra‐ and inter‐day experiments with an acceptable relative standard deviation (<20.0%). Recovery was assessed at the limit of quantification level and was observed to fall within the range of 70%–120%, with relative standard deviations below 5.45%. The validated method presented here can be applied to analyze pesticide residues in various other vegetables, fruits, and cereals. It is essential for ongoing monitoring of pesticide residues to ensure public safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fipronil is a broad‐spectrum phenyl pyrazole insecticide that has a high degree of environmental toxicity. Commonly available chilies in the market are treated with fipronil insecticides. Demand for insecticide‐free chili has thus been increasing globally. This needs various sustainable and economical methods to remove insecticides from chilies. The present study examined the effectiveness of several cleaning methods to remove pesticide residues in chili fruits. A supervised field trial was conducted in randomized block design at Rajasthan Agricultural Research Institute, Durgapura, Jaipur, India. Chili samples were subjected to seven different household methods. The samples were extracted using the quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) method. The residues were analyzed using a gas chromatograph–electron capture detector and confirmed by GC–MS. Of the seven methods, the acetic acid treatment removes the maximum residue effect of fipronil and its metabolites (desulfinyl [MB046513]), sulfide (MB045950), and sulfone (MB046136) on chili fruits. By contrast, the tap water treatment was the least effective. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) have set the maximum residue limit value of 0.001 mg kg−1 for fipronil on green chili. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A modified quick, easy, cheap, efficient, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) method coupled to gas chromatography with electron capture detection was developed for the simultaneous determination of selected electronegative pesticides, namely, chlorpyrifos‐methyl (1), chlorpyrifos (2), quinolphos (3), profenofos (4), myclobutanil (5), ethion (6), fenpropathrin (7), and cypermethrin (8), in vegetables with high water content. The selected compounds and some of their metabolites have even been found in human body fluids. In addition, some of them are known or suspected carcinogens according to the World Health Organization. Extraction and cleanup parameters were optimized; thus, the original QuEChERS method was modified to minimize solvent usage by making the study eco‐friendly. The developed method was validated for selectivity, specificity, linearity, precision, and accuracy using SANTE guidelines. Calibration curves showed good linearity (r > 0.99) within the test range. Precision was evaluated by intra‐ and inter‐day experiments with an acceptable range of less than 20.0% of relative standard deviation. Recovery was evaluated at limit of quantification and was found to be in the range of 70–120%, with relative standard deviations lower than 4.21%. The proposed method is applicable for detection and monitoring of selected pesticides in one run not only in fruits and vegetables with high water content but also in samples containing large quantities of pigments/dyes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This innovative study was carried out to determine the presence of the mineral oil Arbofine in apple and soil at four locations. Arbofine kills the vast majority of dormant insects and mites (mite and asphid eggs, scales and psyllids) on fruit trees (cherry, apple, plum and peach) and thus reduces the plant diseases in summer. In this study, the mineral oil was sprayed at recommended doses of 2.0 and 0.75%, and the doses were doubled to 4.0 and 1.5% in dormant and summer seasons, respectively. The soil samples were taken for observation during the dormant season, whereas both soil and apple samples were taken during the summer season after treatment for 0, 1, 3 and 5 days. The recovery study of all the 11 paraffinic constituents (n‐pentane, n‐hexane, n‐heptane, n‐octane, n‐nonane, n‐decane, n‐undecane, n‐dodecane, n‐tridecane, n‐tetradecane and n‐pentadecane) in soil and apple samples which constitutes 60% of mineral oil in soil and apple was carried out at the fortification level of 1.0 μg/ml, which was found to be between 72.1% and 99.0%. No residue of all the 11 paraffinic compounds of Arbofine mineral oil was detected in soil and apple samples at day 0 after the recommended doses, and the recommended doses were doubled in both seasons at four locations. Therefore, mineral oil can be used on apples without any risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nature of plant medicines is decided by the secondary metabolites it contains which may fluctuate with the altitude. We here studied the variation in total phenols and flavonoids and three marker compounds viz., atropine, caffeic acid, and chlorogenic acid in different plant parts of Hyoscyamus pusillus collected from three sites having varying altitudes. The ploidy level was determined through the standard acetocarmine technique. The atropine, caffeic acid, and chlorogenic acid content in different plant parts and populations were estimated using High-Performance Thin Layer Chromatography. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were evaluated using the Folin-Ciocalteau reagent and Aluminium chloride method respectively. The free radical scavenging activity was measured by DPPH assay. Investigation revealed that a high land population has a higher content of phenols and flavonoids and showed better scavenging of DPPH free radicals. The HPTLC analysis showed that the content of atropine, caffeic acid, and chlorogenic acid was maximum in roots and plants thriving at higher altitudes compared to plants at lower altitudes. Locally, the species is used for treating toothache and relieves the griping pain caused by drastic purgatives. Further, the populations at higher altitudes can be explored as an alternative source of atropine, caffeic acid, and chlorogenic acid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]