Dissipation of teflubenzuron and triflumuron residues in field-sprayed and cold-stored pears

Abstract

Dissipation of residues of benzoylurea insecticides teflubenzuron (TFB) and triflumuron (TFM) under field conditions was evaluated on a pear orchard in Greece. Residues were determined by UV-HPLC analysis, with a detection limit of 0.030 mg/kg for both pesticides. TFB residues in pears were found to persist for 2 weeks and decline thereafter with 48% of the initial deposit remaining 42 days after the last application. TFM residues were found to decline following first-order kinetics and with a half-life of 39(+/-7) days. Residues of both pesticides found in pears collected at harvest maturity were lower than the maximum residue limits (MRLs) set by individual countries. Dissipation of TFB and TFM in cold-stored pears was also evaluated. TFB residues were very persistent for the whole storage period, whereas TFM residues did not dissipate for 6 weeks and then showed a constant decline; 7% of the initial concentration remained at the end of the storage period of 29 weeks.