Residues Analysis of Acetamiprid, Boscalid, Imidacloprid and Pyraclostrobin in the Minor Crop Mustard Green under Greenhouse Conditions for Evaluation of their Potentiality of PLS Violation

BACKGROUND: The demand for pesticide registration has kept increasing for minor crop cultivation in greenhouse since Positive List System (PLS) has been launched. Thus, much study on the evaluation of pesticide residues in minor crops is required to examine the demand. In this study, we evaluated residues of acetamiprid, boscalid, imidacloprid and pyraclostrobin in the minor crop mustard green to provide the potential data for their registration. METHODS AND RESULTS: Pesticide granule formulations of acetamiprid, boscalid, imidacloprid and pyraclostrobin were incorporated into soil and applied onto field soil surface at rates of 3 kg/10a, 6 kg/10a, 3 kg/10a and 6 kg/10a, respectively. The pesticides were also applied at the two times higher than the rates to compare the residues between the application rates. Mustard green seeds were sown 1 day after pesticide application and cultivated under greenhouse conditions. LC/MS/MS analyses coupled with a modified QuEChERs method were employed for determination of the pesticides in plant samples. The method limits of quantitation (LOQ) of the pesticides were 0.01 mg/kg, and the matrix calibration curves of the pesticides showed linearity with coefficient values of determination (r2) greater than 0.995. The average recovery values of the pesticides fortified in control samples at rates of LOQ and 10LOQ ranged from approximately 77.5% to 101.2% with relative standard deviation values lower than 14%. The pesticides in the mustard green samples cultivated for 53 days after sown were determined to be lower than the LOQ level. CONCLUSION: Acetamiprid, boscalid, imidacloprid and pyraclostrobin were found at a level lower than 0.01 mg/kg in the minor crop mustard green. Thus, their residues in mustard green would not violate PLS under greenhouse conditions.