Determination of 28 pesticides applied on two tomato cultivars with a different surface/weight ratio of the berries, using a multiresidue GC-MS/MS method.

The behavior of 28 pesticides on two tomato cultivars with a different surface/weight (S/W) ratio of the berries (S/W, Birikino vs. Tombola) was studied, in order to provide appropriate indications about their persistence on crops reaching the pre-harvest interval (PHI). Quantitative analysis was performed using a GC MS/MS method. Birikino cv. (BIR) was a "cherry type tomato" with a double S/W ratio compared with Tombola cv. (TOM). The results showed a different pesticide behavior. Azoxystrobin, Boscalid, Bupirimate, Difenoconazole, Etofenprox, Iprodione, Mepanipyrim, Myclobutanil, Tebuconazole, Zoxamide, Metalaxyl M, Pyrimethanil, Tetraconazole, Benalaxyl, Cyprodinil, Fenamidone, Famoxadone and Fludioxonil immediately after treatments showed residues on BIR higher than TOM, and this behavior is consistent with its greater exposed surface. BIR showed higher decay rates of these pesticides during the whole trial, nevertheless residue averages remained higher than TOM reaching the time of harvest. Residues at the PHI were all below their Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs), but data indicated that they could exceed their legal limits especially if the above-mentioned active ingredients were employed more than once per crop cycle on cherry type tomatoes. As regards to Chlorpyrifos, Chlorpyrifos methyl, Triadimenol, Pyridaben and Tebufenpyrad, no different residual behavior related to S/W ratio of the cultivars was observed. Even in this case, residues at the PHI were all below MRLs. As for Cyfluthrin, Deltamethrin, Lambda cyhalothrin, Etoxazole and Cyproconazole, residues were lower than the limit of quantitation (LOQ) of the analytical method just after the treatment, according to their low doses of employment.

Residues behavior of some fungicides applied on two greenhouse tomato varieties different in shape and weight.

The degradation of 12 fungicides (azoxystrobin, cymoxanil, cyproconazole, cyprodinil, fenarimol, fludioxonil, iprovalicarb, mepanipyrim, penconazole, pyrimethanil, tolclofos-methyl, triadimenol), commonly used in pest management strategies on Sardinian greenhouse tomato crops was studied. A different residue behaviour was observed between the studied cultivar. On the smaller, a "cherry" type tomato, field data showed an initial residue mostly higher than the "beefsteak" tomato. In any case, except for penconazole, all pesticide residues were below their maximum residue levels (MRLs) reaching the pre-harvest interval (PHI). On both cultivar, triadimenol and cymoxanil residues completely disappeared reaching their PHI, while iprovalicarb, fenarimol, and fludioxonil disappeared in a time of 17 to 24 days. On the contrary, azoxystrobin, cyproconazole, cyprodinil, penconazole, tolclofos-methyl, mepanipyrim, and pyrimethanil showed a long persistence on both tested cultivar and may have residual problems due to an accumulation effect if repeated field treatments will be performed. The first group of molecules according to their rapid degradation could be used in low pesticide-input management in order to obtain tomatoes with low or no detectable residues.

Degradation of cyprodinil, fludioxonil, cyfluthrin and pymetrozine on lettuce after different application methods.

Degradation of two fungicides (cyprodinil and fludioxonil) and two insecticides (cyfluthrin and pymetrozine) applied on iceberg and romaine lettuce under field conditions with different methods (portable mistblower and chemigation) was studied field data showed that both distribution methods and lettuce cultivar affect the degradation trends of examined pesticides. In these trials the residues of all active ingredients after pre-harvest time were less than fifty's maximum residue levels; the values in the romaine cultivar were generally higher than those in iceberg lettuce. After pre-harvest time residues of pesticides applied on romaine lettuce by portable motor sprayer were always higher than those obtained by the chemigation system.

Chemical composition, plant genetic differences, and antifungal activity of the essential oil of Helichrysum italicum G. Don ssp. microphyllum (Willd) Nym.

The chemical composition of the essential oil of the Sardinian dwarf curry plant [Helichrysum italicum G. Don ssp. microphyllum (Willd) Nym] was studied. Genetic analysis suggested the presence of two chemotypes; morphological and chemical differences confirmed the presence of two chemotypes (A and B). The maximum yields were 0.18 and 0.04% (v/w) for flowering tops and stems, respectively. The concentrations of nerol and its esters (acetate and propionate), limonene, and linalool reach their highest values during the flowering stage both in flowers and in stems. Besides the essential oil, type B showed an interesting antifungal activity.