Dissipation and residue of spinosad in zucchini under field conditions.

The dissipation and residue of the insecticide spinosad in zucchini were investigated. An ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analytical method was developed for spinosad analysis. The half-lives of spinosad were 3.5-3.9 days in zucchini and 3.6-4.1 days in soil. The results showed that the dissipation rate of spinosad was fast, and it is suggested that a combination of rapid growth of zucchini, photodecomposition and the activity of soil microorganisms affected the dissipation rate of spinosad. The terminal residues of spinosad in zucchini were all below the quantification limit. No residue limit currently exists for spinosad in zucchini in China and other countries. Thus, the results can be useful in establishing a maximum residue limit.