Dynamics of difenoconazole and propiconazole residues on pomegranate over 2 years under field conditions.

Residue dynamics of difenoconazole and propiconazole on pomegranate was studied after application at the recommended and double doses of 125 and 250 g active ingredient (a.i.) ha(-1) during August-October 2012. The study was repeated during the same period in 2013. QuEChERS method, in conjunction with gas chromatography (GC), was used for analysis of the fungicides after carrying out the method validation. The recoveries of the fungicides from pomegranate and soil were between 80.3 and 96.2 %; the limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were 0.016 and 0.05 mg kg(-1), respectively. The uncertainties of measurement were between 9.7 and 16.3 %. The initial residue deposits of difenoconazole were 0.875 and 1.205 mg kg(-1) from treatment at the recommended dose and 1.54 and 1.672 mg kg(-1) from treatment at the double dose from the first- and second-year studies. Propiconazole residues were 0.663 and 0.864 mg kg(-1) from recommended dose treatments and 1.474 and 2.045 mg kg(-1) from double dose treatments from the first- and second-year studies. The half-lives of degradation of difenoconazole were 6.4-8.4 days and propiconazole 7.9-8.5 days over the 2 years. Residues of difenoconazole and propiconazole remained on the pomegranate fruit surface and did not move to the edible part (aril). The pre-harvest intervals (PHIs), the time required for the residues to reduce below their respective EU maximum residue limits (MRLs), were 25.4 and 30.8 days for difenoconazole and 33.3 and 43.8 days for propiconazole from treatments at the recommended and double doses, respectively. Keeping in view consumer safety, the longer PHI from the two studies has been selected.