Abstract

The increased demand of high quantity and quality of cherry tomatoes requires the application of a wide range of pre-harvest pesticides. The application of dozens of pre-harvest pesticides frequently results in multiple pesticide residues, to which the end consumer is exposed. Incorrect usage of these pesticides may result in hazardous food contamination and therefore, it is crucial to monitor pesticide residues in pre- and post-marketed agricultural commodities. Hence, the objectives of the present study were to characterize the distribution and residual levels of pre-harvest pesticides applied on cherry tomatoes, as a function of regulated storage conditions, irrigation water salinity levels, and tap water rinsing. The fruits were grown in a greenhouse and were designated for the local and international markets. The residual pesticide levels allowed us to perform a dietary risk assessment for the consumption of contaminated tomatoes. Tetraconazole was the only pesticide residue, exceeding the maximal residue limit (MRL) value of 50 µg/kg in the fruits after 5 days of storage time. Since tetraconazole was shown to potentially impair reproduction and fetal development, it is suggested that the last application of this pesticide would be restricted to not less than 56 days before harvest. The extent of pesticide peel penetrability as well as the pesticide distribution and residual levels in the peel and pulp were unaffected by the salinity level (electrical conductivity 1.5–3 ds/m) of the irrigation water. The most commonly applied household washing procedure for fruit and vegetables, using running tap water for 30 s, was ineffective in removing residual pesticides from the peel. Hence, more efficient washing procedures are required to improve consumers’ safety.

Highlights

  • The steady increase in global demand of high quantity and quality of cherry tomatoes (i.e., Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme, a type of a small tomato) necessitates the application of a wide range of pre-harvest pesticides [1,2].Agronomy 2019, 9, 800; doi:10.3390/agronomy9120800 www.mdpi.com/journal/agronomyIn Israel, cherry tomatoes constitute an essential part of fruit production and agricultural trade [3].The application of dozens of pesticides during the growth process frequently results in multiple pesticide residues, to which the end consumer is exposed [4,5]

  • During the first 12 days of plant growth, the systemic fungicide propamocarb (Dotan-Proplant) and the insecticides, chloranthraniliprole, and thiamethoxam (Durivo) were applied through the irrigation water, while the remaining pesticide formulations were applied via foliage spraying during the remaining 78 days (Table 1)

  • Among the 14 different pesticides, applied over the course of 90 days, only the following pesticides used over the time span of 87 days before harvest were detected in peel and pulp: Chloranthraniliprole, difenoconazole, tetraconazole, novaluron, cyflumetofen, pyraclostrobin, boscalid, and cymoxanil

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Summary

Introduction

The steady increase in global demand of high quantity and quality of cherry tomatoes (i.e., Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme, a type of a small tomato) necessitates the application of a wide range of pre-harvest pesticides (insecticides, fungicides, nematocides, and molluscicides) [1,2].Agronomy 2019, 9, 800; doi:10.3390/agronomy9120800 www.mdpi.com/journal/agronomyIn Israel, cherry tomatoes constitute an essential part of fruit production and agricultural trade [3].The application of dozens of pesticides during the growth process frequently results in multiple pesticide residues, to which the end consumer is exposed [4,5]. In Israel, 99 synthetic organic pesticides are registered for pre-harvest usage on cherry tomatoes [7]. Incorrect usage of these pesticides may result in hazardous food contamination and it is crucial to monitor pesticide residues in pre-marketed agricultural commodities [5]. Several studies clearly demonstrated that the usage of fresh irrigation water, as compared to salty irrigation water, led to increased pre-harvest as well as post-harvest fruit peel cracking [10]. The aforementioned observation raised the question whether the increase in fruit peel cracks due to irrigation with fresh water (electrical current (EC) < 2 ds/m) [11] may result in increased penetrability of pesticides into the fruit pulp as compared to irrigation with salty water (EC > 3 ds/m)

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