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CORESTA Congress, Edinburgh, 2010, APPOST 15

Current status of field testing program for pesticide residues in North Carolina flue-cured tobacco

STEWART A.M.; FISHER L.R.; PARKER R.G.
North Carolina State University, Dept. of Crop Science, Raleigh, NC, USA

Research was conducted from 2007 to 2009 at two locations in North Carolina to evaluate cured leaf residues resulting from the application of maleic hydrazide, flumetralin, butralin, cypermethrin, imidacloprid, or azoxystrobin to flue-cured tobacco. All pesticides were applied at maximum labeled rates and following all label recommendations so that maximum expected residues could be determined. Cured, whole-leaf, samples were collected from the bottom, middle, and upper stalk positions and were analyzed by Global Laboratories in Wilson, NC. Residue levels for maleic hydrazide ranged from 77 to 151 ppm, for flumetralin from <0.05 to 0.62 ppm, for butralin from <0.05 to 0.82 ppm, for cypermethrin from 4.0 to 26.5 ppm, for imidacloprid from <0.25 to <0.70 ppm, and for azoxystrobin from 1.45 to 13.39 ppm. Beginning in 2010, four pesticides will be tested in the program following the protocol and procedures used previously. These will be bifenthrin, chlorantraniliprole, clothianidin, and flubendiamide.