Dissipation of imidacloprid on Kinnow mandarin fruits under sub-tropical conditions

Residues of imidacloprid were estimated in the pulp and rind of Kinnow mandarin fruits separately on high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Following application of imidacloprid at the rate of 0.008 and 0.016% a.i. on Kinnow mandarin plants, the average initial deposits at both these dosages on the rind of Kinnow mandarin fruits were found to be 2.40 and 3.90 mg/kg, respectively. The corresponding values in the pulp were observed to be 0.03 and 0.04 mg/kg, respectively. A sudden decline in the residue levels in the rind and a corresponding increase in the pulp was observed on 5^th day, thereafter, the residue levels steadily decreased both in the rind and pulp. Residues of imidacloprid were below its maximum residue limit (MRL) of 1.0 mg/kg in whole cirtus fruits at zero day sampling.