Residues of pirimiphos-metil on wheat, corn and popcorn grains, in some of their processed products and residual action of the insecticide on Sitophilus spp. (Coleoptera, Curculionidae).

Author(s)

Eduardo Sgarbiero

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: Piracicaba.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALA/BC)
• Defense date: 2002-03-19

Examining board members

Gilberto Casadei de Baptista; Oscar Bahia Filho; Marcos Aparecido Pizano

• Advisor: Gilberto Casadei de Baptista

Abstract

The purposes of this study were to evaluate the occurence, persistence and degradation of pyrimiphos-methyl organophosphorus insecticide residues on wheat, corn and popcorn grains in and some of their processed products, as well the residual action of this insecticide for the control the Sitophilus spp. (Coleoptera, Curculionidae). Grain treatment was performed to obtain the theoretic concentration of 12 mg.Kg-1 (ppm) of pyrimiphos-methyl, which was applied at the dosage of 5 L of solution/ton of the grain. Sampling was performed at 0, 15, 30, 60, 120 and 240 days after the treatment. The samples were analyzed for residues of pyrimiphos-methyl using a residue method based on extraction with acetone, clean up by partition with acetonitrile/hexane followed by silica gel column chromatography eluted with a mixture of hexane + acetone (9:1) (v:v) solution. Residue determinations were done by the gas chromatography technique using a flame photometry detector (GLC/FPD). Total samples analyzed were 264, being 72 of cereal grains and 192 of processed products. The studies of residual action of the insecticide for the control of Sitophilus spp adults were conducted with adults and exposing the insects to treated grains 15 days after the application, 30 days, and subsequently at monthly intervals up to 12 months. The limits of quantitation of the analytical method for different substracts ranged between 0.05 to 0.1 mg.kg-1 (ppm). Pyrimiphos-methyl residues were not persistent on the grains and processed products. A decay of 4 to 8 times during the sampling period was observed. The residues found were higher in the processed products with high oil content (wheat and corn brans), lower on grains (similar to whole and white flours and popcorn) and even lower in bread, corn flour and "canjica". Pyrimiphos-methyl was very efficient for the control of Sitophilus spp on the three grain types during the entire period of observation. (AU)