Pesticide bioconcentration modelling for fruit trees.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Chemistry
• Agricultural Science
• Plant Physiology

Background:

• Pesticide residues in fruit trees are a concern for food safety.
• Understanding pesticide uptake and dissipation in perennial crops is essential.
• Existing models require refinement for accurate pesticide concentration prediction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a model (FTM-p) for simulating pesticide concentration in fruit trees.
• To estimate the pesticide bioconcentration factor (BCF) in fruits.
• To analyze the influence of various factors on pesticide BCF.

Main Methods:

• The study adapted the "Fruit Tree Model" (FTM) by incorporating first-order pesticide degradation kinetics in soil.
• A new equation was developed relating BCF to plant transpiration, pesticide concentration factors, wood properties, and dissipation rates.
• The FTM-p model was applied to a hypothetical mango plant treated with paclobutrazol.

Main Results:

• The model simulates pesticide concentration evolution and estimates BCF in fruits.
• Key variables influencing BCF include transpiration volume, stem-water partition coefficient, and dissipation rate.
• Sensitivity analysis confirmed the model's fitness by evaluating BCF variability.

Conclusions:

• The FTM-p model provides a valuable tool for predicting pesticide behavior in fruit trees.
• The model enhances understanding of pesticide uptake, accumulation, and dissipation dynamics.
• This research contributes to better risk assessment and management of pesticide use in perennial agriculture.