Quantitative analysis of translocation of tetraniliprole as a seed dresser

To ensure the plant health and safety of natural enemies and pollinators, seed dressing is preferred over foliar application. It is an eco-friendly approach of crop protection at low doses. Tetraniliprole as a seed dresser was applied on maize seeds at 3.6 and 7.2 g a.i./kg as a proposed dose and twice the proposed dose, respectively. The present field study assessed the quantitative translocation of tetraniliprole and its toxic metabolite chinazolinone in maize leaves, immature cob, stove, and grains using the QuEChERS method. The quantification of residue was carried on HPLC equipped with reverse phase ZORBAX Eclipse Plus C18 column (4.6 × 250; 5 μ) and diode array detector. Limit of detection and limit of quantification were worked out to be 0.01 and 0.05 mg kg^-1, respectively. All calibration curves showed a good linear relationship (r² > 0.99) within test ranges (0.01-0.5 μg ml^-1). Samples of maize leaves were collected on the 20th day after sowing considered "0" day. Initial residues of tetraniliprole in maize leaves were 0.921 and 1.377 mg kg^-1 at proposed and twice the proposed dose, respectively, and reached below limit of quantification (LOQ) 0.05 mg kg^-1 on the 7th and 15th day, respectively. Chinazolinone was not detected at both the doses. Estimation of tetraniliprole as well as its metabolite persistivity in immature cob at fruiting stage, mature grain, stove, and soil collected at harvest time revealed residues below LOQ.