author(s)
Sudhakar S Kelageri, Cherukuri Sreenivasa Rao, Vemuri Shashi Bhushan and Pothula Narayana Reddy

abstract
Phosalone an organophosphorus insecticide, recommended in tomato for the control of fruit borer in the form of 35% EC @450 g a.i ha^-1 by CIBRC. Indian MRL values of phosalone for vegetables are 1 ppm and there are no MRLs for tomato as per CAC. Further there is no specified Pre Harvest Interval [PHI] suggested by CIBRC. In this view a research project was taken to study dissipation pattern of phosalone in both open fields and poly houses, and to address the food safety issue, common household decontamination methods were evaluated for their efficiency in removing phosalone residues from tomato fruits. Phosalone residues were quantified through regular sampling till the residues are below determination level (BDL) of 0.25 mg kg^-1 following the validated QuEChERS method. Initial deposits of 4.55 mg kg^-1 were detected in tomato samples collected from the poly house, which dissipated to BDL by 7^th day with the half-life of 1.06 days. In open fields, deposits of 2.52 mg kg^-1 dissipated to BDL by 5^th day with the half-life of 1.42 days, based on the study PHI of 3 days and 5 days can recommended in open filed and poly house tomato respectively as the residues were below MRL of 1 ppm by respective days after treatment. Veggy wash found to be very effective in removing flubendiamide residues to an extent of 55.13%, followed by 4% acetic acid solutions (52.34%) and 2% salt solution (47.60%).