EFFECT OF RINSING SOLUTIONS FOR REMOVING MANCOZEB RESIDUES IN TABLE TOMATOES

Abstract

Fungicides are the pesticides most widely used for tomato cultivation, mainly dithiocarbamates. The objective of this research was to study the efficiency of dithiocarbamate mancozeb removal from table tomatoes, through rinsing processes. Analyses of tomato acidity, brix, water activity, pH, and manganese content were carried out. After rinsing tomatoes with drinking water and solutions of vinegar (made from alcohol), sodium bicarbonate, and dihidrated sodium dichloroisocyanurate, mancozeb levels were assessed in skin and whole fruit, by quantifying the manganese content present in the samples. It was observed that the rinsing processes reduced significantly the amount of residues in the tomatoes. The reduction of mancozeb was higher in the skin, where it can be found in its highest concentration. Treatments using drinking water and sodium bicarbonate solution removed over 61% of the residues present in tomatoes skin.

KEY-WORDS: Fungicides; dithiocarbamates; Lycopersicum esculentum Mill.