Pesticide residues in cauliflower, eggplant, endive, lettuce, pepper, potato and wheat of the slovene origin found in 2009.

In the year 2009, 170 cauliflower, eggplant, endive, lettuce, pepper, potato and wheat samples from Slovene producers were analysed for pesticide residues. The samples were analysed for the presence of 214 different active compounds using three analytical methods. MRL exceedances have not been observed, which is better than the results obtained from the monitoring of pesticide residues in the products of plant origin in the European Union, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein for the years 2004 to 2006. We have observed that MRL exceedances in Slovenia have been reduced in recent times. We assume that the farmers have learned how to use PPP safely in accordance with good agricultural practice.

Residues of Pesticides in honeybee (Apis mellifera carnica) bee bread and in pollen loads from treated apple orchards.

Honey bee (Apis mellifera carnica) colonies were placed in two apple orchards treated with the insecticides diazinon and thiacloprid and the fungicide difenoconazole in accordance with a Protection Treatment Plan in the spring of 2007. Pollen and bee bread were collected from combs inside the hives. The residue of diazinon in pollen loads 10 days after orchard treatment was 0.09 mg/kg, and the same amount of residue was found in bee bread 16 days after treatment. In pollen loads 6 days after application 0.03 mg/kg of thiacloprid residues and 0.01 mg/kg of difenoconazole were found on the first day after application. Possible sub-lethal effects on individual honey bees and brood are discussed.

Pesticide and veterinary drug residues in honey - validation of methods and a survey of organic and conventional honeys from Slovenia.

Four analytical methods were developed and validated for the determination of veterinary drug residues and environmental pesticide residues in honey: (a) GC-MS method for the analysis of amitraz and all metabolites containing the 2,4-dimethylaniline moiety; (b) GC-MS method for the analysis of thymol, chlorfenvinphos and coumaphos; (c) GC-MS method for the analysis of 75 active substances; (d) LC-MS/MS method for the analysis of 60 active substances. Between the GC-MS (method c) and the LC-MS/MS method (method d) there was no overlap among active substances, meaning that using both methods 135 active substances originating from the environment in total were included and validated. The first method involved hydrolysis of amitraz and its metabolites containing the 2,4-dimethylaniline moiety to 2,4-dimethylaniline and extraction of 2,4-dimethylaniline to n-hexane. The other three methods had the same extraction procedure with a mixture of solvents: acetone, dichloromethane and petroleum ether. All 4 methods were tested in practice. Sixty samples of honey were analysed: 22 from organic and 38 from conventional production. Overall, residues were mainly higher than reported in literature but did not exceed MRLs. Risk assessment confirmed that the analysed samples are of no cause for concern for consumers.

Plant protection product residues in white grapes and wines of "Malvasia Istriana" produced in Istria.

Monitorting of plant protection product residues was performed in 12 grape and 66 wine samples of "Malvasia Istriana" variety, produced in Istria winegrowing region of Croatia and Slovenia. The samples were analysed for the presence of 169 different active compounds using two multiresidual analytical methods: gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. Residues were found in 58.3% of all the inspected grape samples and in 28.8% of all the inspected wine samples. Beside that contents of residues in grapes were below 10% of maximum residue level values and they should not represent any risk for "Malvasia Istriana" grape or wine consumers.

Impact of Leaf Removal, Applied Before and After Flowering, on Anthocyanin, Tannin, and Methoxypyrazine Concentrations in 'Merlot' (Vitis vinifera L.) Grapes and Wines.

The development and accumulation of secondary metabolites in grapes determine wine color, taste, and aroma. This study aimed to investigate the effect of leaf removal before flowering, a practice recently introduced to reduce cluster compactness and Botrytis rot, on anthocyanin, tannin, and methoxypyrazine concentrations in 'Merlot' grapes and wines. Leaf removal before flowering was compared with leaf removal after flowering and an untreated control. No effects on tannin and anthocyanin concentrations in grapes were observed. Both treatments reduced levels of 3-isobutyl-2-methoxypyrazine (IBMP) in the grapes and the derived wines, although the after-flowering treatment did so to a greater degree in the fruit specifically. Leaf removal before flowering can be used to reduce cluster compactness, Botrytis rot, and grape and wine IBMP concentration and to improve wine color intensity but at the expense of cluster weight and vine yield. Leaf removal after flowering accomplishes essentially the same results without loss of yield.

Plant protection product residues in red grapes and Teran PTP wine.

Between 2011 and 2013, a total of 73 grape and 82 wine samples from winegrowing district Kras (Karst) were analysed for plant protection product (PPP) residues. The samples were analysed for the presence of 215 different active compounds using two multiresidual analytical methods: gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. Residues were found in 91.8% of all grape samples and in 67.1% of all wine samples. In all grape samples, residues were below maximum residue levels (MRLs) and 58.9% of all grape samples contained active substances at a level of less then 10% of the MRL. Nearly 33% of all Teran PTP wines did not contain PPP residues at all. Residues diminish during processing of grapes to wine, so their content in wine was low. Therefore, it could be concluded that grapes and wine in the winegrowing district Kras are safe for consumers.