Abstract
Background: As the Positive List System (PLS) is implemented in broad application to agricultural products, attention to the correct use of pesticides is also needed in the production of mulberry leaves and fruit. In this regard, three types of pesticides against mulberry popcorn disease were applied 2 - 3 times both in the field and greenhouses to prepare safety standards. Residual pesticide analysis was conducted on mulberry fruits and leaves. Methods and results: Three pesticieds, thiophanate-methyl, thiophanate-methyl·triflumizole and fluopyram registered as PLS pesticides for mulberry popcorn disease, were sprayed in the Wanju and in Buan regions, after which residual pesticide analysis was conducted using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). As three pesticieds were either undetected or below the permissible level in mulberry fruit, demonstrating that they were suitable for safe spraying. However, 5.6 mg/kg of thiophanate-methyl was detected in the greenhouse after three application, which was slightly above maximum residue limit (MRL). Furthermore the level of thiophanate-methyl·triflumizole was higher than 0.2 mg/kg ("Gwasang No. 2" variety, spraying twice) or similar to 0.09 mg/kg ("Daesim" variety, spraying thrice) the permissible level (0.1T mg/kg) as the thiophanate-methyl was detected in mulberry leaves in the greenhouse. Conclusions: The spraying frequency for controlling mulberry popcorn disease in greenhouses should be limited to two times or less, especially when mulberry leaves are treated with thiophanate-methyl·triflumizole careful consideration is required if the leaves are to be used as food materials.
