Residue dynamics of tebuconazole in mango ( <i>Mangifera indica</i> ): a study of persistence and dissipation using GC–MS/MS

The global mango (<i>Mangifera</i> indica) industry confronts mounting pressure to satisfy strict international pesticide standards. As India's most exported fruit, mangoes require crucial attention to food safety in their production. Tebuconazole is a widely used fungicide in mango cultivation, but lacks comprehensive and robust data on its residue dissipation in mango fruits. This study evaluated tebuconazole residue persistence and dissipation behaviour in mango under field conditions, addressing critical regulatory knowledge gaps affecting major importing nations. A supervised field trial was conducted in the summer of 2022, applying three foliar sprays at 10-day intervals starting 35 days before harvest, at recommended (47.3 g a.i./ha) and higher (59.125 g a.i./ha) doses. Residue analysis was performed on immature mango fruits (with peel), mature mango fruits (with peel), and mango pulp (without peel). Initial residues in immature mango were 0.241 mg/kg and 0.305 mg/kg at the recommended and higher rates, respectively. Residues dissipated below the limit of quantification (0.01 mg/kg) by day 15 for the recommended dose and day 20 for the higher dose, with half-lives of 4.02 and 4.18 days. At harvest, residues in mature mango fruits and pulp were below 0.01 mg/kg. These results confirm that tebuconazole, applied as recommended, dissipates effectively, ensuring food safety and compliance with export standards.