Method Validation and Residues determination of Mineral oil Arbofine on apple and soil by gas chromatography-flame ionisation detector under temperate conditions of Kashmir, India.

The present innovative study was carried out to ascertain the persistence of a mineral oil (Arbofine) on apple and soil at four locations. Arbofine destroys the vast majority of dormant insects and mites (mite and asphid eggs, scales, and psyllids) on fruit trees (cherry, apple, plum and peach) and thus reduces the number of treatments required in summer. The mineral oil was applying at recommended dose of 2.0% and 0.75% and double the recommended dose of 4.0% and 1.5% in dormant and summer season respectively. The soil samples were taken during the dormant season, whereas both soil and apple samples were taken during the summer season after treatment at 0, 1, 3, and 5 days. The recovery study of all the eleven paraffinic constituents (n-Pentane, n-Hexane, n-Heptane, n-Octane, n-Nonane, n-Decane, n-Undecane, n-Dodecane, n-Tridecane, n-Tetradecane, n-Pentadecane) in soil and apple which constituents 60% of mineral oil in soil and apple was carried out at the fortification level of 1.0μg mL -1 and found between 72.1-99.0 %. No residue of all the eleven paraffinic compounds of arbofine mineral oil detected in soil and apple at 0 day after recommended doses and double the recommended doses in both the seasons at four locations. Therefore mineral oil can be used on apples without any risk.