To accelerate genetic gains in breeding, physiological trait (PT) characterization of candidate parents can help make more strategic crosses, increasing the probability of accumulating favorable alleles compared to crossing relatively uncharacterized lines. In this study, crosses were designed to complement

A simple, easy, cheap and efficient analytical method for determination of multiple pesticide residues including organochlorine, organophosphorus, synthetic pyrethroids and herbicides in rice grain by capillary gas chromatography is developed. The quantification of residues was done by capillary gas chromatography with a μ-ECD detector and a HP-5MS capillary column. Known amounts of a mixture of pesticides were added to grain prior to extraction, cleanup and GC-determination. Recoveries were checked at two fortification levels; 0.1 and 0.5 μg/g. Qualitative and quantitative analysis were carried out based on the retention time and peak area basis. The results show that the average recovery of the analytical method for the fortified rice samples was in the range of 74%-111% and %RSD in the range of 2.41-12.42. The analytical method was used to analyze commercial rice grain samples.

The original article was corrected. Author Muhammad Kundi should instead read: Muhammad Sohail.

This study presents an improved method for quantitative analysis of imidacloprid residues in wheat grain using high performance liquid chromatography. The study used chromatographic response (in terms of peak height) as a quantitative tool for determination instead of peak area. The peak height of imidacloprid showed a very good linear correlation (R(2) = 0.999) when compared with absolute values at six different concentrations. The limit of detection was found to be 0.01 μg/mL. The recovery of imidacloprid residues in spiked wheat grain at three levels (0.03, 0.05, and 0.1 μg/g) was in the range of 79%-88% with %RSD 5.72 at 0.05 μg/g (w/w) and between 87% and 93% with %RSD 3.55 at 0.1 μg/g (w/w). At 0.03 μg/g (w/w) level, recovery was not within the recommended range of 70%-110%. Therefore, the lowest limit of quantification for this method was found to be 0.05 μg/g.

Present study was conducted to investigate the levels and persistence of imidacloprid residues in wheat grains and straw of field crop samples grown from treated seed and foliar application. Objective of the study was to assess the best practices that may be used to produce safe grains and straw. Residual uptake of imidacloprid was measured after seed treatments at four dosage levels of seed. Each sample of 25g treated seed was sown in a separate 5ft2 plot.The absorption of imidacloprid residues was investigated by spraying the crops with 1ml and 5ml of 6 mgmL-1 solution of 200SL Confidor (imidacloprid). The results helped in determining the maximum allowable limits of imidacloprid application (foliar or seed treatment) on wheat, which would prevent the residues from exceeding the MRL. The quantitative determination of imidacloprid suggested that the lowest seed treatment level (i.e. 0.015g/25g seed) may be used to produce a residues-free crop.