Real-Time and in Situ Monitoring of Pesticide Penetration in Edible Leaves by Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Mapping.
Understanding of the penetration behaviors of pesticides in fresh produce is of great significance for effectively applying pesticides and minimizing pesticide residues in food. There is lack, however, of an effective method that can measure pesticide penetration. Herein, we developed a novel method for real-time and in situ monitoring of pesticide penetration behaviors in spinach leaves based on surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) mapping. Taking advantage of penetrative gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) as probes to enhance the internalized pesticide signals in situ, we have successfully obtained the internal signals from thiabendazole, a systemic pesticide, following its penetration into spinach leaves after removing surface pesticide residues. Comparatively, ferbam, a nonsystemic pesticide, did not show internal signals after removing surface pesticide residues, demonstrating its nonsystemic behavior. In both cases, if the surface pesticides were not removed, copenetration of both AuNPs and pesticides was observed. These results demonstrate a successful application of SERS as an effective method for measuring pesticides penetration in fresh produce in situ. The information obtained could provide useful guidance for effective and safe applications of pesticides on plants.
Department of Food Science, University of Massachusetts , Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States.
Tianxi
T
Yang
Department of Food Science, University of Massachusetts , Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States.
Zhiyun
Z
Zhang
Department of Food Science, University of Massachusetts , Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States.
Bin
B
Zhao
Department of Food Science, University of Massachusetts , Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States.|State Key Laboratory of Tea Plant Biology and Utilization, Anhui Agricultural University , Hefei, Anhui 230036, P. R. China.
Ruyan
R
Hou
Department of Food Science, University of Massachusetts , Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States.
Amanda
A
Kinchla
Department of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts , Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States.|Massachusetts Pesticide Analysis Laboratory , Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States.
John M
JM
Clark
Department of Food Science, University of Massachusetts , Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States.
Lili
L
He
D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry; D010575:Pesticides / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman; D018724:Spinacia oleracea / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism
D010575:Pesticides; D006046:Gold