Extension of the bioautograph technique for multiresidue determination of fungicide residues in plants and water

The inhibition effect of 17 fungicides on spores germination of different species of fungi on thin layer Chromatographie (TLC) plates has been studied in order to extend the applicability of bioautography and to increase the sensitivity of the detection. Minimum detectable amounts on TLC plates of vinclozolin, iprodione, procymidone, captan, imazalil, triadimefon, triadimenol, fenarimol, propiconazole, myclobutanil, flutriafol, flusilazole, hexaconazole, tebuconazole, dichloflunanid, benzimidazole fungicides have been determined when 5 species of fungi have been used as spray reagents: Penicillium sp., Trichoderma viride, Fusarium sp., Botrytis cinerea, Alternaria sp. A solvent system has been found for TLC separation of all 17 compounds studied. Recovery data have been collected for 5 representative fungicides on 4 different crops when determined by using new bioagents. Solid phase extraction (SPE) with C18, followed by bioautography, was applied for determination of fungicides in water samples. Recoveries for 5 representative compounds in drinking water were obtained. As the sensitivity to fungicides differs significantly, application of two bioagents of different spectra (Trichoderma viride and Fusarium sp. for instance) enables the number of compounds detected and the sensitivity to be increased. It enhances the applicability of bioautography as a screening test and also in semi-quantitative analysis of fungicides in crops and environment.