MERCURY RESIDUES IN APPLES IN RELATION TO SPRAY DATE, VARIETY AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF FUNGICIDE

Abstract

Mercury was readily translocated to growing fruit of apple trees which had received one cover spray of phenyl mercury acetate between June 14 and August 31. The rate of translocation was less with cover sprays applied near the end of this period. Translocation due to a phenyl mercury acetate cover spray occurred to about the same extent in the apple varieties McIntosh, Cortland, Red Delicious and Gravenstein. In addition to phenyl mercury acetate, a cover spray of phenyl mercury chloride, phenyl mercury dimethyl dithiocarbamate, phenyl mercury triethanol ammonium lactate, phenyl mercury monoethanol ammonium acetate, and mercuric chloride resulted in similar translocation of mercury to growing fruit.