JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, vol.100, no.5, pp.1980-1989, 2020 (SCI-Expanded)
BACKGROUND In this study, an infrared-based prediction method was developed for easy, fast and non-destructive detection of pesticide residue levels measured by reference analysis in strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch, cv. Albion) samples using near-infrared spectroscopy and demonstrating its potential alternative or complementary use instead of traditional pesticide determination methods. Strawberries of Albion variety, which were supplied directly from greenhouses, were used as the study material. A total of 60 batch sample groups, each consisting of eight strawberries, was formed, and each group was treated with a commercial pesticide at different concentrations (26.7% boscalid + 6.7% pyraclostrobin) and varying residual levels were obtained in strawberry batches. The strawberry samples with pesticide residuals were used both to collect near-infrared spectra and to determine reference pesticide levels, applying QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, rugged, safe) extraction, followed by liquid chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis.