Enhanced Degradation of Azoxystrobin in Grapes and Model Systems by Ozone Fumigation during Storage

This study was conducted to investigate the natural decline in the residues of the world’s most widely used fungicide, azoxystrobin, in model systems and grapes stored in cold rooms and to determine if ozone fumigation during storage has a contribution to the degradation process. The level of the fungicide gradually decreased both in model systems and grapes with the reduction rates of 53 ± 2 and 29 ± 1%, respectively, at the end of storage. Addition of ozone (1.0 ppm) to the storage atmosphere was found to have a significant influence on fungicide degradation both in model systems and grapes and about 90% reduction rates were recorded. This is the first report demonstrating the accelerated degradation of azoxystrobin by the use of ozone gas treatment.