Role of Pesticides in Produce Production, Preservation, Quality, and Safety 343
Statistic Service (NASS) provides reports concerning agricultural chemical usage
on fruits, vegetables, and other crops [3], and the National Scientific Foundation
(NSF) Center for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) developed (in cooperation with
the USDA) crop profiles, also accessible through the Internet, that include informa-
tion on cultural practices, crop pests and diseases, and their chemical control [4].
In print, The Pesticide Manual [5] and the Crop Protection Handbook (formerly the
Farm Chemicals Handbook) [6] serve as essential reference books on pesticide
chemistry. These and other sources of information were used to compile the follow-
ing sections, which discuss in detail positive effects of the application of the pesticide
groups listed in Table 11.1 on produce yields, preservation, quality, and safety.
Furthermore, these sections also describe basic traits of biological effects and modes
of action of the discussed pesticides and provide important examples of pesti-
cide/pest/produce combinations.
However, before going into details, let us focus on the common benefits resulting
from pesticide use. Basically, the major benefits include increased produce yields
and reduced spoilage during the storage, transport, distribution, and processing of
produce. Increased yields and decreased postharvest spoilage translate not only into
economic but also into health and environmental benefits [7]. The use of pesticides
results in year-round availability and general affordability of fruits and vegetables,
which are excellent sources of important vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Their
increased consumption improves consumers’ health, including a reduced risk of
cancer [8,9]. Of course, the question remains whether pesticides potentially increase
TABLE 11.1
Significant Pesticide Groups Together with Target Pests and/or
Addressed Problems
Pesticide Group Pest/Problem
Insecticides Insects
Acaricides Acari (mites and ticks)
Nematicides Nematodes (eelworms)
Molluscicides Mollusks (land slugs and snails)
Fungicides Fungi
Bactericides Bacteria
Herbicides Weeds
Rodenticides Vertebrate pests, mainly rodents (e.g., rats, mice, rabbits)
Avicides Birds
Fumigants Various pests in soil and enclosed spaces
(e.g., greenhouses, food stores, warehouses)
Plant growth regulators Plant growth control
(e.g., growth stimulation, control of flowering, setting of fruit, leaves falling)
Fruit thinning agents Excessive fruits
Sprouting inhibitors Postharvest sprouting of root, tuber, and bulb crops
Defoliants Unwanted leaves
Desiccants Unwanted moisture (e.g., preharvest drying of potato vines)