DEVELOPMENT OF AN ENZYME-LINKED-IMMUNOSORBENT-ASSAY FOR THE DETECTION OF THE TRIAZOLE FUNGICIDE MYCLOBUTANIL

A competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) system for quantitative detection of myclobutanil was developed. Polyclonal antibodies were raised in rabbits against the haptenic compound 2-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-[(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)methyl] hexanoic acid, conjugated to conalbumin through the carboxylic acid moiety. The standard curve based on a homologous system using the above hapten conjugated to bovine serum albumin displayed a detection range from 0.3 to 200 mu g/mL for myclobutanil with an IC50 value of 4.9 +/- 0.5 mu g/mL. The effects of various assay conditions, including pH, organic solvent content; sample matrix effects (surface water, soil and fruit extracts), and protein stabilizer, on the sensitivity have been evaluated. Cross-reactivities with various related fungicides, insecticides, pharmaceuticals, and intermediates containing triazole, imidazole, or pyrimidine groups were tested and found to be below 15%. The detection system appears to be a versatile device for the environmental monitoring of myclobutanil.