Structure-specific detection of plant cuticle bound residues of chlorothalonil by ELISA

Monoclonal antibodies (mAb) against the main photo-addition products of chl orothalonil with olefinic compounds of plant cuticles were produced. An ind irect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed f or the detection of free and bound chlorothalonil and its derivatives. For the characterization of the binding properties of the mAb, derivatives of c hlorothalonil (simulating structures of cuticle bound residues) were synthe sized. The cross-reactivities of these products were determined by ELISA. T he test system was employed to detect bound residues of chlorothalonil in e nzymatically isolated tomato cuticles, which had been spiked with methanoli c solutions of the compound, irradiated by simulated sunlight and extracted . The use of isolated cuticles allows work to be carried out with authentic material without disturbance by metabolic processes. (C) 1999 Society of C hemical Industry.