P.P. Singh et al. (1990) Phytoparasitica 18(2):153-158 RESIDUES OF CYPERMETHRIN, FENVALERATE AND DELTAMETHRIN ON CAULIFLOWER PARM PAL SINGH, BALWINDER SINGH and RAMINDERJIT SINGH BATFU 1 Following the application of cypermethrin, fenvalerate and deltamethrin to a cauliflower crop at rates of 50, 50 and 12 g a.i. ha-1, the maximum initial deposits of these insecticides on heads and leaves were 1.10 and 0.75, 1.14 and 0.60, and 0.32 and 0.12 mg kg -1, respectively. These residue values for fenvalerate were less than the maximum residue limit (MRL) of 2 mg kg-1 for this crop. While the maximum initial deposits of cypermethrin and deltamethrin on cauliflower leaves were less than their respective MRL values of 1 and 0.2 mg kg -I for brassica leafy vegetables, it took one day for their residues on cauliflower heads to decline below this level. KEY WORDS: Insecticide residues; cypermethrin; fenvalerate; deltamethrin; cauliflower. INTRODUCTION Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea variety botrytis L.) is an important vegetable crop grown extensively in Asia, Europe and America. One of the major constraints in commercial growth of this crop is the heavy damage caused to its leaves and heads by insect pests. In- a field where inadequate plant protection measures are taken, all the cauliflower heads may become infested; this may lead to serious qualitative and quantitative loss of the crop. Consequently, intensive sprays of insecticides required to protect this plant against insects are likely to leave residues on heads which may be hazardous to consumers and hence unacceptable in domestic as well as international trade. In addition, the foliage of this crop is used as cattle forage in rural areas and the presence of high levels of insecticide residues on leaves is, therefore, undesirable. During the last few years, the synthetic photostable pyrethroid insecticides have 1Dept. of Entomology,Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141 004, India. Received June 4, 1989; received in final form March 6, 1990. Phytoparasitica 18:2, 1990 153