99% of cherries are grown? Experts point out that the safety of swelling agent is guaranteed
Our reporter Ma Aiping
To remind you
Every summer, various seemingly eloquent "science" and "big" and red cherries go on the market simultaneously.
Recently, a video about the quality and safety of cherries spread online, saying that 99% of the cherries on the market use a bulking agent. Normal cherries can only grow to 12-13 grams in weight, and the bulking agent can be doubled. If the cherry core does not have any nuts, the hollow is the medicine..."
What is the swelling agent often named, is there really a miracle effect? What is the size of the cherry? To this end, the reporter visited experts in the agricultural field and consulted on issues of concern to people.
No food safety incident caused by it
"Swelling agent is a plant growth regulator. In the process of cherry growth, in order to improve pollination rate and fruit setting rate, cherries planted in a greenhouse are usually required to use a swelling agent; cherries grown in the open field do not need to be used. Wang Qiang, a researcher at the Agricultural Products Quality Safety Risk Assessment Laboratory (Hangzhou) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, told reporters that at present, open field cherries are the mainstream cultivation model in China, and it is estimated that commercially available cherries may indeed use plant growth regulators such as bulking agents, but The usage rate should be less than 50%.
How do plant growth regulators work in the production of fruit and vegetable products?
"Plant growth regulators have similar effects to plant hormones and can stimulate the division and growth of plant cells. The difference is that plant growth regulators are synthesized by scientists and modified to make them more active than plant hormones. Said Xu Donghui, a researcher at the Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences.
In terms of management, since 1997, in accordance with the "Pesticide Management Regulations", plant growth regulators are administered as pesticides.
According to the relevant person in charge of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, there are currently nearly 40 registered plant growth regulators in my country. There are more than 100 types registered and used internationally. Approved and registered plant growth regulators should formulate technical specifications for safe use, including medication period, dosage, application method, scope of use, precautions and safety interval, etc., and clearly marked on the product label to guide farmers to use rationally. In addition, the registered products are subject to a series of residue tests, and residue limit standards and reasonable use guidelines are formulated based on data such as residue tests to ensure the quality and safety of agricultural products. Since 2015, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has conducted a risk assessment of plant growth regulator residues in agricultural products. The results show that the average residue value of plant growth regulators is only 0.001-0.034 mg/kg. The risk of dietary exposure is very low, and product quality and safety are guaranteed. .
Experts said that in terms of safety, there have been no food safety incidents caused by plant growth regulator residues in the world. In my country, agricultural products to which plant growth regulators have been applied are also very safe for consumers. Compared with other pesticides, although plant growth regulators are included in the management of pesticides, they are not traditional pesticides for curing diseases, insects and weeds. Their products are of low toxicity, and some are listed as not requiring residue limits because they are almost non-toxic. Exempt substances. For example, the toxicity of clopipramide commonly used for swelling fruits (half lethality is greater than 4918 mg/kg) is lower than that of table salt (half lethality is 3200 mg/kg). In addition, due to the small amount of plant growth regulator, excessive use is likely to produce adverse effects, and farmers cannot use it in large quantities, so the residue of plant growth regulator is low.
Fruit size is determined by a combination of factors
So, what are the factors related to the size of the cherry fruit, can the bulking agent "double" the fruit?
According to experts, large fruit cherries and seedless cherries are related to variety characteristics, cultivation measures and the use of plant growth regulators.
Xu Donghui told reporters that "Mei Zao" is currently the largest fruit among cherry varieties, and this variety of cherries has the characteristics of large fruit size, full taste and sweetness. The "meizao" cultivated under normal circumstances has a single fruit weight of 8-12 grams and can reach 16-20 grams under special cultivation methods.
"The sweet cherry variety'Red Light' bred in China, under normal circumstances, the single fruit weight can reach 11-15 grams. From the perspective of drug control, there have been reports in the literature that the treatment of cherries through the plant growth regulator gibberellic acid can increase the single fruit Weighing about 15%-30%, the expansion effect is limited." Wang Qiang said.
So, does cherry seedless mean that it has been treated with a bulking agent? Wang Qiang said that this statement is too absolute. Although there are reports in the literature that the cherry core will form hollow after treatment with a certain concentration of gibberellic acid, but 100% is not necessarily seedless after treatment with low concentration of gibberellic acid. In addition, the reason for the hollow cherry is also natural abortion or other possibilities, not necessarily because of the use of gibberellic acid and other agents.
Xu Donghui explained that in order to improve the pollination rate and fruit setting rate of cherries, fruit farmers will apply gibberellin and other plant growth regulators during the flowering period, and may cause seedless fruits and fruits without nuts. However, this does not affect the safety of cherries.