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Copper (Cu) is naturally present in all soils with a normal range of 2 -60 mg kg 21 . The traditional use of Cu fungicides against mildew diseases has led to the accumulation of Cu in some vineyard and orchard soils. Consequently, there is a move to reduce the use of these compounds in agriculture, especially in organic cultivation. A comprehensive study has not been made of the Cu content of Greek agricultural soils, which are typically alkaline with high clay content and may, therefore, be vulnerable to Cu accumulation. Within the framework of various projects, surface soil samples were taken from 10 different regions of Greece for various representative crops, and especially, for fallow soil and abandoned land. The samples were analyzed for total (aqua regia digestion) and DTPA-extractable Cu content and for several physical and chemical properties. Mean values of total Cu for the different regions of the country ranged from 16 (Limnos and Thera) to 89 mg kg 21 (Nemea), with an overall mean of 38 + 26 mg kg 21 . Significantly lower Cu content (27 mg kg 21 ) was found for annual than for other crops. The mean values for fallow land, vines, and olives were close to the overall mean, but for citrus the mean value was slightly higher. The highest value of 70 mg kg 21 was found for orchards/nuts

The bracket-like polypore fungus, Ganoderma australe, was selected for its potential to degrade lindane in liquid agitated sterile cultures. An orthogonal central composite design based on response surface methodology was used to find the optimum biodegradation and biosorption conditions of this pesticide and the growth conditions of the fungus. The factors tested include nitrogen content, initial concentration of lindane, incubation time, and temperature. The optimization parameters investigated were fungus biomass, fungus growth rate, final pH, specific biodegradation, specific biosorption, specific biodegradation rate, biodegraded to biosorbed ratio. The results of the experiments were statistically analyzed and the significance and effect of each factor on responses was assessed. The optimum (maximum) lindane biodegradation (3.11 mg biodegraded lindane per gram biomass) was obtained with nitrogen content of 1.28 g/L, lindane concentration of 7.0 ppm, temperature of 18.0°C, and 5 days of cultivation time.

Azoxystrobin, a fungicide of the strobilurin group, has an European Union maximum residue level (MRL) of 2 mg/kg for grapes. This work aimed to assess residues on fresh and washed grapes and on raisins following processing with (i) alkali treatment and sun drying and (ii) sun drying only. QUADRIS 25% SC was applied according to good agricultural practice for two consecutive years on a typical cv. Thomson seedless and a seed-producing clone. Samples were collected 0, 15, and 21 days postapplication and analyzed using gas chromatography/electron capture detection; recoveries were 86 +/- 12% for grapes and 99 +/- 15% for raisins. Residues on grapes were 0.49-1.84 mg/kg, and washing removed 75% of the residue. Residues in raisins produced from seedless grapes were 0.51-1.49 (treatment 1) and 1.42-2.08 mg/kg (treatment 2), with residue transfer factors sometimes >1, even following alkali treatment, which reduced residues considerably. To avoid trade problems, a higher MRL for raisins is necessary.