Soluble sugars, malic acid, and ascorbic acid in 17 apple cultivars (Malus domestica Borkh.) and three wild forms (M. pumila ‘Saiwaihong’, M. prunifolia (Willd.) Borkh. and M. micromalus Makino) from three major apple cultivation regions in China were quantified using gas chromatography equipped with flame ionization detector (GC-FID). Fructose was the most abundant sugar, followed by sucrose, glucose, and sorbitol. Wild apples contain more sorbitol and less sucrose and were significantly more acidic than cultivated fruits. The total sugar content varied from 110 to 160 mg/g fresh fruits, total acid content from 2 to 6 mg/g, with a strong influence of genetic background and growth location. Overall, ‘Gala’, ‘Xiali’, ‘Liuyuehong’, ‘Lihong’, ‘Starking Delicious’, and ‘Starkrimson’ were characterized by higher sugar/acid ratio indicating sweeter taste compared to other cultivars. The wild apples had the highest content of ascorbic acid (0.6–0.96 mg/g). Compared to other cultivars, ‘Zhongqiuwang’, ‘Qinguan’, and ‘Nagafu No. 2′ were richer in ascorbic acid. The ascorbic acid content in the commercial cultivars was highly dependent on growth location. The content of malic acid and sucrose positively correlated to altitude, and that of glucose negatively. Malic acid positively correlated with ascorbic acid and sucrose, glucose content with ascorbic acid.

Fenpyroximate is an efficient, broad-spectrum phenoxypyrazole acaricide which is used for controlling various mites. In this study, we measured the levels of terminal fenpyroximate residues in citrus fruits, and estimated the dietary intake risks posed by fenpyroximate. To this end, a QuEChERS analytical method was used in combination with ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) to determine the residual levels of fenpyroximate and its Z-isomer (Z-fenpyroximate) in citrus fruits collected from 12 fields under good agricultural practices (GAPs). The average recoveries of fenpyroximate in whole fruits and citrus flesh were 104–110% and 92–109%, respectively, with corresponding RSDs of 1–4% and 1–3%. The average recoveries of Z-fenpyroximate were 104–113% and 90–91%, respectively, with RSDs of 1–2% in both cases. Each limit of quantification (LOQ) was 0.01 mg kg⁻¹. Fifteen days after application with 56 mg kg⁻¹, the terminal residues of fenpyroximate in whole fruits and citrus flesh were <0.010–0.18 mg kg⁻¹ and <0.010–0.063 mg kg⁻¹, respectively; the corresponding values for total fenpyroximate (the sum of fenpyroximate and Z-fenpyroximate) were <0.020–0.19 and <0.020–0.053 mg kg⁻¹. The levels of terminal fenpyroximate residues in citrus fruit were less than the maximum residue limits (MRLs) specified in all the existing international standards. In addition, the risk quotients RQ_c and RQ_a were both less than 100%, indicating that the long-term and short-term dietary intake risks posed to Chinese consumers by fenpyroximate in citrus fruit are both acceptable after a 15-day harvest interval.