In China, the current registration status of pesticides for melon production indicates that the registered varieties fail to meet the needs of actual farming practices.

China has a long history of melon cultivation, and its melon production ranks among the highest in the world. The high-quality development of the melon industry has played a crucial role in advancing rural revitalization, increasing farmers’ incomes, and restructuring agricultural production. However, due to factors such as variety and environmental conditions, melon crops are frequently affected by pests and diseases. Common diseases include damping-off, downy mildew, vine decline, powdery mildew, wilt, gray mold, bacterial angular leaf spot, and viral diseases, while prevalent pests include aphids, whiteflies, thrips, and leafminers, all of which severely compromise melon yield and quality.

To promote the high-quality development of the melon industry, the author intends to analyze the registration status of pesticides—including fungicides, insecticides, and plant growth regulators—used in China’s melon production, and to compile statistics on the registration of pesticides suitable for green‑food‑certified melon cultivation. On this basis, the author will propose relevant countermeasures to address the major issues currently affecting pesticide registration for melons, with the aim of providing guidance for the scientific and rational use of agrochemicals in melon production.

I. Analysis of Pesticide Registration Status in China’s Melon Production

According to the pesticide registration database of the China Pesticide Information Network, as of June 30, 2022, there were 80 active pesticide products registered for use in melon production, covering 36 active ingredients. Among these registered products, fungicides accounted for the largest share, with 70 formulations representing 87.5%, followed by plant growth regulators (8 products) and insecticides (2 products). No herbicides were registered for use in melon cultivation.

From the perspective of pesticide formulation, there are 39 wettable powder products, 11 suspension concentrate products, 8 each of aqueous solution and water-dispersible granule products, 7 soluble concentrate products, 2 each of emulsifiable concentrate and microcapsule‑granule products, and 1 each of suspension‑emulsion, emulsifiable oil, and granule product. In terms of pesticide origin, registered pesticides used in melon production are predominantly chemical, totaling 70 products and accounting for 87.5%; microbial‑origin products number 9, while mineral‑origin products number 1.

1. Fungicide Registration Status

In melon production, 30 active ingredients of fungicides and 70 pesticide products are registered, including 46 single‑component formulations and 24 formulated mixtures. Among the single‑component fungicides, the top three in terms of registration numbers are thiophanate‑methyl (24), chlorothalonil (9), and pyrimidine nucleoside antibiotics (8), accounting for a combined 89.13% of the total, as shown in Table 1. Furthermore, among the registered melon fungicide mixtures, those containing five active ingredients—pyraclostrobin, metalaxyl‑M, fluxapyroxad, bromonitropropanediol, and bromuconazole—represent 41.67% of the total; specifically, there are six products with pyraclostrobin and three with fluxapyroxad, as detailed in Table 2. With respect to target diseases, the largest number of registered fungicides is for powdery mildew control, with 48 products, followed by downy mildew control at 17, while anthracnose and bacterial angular leaf spot each have four registered products.

2. Insecticide Registration Status

Two insecticidal pesticide products are registered for use in melon production: abamectin and spirotetramat–thiamethoxam. Abamectin is primarily used to control root-knot nematodes, while spirotetramat–thiamethoxam contains spirotetramat and thiamethoxam as active ingredients and is mainly effective against the tobacco whitefly. See Table 3.

3. Registration Status of Plant Growth Regulators

In melon production, three active ingredients of plant growth regulators are registered—thidiazuron, forchlorfenuron, and 1‑methylcyclopropene—and eight corresponding pesticide products are available, all of which are single‑ingredient formulations. Among these, thidiazuron primarily promotes growth regulation, increases yield, and enhances fruit set; forchlorfenuron mainly regulates growth and boosts yield; and 1‑methylcyclopropene is used primarily for postharvest preservation. See Table 4.

II. Analysis of Pesticides Applicable to Green-Label Melons

In the production of green‑food melons, pesticide use is primarily guided by the current standards “NY/T 393‑2020 Green Food – Guidelines for Pesticide Use” and “NY/T 427‑2016 Green Food – Western Melons.” Among the pesticides registered for melon cultivation, a total of 24 active ingredients are permitted for use in green‑food production, with 58 registered products. Of these, 52 are fungicides, mainly targeting powdery mildew, downy mildew, gray mold, anthracnose, and damping-off; only one insecticide—spirotetramat + thiamethoxam—is approved, primarily for controlling whiteflies; and five plant growth regulators are authorized, primarily to regulate melon growth, increase yield, and extend shelf life. See Table 5.

In addition, the standard NY/T 427-2016 “Green Food—Western Melons and Watermelons” specifies maximum residue limits for ten pesticides. Among these, metalaxyl‑M, carbendazim, and azoxystrobin are already registered for use in melon production, whereas chlorpyrifos, acetamiprid, metalaxyl, cyproconazole, tebuconazole, lambda‑cyhalothrin, and thiamethoxam remain unregistered for melon cultivation. Notably, this standard sets the maximum residue limits at 0.010 mg/kg for nine pesticides—acetamiprid, metalaxyl, cyproconazole, metalaxyl‑M, tebuconazole, lambda‑cyhalothrin, thiamethoxam, carbendazim, and azoxystrobin—and at 0.015 mg/kg for chlorpyrifos. Consequently, when using metalaxyl‑M, carbendazim, or azoxystrobin to control diseases in melons, there remains a significant risk of exceeding the permissible residue limits. Users should therefore apply these pesticides strictly in accordance with the prescribed application guidelines and observe the required pre-harvest intervals to prevent residue levels from surpassing the regulatory thresholds.

III. Major Issues with Pesticides Registered for Use in Melon Production

1. The variety structure of registered pesticides is uneven.

At present, among the registered pesticide products for melon cultivation, fungicides account for the majority, comprising 87.5% of all registered formulations. Their primary targets are diseases such as powdery mildew, downy mildew, and bacterial angular leaf spot. By contrast, there are relatively few registered products targeting anthracnose, root rot, gray mold, and damping-off, while no pesticides are registered for other diseases, including wilt and vine decline. With respect to insecticides, only abamectin and spirotetramat have been registered, primarily for controlling root-knot nematodes and tobacco whitefly; no registered products address other pests such as aphids, thrips, or leafminers. These findings indicate that the current composition of registered pesticides in China’s melon production is imbalanced and fails to meet the actual needs of growers.

2. The proportion of biopesticides is relatively low.

Improper application of chemical pesticides can lead to varying degrees of environmental pollution in the atmosphere, water, and soil, while excessive pesticide residues pose a significant threat to the safety and quality of agricultural products. In contrast, biopesticides—characterized by low environmental impact, high safety, and a reduced likelihood of inducing resistance—play a crucial role in ensuring the safety and quality of agricultural produce. In recent years, China’s biopesticide industry has shown strong growth; however, it still faces challenges such as a weak R&D foundation, insufficient research capacity and innovation, and a relatively small industrial scale. At present, among the registered pesticides used in melon production in China, chemical pesticides account for as much as 87.5%, whereas only nine microbial‑based products are available, representing just 11.25% of the total. Moreover, these include only two types—pyrimidine nucleoside antibiotics and Bacillus subtilis—with no plant‑derived or biochemical pesticides. This limitation, to some extent, restricts melon growers’ options and uptake of biopesticides.

3. The range of approved pesticides for organic food production is limited.

In the production of green‑food melons, pest and disease management should prioritize agronomic practices, with preference given to physical and biological control methods; when chemical control is necessary, low‑risk pesticides should be selected judiciously. Among the 58 pesticide products approved for use in green‑food melon production, traditional formulations—such as wettable powders—account for nearly 50%, while the number of registered products in newer formulation types remains insufficient to meet production needs. With regard to pest control, only one insecticide—spirotetramat–thiamethoxam—is currently available for managing the sweet potato whitefly, leaving common pests such as aphids, thrips, and mites without effective options. Consequently, instances of unauthorized or improper pesticide use occur frequently, posing a significant safety risk to the production of green‑food melons.

IV. Recommendations on Pesticide Registration for Melon Production in China

1. Accelerate the registration process and increase the number of registrations.

To ensure the quality and safety of melon production, effectively control melon diseases and pests, and comprehensively address the issue of “no available treatments” for common ailments and infestations, it is recommended to strengthen screening trials for pesticides targeting wilt disease, vine decline, aphids, thrips, leafminers, and other major melon pests and pathogens. At the same time, government authorities should introduce relevant policies to reduce the costs of pesticide registration, broaden the scope and number of registered products, and promote diversified registration, thereby providing a robust protective framework for melon production.

2. Accelerate research and development of technologies, and promote biopesticides.

In recent years, China has streamlined its pesticide registration procedures, established a green channel for biopesticide registration, and shortened the registration timeline, thereby boosting enterprises’ enthusiasm for seeking registration. Accordingly, research institutes and R&D companies should proactively align with these policies, intensify technological innovation, refine production and processing techniques, accelerate the commercialization of biopesticides, and effectively promote their adoption, fully leveraging their environmentally friendly benefits.

3. Strengthen medication guidance and promote the development of green food.

In 2021, the China Green Food Development Center released the “Outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan for the Green Food Industry (2021–2025),” which calls for maintaining a premium positioning for green foods, rigorously controlling risks associated with pesticide and veterinary drug use, enhancing product quality, and boosting industry profitability. Accordingly, relevant green food producers should strictly align with the “four strictest” requirements, establish clear thresholds for the use of agricultural inputs, and ensure stringent quality control.

Source: WeChat Official Account: China Pesticide Industry Association