MXPA99008142A - Method for providing enhanced photosynthesis - Google Patents

Abstract

Se describe un método para mejorara la fotosíntesis de huertos hortícolas el cual, implica el tratamiento de la superficie de dicha cultivo hortícola con una cantidad efectiva de uno o más materiales particulados altamente reflectores.

Description

METHOD FOR PROVIDING A PHOTOS ENHANCED NTESIS DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This application is a continuation in part of the U.S. Patent Application No. 08/812301, filed March 5, 1997, which is incorporated herein by reference for its teachings related to the invention described herein. The present invention is directed to a method for improving the photosynthesis of horticultural crops. Improvement in plant productivity is a desired horticultural effect in horticultural crops that are generally limited by the amount of light, temperature, relative humidity, and other uncontrollable environmental factors when pests, water, and nutrients are adequately controlled. Particulate matter from a wide range of sources is generally taken to limit the productivity of plants. See, for example, Farmer, "The Effects of Dust on Vegetation-A Reivie," Environmental Pollution 79: 63-75 (1993). The prior art has discussed photosynthesis and the effects of environmental stresses on plants. See, for example; Nomora and Benson, "Methods and compositions for enhancing carbon fixation in plants," US 5,597,400, Stanhill, GS Moresht, and M. Fuchs "Effect of Increasing Foliage and Soil Reflectivity on the Yield and Water Use Efficiency of Grain Sorghum," Agronomy Journal 68: 329-332 (1976); Moreshet, S., Y. Cohen, and M. Fuchs. "Effect of Increasing Foliage Reflectance on Yield, Growth, Physiological Behavior of a Dryland Cotton Crop," Crop Science 19: 863- 868 (1979), which declare "that 2 days after spraying the kaolin reduced the consumption of 14C0 (photosynthesis) by more than 20%" and "the sprays with kaolin seem to reduce transpiration more than photosynthesis"; Bar-Joseph, M. and J. Frenkel, "Spraying citrus plants with kaolin suspensions reduces colonization by the spiraea aphid (Aphis citricola van der Goot)" Crop Protection 2 (3): 371-374 (1983), which declare that "The reason for this [production increase of Stanhill, Ibid. and Moeshet, Ibid] are uncertain [because photosynthesis is reduced] but the control of aphids and viruses may have contributed to the increased production "; Rao, NKS," The Effects of Antitranspirants on Leaf Water Status, Stomatal Resistance and Yield in Tomato, "J. of Horticultural Science- 60: 89-92 (1985); Lipton, WJ, and F. Matoba," Whitewashing to Prevent Sunburn of 'Crenshaw' Melons, "HortScience 6: 434--345 (1971) Proctor, JTA And LL Creasy ~ "Effect ~ of Supplementary Light on Anthocyanin Synthesis in" Mclntosh ^ Apples, "J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 96: 523-526 (1971); Lord, W. "J, and DW Greene." Effects of Summer Pruning on the Quality of McIntosh Apples, "HortScience 17: 372-373. ~~ Therefore, there is still a need for inert, effective non-toxic methods. at cost to improve the photosynthesis of horticultural crops The teachings of the prior art are different from the use of highly reflective inert particles of the present invention in that when the reflector is increased the photosynthetically active light is reflected, thus, photosynthesis is reduced Unexpectedly, the present invention results in an opposite effect - improved photosynthesis This invention relates to a method for improving the photosynthesis of horticultural crops which comprises applying to the surface of said horticultural crop an effective amount of one or more particulate materials. highly reflective, said particulate materials are finely divided, and where the particles applied as such allow the in gas exchange on the surface of said crop. This invention relates to a method for improving the photosynthesis of horticultural crops. - Photosynthesis is the process by which photosynthetic plants use energy plot to build carbohydrates and other organic molecules from carbon dioxide and water. The conversion of carbon dioxide to said organic molecules is generally referred to as carbon fixation or photosynthesis and, in most plants, occurs by the phosphate-cycle. reducing pentose, generally referred to as the C-3 cycle. The study of the carbon trajectory in photosynthesis four decades ago (A. A. Benson (1951), "Identification af_ ribulose in 1C02 photosynthesis products" J. Am. Chem. Soc. 73: 2971; J.R Quayle et al. (1954), "Enzymatic carboxylation of ribulose diphosphate" J. Am. Chem. Soc. 76: 3610) revealed the nature of the process of fixing carbon dioxide in plants. The effects of enhanced photosynthesis are typically observed by an increase in productivity, for example, an increase in fruit size or production (usually measured in weight / acre), an improvement-in color, an increase in soluble solid, by example, sugar, acidity, etc., and reduced plant temperature. The horticultural crops with which this invention is related are those actively growing and / or which are bearing agricultural fruits and ornamental crops and products thereof, including those selected from the group consisting of fruits, vegetables, trees, flowers, grasses, " roots, seeds and ornamental plants and for landscape.The useful particulate materials for the purposes of this invention are highly reflective.As used herein, "highly reflective" means a material having a "block brilliance" of less than about 80 and preferably at least about 90 and more preferably at least about 95 as measured by the TAPPI T 646 standards. The measurements can be made in a Reflectance Meter Technidyne S-4 Brilliance Tester manufactured by Technidyne Corporation which is calibrated at intervals of no more than 60 days using brightness standards (standards of paper strips and glass opa flax) supplied by the Institute of_ Paper Science, or Technidyne Corporation. Typically a block or particle plate is prepared from 12 grams of dry powder < 1% free) of humidity. The sample is placed freely in a cylinder holder and a plunger is slowly lowered on the sample to a pressure of 29.5-30.5 psi and maintained for approximately 5 seconds. The pressure is released and the plate is examined to look for defects. A total of Jres plates are prepared and three brightness values are recorded on each plate by rotating the plate approximately 120 degrees between readings. The nine values are then averaged and reported. The finely divided particulate materials useful for the purposes of this invention may be hydrophilic or hydrophobic materials and the hydrophobic materials may be hydrophobic within and of themselves eg mineral talc, or may be hydrophilic materials which are considered hydrophobic by the application of a coating external of a suitable hydrophobic humidifying agent (eg, the particulate material has a hydrophilic core and an external hydrophobic surface). Typical particulate hydrophilic materials useful for the purposes of this invention include: minerals, such as calcium carbonate, talc, kaolin (both calcined and hydrated kaolin, with calcined kaolin being preferred), bentonite, mud, pirsfillite, silica, fedelspar, sand , quartz, gypsum, limestone, precipitated calcium carbonate, diatomaceous earth, and barite; Functional fillers such as aluminum trihydrate, pyrogenic silica and titanium dioxide. The surface of said materials can be hydrophobic by adding hydrophobic unifying agents. Many industrial mineral applications, especially specify the organic system such as plastic compounds, films, organic coatings or rubbers depend only on such surface treatments- to obtain the hydrophobic mineral surface; see, for example, Jesse Edenbaum, Plastics Additives and Modifiers Handbook, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 1992, pages 497-500, which is incorporated herein by reference to the teachings of such materials with a covered surface and their application. so-called coupling agents such as fatty acids and silanes are commonly used to treat the surface of solid particles as fillers or additives targeted to these industries.These hydrophobic agents are well known in the art and common examples include: organic titanates such as Tilcom.RTM. Tioxide Chemical; organic zirconate or aluminate coupling agent obtained from Kenrich Petrochemical, Inc .; organofunctional silanes such as Silquest® products obtained from Witco or Prosil® obtained from PCR; modified silicone fluids such as DM-Fluids and fatty acids such as Shin Etsu products; Hystrene® or Industrene® fatty acids products obtained by Witco Corporation or Emersol® products obtained from Henkel Corporation (stearic acids and stearate salts in particular are fatty acids and salts effective thereof to obtain a hydrophobic particle surface). Examples of the particulate materials suitable for the purposes of this invention that are commercially available from the Engelhard Corporation, Iselin, NJ are the calcined kaolins sold under the trademark of Satintone® and the calcined kaolins treated with siloxane sold under the registered name of Translink® and calcium carbonate commercially available from English China Clay under the registered name of Atomite® and Supermite® terrestrial calcium carbonates treated with commercially available stearic acids from English China Clay under the registered name of Supercoat® and Kotamite ®. The term "finely divided" when used herein means that the particulate materials have an average individual particle size of less than about 10 microns and preferably less than about 3 microns and more preferably the average particle size is about one micron or less. . The particle size and the particle size distribution as used here are measured with a particle size analyzer Micromeritics Sedigraph 5100. Particle-Siz = Analyzer. The measurements were recorded in deionized water for hydrophilic particles. The dispersions were prepared by weighing 4 grams of dry sample into a plastic flask - adding by dispersing and diluting it to the 80 milliliter mark with deionized water.The mixtures were then mixed and placed in an ultrasonic bath for 290 seconds. for kaolin, 0.5% pyrophosphate was used as dispersant, calcium carbonate 1.0% Calgon T was used. Typical densities for the various powders were programmed into the sedigraph, for example, 2.58 g / ml for kaolin. The sample cells were filled with the sample mixtures and the particle size distribution curves were recorded and converted into X-rays by the Stokes equation.The average particle size was "determined at the 50% level. Preferably, the particulate material has a particle size distribution wherein up to 90% by weight of the particles have a particle size of less than about 10 microns, preferably less than about 3 microns and more preferably a miera or less. Particulate materials particularly suitable for use in this invention are inert and non-toxic As used herein, "inert" particulate materials are non-phytotoxic particles.Particular materials are preferably non-toxic which means that in the limited quantities necessary for the effective improved horticultural effect said materials are not considered harmful to the animals, such as the environment, as the applicator and finally to the consumer As previously discussed, this invention is related to horticultural crops where the surface of said crop It is treated with one or more particulate materials. The treatment should not materially affect the exchange of gases on the surface of said crop, the gases that pass through the particle treatment are those that are typically exchanged through the skin of the surface of living plants. These gases. Typical entities include water vapor, carbon dioxide, oxygen, nitrogen, and volatile organic compounds. _ On the surface of said horticultural crop is treated with an amount of one or more highly reflective particulate materials that is effective to improve the photosynthesis of the horticultural crop. The coating treatment of said culture is within the experience of the ordinary expert. Less than total culture coating is within the scope of this invention and can be highly effective, for example, if the part below the culture surface (that which is not exposed, directly to the light source) needs to be treated by the method of this invention nor the upper surface of the culture must be completely covered; although the coating of the total substrate may provide additional benefits such as effective disease control, a smoother fruit surface, less crust and fruit cracking, and reduction in vermilion coloration. Reference is made to U.S. Patent No. 08/972, 6T48, concurrently filed with it on November 18, 1997, entitled "Treated_ Horticultural Substrates" which is incorporated herein by its teachings with respect to methods for achieving these. . Additional benefits. The method of this invention can result in the treatment residue forming a membrane of one or more layers of highly reflective particulate materials on the culture surface. The particulate materials useful for the purpose of this invention can be applied as a mixture of finely divided particles in a volatile liquid such as water, a low boiling organic solvent or a low boiling organic solvent / water mixture. Adjuvants such as surfactants, dispersants or spreaders / (additives) can be incorporated by separating an aqueous mixture from the particulate materials of this invention, one or more layers of this mixture can be sprayed or otherwise applied to the surface of the crop. The volatile liquid is preferably allowed to evaporate between layers. The residue of this treatment can be hydrophilic or hydrophobic. Applying the particles as a powder, although not commercially practical on a large scale due to the dangers of inhalation and derivation, is an alternative to carry out the method of this invention. Propagators / adhesives that can be mixed with hydrophilic particles (3% or more solids in water) to aid in the uniform spray treatments on horticultural substrates are: modified alkyl glycerol resins such as Latron B-1956 from Rohm & Haas Co.; Plant-based materials (cocoditalimide) with emulsifiers such as Sea-wet from Salsbury lab, Inc .; Polymeric Perpentenes such as Pinene II "from Drexel Chem. Co; nonionic detergents (fatty acids of high and ethoxylated oils) such as Toximul 859 and Ninex MT-600 from the Stephan series .. Particle treatment can be applied as one or more layers of finely divided particulate material The "amount of material applied is within the experience of one of the ordinary experts of the art. The amount will be sufficient to improve the photosynthesis of the culture to which these particles are applied. Typically, this treatment will be more effective when the surface of the crop is white in appearance. For example, this can typically be achieved by applying from about 25. to about 5000 micrograms of material. particulate / cm2 of culture surface for particles having a specific density of about 2-3 g / cm3, more typically from about 100 to about 3000 and preferably from about 100 to about 500. As the brightness of the highly reflecting particles increases , less quantities of these brighter particles are necessary to be effective for the purpose of this invention. In addition, environmental conditions such as wind and rain can reduce the coverage of the cultivation of the highly reflective particulate materials and therefore it is within the scope of this invention to apply the highly reflective particles one or more times during the growing season of said horticultural crop to maintain the desired effect of the invention. The low boiling organic liquids useful in the present invention are preferably miscible in water and contain from 1 to 6 carbon atoms. The term "low boiling" as used herein shall mean organic liquids which have a boiling point of generally not more than 100 ° C. These liquids allow the particulate solids to remain in a finely divided form without significant agglomeration. Such low boiling organic liquids are exemplified by: alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, propanol and i-propanol, i-butanol, and the like, ketones such as acetone, methyl ethyl ketone and the like and cyclic ethers such as ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, tetrahydrofuran. The combinations of the aforementioned liquids can also be used. Methanol is the preferred low boiling organic liquid. Low boiling organic liquids can be used to apply the particles to the substrates. culture for the purposes of this invention typically, liquids are used in a sufficient amount to form a dispersion of particulate material. The amount of liquid typically is up to about 30 volume percent of the dispersion, preferably from about 3 to about 5 volume percent, and more preferably from about 3.5 to about 4.5 volume percent. The particulate material is preferably added to a low boiling organic liquid to form a mixture and then this mixture is diluted with water to form an aqueous dispersion.The resulting mixture retains the particles in their finely divided form wherein most of the particles are dispersed to a particle size of less than about 10 microns The following examples illustrate the embodiments of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention as or are limited by the claims forming part of the application EXAMPLE 1 Apple trees "Red Delicious" received the following treatments: 1) Applications of conventional pesticides applied according to the presence of economic levels of plague using the publication Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland Cooperative Extension 1997 Spray Bulletin for Commercial tree Fruit Growers 456 - "_ 419 , 2) no treatment, 3) weekly application of Translink® 77 start on March 11, 1997, 4) weekly application of calcined kaolin (Satintone® 5HP) beginning April 29, 1997, and 5 weekly application of treated calcium carbonate (SuperCoat®- commercially available from English China Clay) beginning in April 29 of 1997. Treatment (~ 3) and (5) required 25 pounds of suspended material in 4 gallons of methanol and were added to 100 gallons of water. Treatment (4) required 25 pounds of suspended material in 100 gallons of water with the addition of 27oz Ninex® MT-603 and 2 pints of Toximul. These treatments were applied at a rate of 125 gallons / acre using an orchard sprayer. This mixture was applied at the rate of 125 gallons / acre using a vegetable garden sprayer. These treatments were accommodated in a randomized complete block design with 4 replicates and 3 trees / plot. The treatments were not irrigated and received 21.58 cm of precipitation from May 1 to August 30, 1997. The fruit was collected at maturity; the number of fruits, weight and color were measured. The color was measured using a Hunter colorimeter. The color values represent Hunter value units "a", whose increasing value represents the increasing red color. Photosynthesis and stomatal conduction were measured on August 6 and 8, 1997. The data of photosynthesis and stomatal conduction were collected using a Liquor 6300 photosynthesis system. The increasing values of photosynthesis and stomatal conduction represent increasing assimilation. carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and water transpiration from the leaves, respectively; both parameters reflect a productivity of improved plants when the values increase. Treatments (1) and (3) were measured twice a day from 10 to 11 am and from 2 to 3 pm. Three trees in each plot were measured- with 2 sunny leaves / tree. The temperature of the greenhouse. was measured using an Everest Interscience infrared thermometer (Model 110) with +/- 0.5 ° C accuracy, in which the plant surface temperature "approximately 1 m in diameter was determined on the sunny side of the tree. for the temperature of the greenhouse they are presented as a difference between the temperature of the leaf and the air.A negative greenhouse temperature indicates a greenhouse cooler than the temperature of the air due to perspiration and heat reflection.The data is reported in Table I. Table I __ The use of hydrophobic kaolin (Translink® 77) increased production compared to conventional handling (51.6 against 43.7 kg, respectively) without a significant reduction in fruit size (135 versus 136 g / fruit). The use of hydrophobic kaolin (Translink® 77) improved fruit color compared to conventional handling (23.9 versus 19.7). The treated CaC03 (SuperCoat®) and the calcined kaolin (Satintone® 5HB) also improved the color, compared with the conventional handling (Z4.1 and 21.0 against 19.7). Control without treatment improved color compared to conventional handling (23.2 versus 19.7) but this is very possible due to defoliation of the tree due to poor pest control since no pesticides were applied (see Lord and Greene, Ibid). The defoliation of the damage by the pests increased the light towards the surface of the fruits which increased the development of color. The pest control levels were adequate in all other treatments and did not result in defoliation.

The average rainfall is approximately 35.6 cm from the lo. from April to August 30; the precipitation was 40% below normal. The application of Translik® 77 increased la- photosynthesis, the stomatal conduction is a measure of the width of the stomata on the underside of the leaf. The loss of water and the form of perspiration occurs through the stomata and is controlled by the size of the stomatal openings. The larger the size of the opening, the greater is the stomatal conduction and thus also the-transpiration is greater. Similarly, the larger the size of the stomatal opening, the greater the carbon dioxide influx necessary for photosynthesis. The temperature of the greenhouse was reduced by the application of Translink® 77 due to the increased transpirational cooling of the sheet related to the increased stomatal conduction that resulted from the application of Translink® 77. The 7_ "application of calcium carbonate (SuperCoat®) also reduced "the temperature of the plant, presumably due to the increased cooling and perspiration of the leaf in relation to the increased stomatal conduction. Yakima WA "Red Delicious" apple trees received the following treatments: 1) without treatment; this control without treatment did not have pest pressures that exceeded the threshold for pesticide application, 2) Translink® 77 application on April 5, May 8, 29; June 25th; July 14; September 4, 3) Apply Translink® 77 on the same dates as "(2)" and on May 22, June 9, and July 31. Treatments (2) and (3) required 25 pounds of suspended material in 4 gallons of methanol and were added to 96 gallons of water. This mixture was applied at the rate of 100 gallons / acre using an orchard sprayer. The treatments were accommodated in a randomized complete block design with 3 replicas of 3 trees / plot. The treatments were all irrigated on a weekly basis to meet the water needs of the plant using irrigation for sprinkling located under the trees, photosynthesis and stomatal conduction were measured from July 17 to July 20, 1997. The photosynthetic data was They were collected using a Liquor 6300 photosynthesis system. "Treatments (1), (2) and (3) were measured twice a day from 10 am to 11 am and 2 to 3 pm Three trees in each plot were measured with 2 sunny leaves / tree The data are the average values for all days and hours tested The greenhouse temperature was measured using an Everest Interscience infrared thermometer (Model 110) with +/- 0.5 C accuracy, in which the temperature From the surface of the plant approximately 1 meter in diameter was determined on the sunny side of the tree.The data for the temperature of the greenhouse are presented as a difference "between the temperature of the leaf a and of the air. A negative greenhouse temperature "indicates a greenhouse cooler than air temperature due to transpiration and heat reflection.The greenhouse temperature data were collected from August 17 to 20, 1997. The" data presented in Table IV are representative of the entire data set. At the time of harvest, 20 fruits "were randomly collected from each of the 3 trees / plot (total of 180 fruits / treatment) The fruits were weighed and their color was determined.The color was determined with a Hunter colorimeter.The color values represent values Hunter "a." Table II " The size of the fruit increased with increased applications of Translink® 77. The trees in the study had a larger fruit size than the study in Kearneysville, WV due to the use of irrigation. The reduced greenhouse temperature of both Translik® 77 treatments illustrates that the application of these particles can reduce the temperature of the plant. The application of Translink® 77 increases photosynthesis, stomatal conduction and reduced plant temperature. The temperature of the greenhouse was reduced by the application of Translink® 77 due to the increased transpirational cooling of the leaf in relation to the increased-stomatal conduction that resulted from the application of Translik® 77. The reduction of the frequency of certain applications reduced the photosynthesis , the stomatal conduction, and the temperature of the greenhouse compared to 10_ applications, demonstrating that there is a beneficial response to the increased amounts of coverage with Translink® 77. Example 3 -_ Santiago, Chile _ _ _ The peaches "September Lady", with a separation -of 4m x 6m, received the following treatments: 1) Application of conventional pesticide applied with the presence of economic pest levels, 2) without treatment, 3) weekly application of Translink® 77 beginning on October 29, 1996. Treatment (3) required 25 pounds of suspended material in 4 gallons of methanol and added to 96 gallons of water. This mixture was applied at the rate of 100 gallons / acre using a high pressure handheld sprayer. The treatments were irrigated weekly using surface irrigation. The fruits were harvested at maturity and in number and weight were measured. The data is reported in Table III.

Table III "" "" The use of hydrophobic kaolin (Translik® 77) increased production compared to conventional treatment and control increasing the number of fruits / tree. Fruit size was reduced, although not statistically, from 156 to 137 g due to the higher number of fruits in the peach tree (94 versus 156).

Example 4 _ _ = - - Biglerville, Orchard Pa-Dan Pack "Golden Delicious" apples received 3 treatments: 1) application of commercial pesticide applied according to the presence of economic levels of pests using the publication Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland Cooperative Extension 1997 Spray Bulletin for Comraercial tree Fruit Growers publication 456-419, 2) total proportion of Translink® 77, and 3) average proportion of Translink® 77. Treatments (2) and (3) required 25 and 12.5 pounds of material, respectively, suspended in 4 and 2 gallons of methanol respectively, and added to 100 gallons of water. This mixture was applied at the rate of 200 gallons / acre using an orchard sprayer. The treated area was approximately 1 acre / plots with 2 replicates of each treatment in a randomized block design. At the time of harvest, the plots were harvested commercially and processed by a commercial evaluation line. At the time of the evaluation, 100 fruits of each plot were chosen randomly to determine the size of fruit, color, and surface defect. The color was determined using a Hunter colorimeter. The green-values represent Hunter "a" values whose highest values represent a more yellow color, a characteristic-beneficial in the "Golden Delicious" apple. The data are reported in Table IV.

Table IV The application of Translink® 77 has a total and a half proportion reduced the green color, and the Translink® 77 at total proportion increased the fruit size compared with the average proportion and the conventional treatment. "Stayman" apples received 2 treatments: 1) application of commercial pesticide applied according to the presence of economic levels of pests using the publication Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland Cooperative Extension 1997 Spray Bulletin for Commercial tree Fruit Growers publication 456-419, 2) Treatment with Translink® 77 required 25 pounds of material suspended in 4 gallons of methanol and added to 96 gallons of water. This mixture was applied at a rate of 200 gallons / acre using an orchard sprayer. Each treatment was applied to blocks of one acre without a random system. The apples were harvested commercially and processed in a commercial evaluation line. The data presented represent percentages of packaging of the commercial evaluation line. The data is reported in Table V.

Table V The application of Translink® 77 increased the packaging of large fruits and reduced losses due to small fruits (<2.5 inches) compared to conventional treatment.

Claims (16)

1. CLAIMS 1. A method for improving the photosynthesis of horticultural crops which is characterized in that it comprises applying to the surface of said horticultural crop an effective amount of one or more highly reflective particulate materials, said particulate materials are finely divided, and wherein the particles in an applied manner they allow the exchange of gases on the surface of said crop.
2. 2. The method of compliance with the claim 1, characterized in that said particles have a block brilliance of at least about 90.
3. 3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that said particulate materials are hydrophobic.
4. 4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that said particulate materials are hydrophilic.
5. 5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the particulate material has a particle size distribution wherein up to 90% of the particles have a particle size of less than about 10 microns.
6. 6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the particulate material comprises a hydrophilic core and an external hydrophobic surface.
7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that said hydrophilic core materials are selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate, mica, kaolin, bentonite, mud, pyrophyllite, silica, feldspar, sand, quartz, gypsum, stone limestone, diatomaceous earth, barite, aluminum trihydrate, titanium dioxide and mixtures thereof. "-
8. 8. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that the hydrophilic materials are selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate, talc, hydrated kaolin, calcined kaolin, bentonite, mud, pyrophyllite, silica, feldspar, sand, quartz, gypsum, stone limestone, precipitated calcium carbonate, diatomaceous earth, barite, aluminum trihydrate, pyrogenic silica, titanium dioxide, and mixtures thereof.
9. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that said hydrophobic outer surface materials are selected from the group consisting of organic titanates, organic zirconate, or aluminate coupling agents, organophosilating silanes, modified silicone fluids, and acids fatty acids and salts of miSEOs.
10. 10. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the horticultural crop is selected from actively growing or bearing agricultural fruits and ornamental crops.
11. 11. The method according to the claim 1, characterized in that the horticultural crop is selected from the group consisting of fruits, vegetables, trees such as flowers, grasses, roots, seeds, and ornamental plants and for landscapes.
12. 12. The method in accordance with the claim 1, according to the fact that the finely divided particulate materials have an average individual particle size of less than about 3 microns.
13. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that the particulate materials of the hydrophilic core are selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate, calcined kaolin, and mixtures thereof.
14. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that the hydrophilic materials are selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate, calcined kaolin, and mixtures thereof. -
15. 15. A method for improving the photosynthesis of horticultural crops which is characterized in that it comprises applying to an actively growing or horticultural garden surface area selected from the group consisting of fruits, vegetables, trees, flowers, grasses, roots, seeds, and ornamental and landscape plants, which comprises applying to the surface of said horticultural crop an effective amount of a mixture of one 0 more highly reflective particulate materials that have a block brightness of at least about 90, said materials comprise one more particulate materials, selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate, calcined kaolin, and mixtures thereof, said particulate materials having an average individual particle size of about 1 mire or less, and wherein said particles in an applied manner allow the exchange of gases on the surface of said orchard. -
16. 16. The method of compliance with the claim 1 or 15. characterized in that the finely divided particulate materials are applied one or more times during the growing season of said horticultural garden.