MXPA99008141A - Treated horticultural substrates - Google Patents

Abstract

Se describen sustratos hortícolas revestidos con una membrana particulada y un método para controlar plagas y proporcionar efectos hortícolas mejorados aplicando una membrana particulada a la superficie del sustrato hortícola.

Description

HORTICULTURAL SUBSTRATES TREATED 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 horticultural substrates treated with a particulate membrane in methods for controlling pests associated with said substrates and for providing improved horticultural effects. The prior art has discussed the use of certain inert particulate solids as insecticides, see for example; Driggers, B.F., "Experiments with Tale and Other Dusts Used Against Recently Hatched Larvae of the Oriental and Codling Moths", J. Econ. Ent. , 22 327-334 (1929); Hunt, C.R., "Toxicity of Insecticide Dust Diluents and Carriers t__, larvae of the Mexican Bean Beetle", J. Econ. Ent., 4_0 215-219 (1947); P. Alexander, J. A. Kitchener and H. V. A. Briscoe, "Inert Dust Insecticides", Part I, II and III, Ann. Appl. Biol., 31_ 143-159, (1944); and U.S. Patents 3,159,536 (1964) and 5,122,518 (1992), each of which is incorporated herein by reference with respect to its teachings regarding particulate materials.

Plant diseases are caused by various pathogens, for example, fungi, bacteria and viruses, and these diseases have generally been controlled commercially by the use of chemical pesticides. For example, commercial fungicides generally belong to the following types of chemical compounds: inorganic (copper-based or sulfur-based), organic (anilines, anuides, dithiocarbamates, halogen compounds and heterocyclic nitrogen compounds), antibiotics and biologics. Chemically toxic fungicides and bactericides are often formulated with inert particles. Inert particles, however, have been shown to be ineffective towards these plant pests when applied on their own (see WO Cline and RD Milholland, "Root Dip Treatments for Controlling Blueberry Stem Blight Caused by Botryosphaeria dothidea in Container-Grown Nursery Plants ", Plant Disease 76 136-138 (1992) Furthermore, not only inert particles have been shown to be ineffective in the control of plant diseases, but it has been reported by SK Bhattacharyya and MK Basu," Kaolin Powder as a Fungal Carrier, "Appl. Envir Microbio." 4_4 751-753 (1982) that kaolin powder can be used to transport and preserve Aspergillus sp. for at least 90 days In another report, SM Lipson and G Stotzky "Effect of Kaolinite on the Specific Infectiousness of Reovirus", FEMS Micr. Let. 37_ 83-88 (1986), it is reported that the inactivity of enteric viruses (eg, poliovirus, rotavirus and reovitus) is prolonged when these virus s and absorb particulates that occur particularly (sediment, mud materials) in terrestrial and aquatic media. O. Ziv and R. A. Frederiksen "The Effect of Film-forming Anti-transpirants on Leaf Rust and Powdery mildew Incidence on Wheat", Plant Path. 36 242-245 J1987; M. Kamp, _ "Control of Erysiphe cichoracearum on Zinnia elegans, with a Polymer-based Antitranspirant", Hort. Sci. 20_ 879-881 (1985); "and J. Zekaria-Oren and Z. Eyal," Effect of film-forming "Compounds on the Development of Leaf Rust on Wheat Seedlings", Plant Dis. 7_5 231-234 (1991)) describe the use of antiperspirant polymer films to control diseases. Of course, the use of anti-perspirants is undesirable because they reduce the exchange of necessary gases on the surface of living plants. For information of the prior art with. regarding horticultural effects see, for example, Byers, R.E., K.S Yoder, and G. E. Mattus, "Reduction in Russetting of 'Golden Delicious1 Apples with 2,4,5-TP and Other Compounds ", HortScience 18: 63-65); Byers, R.E., D.H. Carbaugh, and C.N.

^ Presley, "'Stay an' Fruit Cracking as Affected by Surfactans, Plant Growth Regulators, and Other Chemicals, "J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 115: 405-411 (1990); Durner, E.F., and T.J.

Gianfagna, "Peach Pistil Growth Inhibition and Subsequent Bloom Delay by Midwinter Bud Whitewashing," HortSience 25: 1222-1224 (1990); and M.N.West and. N. Westwood, Temperate-zone Pomology, page 313 W.H. Freeman and Co. (1978). Therefore, there is still a need for inert cash cost, improved non-toxic agents for pest control and for improved horticultural effects and methods for their use. This invention relates to horticultural substrates wherein the surface of said substrate is coated with a particular membrane and for improved pest control methods and horticultural effects to form the membrane on the surface of the horticultural substrate. In one embodiment, this invention relates to coated substrates comprising a horticultural substrate wherein the surface of said substrate is coated with a membrane comprising one or more particulate layers, said layers comprising one or more particulate materials, said particulate materials being divided finely, and wherein said membrane allows the exchange of gases on the surface of said substrate. In another embodiment, this invention relates to a method for controlling pests on horticultural substrates which comprise the formation on the surface of said substrate of a membrane comprising one or more particulate layers, said layers comprising one or more particulate materials, said materials particulates are finely divided, and wherein said membrane permits the exchange of gases on the surface of said substrate. In yet another embodiment, this invention relates to a method for providing improved horticultural effects which comprises forming on the surface of the horticultural substrate a membrane comprising one or more particulate layers, said layers comprising one or more particulate materials, said materials particulates are finely divided, and wherein said membrane permits the exchange of gases on the surface of said substrate. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS _ Figure 1 is an exploratory electron micrograph of an untreated petunia petal. Figure 2 is an exploratory electron micrograph of a petunia petal coated with an octylsilane * membrane treated with calcined kaolin particles. Figure 3 is an exploratory electron micrograph of a petunia petal coated with a particle membrane of calcined vinylsilane kaolin. Figure 4 is an electron scanning micrograph of a petunia petal coated with a methylethoxysiloxane membrane treated with calcined kaolin particles. Figure 5 is an exploratory electron micrograph of a petunia petal coated with an i. calcined kaolin membrane treated with a siloxane material. Figure 6 is an electronic scanning micrograph of a petunia petal coated with a calcined kaolin membrane. The horticultural substrates to which this invention relates are agricultural and ornamental crops, including those selected from the group consisting of fruits, vegetables, trees, flowers, grasses, seeds, roots and landscape and ornamental plants. The membrane of this invention comprises one or more particulate layers, said layers comprising one or more particulate materials, said particulate materials being finely divided. The finely divided particulate materials which build the particulate membrane of this invention may be hydrophilic or hydrophobic materials and the hydrophobic materials may be hydrophobic within and of themselves, eg, talc mineral, graphite and Teflon® or may be hydrophilic materials. which are considered hydrophobic by the application of an external coating 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 kaolins hydrated and calcined, with calcined kaolins being preferred), bentonites, muds, atapulguite, pyrophyllite, wollastonite, silica , feldspar, sand, quartz, gypsum, limestone, precipitated calcium carbonate, diatomaceous earth and barite; functional fillers such as microspheres (ceramics, glass and organic), aluminum trihydrate, pyrogenic silica, ceramic fibers and glass fibers; and pigments such as dyes or titanium dioxide. The surface of said materials can be hydrophobic by the addition of hydrophobic humidifying agents. Many industrial mineral applications, especially in organic systems such as plastic composites, films, organic coatings or rubber, depend on just such surface treatment to consider the mineral surface as hydrophobic; 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 surface treatment materials and their application. The so-called coupling agents such as fatty acids and salines are commonly used to treat solid particles on the surface as fillers or additives directed to these industries. Such hydrophobic agents are well known in the art and common examples include: chromium complexes such as Volvan® and Quilon® obtained from DuPont; organic titanates such as Tilcom © obtained from Tioxide Chemicals; organic zirconate or aluminate coupling agents obtained from Kenrich Petrochemical, Inc .; organofunctional salines such as Silquest® products obtained from Witco or Prosil © products obtained from PCR; modified silicone fluids such as DM-Fluids obtained from Shin Etsu; and fatty acids such as Hystrene © or Industrene® products obtained from Witco Corporation or Emersol® products obtained from Henkel Corporation (stearic acid and stearic salts are fatty acids and particularly effective salts thereof to obtain a hydrophobic particulate surface). Examples of the preferred particulate materials suitable for the purposes of this invention which are commercially available from Engelhard Corporation, Iselin, NJ are siloxane-treated calcined kaolins sold under the trade name Translink®, and ground calcium carbonates treated with stearic acid. commercially available from English China Clay under the trade names of Supercoat® and KotamiteT. The term "finely divided" when used herein means that the particulate materials have a low average individual particle size of about 10 microns and preferably below about 3 microns and more preferably the average particle size is about a miera or more. The particle size and particle size distribution as used herein is measured with a Micromeritics Sedigraph 5100 Particle Size 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 'by adding a dispersant and diluting it to the 80 ml mark with deionized water. The mixtures were then stirred and placed in an ultrasonic bath for 290 seconds, typically, for the 0.5% kaolin tetxasodium pyrophosphate, ^ is used as a dispersant; with calcium carbonate 1.0% _Calgon T is_ used. The tiple densities for the various powders are programmed within sedigraph eg 2.58 g / ml for kaolin. The sample cells are filled with the mixed samples and the X-rays are recorded and converted to particle size distribution curves by a Stokes equation.

The average particle size is determined at the level of the fifty%. Preferably, the particulate material has a particle size distribution in which up to 90% by weight of the particles have a particle size of about less than 10 microns, preferably less than about 3 microns and more preferably about one micron. or more. Particulate materials particularly suitable for use in this invention are inert, non-toxic and hydrophobic. As used here, particulate materials "inert" are particles that are not physiological poisons, that is, the particulate materials of this invention, as a main function, do not kill pests. Since they are not bound by theory, it is believed that pest control of this invention is achieved primarily by prophylactic means rather than primarily through the destruction of undesired pest. "Semi-particulate materials are preferably non-toxic, which means that in the limited quantities necessary for effective pest control or an improved horticultural effect, such materials are not considered harmful to the horticultural substrate, animals, the environment, the applicator and finally the consumer.

The preferred particulate materials of the present invention are hydrophobic. Hydrophobicity refers to the physical property of a surface to repel water. Most mineral particle surfaces are hydrophilic, that is, with an affinity to water. The terms hydrophobic and hydrophilic are not always used properly in the literature and both are often confused with very similar terms such as lipophilic or lipophobic, oleophilic or oleophobic, liopyl or lyophobic, and polar and non-polar. Hydrophobicity can be described in more quantitative terms using contact angle measurements. The contact angle is defined by the equilibrium forces that occur when a sensitive liquid drop is placed on a smooth surface. The tangent to the surface of the convex liquid droplet at the point of contact between the three phases, solid (S), liquid (L) and vapor (V) is the contact angle (as illustrated in the following figure.) The relationship between the solid-vapor surface tension (YSv) r liquid-vapor (Y_v) and solid-liquid (Y =) can be defined by the following Young equation: F = Ypcos? _ Where F = humidifying force; Y = liquid surface tension; and p = perimeter of humidification. If the water drop spreads on the surface, the contact angle is less than 90 degrees and the surface is hydrophilic. If the surface is hydrophobic then the contact angle is greater than 90 degrees. In this way, 180 degrees is the maximum hydrophobicity that a surface can have. Many surfaces change their surface energy on contact with water (see J. Domingue, Amer. Lab, Oct. 1990). Dynamic contact angle measurements provide both a recessive and a forward contact angle. 131 advance contact angle is a measurement of the hydrophobicity of the surface at the initial contact with a liquid, while the recessive contact angle measures the hydrophobicity after the surface has been moistened with a liquid. Thus, for the purposes of this invention, "hydrophobic" or "hydrophobic", when used with reference to particulate materials useful for the purpose of this invention, said particles may have either a recessive contact angle and / or of advance greater than 90 °. Preferred materials have recessive contact angles of more than 90 °.

The dynamic contact angles referred to here are based on a gravimetric principle of the Wilhelmy plate technique and are determined by the measurement in a Dynamic Contact Angle Instrument which can measure both the recessive contact angles as well as the sample advance angles. powdered. A dynamic contact angle analysis system (model DCA 315) from ATI Cahn Instruments Inc. was used for all contact angle measurements required and reported here. The surface tension (Y) of the deionized water was determined with a platinum calibration plate. The powder samples were deposited on adhesive tape on both sides. The perimeter (p) of the tape was determined with a calibrator. The impregnated adhesive tape was placed on the DCA 315 and dipped and removed from the deionized water at a rate of 159 microns / second for two immersion cycles. The contact angles were determined from the hysteresis curves of recession humidification and the advance of the first immersion cycle. Most of the mixtures were prepared and made in duplicate and the results were averaged. The analysis of the data was done with a WinDCA software for a Windows diagnostic package from the manufacturer, ATI Cahn Instruments Inc. Representative contact angle values for a variety of inert particulate materials are given in Table I. Although many of the listed powders are hydrophilic and have less than 90 ° resilience-and-advance contact angles. , some hydrophobic particles as measured by the angle of contact, such as talcum, become hydrophilic when wetted. Table 1 Powder Contact angle values Particle Advance contact angle (°) Rescission contact Calcium carbonate 128.4 32.5 Calcium carbonate 37.8 38.1 Calcium carbonate3 (ST) 180 171.1 Barite4 32.2 30.3 Mica5 42.3 39.9 Mica6 31.5 25.0 Silica7 38.5 38.2 Diatomite 39.4 35.3 ATH9 38.7 0 Wolastonite 10 23.1 27.5 Wolastonite 11 9.4 14.1 Talc 12 180 12.8 Talc 13 159.2 11.5 Felds'pato 14 35.93 9.2 Nephronic Sienite 15 19.4 25.4 Hydrated Kaolin 16 29 30.1 Calcined Kaolin 17 26 20.5 ST = Treated Surface 1. Atomite © (ECC Int.) 2. GS 6532 (Georgia Marble) 3. Kotaraite © (ECC Int.) 4. Bartex © 65 (Hitox) 5. WG 325 (KMG Minerals) 6. C-3000 (KMG Minerals) 7. NovaciteT L-207A (Malvern Min Co.) 8. Diafil® 340 (CR Minerals Corp. ) 9. Alean © SF (Alean Chemicals) 10. NYAD® 1250 (NYCO) 11. ollastokup © (NYAD) 12. Vantalc © 6H (RT Vanderbilt) 13. Vertal © 710 (Luzenac Amer Inc.) 14. Minspar © 4 (KT Feldspar Corp) 15. Minex® 10 (Unimin) 16 ASPT 900- (Engelhard Corp) 17. Satintone® W (Engelhard Corp) Hydrophilic surfaces can be made hydrophobic by adding hydrophobic humidifying agents as shown in Table II for calcined and hydrated kaolin. However, not all hydrophobic surface treatments provide hydrophobicity to the particle as shown in Table II.

Table I I Kaolin particles with treated surface List of hydrated kaolin C_olin Hydrated Calcined kaolin Calcined kaolin Superspace (1%) Avanoe Angle (°) Angle Angle Angle (°) Angle of Pess dn. { °) No treatment 31 30 26 21 Acidoestearic 1155.5 0 166 102 Octyltriethoxysilane2 158 0 180 180 Vini 1 triethoxysilane3 120 22 164 140 Polydimethylsiloxane4 Linear 27 26 24 26 Ethyletoxy-siloxane polymer5 89 24 180 154 Cyclic polydimethyl siloxane6 112 45 155 154 1. Industrene 7018 ( Witco) 2. A-137 (Witco) 3. A-151 (Witco) 4. L-45 (Witco) 5. A-272 (Witco) 6. CG-4491 (HULS America Inc.) Particles with a hydrophilic core preferred are those, which when treated with a hydrophobic humidifying agent and applied to the surface of a horticultural substrate, form a membrane in the substrate. Examples of said particles are calcium carbonate and kaolin. The calcined kaolin is preferred in comparison to the hydrated kaolin. As previously discussed, this invention relates to horticultural substrates wherein the surface of said substrate is coated with a membrane comprising one or more particulate layers. This membrane allows gas exchange on the surface of said substrate. The gases that pass through the membrane are those that are typically exchanged through the surface skin of living plants. Such gases typically include water vapor, carbon dioxide, oxygen, nitrogen and volatile organics. The portion of a substrate will be covered with said membrane is within the experience of the artesian, ordinary. Optimally, the substrate is completely covered with said membrane, and although disease control and / or horticultural effects may be diminished, less than the total coverage of the substrate is within the scope of use of the invention; preferably, however, the substrate is substantially covered. Reference is made to U.S. Patent No. 08 / 972,659 concurrently registered on November 18, 1997, entitled "Method for Providing Enhanced Photosynthesis" and U.S. Patent No. 08 / 972,653, filed concurrently with 18 November 1997, entitled "Method for Protecting Surfaces from Arthropod Infestation" which are incorporated herein by reference for their teachings with respect to methods of insect control and enhanced photosynthesis Preferably, the membranes of this invention are sufficiently continuous to provide effective disease control The membrane may have imperfections, gaps or voids, but such imperfections should not be too large to materially affect the disease control of said membrane, such gaps or voids will typically not exceed approximately 5 μ., and preferably they are less than about lμ. In another preferred embodiment, the membrane is water repellent. The membrane can be formed by fixing one or more layers of finely divided particulate material to form a membrane of sufficient thickness and continuity to make an effective control barrier against diseases, i.e., the particles on the surface of the substrate are so closely associated that Pathogens can not penetrate the particulate coating and infect the underlying horticultural substrate. For example, this can typically be accomplished by uniformly applying from about 25 to about 3000 micrograms of the particulate material / cm 2 of substrate for particles having a specific density of about 2-3g / cm 3. In addition, environmental conditions, such as wind and rain, can reduce membrane coverage and, therefore, it is within the scope of this invention to apply one or more time during the growth of the horticultural crop season as it is maintained. the desired effect of the invention. This particulate membrane can be prepared to apply an aqueous mixture of finely divided particles in a volatile liquid such as water, a low boiling organic solvent or a low boiling / water solvent mixture one or more layers of this aqueous mixture that can be sprayed or otherwise apply the substrate. The volatile liquid is preferably housed evaporated between the coating. Tenactors or dispersants may be useful in preparing an aqueous mixture of particulate material of this invention. The membrane of this invention can be hydrophilic or hydrophobic, but hydrophobic is preferable. The normal scattering of the particles, apart from being not commercially practical on a large scale due to the dangers of displacement and inhalation, is not effective in forming a membrane in a horticultural substrate suitable for disease control. The membrane of this invention can nevertheless be carefully formed by applying the finely divided particles to the substrate, for example, with a paint brush. Not being limited to the theory, it is believed that one or more layers of finely divided particulate material form a membrane due to particle cohesion with a particle of closely associated uniformly distributed particles. 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 having 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. Said low boiling organic liquids are exemplified by: alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, propanol, I-propanol, I-butane, and the like, ketones such as acetone, methyl ethyl ketone and the like, and cyclic ethers such as ethylene oxide, propylene oxide and tetrahydrofuran. The combinations of the aforementioned liquids can also be used. Methanol is a preferred low boiling organic liquid. The low boiling organic liquids can be employed by applying the particles to form the membrane of this invention. Typically, the liquids are used in a sufficient amount to form a dispersion of the particulate material. The amount of liquid typically is up to about 30 volume percent of the dispersion, preferably from about 3 to 5 volume percent, and more preferably from about 3.5 to 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 the aqueous dispersion. The resulting mixture retains the particles in a finely divided form wherein most of the particles are dispersed to a particle size of less than about 10 microns. caused by transmission of anthropods are the disease by fungus, the disease of Dutch Elm, of the American elm by: the European elm beetle; the bacterial disease, the aphids of apple and pears by flies, beetles and other insects; virus disease, the top part of the beetroot by the beet leaf grass. The control of the disease also applies to those secondary infections in the places l ionados in a plant that result from the feeding of the arthropods as is the infection of the brown rot of the fruits of the bone that results when the organism of the disease enters into the plant exactly through the feeding site of the plum circle. This invention may also provide the benefit of improved horticultural effects including color improvement, a smoother fruit surface, increased soluble solids, eg, sugars, acidity, etc., less peel and fruit cracking, reduced plant temperature and reduced red coloring. The following examples are illustrative of the embodiments of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention as limited by the claims forming part of the application. 3 EXAMPLE 1 This example demonstrates that covering the substrate of the plant with a finely divided particle membrane greatly reduces the degree of infection compared to a substrate that is not coated with a particulate membrane. The effectiveness of several particulate membranes towards the control of diseases was demonstrated by selective evaluations of Botrytis cinerea in the petals of strawberries (Fragaria x ananassa Pucheene). All the preparations in Tables III and IV were made by applying suspensions of the particles listed in the prepared table first by dispersing 5 grams of the identified particle in 10 ml of methanol which then increases to 100 ml with deionized water. The petals were sprayed with this suspension using a Paasche airbrush to draw back. The petals were allowed to air dry and then lOμl of a Botrytis inoculum (3.6 x 107 spores / ml) was added to the petals. The petals were then incubated in a chamber with 100% humidity for 24 hours. Table III Efficacy of Particle Fungi with Treated Surface and Unprocessed Particle% infection after Ccpt Angle-act 24-hour Contact angle (°) Recessive Advance (°) Control without particles 88.9 Methanol 76.5 Hydrated kaolin [ST] 1 73.0 155.5 0 Calcined kaolin2 68.0 19.4 20.5 Hydrated kaolin3 63.8 29 30.1 Calcined kaolin [ST] 4 62.0 166 102 Calcium Carbonate5 57.0 28.4 32.5 Talc6 49.3 180 12.8 Calcined kaolin [ST] 7 44.7 146 128 Calcium carbonate [ST] 8 36.8 180 171 Translink © 77 23.6 153 120 1 ASPO 900 (Engclhar Corporation) treated with stearate 2 _ Satintono W (Engelhard Corporation) 3. ASP® 900 (Engelhard Corporation) 4. Satmtone < -'W (Engelhard Corporation) treated with stearate 5. ' Atomite < 3 (ECC Int.) 6. Valtalc? 6H (RT Vanderbilt) 7. Translink © 37 (Engelhard Corporation) 8. Kotamite CJ | (CCC Int.). The data are the average of '3 independent replicas containing 10 strawberry petals ^ ~ _ The infection was measured in the presence of necrotic lesions characteristic of a Botrytis infection.The data were analyzed by a Duncan's Multiple range test ( P = 0.05) in the transformed percentages of arcsine and "are presented as a non-transformed average for convenience. EXAMPLE 2 Carrying out the same evaluations and comparing the treated surfaces with particles against the untreated particles of calcined kaolin, the results were obtained in Table IV. Table IV Efficacy of Fungi in Calcined Kaolin with Surface Treatment of Infections at Contact Angle Contact Angle Character of after 24 hours of Progress (°) Recessive (°) Reversal of Particulate Control without particles 88 Figure 1 Treated with octylsilane1 t Satintone © W 25 180 180 Figure 2 Treated are vinylsilane2 Satintone® W 29 164 140 Figure 3 _ Treated with methyletaxi-siloxane3 SatintoneQ W 25 180 154 Figure 4 Translink © 77 153 120 Figure 5 Satintone® W - - Figure 6 1 . 1% A-137 (Witco) 2. 1% A-151 (Witco) 3. 1% A-272 (Witco) The scanning electron micrographs shown in Figures 1-6 were collected with a Philips XL 30 FEG scanning electron microscope (SEM) at an acceleration voltage of 1 Kv and 1 x 10 (-5) mbar vacuum. Samples of petunia petals were coated with particle membranes as described in Example 1 and placed on the instrument without any additional sample preparation. The vacuum caused a collapse of the surface irregularities of the petal substrate, but did not affect the particle membranes as illustrated in Figures 2-6. All the images were presented at an enlargement of 400X. Figure 1 illustrates the irregular surface of an unreduced petunia petal. Under an ordinary optical microscope one can observe a surface that contains many peaks and valleys. These peaks collapse under the conditions necessary to collect the SEM image. Ordinary optical images, however, very often demonstrate the surface of the membrane because the membranes are very thin and transparent to visible light. SEM techniques, however, can capture an image of the surface of such membranes. Figures 2-4 illustrate the surface of the membrane prepared from particulates of calcined kaolin (1.2 microns of average size particle) treated with various hydrophobic humidifying agents listed in Table IV. Figure 5 illustrates the surface of the membrane prepared with Translink © 77 which has fewer gaps and smaller than those gaps that appear in Figures 2-4.

Figure 6 illustrates the surface of the membrane prepared with the same particles of calcined kaolin (0.8 microns of average particle size) used in the manufacture of Translink® 77. The image clearly shows large gaps regularly separated in the order of 20 microns of diameter. Example 3 I "Seckel" pears trees received the following treatments: 1) applications of conventional pesticides applied in the presence of economic levels of pests | using the Virginia publication, Wes.t Virginia and Maryland Cooperative Extension 1997 Spráy Bulletin for Fruit Growers 456-419, 2) without treatment, 3) weekly application of Translink © 77 starting on April 29 and 1997, 4) weekly application of calcined kaolin (Satintone® 5HP) starting on April 29 of 1997, 5) í weekly application of treated calcium carbonate (SuperCoat® -commercially available from English China Clay) starting on "April 29, 1997. 6) weekly application of Translink 37 T starting on April 29, 1997. Treatments (3), (5) and (6) required 25 pounds of material suspended in 4 gallons of methanol and added to 100 gallons of water, the treatment (4) required 25 pounds of material suspended in 100 gallons of water with the addition of 27oz .. Of Ninex © MT-603 and 2 pints of Toximul. These treatments were applied at a rate of 125 gal / acre using an orchard sprayer. This mixture was applied at the rate of 125 gallons / acre using an orchard sprinkler. The treatments ended on September 15, 1997. The treatments were accommodated in a randomized complete block design with 1 replica of 2 replicas and 4 trees / plot (10 of each tree). The leaves with necrosis in the margin of the leaf towards the central vein, which extend to the abaxial side of the leaf, measured the damage to the freezing.

The leaves without damage lacked this necrosis. Each leaf was categorized as damaged or undamaged and the most damaged percentage j of each plot was calculated. The data was analyzed using a Variation Analysis using a randomized complete block design. Table V Treatment Undamaged leaves (%) Conventional 2.5 Control 2.5 Translink 77 81. Satintone 5HP 11 Supercoat 67 Translink 37 69 These data demonstrated that freeze damage was extensive when no particles were applied (conventional and control)., 2.5% each). The damage to the freeze was extensive! when a hydrophilic particle was applied to the tree (Satintone 5HP, 11.5%). Damage to freezing was moderate when the hydrophobic particles were applied to the trees (Translink 77, Supercoat, and Translink 37, 81.5%, 67%, and 69%, respectively). These data demonstrated that the presence of a moderate hydrophobic particle membrane will damage the freezing. - Example 4 __ _- __ Apple trees "Red Delicious" received the following treatments: 1) applications of conventional 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 456 -419, 2) without treatment, 3) weekly application of Translink © 77 starting on _ March 11, 1997, 4) weekly application of calcined kaolin (Satintone® 5HP) starting on April 29, 1997, 5) weekly application of treated calcium carbonate (SuperCoat® - commercially available from English China Clay) beginning April 29, 1997. Treatments (3) and (5) required 25 pounds of material suspended in 4 gallons of methanol and added to 100 gallons of water . The treatment (4) required 25 pounds of material suspended in 100 gallons of water with the addition of 27oz. of Ninex © MT-603 and 2 pints of Toximul. These treatments were applied at the speed of 125. gal / acre using an orchard sprinkler. This mixture was applied at a rate of 125 gal / acre using an orchard sprinkler. 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 the lo. from May to August 30, 1997. The fruit was collected at maturity. The number of fruits was measured at the time of collection. The data was analyzed using Variation analysis using a randomized complete block design. Table VI Treatment Number of fruits / tree Conventional 322 Control 246 Translink 77 applied 11/3/97 382 Satintone 5HB applied 4/29/97 302 Supercoat applied 4/29/97 301 The weekly application of Translink © 77 before the flowers bloomed and the occurrence of a severe freeze on April 9, 1997 with a minimum temperature of 20 ° F, moderated the freezing damage as can be demonstrated by a larger number of fruits (382) reaching maturity compared to 'Satintone © HB (302) or Supercoat® (301). The weekly application of Translink® 77 before the flowers bloomed also moderated freeze damage to fruit compared to conventional treatment and control without treatment (322 and 246 respectively), none of which received pesticide applications before the frost The application after the frost of Supercoat®, a hydrophobic particle, or Satintone® 5HB, to a hydrophilic particle, did not increase the number of fruits / tree.

Water. This mixture was applied at the rate of 200 gal / acre using an orchard sprinkler. The treated area was I plots of approximately 1 acre with 2 replicates of each treatment in a randomized block design. At the time of | collection the plots were collected commercially and processed by a commercial evaluation line. At the time t of the graduation, 100 fruits of each plot were randomly chosen to determine the surface defects, the data are reported in Table VII Table VII) Treatment Reduction of color of vermilion (%) Translink® 77 total proportion 3.3 Translink © 77 average ratio 3.9 Conventional 13.8 The application of Translink® 77, in its total proportion and average proportion reduced the red color on the surface of the apple compared with conventional treatment. Example 6"Stayman" apples received 2 treatments: 1) applications of commercial pesticide applied in accordance with the presence of economic levels of pests using the publication Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland I Cooperative Extension 1997 Spray Bulletin for Commercial tree I! Fruit Growers 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 the rate of 200 gal / acre using an orchard sprinkler. Each treatment was applied to 1 block of acre without random systems. The apples were collected commercially and processed in a commercial evaluation line. The data presented represent a percentage of the packaging of the commercial evaluation line when evaluating 100 fruits, each treatment was chosen randomly to evaluate the surface effects. The percentage of cracking was the percentage of fruits with visible cracks in the fruit. The data are reported in Table VIII. Table VIII Treatment Fruit breakdown (%) Translink®77 2 Conventional 22 The application of Translink® 77 reduced the cracking of apple fruits compared to conventional treatment.

Claims (36)

1. CLAIMS 1. A coated substrate characterized in that it comprises a horticultural substrate selected from the group "consisting of fruits, vegetables, trees, flowers, grasses, seeds, roots and ornamental plants for landscapes where the surface of said substrates is coated with a membrane formed of a mixture comprising water and one or more particulate materials, it is also composed of one or more particulate layers, said layers comprise one or more particulate materials, said particulate materials are finely divided, and wherein said membrane contains spaces that are not they exceed about 5μm and said membrane allows the exchange of gases on the surface of said substrate 2. The coated substrate according to claim 1, characterized in that said particulate materials are hydrophobic. 3. The coated substrate according to claim 1, characterized in that said substrate of particulate material has a Recessive Contact Angle greater than 90 °. 4. The coated substrate 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. 5. The coated substrate according to claim 1, characterized in that the particulate material comprises a hydrophilic core and an external hydrophobic surface. 6. The coated substrate according to claim 5, characterized in that said hydrophilic core materials are selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate, mica, kaolin, bentonite, attapulguite,. * Pyrophyllite, wollastonite, silica, feldspar, sand, quartz, gypsum, limestone, diatomaceous earth, barite, organic and ceramic microspheres and glass, aluminum trihydrate, ceramic fibers, glass fibers, dyes and titanium dioxide. The coated substrate according to claim 5, characterized in that said outer surface materials are selected from the group, consisting of chromium complexes, organic titanates, organic zirconate or aluminate coupling agents, organofunctional silanes, modified silicone fluids. and fatty acids and salts thereof. 8. The coated substrate according to claim 1, characterized in that the substrate is selected from the group consisting of ornamental and horticultural bodies. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the substrate is selected from the group consisting of fruits, vegetables, trees, flowers and ornamental plants and for landscape. 10. The coated substrate according to claim 1, characterized in that the finely divided particulate materials have an average individual particle size of less than about 3 microns. 11. The coated substrate according to claim 5, characterized in that the particulate materials of the hydrophilic core are selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate, calcined kaolin and mixtures thereof. 12. A coated substrate characterized in that it comprises a horticultural substrate selected from the group consisting of fruits, vegetables, trees, flowers, grasses, roots and ornamental plants and for landscapes wherein the surface of said substrate is coated as a membrane formed of a mixture comprising water and one or more particulate materials, the membrane is composed of one or more particulate layers, said layers comprise one or more hydrophobic particulate materials, said hydrophobic particulate materials comprise i) a hydrophilic core selected from the group consisting of calcium, calcined kaolin and mixtures thereof and ii) an external hydrophobic surface, said particulate materials have an average individual particle size of about one or less, and wherein said membrane allows the exchange of gases on the surface of the said substrate. 13. A method for controlling pests on horticultural substrates selected from the group consisting of fruits, vegetables, trees, flowers, grasses, roots and ornamental plants and for landscapes which is characterized in that it comprises applying a mixture comprising water and one or more particulate materials to the surface of said substrate to form a membrane that is composed of a or more particulate layers, said layers comprise one or more particulate materials, said particulate materials are finely divided, and wherein said membrane contains spaces not exceeding about 5 μm and said membrane allows the exchange of gases on the surface of said substrate. 14. The method according to claim. 13, characterized in that said particulate materials are hydrophobic. 15. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that said particulate material has a Record Contact Angle greater than 90 °. 16. The method in accordance with the claim 13, 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 10 microns. 17. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that the particulate material comprises a hydrophilic core and an external hydrophobic surface. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that said hydrophilic core materials are selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate, mica, kaolin, bentonite, atapulguite, pyrophyllite, wollastonite, silica, feldspar, sand, quartz, gypsum , limestone, diatomaceous earth, barite, organic and ceramic and glass microspheres, aluminum trihydrate, ceramic fibers, glass fibers, dyes and titanium dioxide. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that said hydrophobic outer surface materials are selected from the group consisting of chromium complexes, organic titanates, organic zirconates or aluminate coupling agents, organofunctional silanes, modified silicone fluids and fatty acids and salts thereof. 20. The coated substrate according to claim 13, characterized in that the substrate is selected from the group consisting of ornamental and horticultural orchards. 21. The method according to the claim 13, characterized in that the substrate is selected from the group consisting of fruits, vegetables, trees, flowers, roots and ornamental plants and for landscape. 22. The coated substrate according to claim 13, characterized in that the finely divided particulate materials have an average individual particle size of less than about 3 microns. 23. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that the particulate materials of the hydrophilic core are selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate, calcined kaolin and mixtures thereof. 24. The method for the control of pests in horticultural substrates selected from the group consisting of fruits, vegetables, trees, flowers, grasses, roots and ornamental plants and for landscapes, which is characterized in that it comprises applying a mixture comprising water and one or more particulate materials to the surface of said substrate to form a membrane that is composed of one or more particulate layers, said layers comprising one or more hydrophobic particulate materials, said hydrophobic particulate materials comprising i) a hydrophilic core selected from the group consisting of of calcium carbonate, calcined kaolin and mixtures thereof and ii) an external hydrophobic surface, said particulate materials have an average individual particle size of about one or less, and wherein said membrane permits the exchange of gases on the surface of said substrate. 25. A method for improving the horticultural effect of horticultural substrates selected from the group consisting of fruits, vegetables, trees, flowers, grasses, roots and ornamental plants and for landscapes which is characterized in that it comprises applying a mixture "comprising water and one or more particulate materials a, the surface of said substrate to form a membrane comprising one or more particulate layers, said layers comprising one or more particulate materials, said particulate materials being finely divided, and wherein said membrane contains spaces not exceeding of approximately 5 μm and said membrane allows the exchange of gases on the surface of said substrate. 26. The method according to claim 25, characterized in that said particulate materials are hydrophobic. 27. The method according to claim 25, characterized in that said particulate material has a recessive contact angle greater than 90 °. 28. The method according to claim 25, 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. 29. The method according to claim 25, characterized in that the particulate material comprises a hydrophilic core and a hydrophobic outer surface. 30. The method according to claim 29, characterized in that said hydrophilic core materials are selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate, mica, kaolin, bentonite, atapulguite, pyrophyllite, wollastonite, silica, feldspar, sand, quartz, gypsum , limestone, diatomaceous earth, barite, organic and ceramic and glass microspheres, aluminum trihydrate, ceramic fibers, glass fibers, dyes and titanium dioxide. The method according to claim 29, characterized in that said hydrophobic outer surface materials are selected from the group consisting of chromium complexes, organic titanates, organic zirconate or aluminate coupling agents, organofunctional silanes, modified silicone fluids and fatty acids and salts thereof. 32. The coated substrate according to claim 25, characterized in that the substrate is selected from the group consisting of ornamental and agricultural orchards. 33. The method according to claim 25, characterized in that the substrate is selected from the group consisting of fruits, vegetables, trees, flowers, grasses and ornamental plants and for landscape. 34. The method according to claim 25, characterized in that the finely divided particulate materials have an average individual particle size of less than about 3 microns. 35. The coated substrate according to claim 29, characterized in that the particulate materials of the hydrophilic core are selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate, calcined kaolin and mixtures thereof. 36. A method for improving the horticultural effect of horticultural substrates selected from the group consisting of fruits, vegetables, trees, flowers, grasses, roots and ornamental plants and for landscapes which is characterized in that it comprises applying a mixture comprising water and one or more particulate materials to the surface of said substrate to form a membrane composed of one or more particulate layers, said layers comprising one or more hydrophobic particulate materials, said hydrophobic particulate materials comprising i) a hydrophilic core selected from the group consisting of carbonate of calcium, calcined kaolin and mixtures thereof and ii) an external hydrophobic surface, said particulate materials have an average individual particle size of about one or less, and wherein said membrane permits the exchange of gases on the surface of said substratum.