Use of Silicate in Greenhouse Films for Promoting the Growth of Plant Fruits

Abstract

The present invention relates to the use of a silicate in a greenhouse film for promoting fruit development in plants, the film comprising at least a matrix and a silicate. The invention also relates to a film comprising at least a matrix and said silicate for promoting fruit development in plants, and to the use of a film comprising at least a matrix and said silicate in a greenhouse for promoting fruit development in plants.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the use of silicate in a greenhouse film for promoting the fruit growth of plants, the film comprising at least a matrix and silicate. The invention also relates to a film comprising at least a matrix and the silicate for promoting the fruit growth of plants, and to the use of a film comprising at least a matrix and the silicate in a greenhouse for promoting the fruit growth of plants.

Background Art

[0002] With the increase in the global population, there is a continuous demand to provide improved compositions for agricultural needs. Such pesticidal compositions need to be efficient in promoting plant growth and increasing crop yields. Therefore, there is a general desire to obtain high plant productivity. For the purpose of promoting the productivity, organic products have been very frequently used to promote the productivity of crops, but concerns about the long-term effects of these products on mammals, especially humans, are increasing. Therefore, it is also necessary to improve the productivity of crops with the help of these products without concerns about the long-term effects of the products.

[0003] Although plant growth is usually defined as promoting, increasing, enhancing, or improving the growth rate of plants or increasing or boosting the size of plants, it is not the only factor regarding plant growth to reach maturity. In addition to the increase in its biomass, it is also necessary to ensure the proper development of fruits, i.e., the number of fruits produced by the plant, their size, and / or quality. In practice, fresh fruits and vegetables are perishable living products that require coordinated activities by growers, storage managers, processors, and retailers to maintain their size and quality, especially to reduce food loss and waste. The Food and Agriculture Organization estimated in 2009 that 32% (by weight) of all food produced in the world was lost or wasted. In terms of calories, the world's losses correspond to approximately 24% of all food produced. Since these foods provide essential nutrients and are sources of domestic and international income, it is important to improve quality and reduce losses and waste of fresh fruits and vegetables.

[0004] Sustainable agriculture requires production per unit area of land to increase in a cost-effective way. Enabling the manipulation of growth to increase the quantity and quality of fruits has long been a goal of growers. The total fruit yield is affected by many factors. For example, the quantity of fruits depends on the number of flowers and the number of branches that can bear flowers, while the size of fruits depends on the number of fruits set. The size of fruits is also affected by the number of leaves that transport the products of photosynthesis to the fruits. Root, tuber, and bulb crops are similarly affected by the number of leaves that transport photosynthetic products to the underground parts of the plant. The above-ground and underground parts of the plant produce hormones that have additional effects on fruit production. Root development, nutrient uptake, water availability, climate, and stress (abiotic and biotic) all affect photosynthesis and plant metabolism and, as a result, affect the size of fruits. In addition, all aspects of production are affected by agricultural practices such as pruning, fertilization, irrigation, and the use of nutrient supplements and plant growth regulators.

[0005] Currently, plant growth regulators (PGRs) are among the most powerful tools available for manipulating fruit growth. For a variety of annual, biennial, and perennial crops, PGRs have been used to solve production problems. For example, to avoid adverse weather conditions or shift harvest to a more economically advantageous time in the market, PGRs have been successfully used as foliar sprays to increase flowering, synchronize flowering, or change the flowering time. Surprisingly, these successes have been achieved with one of the five classical groups of auxin, cytokinin, gibberellin, abscisic acid, and ethylene, or a modest number of commercially available PGRs that affect their synthesis.

[0006] However, since many PGRs are synthetic compounds that mimic the effects of natural plant hormones, they are subject to various regulations and are not favorably received by the growing segment of consumers who prefer organic products. Therefore, there is a need in the art for compositions and methods that use natural compounds to increase fruit production.

[0007] Furthermore, while attributes of fresh agricultural products such as appearance, texture, flavor, and nutritional value were traditional quality criteria, safety (chemical, toxicological, and microbiological) and traceability have become increasingly important for people in all roles along the supply chain from farm to consumer.

Summary of the Invention

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] The present invention aims to solve this technical problem and the unsolved problems. In fact, a pesticide composition that does not directly contact the plant and has radiation-induced release efficiency seems to show excellent results in fruit development such as the number of fruits produced by the plant, their size and / or quality. And now, it seems possible to set up a plant treatment that can promote fruit growth without using chemicals to affect natural plant hormones and without concerns about the long-term effects of the product.

[0009] As a result, the present invention provides a very effective treatment for plants in promoting fruit growth, which leads to an improvement in crop yield. Furthermore, the treatment used in the present invention has excellent physicochemical properties, particularly improved stability during storage. The inorganic nature of the particles also has little impact on the environment, especially in terms of long-term effects on mammals, particularly humans.

[0010] Thus, the present invention relates to the use of silicate S1 in a greenhouse film for promoting the fruit growth of plants, the film comprising at least a matrix and silicate S1, preferably silicate S1 particles dispersed in the matrix, wherein the silicate S1: (a) emits light having a first peak wavelength in the range of 400 nm to 500 nm, preferably in the range of 420 nm to 455 nm, and a second peak wavelength in the range of 550 nm to 700 nm, preferably in the range of 590 nm to 660 nm, and (b) has an absorption at wavelengths exceeding 440 nm of 20% or less, preferably 15% or less, more preferably 10% or less, and in some cases 5% or less. is shown.

[0011] The present invention also relates to a film comprising at least a matrix and the silicate S1 for promoting the fruit growth of plants, and the use of such a film comprising at least a matrix and the silicate S1 in a greenhouse for promoting the fruit growth of plants. Such a film, and as a result the silicate S1, are advantageously used in the manufacture or construction of greenhouses (the roofs and walls of greenhouses).

[0012] The silicate of the present invention enables the film to convert sunlight or artificial radiation, preferably UV radiation, particularly into blue light and / or red light, or alternatively to convert solar or artificial radiation, preferably UV radiation, particularly the UV radiation of sunlight, into low-energy radiation, thereby improving fruit growth.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0013] Definitions The following terms are thought to be understood by those skilled in the art, but the following definitions are provided to facilitate the description of the subject matter disclosed herein. Unless otherwise specified, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the subject matter disclosed herein pertains. Any methods, apparatus, and materials similar to or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the subject matter disclosed herein, but representative methods, apparatus, and materials are described below.

[0014] If the disclosure of any patent, patent application, and publication incorporated herein by reference conflicts with the description of this application to the extent that it obscures the terms, the description shall control.

[0015] Throughout this specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the words "comprise", "include", or variations thereof, such as "comprises", "comprising", "includes", "including", are to be understood to mean that they include the stated element or step or group of elements or steps but do not exclude any other element or step or group of elements or steps. According to preferred embodiments, the words "comprise" and "include", and variations thereof, mean "consist exclusively of".

[0016] As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an", and "the" include plural aspects unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. The term "and / or" includes the meanings of "and", "or", and also all other possible combinations of the elements associated with this term.

[0017] The term "between... and..." should be understood to include the limiting points.

[0018] Ratios, concentrations, amounts, and other numerical data may be presented in a range format in this specification. Such a range format is used merely for convenience and brevity and is to be construed flexibly as encompassing not only the numerical values explicitly recited as the limits of the range, but also all the individual numerical values or sub-ranges within that range as if each numerical value and sub-range were explicitly recited. For example, a temperature range of about 120°C to about 150°C encompasses not only the explicitly recited limits of about 120°C to about 150°C, but also sub-ranges such as 125°C to 145°C, 130°C to 150°C, etc., and individual amounts within the stated range such as, for example, 122.2°C, 140.6°C, and 141.3°C, etc.

[0019] The term "aryl" refers to an aromatic carbocyclic group having 6 to 18 carbon atoms, which may be a monocyclic (e.g., phenyl) or polycyclic (e.g., biphenyl), or polycyclic fused (condensed) ring (e.g., naphthyl or anthranyl). Further, an aryl group may be condensed or bridged with an aliphatic or heterocyclic ring that is not aromatic so as to form a polycycle, for example, tetralin. The term "aryl" encompasses aromatic radicals such as phenyl, naphthyl, tetrahydronaphthyl, indane, and biphenyl. An "arylene" group is a divalent analog of an aryl group.

[0020] The term "heteroaryl" refers to an aromatic ring group having 3 to 10 carbon atoms and having at least one heteroatom selected from oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur within at least one ring (when two or more rings are present).

[0021] The term "aliphatic" refers to a substituted or unsubstituted saturated alkyl chain having 1 to 18 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted alkenyl chain having 1 to 18 carbon atoms, or a substituted or unsubstituted alkynyl chain having 1 to 18 carbon atoms.

[0022] As used herein, the term "alkyl" group includes straight-chain alkyl groups such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl; cyclic alkyl groups (or "cycloalkyl" or "alicyclic" or "carbocyclic" groups) such as cyclopropyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, and cyclooctyl; branched-chain alkyl groups such as isopropyl, tert-butyl, sec-butyl, and isobutyl; and alkyl-substituted alkyl groups such as alkyl-substituted cycloalkyl groups and cycloalkyl-substituted alkyl groups; and includes saturated hydrocarbons having one or more carbon atoms. The term "aliphatic group" includes organic moieties typically having between 1 and 18 carbon atoms and characterized by straight or branched chains. In complex structures, the chains may be branched, bridged, or cross-linked. Aliphatic groups include alkyl groups, alkenyl groups, and alkynyl groups.

[0023] As used herein, the term "alkenyl" or "alkenyl group" refers to an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical that may be straight-chain or branched-chain and contains at least one carbon-carbon double bond. Examples of alkenyl groups include, but are not limited to, ethenyl, propenyl, n-butenyl, i-butenyl, 3-methylbut-2-enyl, n-pentenyl, heptenyl, octenyl, decenyl, and the like. The term "alkynyl" refers to a straight-chain or branched-chain hydrocarbon group having at least one triple carbon-carbon bond, such as ethynyl.

[0024] The term "aryl aliphatic" refers to an aryl group covalently bonded to an aliphatic group, where aryl and aliphatic are defined herein.

[0025] The term "alicyclic" refers to a carbocyclic group having 3 to 20 carbon atoms and having a monocyclic ring or polycyclic fused ring that may be partially unsaturated, where aryl and aliphatic are defined herein. The term "heterocyclic group" includes a closed-ring structure similar to a carbocyclic group in which one or more of the carbon atoms in the ring are elements other than carbon (e.g., nitrogen, sulfur, or oxygen). The heterocyclic group may be saturated or unsaturated.

[0026] The term "alkoxy" refers to a straight-chain or branched oxy-containing group having an alkyl moiety of from 1 to about 24 carbon atoms, or preferably from 1 to about 12 carbon atoms each. Examples of such radicals include methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, butoxy, and tert-butoxy.

[0027] As used herein, the term "(Cn-Cm)" (wherein n and m are each integers) with respect to an organic group indicates that the group may contain from n to m carbon atoms per group.

[0028] As used herein, the term "plant" refers to an element of the plant kingdom and includes, without limitation, all stages of the life cycle of a plant such as seeds and all parts of the plant. The plants according to the present invention may be agricultural plants and horticultural plants, shrubs, trees, and grasses, and may hereinafter be collectively referred to as plants.

[0029] The term "fruit" as used herein should be understood to mean anything of economic value produced by a plant. It may be, for example, a botanical fruit, a vegetable, a culinary vegetable, a juicy fruit, and a seed. In botany, a fruit is a structure having seeds developing from the ovary of a flowering plant, while a vegetable is all other parts of a plant such as roots, leaves, and stems. Botanical fruits are produced by the maturation of one or more flowers, and the pistil of the flower forms all or part of the fruit. Vegetables are generally defined as herbaceous plants such as cabbage, potato, bean, and turnip, which are cultivated for the edible parts used as culinary vegetables. Edible parts of plants such as seeds, leaves, roots, and bulbs are in contrast to fruits. However, since tomatoes are botanically considered fruits, the terms fruit or vegetable for the purposes of the present disclosure are defined as plants produced regardless of whether they are vegetables or fruits.

[0030] The term "biomass" means the total mass or weight (fresh or dry) of plant tissue, whole plants, or populations of plants at a given point in time. Biomass is typically expressed as weight per unit area. Increased biomass includes, but is not limited to, increased sheath biomass, stem biomass, and root biomass.

[0031] The term "film" can be used in a general sense to include films or sheets, structural elements, having a geometric configuration as a three-dimensional solid, whose thickness (distance between planes) is small compared to the other characteristic dimensions of the film (notably length, width). Films are typically used to separate areas or volumes, hold items, function as barriers, or provide printable surfaces.

[0032] The term "greenhouse" should be understood herein in its broadest sense as encompassing any type of shelter used for the protection and growth of crops. For example, they may be plastic greenhouses and large plastic tunnels, glass greenhouses, large shelters, semi-forcing tunnels, flat protective sheets, walls, mulching (multifilm), such as those described in the brochure published by CIPA (Congres International du Plastique dans l’Agriculture), 65 rue de Prony Paris, "L’evolution de la plasticulture dans le Monde" by Jean-Pierre Joueot. Greenhouses may also refer to gardening kits and germination kits.

[0033] The term "luminescence" corresponds to photons emitted by a luminescent material under an excitation wavelength that matches the excitation spectrum of the luminescent material.

[0034] The term "peak wavelength" has its generally recognized meaning, and in this specification, this may include both the main peak of the emission / absorption (preferably emission) spectrum having the maximum intensity / absorption and side peaks having an intensity / absorption smaller than the main peak. The term "peak wavelength" may relate to side peaks. The term "peak wavelength" may relate to the main peak having the maximum intensity / absorption.

[0035] In this connection, the term "radiation-induced emission efficiency" should also be understood. That is, the silicate absorbs radiation in a specific wavelength range and emits radiation in another wavelength range with a specific efficiency.

[0036] Plants Plants according to the present invention, such as agricultural plants or horticultural plants, may be monocotyledonous plants or dicotyledonous plants, and may also be planted for the production of agricultural products or horticultural products, such as grains, foods, fibers, etc. The plants may be cereal plants.

[0037] The films and uses of the present invention can be applied to virtually any type of plant and fruit. The plants can be selected from the following list, but are not limited to: - Edible crops: grains such as corn (Zea mays), sorghum (Sorghum spp.), proso millet (Panicum miliaceum, P. sumatrense), rice (Oryza sativa indica, Oryza sativa japonica), wheat (Triticum sativa), barley (Hordeum vulgare), rye (Secale cereale), triticale (Triticum X Secale), and wild oats (Avena fatua); - Leafy vegetables: Brassicaceae plants such as cabbage, broccoli, Chinese cabbage, and arugula; salad vegetables such as spinach, cress, basil, and lettuce; - Fruit and vegetable crops: avocado, sweet corn, artichoke, cucurbits (e.g., squash, cucumber, melon, watermelon), squashes (e.g., zucchini, pumpkin); solanaceous vegetables / fruits (e.g., tomato, eggplant, and pepper), etc.; - Pod vegetables: peanut, pea, bean, lentil, chickpea, and okra, etc.; - Bulbous and stem vegetables: asparagus, celery, alliums (e.g., garlic, onion, and leek), etc.; - Root and tuber vegetables: carrot, beet, bamboo shoot, cassava, yam, ginger, taro, parsnip, daikon, potato, sweet potato, taro, turnip, and wasabi, etc.; - Sugar crops: sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) and sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum), etc.; - Crops cultivated for the production of non-alcoholic beverages and stimulants: coffee, tea, herbal tea, green tea, cocoa, and tobacco, etc.; - Fruit crops: fleshy fruits (e.g., kiwifruit, grape, plum, gooseberry, guava, feijoa, pomegranate), citrus fruits (e.g., orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit), false fruits (e.g., banana, cranberry, blueberry), aggregate fruits (blackberry, raspberry, boysenberry), multiple fruits (e.g., pineapple, fig), stone fruit crops (e.g., apricot, peach, cherry, plum), pome fruits (e.g., apple, pear), and others such as strawberry and sunflower seeds, etc.; - Culinary and medicinal herbs: rosemary, basil, ginkgo, coriander, mint, dill, borage, digitalis, aloe vera, and rose hip, etc.; - Crops producing spices: black pepper, cumin, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, clove, saffron, cardamom, mace, paprika, masala, and star anise, etc.; - Crops cultivated for the production of nuts and oils: almonds and walnuts, Brazil nuts, cashew nuts, coconuts, chestnuts, macadamia nuts, pistachio nuts; peanuts, pecan nuts, soybeans, cotton, olives, sunflowers, sesame, lupinus species, and cruciferous crops (e.g., canola / rapeseed), etc.; - Crops cultivated for the production of beer, wine, and other alcoholic beverages (e.g., grapes, hops); - Edible mushrooms (e.g., white button mushrooms, shiitake, and oyster mushrooms); - Plants used in livestock agriculture: legumes: Trifolium species, Medicago species, Lotus species; white clover (T. repens); red clover (T. pratense); Caucasian clover (T. ambiguum); subterranean clover (T. subterraneum); alfalfa / lucerne (Medicago sativum); annual Medicago forage; barrel medic; berseem clover; sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia); birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus); big trefoil (Lotus pedunculatus), etc.; - Forage and amenity grasses: cool-season forages such as Lolium species; Festuca species; Agrostis spp., Lolium perenne; Lolium hybridum; annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea); meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis); red fescue (Festuca rubra); Festuca ovina; Festulolium (Lolium X Festuca cross); cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata); Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis); Poa palustris; Poa nemoralis; Poa trivialis; Poa compressa; Bromus species; Phleum species; Arrhenatherum elatius; Agropyron species; Avena strigosa; and Setaria italic, etc.; - Warm-season forages: Phalaris species; Brachiaria species; Eragrostis species; Panicum species; bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum); Brachypodium species, etc.; - Grasses used for biofuel production: switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) and Miscanthus species, etc.; - Fiber crops: hemp, jute, coconut, sisal, flax (Linum spp.); New Zealand flax (Phormium species); plantations and natural forest species harvested for paper and engineered wood fiber products such as coniferous and broad-leaved forest species, etc.; - Trees and shrub species used in plantation forestry and biofuel crops: Pinus species; Pseudotsuga species; Picea species; Cupressus species; Acacia species; Alnus species; Quercus species; Sequoiadendron species; Salix species; Betula species; Cedrus species; Fraxinus species; Larix species; Eucalyptus species; Bambuseae species, and Populus species, etc.; - Plants cultivated for conversion into energy, biofuels, or industrial products by extraction, biological, physical, or biochemical processes: Oil palm, tung oil tree, and oil-producing plants such as linseed, etc.; - Latex-producing plants: Castilla elastica, Hevea brasiliensis, Mexican rubber tree, Castilla elastica, etc.; - Plants used as direct or indirect raw materials for the production of biofuels, i.e., chemical conversion, physical (e.g., thermal or catalytic) conversion, or biochemical (e.g., enzymatic pretreatment) or biological (e.g., by microbial fermentation) conversion during the manufacture of biofuels, industrial solvents, or chemical products (such as ethanol or butanol, propanediol, or other fuels or industrial materials), such as sugar crops (e.g., beet, sugarcane), starch-producing crops (e.g., C3 and C4 cereal crops and tuber crops), cellulose crops such as forest trees (e.g., pine, eucalyptus), and Graminaceous and Poaceae plants (bamboo, switchgrass, pampas grass, etc.); - Crops used for the production of energy, biofuels, or industrial chemicals through gasification and / or microbial or catalytic conversion of gas into biofuels or solvents and other industrial raw materials (such as solvents or plastics), with or without the production of biochar: for example, conifers, eucalyptus, tropical or broad-leaved forest trees, Graminaceous and Poaceae crops (such as bamboo, switchgrass, miscanthus, sugarcane, or hemp), or softwoods (such as poplar, willow, etc.); - Biomass crops used for the production of biochar; - Crops that produce natural products useful in the pharmaceutical, agricultural, nutraceutical, and cosmeceutical industries: crops that produce precursors or compounds for pharmaceuticals, or compounds and materials for nutraceuticals and cosmeceuticals, such as star anise (shikimic acid), Japanese knotweed (resveratrol), kiwifruit (soluble fiber, proteolytic enzyme), etc. - Floricultural plants, ornamental plants, and amenity plants cultivated for aesthetic or environmental characteristics: flowers such as roses, tulips, chrysanthemums, etc.; - Ornamental shrubs such as boxwood, hebe, rose, rhododendron, and ivy; - Amenity plants such as plane tree, showy jasmine, escallonia, euphorbia, and rush; - Mosses such as sphagnum moss; and - Plants cultivated for bioremediation: sunflower (Helianthus), rapeseed (Brassica), weeping willow (Salix), poplar (Populus), and eucalyptus (Eucalyptus).

[0038] Plant species include, but are not limited to, Zea mays, Brassica sp. (e.g., B. napus, B. rapa, B. juncea), Medicago sativa, Oryza sativa, Secale cereale, Sorghum bicolor, Sorghum vulgare, pearl millet (e.g., Pennisetum glaucum), Panicum miliaceum, Setaria italica, Eleusine coracana, Helianthus annuus, Carthamus tinctorius, Triticum aestivum, Glycine max, Nicotiana tabacum, Solanum tuberosum, Arachis hypogaea, Gossypium barbadense, Gossypium hirsutum, Ipomoea batatus, Manihot esculenta, Cofea spp., Cocos nucifera, Ananas comosus, Citrus spp., Theobroma cacao, Camellia sinensis, Musa spp., Persea americana, Ficus casica, Psidium guajava, Mangifera indica, Olea europaea, Carica papaya, Anacardium occidentale, Macadamia integrifolia, Prunus amygdalus, Beta vulgaris, Saccharum spp.) Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), lettuce (e.g., Lactuca sativa), green bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), lima bean (Phaseolus limensis), pea (Lathyrus spp.), cauliflower (Brassica oleracea), broccoli (Brassica oleracea), turnip (Brassica rapa var. rapa), daikon radish (Raphanus raphanistrum subsp. Sativus), spinach (Spinacia oleracea), cabbage (Brassica oleracea), asparagus (Asparagus officinalis), onion (Allium cepa), garlic (Allium sativum), pepper (Piperaceae), e.g., black pepper (Piper nigrum), cubeb pepper (Piper cubeba), long pepper (Piper longum), retrofractum pepper (Piper retrofractum), borbonense pepper (Piper borbonense), and guinea pepper (Piper guineense), celery (Apium graveolens), cucurbits, e.g., cucumber (Cucumis sativus), cantaloupe (Cucumis cantalupensis), and muskmelon (Cucumis melo), oats (Avena sativa), barley (Hordeum vulgare), cucurbitaceous plants, e.g., squash (Cucurbita pepo), pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima), and zucchini (Cucurbita pepo), apple (Malus domestica), pear (Pyrus spp.), quince (Cydonia oblonga), plum (Prunus subg. Prunus), peach (Prunus persica), cherry (such as Prunus avium or Prunus cerasus), nectarine (Prunus persica var.peach (Prunus persica), apricot (Prunus armeniaca, Prunus brigantina, Prunus mandshurica, Prunus mume, Prunus zhengheensis, Prunus sibirica, etc.), strawberry (Fragaria×ananassa), grape (Vitis vinifera), raspberry (genus Rubus), blackberry (Rubus ursinus, Rubus laciniatus, Rubus argutus, Rubus armeniacus, Rubus plicatus, Rubus ulmifolius, Rubus allegheniensis), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), rapeseed (Brassica napus), clove (Syzygium aromaticum), carrot (Daucus carota), lentil (Lens culinaris), and Arabidopsis thaliana are mentioned.

[0039] Furthermore, but not limited to, ornamental plant species such as Hydrangea macrophylla, Hibiscus rosasanensis, Petunia hybrida, Rosa spp., Rhododendron spp., Tulipa spp., Narcissus spp., Dianthus caryophyllus, Euphorbia pulcherrima, and Chrysanthemum indicum; and, but not limited to, coniferous plant species including pine, such as Pinus taeda, Pinus elliotii, Pinus ponderosa, Pinus contorta, and Pinus radiata, Pseudotsuga menziesii; Tsuga canadensis; Picea glauca; Sequoia sempervirens; fir, such as Abies amabilis and Abies balsamea; and Himalayan cedar, such as Thuja plicata and Chamaecyparis nootkatensis can be mentioned.

[0040] Plants in the context of the present invention can be, in particular, perennial fruit plants, in particular plants selected from the group consisting of apple, apricot, avocado, citrus fruits (such as orange, lemon, grapefruit, tangerine, lime, and citron), peach, pear, pecan, pistachio, and plum. The plants in the present invention can also be, in particular, annual crops, for example crops selected from the group consisting of celery, spinach, and tomato.

[0041] Preferably, the plant is selected from the group consisting of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), watermelon (Cucurbitaceae lanatus), pepper, zucchini, cucumber, melon, strawberry, blueberry, and raspberry. These are, for example, tomatoes.

[0042] Specifically, the type of tomato targeted can be selected from the group consisting of long - life, grooved, cluster - picked, smooth, or salad tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, and Italian tomatoes. Examples of some varieties include Alicante, Trujillo, Genio, Cocktail, Beefsteak, Marmande, Conquista, Kumato, Adoration, Better Boy, Big Raimbow, Black Krim, Brandwyne, Campari, Canario, Tomkin, Early Girl, Garden peach, Hanover, Jersey Boy, Jubilee, Matt’s Wild Cherry, Micro Tom, Montesora, Mortgage Lifter, Plum Tomato, Raf Tomato, Delizia, Roma, San Marzano, Santorini, Super Sweet 10, Tomaccio, Pear Tomato, and Yellow Pear.

[0043] Silicate The silicate S1 according to the present invention is (a) Emission having a first peak wavelength in the range of 400 nm to 500 nm, preferably in the range of 420 nm to 455 nm, and a second peak wavelength in the range of 550 nm to 700 nm, preferably in the range of 590 nm to 660 nm, and (b) Absorption at wavelengths exceeding 440 nm, which is 15% or less, preferably 10% or less, more preferably 5% or less. is shown.

[0044] The emission spectrum can be obtained using a Jobin Yvon HORIBA Fluoromax-4+ equipped with a xenon lamp and two monochromators (one for the excitation wavelength and one for the emission wavelength). The excitation wavelength is fixed at 370 nm, and the spectrum is recorded from 390 to 750 nm.

[0045] Absorption can be obtained from the diffuse reflectance spectrum. Such a spectrum can be recorded using a Jobin Yvon HORIBA Fluoromax-4+ spectrometer equipped with a xenon lamp and two monochromators (one for the excitation wavelength and one for the emission wavelength) that can operate synchronously. For the product, for each value of the predetermined wavelength, a reflection (R product ) value (intensity) is obtained, which ultimately gives the reflectance spectrum (R product ) as a function of wavelength. The first reflectance (R white ) spectrum of BaSO4 is recorded from 280 nm to 500 nm. The BaSO4 spectrum corresponds to 100% light reflectance (referred to as "white"). The second reflectance (R black ) spectrum of black carbon is recorded from 280 nm to 500 nm. The spectrum of black carbon corresponds to 0% light reflectance (referred to as "black"). The reflectance (R sample ) spectrum of the sample is recorded from 280 nm to 500 nm. For each wavelength, the following relationship: A = 1 - R is calculated, where R is equal to (R sample - R black ) / (R white - R black ), that is, A = (R white - R sample ) / (R white - R black ), which represents the absorption at each wavelength and gives the absorption spectrum (as a function of wavelength).

[0046] The silicate S1 used in the present invention may be a compound containing at least barium, magnesium, and silicon. Preferably, in the silicate S1, barium and magnesium may be substituted with at least another element such as europium, praseodymium, and / or manganese.

[0047] The silicate S1 is in particular a compound of formula (I): aMO.a’M’O.bM’’O.b’M’’’O.cSiO2(I) wherein M and M’’ are selected from the group consisting of strontium, barium, calcium, zinc, magnesium, or a combination thereof, M’ and M’’’ are selected from the group consisting of europium, manganese, praseodymium, gadolinium, yttrium, 0.5 < a ≤ 3, 0.5 < b ≤ 3, 0 < a’ ≤ 0.5, 0 < b’ ≤ 0.5, and 1 ≤ c ≤ 2.

[0048] The film may contain, in addition to the silicate S1, other types of silicates such as Ba2SiO4 (for example, in trace amounts).

[0049] The silicate is in particular a compound of formula (II): aBaO.xEuO.cMgO.yMnO.eSiO2(II) wherein 0.5 < a ≤ 3, 0 < x ≤ 0.5, 0 < c ≤ 1, 0 < y ≤ 0.5, 1 ≤ e ≤ 2.

[0050] Preferably, a + b + c + d + e is included in 90% - 100%, more preferably 95% - 99%, and usually 98% by weight or more.

[0051] In formula (II), preferably 0.0001 ≤ x ≤ 0.4 and 0.0001 ≤ y ≤ 0.4, more preferably 0.01 ≤ x ≤ 0.35 and 0.04 ≤ y ≤ 0.15.

[0052] In the compound of formula (II), barium, magnesium, and silicon may be partially replaced by elements other than those described above. Thus, barium may be partially replaced by calcium and / or strontium at a ratio that may be up to about 30%, and this ratio is represented by the substitution / (substitution + barium) atomic ratio. Magnesium may be partially replaced by zinc at a ratio that may be up to about 30%, and this ratio is also represented by the Zn / (Zn + Mg) atomic ratio. Finally, silicon may be partially replaced by germanium, aluminum, and / or phosphorus at a ratio that may be up to about 10%, and this ratio is represented by the substitution / (substitution + silicon) atomic ratio.

[0053] While barium magnesium silicate doped with europium emits light in the blue range, the presence of manganese as a dopant can direct the emission of this compound towards the red range. By varying the Eu / Mn ratio, it is possible to adjust the colorimetry of the emission of the additive of the present invention.

[0054] In the silicate S1 of formula (II), barium, magnesium, and silicon are preferably not replaced by elements other than europium and manganese.

[0055] The silicate S1 of formula (II) may be selected from the group consisting of: Ba 2.7 Eu 0.3 Mg 0.9 Mn 0.1 Si2O8, Ba 2.7 Eu 0.3 Mg 0.8 Mn 0.2 Si2O8, Ba 2.94 Eu 0.06 Mg 0.95 Mn 0.05 Si2O8, Ba 2.9 Eu 0.1 Mg 0.95 Mn 0.05 Si2O8, and BaMg2Si2O7:Eu,Mn。

[0056] The silicate S1 can also correspond to the compound of formula (III): Ba 3(1-x-y) Eu 3x Pr 3y Mg 1-z Mn z Si 2(1-3v / 2) M 3v O8(III) (wherein M represents aluminum, gallium, or boron, and 0 < x ≦ 0.3; 0 < y ≦ 0.1; 0 < z ≦ 0.3; 0 ≦ v ≦ 0.1).

[0057] The silicate S1 used in the present invention is usually prepared by a solid-phase reaction at high temperature.

[0058] As starting materials, the necessary metal oxides, or organic or inorganic compounds capable of forming these oxides by heating, such as carbonates, oxalates, hydroxides, acetates, nitrates, or borates of the said metals, can be used directly.

[0059] A homogeneous mixture of all starting materials in appropriate concentrations in a finely divided form is formed.

[0060] It is also conceivable to prepare the starting mixture by coprecipitation using a solution of the desired oxide precursor and / or oxide slurry, for example, in an aqueous medium.

[0061] Thereafter, the mixture of starting materials is heated at least once at a temperature of about 500 °C to about 1600 °C for a period of 1 hour to about 100 hours. In order to completely convert europium into the divalent form, it is preferable to perform at least partial heating under a reducing atmosphere, for example, under hydrogen in argon. Before the heating step, a flux such as BaF2, BaCl2, NH4Cl, MgF2, MgCl2, Li2B4O7, LiF, H3BO3, etc. can also be added to the raw material mixture.

[0062] The silicates used in the present invention can be produced, in particular, as described in WO 2004 / 044090 pamphlet and WO 2004 / 041963 pamphlet.

[0063] It may also be possible to produce the silicates of the present invention by mixing a silica suspension with starting materials such as nitrates, followed by spray drying and calcination, in particular calcination in air and / or a reducing atmosphere. Such silicates can be produced, in particular, as described in WO 2016 / 001219 pamphlet.

[0064] There is no limitation on the shape, form, particle size, or particle size distribution of the silicates thus obtained. These products can be ground, micronized, sieved, and surface-treated, in particular together with organic additives, to promote compatibility or dispersion in the application medium.

[0065] The particles of silicate S1 are preferably such that the dispersion remains stable over a specific period.

[0066] Silicate S1 is preferably in the form of solid particles such as crystallized particles and has a size D50 of 1 μm to 50 μm, more preferably 2 μm to 10 μm. Silicate S1 may also be in the form of solid particles such as crystallized particles having a size D50 of 0.1 μm to 1.0 μm, preferably 0.1 μm to 0.5 μm.

[0067] D50 has the usual meaning used in statistics. D50 corresponds to the median value of the distribution. This represents the particle size such that 50% of the particles are below the size and 50% of the particles are above the size. D50 is determined from the (volume-based) particle size distribution obtained by a laser diffraction particle size analyzer. The device Malvern Mastersizer 3000 can be used.

[0068] Matrix According to the present invention, as the matrix material, a transparent photocurable polymer, a thermosetting polymer, a thermoplastic polymer, a glass substrate, or any combination thereof can be preferably used. This matrix may be a natural fiber such as silk, wool, cotton, or linen, or a non-natural fiber such as viscose, nylon, polyamide, polyester, and their copolymers. The matrix may be an inorganic glass (silicate) or an organic glass. The matrix can also be based particularly on a thermoplastic type of polymer. The matrix may contain at least one polymer, or the matrix may be a polymer.

[0069] As polymer-based materials, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polymethylpentene, polybutene, butadiene styrene polymer, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polymethacryl styrene, styrene-acrylonitrile, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, polyethylene terephthalate, polymethyl methacrylate, polyphenylene ether, polyacrylonitrile, polyvinyl alcohol, acrylonitrile polycarbonate, polyvinylidene chloride, polycarbonate, polyamide, polyacetal, polybutylene terephthalate, polytetrafluoroethylene, ethyl vinyl acetate copolymer, ethylene butyl acrylate copolymer, ethylene tetrafluoroethylene copolymer, phenol polymer, melamine polymer, urea polymer, urethane, epoxy, unsaturated polyester, polyallyl sulfone, polyarylate, hydroxybenzoic acid polyester, polyetherimide, polycyclohexylene dimethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, polyester carbonate, polylactic acid, phenol resin, silicone can be preferably used.

[0070] As the photocurable polymer, a plurality of types of (meth)acrylates can be preferably used. Unsubstituted alkyl-(meth)acrylates, such as methyl-acrylate, methyl-methacrylate, ethyl-acrylate, ethyl-methacrylate, butyl-acrylate, butyl-methacrylate, 2-ethylhexyl-acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl-methacrylate; substituted alkyl-(meth)acrylates, such as alkyl-(meth)acrylates substituted with a hydroxyl group, an epoxy group, or a halogen; cyclopentenyl (meth)acrylate, tetrahydrofurfuryl-(meth)acrylate, benzyl (meth)acrylate, polyethylene glycol di-(meth)acrylate, etc.

[0071] The matrix material can preferably have a melt flow index in the range of 0.1 to 50 g / 10 minutes, particularly in the range of 0.1 to 7 g / 10 minutes for polyethylene and 0.7 to 4 g / minute for an ethyl vinyl acetate copolymer. This is measured particularly using an MFI apparatus, the sample is preheated at 190 °C for 5 minutes, and the weight used is 2.16 kg (in accordance with the standard method ISO1133).

[0072] As the thermosetting polymer, generally known transparent thermosetting polymers can be preferably used.

[0073] The types of thermoplastic polymers as thermoplastic polymers are not particularly limited. For example, natural rubber (refractive index (n) = 1.52), polyisoprene (n = 1.52), poly-1,2-butadiene (n = 1.50), polyisobutene (n = 1.51), polybutene (n = 1.51), poly-2-heptyl-1,3-butadiene (n = 1.50), poly-2-t-butyl-1,3-butadiene (n = 1.51), poly-1,3-butadiene (n = 1.52), polyoxyethylene (n = 1.46), polyoxypropylene (n = 1.45), polyvinyl ethyl ether (n = 1.45), polyvinyl hexyl ether (n = 1.46), polyvinyl butyl ether (n = 1.46), polyether, polyvinyl acetate (n = 1.47), polyester, for example polyvinyl propionate (n = 1.47), polyurethane (n = 1.5 - 1.6), ethyl cellulose (n = 1.48), polyvinyl chloride (n = 1.54 - 1.55), polyacrylonitrile (n = 1.52), polymethacrylonitrile (n = 1.52), polysulfone (n = 1.63), polysulfide (n = 1.60), phenoxy resin (n = 1.5 - 1.6), polyethyl acrylate (n = 1.47), polybutyl acrylate (n = 1.47), poly-2-ethylhexyl acrylate (n = 1.46), poly-t-butyl acrylate (n = 1.46), poly-3-ethoxypropyl acrylate (n = 1.47), polyoxycarbonyl tetramethacrylate (n = 1.47), polymethyl acrylate (n = 1.47 - 1.48), polyisopropyl methacrylate (n = 1.47), polydodecyl methacrylate (n = 1.47), polytetradecyl methacrylate (n = 1.47), poly-n-propyl methacrylate (n = 1.48), poly-3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexyl methacrylate (n = 1.48), polyethyl methacrylate (n = 1.49), poly-2-nitro-2-methylpropyl methacrylate (n = 1.49), poly-1,1-diethylpropyl methacrylate (n = 1.49), poly(meth)acrylate, for example polymethyl methacrylate (n = 1.49), or any combination thereof can be preferably used as required.

[0074] Examples of thermoplastic polymers suitable for the present invention include polycarbonates such as poly[methanebis(4-phenyl)carbonate], poly[1,1-etherbis(4-phenyl)carbonate], poly[diphenylmethanebis(4-phenyl)carbonate], poly[1,1-cyclohexanebis(4-phenyl)carbonate], and homologous polymers; polyamides such as poly(4-aminobutyric acid), poly(hexamethylene adipamide), poly(6-aminohexanoic acid), poly(m-xylylene adipamide), poly(p-xylylene sebacamide), poly(2,2,2-trimethylhexamethylene terephthalamide), poly(m-phenylene isophthalamide), poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide), and homologous polymers; polyesters such as poly(ethylene azelate), poly(ethylene-1,5-naphthalate), poly(1,4-cyclohexanedimethylene terephthalate), poly(ethylene oxybenzoate), poly(parahydroxybenzoate), poly(1,4-cyclohexylidene dimethylene terephthalate), poly(1,4-cyclohexylidene dimethylene terephthalate), polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, and homologous polymers; vinyl polymers and their copolymers such as polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl chloride; polyvinyl butyral, polyvinylidene chloride, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, and homologous polymers; acrylic polymers, polyacrylates, and their copolymers such as polyethyl acrylate, poly(n-butyl acrylate), polymethyl methacrylate, polyethyl methacrylate, poly(n-butyl methacrylate), poly(n-propyl methacrylate), and ethylene butyl acrylate copolymer, polyacrylamide, polyacrylonitrile, poly(acrylic acid), ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer, ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer, acrylonitrile copolymer, methylstyrene methacrylate copolymer, ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymer, methacrylate-butadiene-styrene copolymer, ABS, and homologous polymers;Polyolefins, such as low density poly(ethylene), poly(propylene), and other [alpha]-olefins such as 1-butene and 1-hexene in general (which can be used up to a maximum of 1%) copolymerized with ethylene and propylene can be mentioned. Other comonomers that can be used may be cyclic olefins such as 1,4-hexadiene, cyclopentadiene, and ethylidene norbornene. The copolymer may be a carboxylic acid such as acrylic acid or methacrylic acid. Finally, low density chlorinated poly(ethylene), poly(4-methyl-1-pentene), poly(ethylene), and poly(styrene) can be mentioned.;

[0075] Among these thermoplastic polymers, the most preferred ones in particular are polyethylene and copolymers such as low density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), high density polyethylene (HDPE), polyethylene obtained by metallocene synthesis, ethyl vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), ethylene butyl acrylate copolymer (EBA), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), (co)polyolefins, polyethylene-vinyl alcohol (EVOH), polycarbonate (PC), and mixtures and copolymers based on these (co)polymers.;

[0076] Composition The composition used in relation to the present invention contains at least a matrix and a silicate according to the present invention. The silicate S1 can be dispersed in the matrix, and the film of the present invention can contain a matrix and dispersed particles of the silicate in the matrix. Preferably, the silicate S1 can be dispersed in the polymer, and the film used in the present invention can contain a polymer and dispersed particles of the silicate in the polymer.;

[0077] The amount of silicate in the film may be, in particular, from 0.01 to 10% by weight, in particular from 0.1% to 5% by weight, more specifically from 0.3 to 3% by weight, based on the total amount of the film. Preferably, this amount is 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, and 2, and any range made up of these values.

[0078] The composition can optionally further comprise one or more additional inorganic fluorescent materials that emit, in particular, blue or red light. As additional inorganic fluorescent substances that emit blue or red, any type of generally known material, such as those described in Chapter 2 of the Phosphorescent Materials Handbook (Yen, Shinoya, Yamamoto), can be used as necessary.

[0079] The composition can contain other additives, such as stabilizers, plasticizers, flame retardants, dyes, optical brighteners, lubricants, antiblocking agents, matting agents, processing agents, elastomers or elastomeric compositions, such as acrylic copolymers or methacrylate-butadiene-styrene copolymers, for improving the flexibility or mechanical strength of the film, adhesives, such as polyolefins grafted with maleic anhydride to enable adhesion to polyamides, dispersants that can better distribute the silicate in the material, or any other additives necessary for the manufacture of the structure of a multilayer thermoplastic film, in particular those known and commonly used for the manufacture of films for greenhouses, such as non-drip or anti-fog additives, or catalysts. This list is not essentially limiting.

[0080] Any method can be used to obtain a dispersion of silicate in a matrix, in particular in a polymeric compound of the type such as the above-mentioned polymers, for making the compositions and films used according to the present invention.

[0081] The incorporation of the silicate and optional additional components into the polymer can be carried out by known methods such as dry mixing in powder form or wet mixing in the form of a solution, dispersion, or suspension in, for example, an inert solvent, water, or oil. The silicate and optional additional additives can also be incorporated, for example, before or after shaping, or by applying the dissolved or dispersed additive or additive mixture to the polymeric material, with or without subsequent evaporation of the solvent or suspending / dispersing agent. They can be added directly into a processing apparatus (e.g., an extruder, an internal mixer) as, for example, a dry mixture or powder, or as a solution or dispersion or suspension or melt.

[0082] In particular, the first process consists of mixing the silicate and the other aforementioned additives in a molten polymer compound and, optionally, applying high shear to the mixture, for example, in a twin-screw extrusion apparatus, to achieve good dispersion. Another process consists of mixing the additive to be dispersed with the monomers in a polymerization medium and then carrying out the polymerization.

[0083] Another process consists of mixing a polymer in molten form, prepared, for example, according to one of the above processes, with a concentrated blend (masterbatch) of the polymer and the dispersion additive. The polymer for the masterbatch and the matrix polymer may be of the same type or different. The two polymers are preferably compatible so as to form a homogeneous mixture. For example, if the polymer is an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, the other polymer may be the same ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer or a different one, or a compatible polymer such as, for example, polyethylene. The masterbatch is prepared by the same prior art described above and, for example, it can be prepared using an extruder. The advantage of using a masterbatch is that the particles can be sufficiently pre-dispersed using a mixing device exhibiting a high shear rate. Various additives (e.g., the cross-linking agents, auxiliaries described above) may be present in either one of the polymers or may be added separately.

[0084] In the process for preparing the composition in relation to the present invention, a masterbatch containing a polymer (Polymer 1) and a silicate, or a masterbatch containing a polymer (Polymer 1) and a silicate pre-dispersed in a polymer (Polymer 2) is extruded.

[0085] The silicate can be introduced into the synthesis medium of the polymer compound or any form of thermoplastic polymer melt. This can be introduced, for example, in the form of a solid powder or in the form of a dispersion in water or an organic dispersant.

[0086] It is also possible to directly disperse the silicate compound in powder form into the matrix, for example by preparing a powder concentrate by stirring or in a liquid or paste-like medium and then adding it to the matrix. The concentrate can optionally be prepared in an aqueous or solvent-based medium together with surfactants, water-soluble or hydrophobic polymers, or polymers containing hydrophilic and hydrophobic ends (which may be polar or non-polar) necessary for stabilizing the mixture to avoid its decantation. There is no limitation on the additives that can be included in the composition of the concentrate.

[0087] Film The greenhouse film in relation to the present invention can be of various shapes, such as plates, flat sheets, squares, rectangles, circles, walls, tunnels, ellipses, semi-circles, shelters, protective sheets, and building materials for greenhouses.

[0088] The film used according to the present invention contains at least a matrix and silicate S1, preferably dispersed particles of silicate S1, and the silicate S1 (a) emits light having a first peak wavelength in the range of 400 nm to 500 nm, preferably in the range of 420 nm to 455 nm, and a second peak wavelength in the range of 550 nm to 700 nm, preferably in the range of 590 nm to 660 nm, and (b) has an absorption at wavelengths exceeding 440 nm of 20% or less, preferably 15% or less, more preferably 10% or less, and in some cases 5% or less. is shown.

[0089] The film in the context of the present invention can be used by itself, or can be deposited on another substrate such as another film or glass, or can be combined with another substrate. This deposition or this combination can be produced, for example, by known methods such as coextrusion, lamination, and coating. The multilayer structure can be formed from one or more layers of the materials used according to the present invention and can be combined with one or more other layers of one or more thermoplastic polymers, such as polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride, via a layer of a coextruded binder, which can constitute an important support component in the film configuration. The film thus obtained can be uniaxially or biaxially stretched according to known techniques for converting plastics. The sheet or plate may be cut, thermoformed, or stamped in order to impart the desired shape to them.

[0090] The film can also be coated with the above polymer or silicone-based coating (e.g., SiOx) or aluminum oxide, or any other coating provided by plasma, web coating, or electron beam coating.

[0091] The film in the context of the present invention may be a multilayer film having at least two layers formed from a polymer-based material or other materials joined together by any conventional or suitable method including one or more of coextrusion, extrusion coating, lamination, vapor deposition coating, solvent coating, emulsion coating, and / or suspension coating. At least one of the layers of the multilayer film contains at least silicate S1.

[0092] Normally, the film is transparent and flexible.

[0093] The thickness of the layers of the film may be in the range of 50 μm to 1 mm, preferably 100 μm to 800 μm, more preferably 200 μm to 700 μm.

[0094] The film in relation to the present invention can exhibit a transmittance of 80% or more, preferably 85% to 98%. The transmittance can be measured, for example, in accordance with the standard method ASTM D1003 using a BYK's Gardner Haze-gard i(4775) Haze Meter.

[0095] Use The present invention also relates to a method for promoting the fruit development of plants by providing a greenhouse film according to the present invention together with light treatment to plants in a growth medium. The present invention also relates to a method for promoting the fruit development of plants, wherein the fruit development is stimulated by the light emission provided by the greenhouse film. The present invention also relates to a method for promoting the fruit development of plants in a greenhouse containing the greenhouse film.

[0096] The film forms a cover for the greenhouse (roof, wall) and can protect the plants from the surrounding influences, or the film can be used inside the greenhouse to protect or safeguard the plants or parts of the plants from the influences originating from the inside, such as artificial watering or spraying of herbicides and / or insecticides.

[0097] The growth medium is a well-known agriculturally suitable medium in which plants can be cultivated. Examples include any of a variety of media containing components suitable for agriculture (such as sand, soil, vermiculite, peat); agar gels; and any of a variety of hydroponic media such as water, glass wool, or Perlite®. Water and inorganic nutrients are two essential additives for horticultural and agricultural activities, and the management of the application of these substrates can have a significant impact on both yield and quality. There are a variety of ways to apply these two substrates to meet the requirements of plants. In some embodiments, these can be applied to soil or soilless substrates (i.e., coco coir, peat, etc.), in which case the soil or soilless substrate absorbs water and inorganic nutrients and functions as a storage place for these substrates. In another embodiment, these can also be supplied in a hydroponic system, which provides a certain direct access to water and inorganic nutrients by means of root flooding, mist spraying, dripping, suction, or direct immersion. The roots of plants can grow directly in the solution or in the substrate. When a plant is hydroponically cultivated in a substrate, it is called "substrate-based hydroponics". If the substrate has a high cation exchange capacity (and anion exchange capacity), it is typically classified as soilless production, and if the substrate has little or no cation / anion exchange capacity, it is classified as substrate-based hydroponics. Examples of hydroponic substrates include, but are not limited to, coconut fiber, vermiculite, perlite, expanded clay pellets, and rock wool (stone wool).

[0098] Any light treatment, either solar or artificial lighting, can have an intensity and duration sufficient for long-term, high-efficiency photosynthesis throughout the growth period. The appropriate irradiation intensity is photosynthetically active radiation (400 - 700 nm) of 400 - 2000 μmol / m 2 / s, and usually direct sunlight provides sufficient illumination. Artificial lighting can be obtained, for example, by using LEDs or sodium and / or mercury lamps.

[0099] For optimal growth, heat treatment at a temperature usually included from 10 °C to 35 °C or higher can be applied to plants.

[0100] As described above, fruit development involves, in particular, the number of fruits produced by the plant, their size and / or quality, resulting in an increase in fruit yield.

[0101] Fruit development according to the present invention can be considered as an increase of at least 10%, preferably 10% - 80%, preferably 15 - 50% in the number of fruits produced by the plant, compared to untreated plants. This can be calculated, for example, per plant, per lot, or per m 2 and can be calculated per.

[0102] In some embodiments, the increase in fruit size includes one or more of the following: - The average fruit diameter per crop is increased by at least 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, or 10 - 90% compared to the untreated crop; - The average fruit weight per crop is increased by at least 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, or 90%, or 10 - 90% compared to the untreated crop; - The total fruit weight per crop is increased by at least 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, or 10 - 90% compared to the untreated crop.

[0103] Fruit size can include fruit weight, length, area, diameter, circumference, or volume.

[0104] In a preferred embodiment, the increase in fruit production is a net increase of at least 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 75%, 85%, 95%, 100%, 150%, 200% in fruit production, which corresponds to the number of fruits per crop (total, large, or of commercial value), the weight of fruits per crop (total, large, or of commercial value), or the total fruit yield per crop, compared to the respective values of untreated control plants.

[0105] Fruit production is generally expressed in total kilograms of fruit per crop, average kilograms per fruit per crop, total number of fruits per crop, average number of fruits per crop, average millimeters of diameter per fruit, or average grams per fruit.

Example

[0106] The present invention will now be further illustrated by the following non-limiting examples.

[0107] Example 1: Ba 2.7 Eu 0.3 Mg 0.9 Mn 0.1 Synthesis of Si2O8 Ba 2.7 Eu 0.3 Mg 0.9 Mn 0.1 Particles of Si2O8 (P1) were synthesized according to the following process:

[0108] An aqueous solution was prepared from a mixture of barium, magnesium, europium, and manganese nitrates having the following composition. Ba(NO3)2 113.51 g Mg(NO3)3.6H2O 37.11 g Mn(NO3)2.4H2O 4.00 g Eu(NO3)3 40.44 g

[0109] Water was added to this nitrate mixture to reach a final cation concentration of 0.27 mol / l. A fumed silica (specific surface area: 50 m 2 / g) suspension was also prepared at a Si concentration of 0.71 mol / l. The nitrate solution and the fumed silica suspension were mixed to obtain an overall suspension.

[0110] This suspension was dried in a flash spray dryer having an inlet side temperature of 350 °C and an outlet side temperature of 140 °C. The dried product was calcined in air at 900 °C for 6 hours and then at 1200 °C for 6 hours in an Ar / H2 (95 / 5) atmosphere.

[0111] The particles have a size D of 5.2 μm 50 and.

[0112] These particles (a) emit light with a first peak wavelength of 438 nm and a second peak wavelength in the range of 620 nm, and (b) absorb less than 10% at wavelengths exceeding 440 nm, as shown.

[0113] Example 2: Synthesis of Ba 2.94 Eu 0.06 Mg 0.95 Mn 0.05 Si2O8 Ba 2.94 Eu 0.06 Mg 0.95 Mn 0.05 The particles of Si2O8 (P2) are synthesized according to the following process:

[0114] The solution was prepared from a mixture of barium, magnesium, europium, and manganese nitrates with the following composition. 124.60 g of Ba(NO3)2 39.49 g of Mg(NO3)3.6H2O 2.01 g of Mn(NO3)2.4H2O 8.15 g of Eu(NO3)3

[0115] Water was added to this nitrate mixture to reach a final cation concentration of 0.27 mol / l. Fumed silica (specific surface area: 50 m 2 / g) suspension was also prepared at a Si concentration of 0.71 mol / l. The nitrate solution and the fumed silica suspension were mixed to obtain an overall suspension.

[0116] This suspension was dried in a flash spray dryer having an inlet side temperature of 350 °C and an outlet side temperature of 140 °C. The dried product was calcined at 900 °C in air for 6 hours and then at 1200 °C in an Ar / H2 (95 / 5) atmosphere for 6 hours.

[0117] The particles have a size D of 5.2 μm 50 and have.

[0118] These particles (a) emit light in the range where the first peak wavelength is 438 nm and the second peak wavelength is 620 nm, and (b) have an absorption of less than 10% at wavelengths exceeding 440 nm. show.

[0119] Example 3: Production of Polymer Film This example shows the production of Film 1 and Film 2 using the particles of Examples 1 and 2 in a polymer film, respectively.

[0120] Using a co-rotating twin-screw extruder type Prism 25D (diameter 16 mm, L / D ratio 25, screw profile 25.5), a masterbatch MB1 containing 90 wt% ethylene / vinyl acetate copolymer (Elvax® 150, commercially available from DuPont) and 10 wt% silicate was prepared.

[0121] The pellets of ethylene / vinyl acetate copolymer and silicate S1 were premixed in a rotary mixer for 10 minutes and then introduced into the extruder under the following operating conditions:

[0122]

Table 1

[0123] In this way, masterbatch MB1 was obtained in the form of pellets.

[0124] To obtain Film 1, 402 g of MB1 was mixed with 7650 g of pure ethylene / vinyl acetate copolymer (corresponding to a silicate addition of 0.5 wt% in the final composition) in a rotary blender for 10 minutes, and then extruded using a co-rotating twin-screw extruder Leistritz LMM 30 / 34 type (diameter 34 mm and L / D ratio 25, screw profile: L16 without degassing) equipped with a slot die (width 300 mm, thickness 450 - 500 microns). The extrusion parameters are reported in the following table:

[0125]

Table 2

[0126] By mixing 1206 g of MB1 with 6848 g of pure ethylene / vinyl acetate copolymer (corresponding to a silicate addition of 1.5 wt% in the final composition), a similar film was prepared to obtain Film 2.

[0127] The obtained product had an average thickness of 450 μm.

[0128] The transmittance of Film 1 was 90.6%, and the transmittance of Film 2 was 85.7% (measured with a BYK's Gardner Haze-gard i(4775) Haze Meter according to the standard method ASTM D1003).

[0129] The obtained Film 1 emits a deep red color when irradiated with a wavelength of 365 nm.

[0130] The obtained Film 2 emits a deep red color when irradiated with a wavelength of 365 nm.

[0131] Also, Film 0 without particles was produced. The obtained Film 0 does not emit any color when irradiated with a wavelength of 365 nm.

[0132] Example 4: Agronomic test The agronomic behavior of tomato crops was evaluated using Films 1, 2, and 3 under a plastic roof in a greenhouse.

[0133] These tests were conducted in a special greenhouse with a total area of 20 m 2 The greenhouse was divided into five different cages, and different film plastic covers were attached to the roof of each cage. The greenhouse was equipped with an active climate control system with a cooling system controlled by an automated system. This system has the set temperature and activation of cooling set at 26 °C. The tomato crops were cultivated in a substrate within coconut fiber bags. Irrigation and fertilization of the tomato crops were carried out using a drip irrigation system, with a pair of rows of dripper lines arranged for each plant and emitters placed within the same drip holder branch every 50 cm. The drip irrigation setup had self-compensating drippers with a unit flow rate of 3 liters / hour / dripper. The fertilization system used during this test was automatically controlled by an irrigation unit equipped with a programmer and one tank of concentrated nutrient solution.

[0134] The field test was conducted during the planting cycle (5 months) of winter-spring tomatoes. Tomato crops (Solanum lycopersicum species "Trujillo") were transplanted into the greenhouse 20 days or more after germinating in a seedbed and with three fully grown leaves.

[0135] The plant density used was 6 plants per 1 m 2 During this test, the tomato crops were guided using black polypropylene cords vertically attached to the wire structure of the greenhouse. The total duration of the tomato planting cycle was 131 days.

[0136] Before transplanting the tomato crops, three different plastic films were installed in the greenhouse. Since different plastic films were attached to the roof of each cage, each cage in the greenhouse was subjected to different experimental treatments. There were six plants for each experimental treatment (cage). The evaluated experimental treatments were distributed in the greenhouse following the allocation of blocks.

[0137] Throughout all test periods, the air temperature was continuously controlled using a cooling system that exceeded the set temperature of 26°C, and the cooling system was operated by discharging air from the outside to the inside of the treatment, enabling air renewal and a decrease in air temperature.

[0138] At seven different time points during the growth of tomato crops, various parameters were measured.

[0139] In each measurement, six tomato plants of each treatment were evaluated. The measured parameters were the basal diameter of the stem, the length of the plant, the number of grown leaves, and the number of grown fruits. Pollination was performed by a manual system of flower vibration.

[0140] The yield harvested in each episode of fruit harvest (during four episodes of fruit harvest) is characterized by measuring the fresh weight and the number of fruits harvested in each experimental treatment, differentiating between marketable fruits and non-marketable fruits. This characterization was performed on each plant of a group of six plants for each experimental treatment.

[0141] The results are reported in Table 1 below:

[0142]

Table 3

[0143] Table 2 shows the trend of the number of grown fruits and the results of the cumulative marketable fruit yield. This is presented as the fresh weight of the harvested fruits in each episode of fruit harvest and each experimental treatment evaluated, and the cumulative value of the marketable fruit yield harvested during the test. The table also shows the results of the cumulative value of the fresh weight of the harvested fruits in each experimental treatment and each episode of fruit harvest.

[0144] Similarly, Table 2 shows the results of the cumulative amount of fruit produced (expressed as the average value of the number of fruits harvested in each episode of multiple harvests of fruits and in each experimental treatment evaluated) of the marketable fruits and the total yield (marketable fruits + non-marketable fruits) of the fruits obtained during the test. Table 2 also shows the average value of the number of fruits harvested in each experimental treatment and in each episode of multiple fruit harvests conducted during the test.

[0145] The cumulative marketable fruit yield for category MMM (diameter 40 - 47 mm) is also reported.

[0146]

Table 4

Claims

Claim 1 Use of a silicate S1 in a greenhouse film for promoting the fruit growth of plants, wherein the film comprises at least a matrix and the silicate S1, and the silicate S1 (a) emits light having a first peak wavelength in the range of 400 nm to 500 nm and a second peak wavelength in the range of 550 nm to 700 nm, and (b) has an absorption of 20% or less at wavelengths exceeding 440 nm, and the silicate S1 is of formula (I): aMO·a'M'O·bM''O·b'M'''O·cSiO ２ (I) (wherein M and M'' are selected from the group consisting of strontium, barium, calcium, zinc, magnesium, or combinations thereof, M' and M''' are selected from europium, manganese, praseodymium, gadolinium, yttrium, 0.5 < a ≦ 3, 0.5 < b ≦ 3, 0 < a' ≦ 0.5, 0 < b' ≦ 0.5, and 1 ≦ c ≦ 2) is a compound of and the silicate S1 is in the form of solid particles having a size D50 of 1 μm to 50 μm. Claim 2 The silicate S1 is of formula (II): aBaO·xEuO·cMgO·yMnO·eSiO ２ (II) (wherein 0 < a ≦ 3, 0 < x ≦ 0.5, 0.5 < c ≦ 1, 0 < y ≦ 0.5, 1 < e ≦ 2) The use according to claim 1, wherein the silicate S1 is a compound of Claim 3 In formula (II), 0.0001 ≦ x ≦ 0.4 and 0.0001 ≦ y ≦ 0.4, the use according to claim 2 Claim 4 In formula (II), 0.01 ≦ x ≦ 0.35 and 0.04 ≦ y ≦ 0.15, the use according to claim 2 Claim 5 In formula (II), the barium, the magnesium, and silicon are not replaced by elements other than europium and manganese, the use according to any one of claims 2 to 4 Claim 6 The compound of formula (II) is Ba ２．７ Eu ０．３ Mg ０．９ Mn ０．１ Si ２ O ８ The use according to claim 2, wherein it is such. Claim 7 The compound of formula (II) is Ba ２．９４ Eu ０．０６ Mg ０．９５ Mn ０．０５ Si ２ O ８ The use according to claim 2, wherein it is such. Claim 8 The silicate S1 is of formula (III): Ba ３（１－ｘ－ｙ） Eu ３ｘ Pr ３ｙ Mg １－ｚ Mn ｚ Si ２（１－３ｖ／２） M ３ｖ O ８ (III) (wherein M represents aluminum, gallium, or boron, 0 < x ≦ 0.3; 0 < y ≦ 0.1; 0 < z ≦ 0.3; 0 ≦ v ≦ 0.1) The use according to claim 1, wherein the silicate S1 is a compound of Claim 9 The amount of the silicate S1 in the film is 0.01 to 10% by weight based on the total amount of the film, the use according to any one of claims 1 to 8 Claim 10 The matrix comprises at least one polymer or the matrix is a polymer, the use according to any one of claims 1 to 9 Claim 11 The use according to claim 10, wherein the matrix is based on a polymer selected from the group consisting of low density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), high density polyethylene (HDPE), polyethylene obtained by metallocene synthesis, ethyl vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), ethylene butyl acrylate copolymer (EBA), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), (co)polyolefin, polyethylene - vinyl alcohol (EVOH), polycarbonate (PC), and mixtures and copolymers based on these (co)polymers and polyethylene and copolymers. **Claim 12** The use according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the plant is selected from the group consisting of tomato, watermelon, pepper, zucchini, cucumber, melon, strawberry, blueberry, and raspberry.

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