SBIR PHASE II: Regulation of Moisture and Thermal Microenvironments to Improve Mycoherbicides

*9801183布莱恩特这个SBIR第二阶段项目将继续第一阶段的工作，研究使用微胶囊化水和相变材料微胶囊来改进生物除草剂(霉菌除草剂)，并提供一种安全、宿主特定、负担得起的化学除草剂替代品。第一阶段项目成功地解决了调节植物叶表面(叶球)上的温度和水分(延长露期)的可能性，这两个方面对杀菌剂的有效性都至关重要。第二阶段将研究的课题包括但不限于：(A)微胶囊类型和浓度的优化，(B)水微胶囊的应用和浓度的优化，(C)包括喷雾设备和表面活性剂在内的最佳应用系统的调查，(D)针对微胶囊材料的叶表面温度和水分的测量及其与药效的关系，(E)用微胶囊材料和目标杀菌剂进行田间试验(S)，以及(F)将该技术推广到更多的候选杀菌剂。在拟议的第二阶段工作结束时，预计微胶囊材料的特征将达到这样的程度，即可以自信地在农业领域进行商业应用，以便与我们的第三阶段赞助商一起快速开发。由于田间关键的环境条件，许多有希望的霉菌除草剂还没有开发出来。微胶囊材料的成功开发将显著改善现有的除草剂，重新开发以前被废弃的除草剂，并在除草剂行业创造广泛的农业和环境系统应用，目前该行业的年销售额超过70亿美元。***

*** 9801183 Bryant This SBIR Phase II project will continue the Phase I effort that investigated the use of microencapsulated water and phase change materials (PCM) microcapsules to improve biological herbicides (mycoherbicides) and offer a safe, host-specific, affordable alternative to chemical herbicides. The Phase I project successfully addressed the potential of regulating both the temperature and moisture (extending dew period) on a plant leaf surface (phyllosphere), both vital to the effectiveness of mycoherbicides. The topics to be studied in Phase II include, but are not limited to: (a) optimization of the microPCM type and concentration, (b) optimization of the application and concentration of the water microcapsules, (c) investigation of the optimum types of application systems, including spraying equipment and surfactants, (d) measurement of leaf surface temperature and moisture in response to microencapsulated materials and the relation of this to effectiveness, (e) performing field test(s) with the microencapsulated materials and the target mycoherbicide, and (f) expanding the technology to additional candidate mycoherbicides. At the end of the proposed Phase II effort, it is anticipated that the microencapsulated materials will be characterized to the point where commercial applicability in the agricultural arena can be confidently undertaken for rapid development with our Phase III sponsors. Many promising mycoherbicides have not been developed because of critical environmental conditions in the field. Successful development of the microencapsulated materials would significantly improve existing mycoherbicides, renew the development of previously abandoned mycoherbicides, and create broad applications in agriculture and environmental systems in the herbicide industry, which currently has annual sales over of 7 billion dollars. ***