SBIR Phase I: Reduction of Heat-Induced Symptoms in Plants with Micro-Phase Change Materials

9860769小企业创新研究第一阶段项目将研究调节植物表面小气候的开创性技术(S)，以减少与高温相关的损害和随后的经济损失。这在美国南部尤其有益，因为那里的气温长期过高。此外，全球变暖的可能性可能会对经济作物产生影响。当温度超过植物的最佳温度范围时，就会出现有害的症状。植物中的热诱导症状包括花粉不育(如玉米)、生长受阻、果实较小/变形、品质下降、果实较少、结荚较少和落铃(棉花)。该项目将通过在消除或减少损害的范围内实际调节植物表面的温度来解决上述问题开始发展的临界温度。从1984年到1998年，三角研发公司(分包商)在SBIR项目上开发了用于相变材料(微PCM)及其用途的创新微胶囊技术。我们将评估微型相变材料与目标植物的相容性；设计和制造微型相变材料，为目标植物提供最佳温度范围(S)；以及评估微型相变材料(S)调节植物表面小气候和减少与热相关的症状。1996年，仅在美国，大豆、棉花和玉米的总价值就超过470亿美元。根据与高温相关的产量损失百分比和美国南部的气温历史，这三种主要作物的价值可能很容易减少数亿美元，如果不是更多的话。此外，干旱条件和随后的灌溉降低了价值，增加了作物生产的成本。最后，由于南方和西南部的气温，产量往往较低，但种植的耐热性较强的品种，因此一些高产品种的潜力没有发挥出来。

9860769 This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I Project will investigate pioneering technology to regulate the microclimate on plant surface(s) to reduce heat-related damage and subsequent economic losses. This would be especially beneficial in the southern U.S. where excessively high temperatures occur for prolonged periods. Further, the possibility of global warming will likely have an impact on economic crops. As temperatures exceed the optimum range for a plant, deleterious symptoms develop. Heat-induced symptoms in plants include pollen sterility (e.g. corn), stunted growth, smaller/deformed fruit, decreased quality, fewer fruit, less pod fill, and boll drop (in cotton). This project will address those critical temperatures where the above-mentioned problems begin to develop by actually regulating the temperature on the plant surface within a range where damage is eliminated or reduced. Innovative microencapsulation techniques for phase change materials (microPCMs) and their uses have been developed by Triangle R&D (Subcontractor) on SBIR programs from 1984 to 1998. We will evaluate the compatibility of microPCMs and the targeted plants; design and fabricate microPCMs to provide the optimum temperature range(s) for the target plants; and evaluate the microPCM(s) to regulate the plant surface microclimate and reduce heat-related symptoms. In 1996, the combined value of soybeans, cotton, and corn in the U.S. alone was more than 47 billion dollars. Based on the percent of yield loss correlated with high temperatures and the temperature history in the southern U.S., values for these three major crops could easily be reduced by several hundred million dollars, if not more. In addition, drought conditions and subsequent irrigation reduce value and add cost to crop production. Finally, because of temperatures in the south and southwest, often less yielding, but more heat-tolerant cultivars are grown, thus potential for some high-yielding cultivars are not realized.