Use of clay and lipid formulations to protect horticultural crops from sunburn and insect damage

摘要

Sunburn and insect damage to fruit and vegetable crops is significantly reduced by treatment of both fruit and foliage with a preventative amount of thixotropic smectic clay material, chemically altered to render its surface lipophilic, which is combined with a wax emulsion comprising a matrix of complex hydrocarbons, an emulsifying agent and water. In the practice of this invention the sunburn and insect protective composition is further diluted in an aqueous solution that is sprayable by commercial applicators.