## 10 Application of Microparticles in the Cultivation of Other Plants--Unpublished Data  
Using the guidelines provided in the previous sections, microparticle treatments on tomatoes and strawberries resulted in success. A total of 120 tomato plants (_Solanum Lycopersicum_ L.) (4 different cultivars) were treated in conventional and 120 in hydroponic cultivation. Ca\({}^{2+}\) content in Ca-microspheres was from 2.53-2.73 mg g\({}^{-1}\), while in Cu-alginate microspheres, Cu\({}^{2+}\) content ranged from 2.32-2.50 mg g\({}^{-1}\) of microspheres depending on the type of prepared microparticles. The number of _T. viride_ spores was \(\sim\)10\({}^{4}\) per gram of microspheres. Tomatoes treated with Ca-alginate microspheres in hydroponic cultivation yielded impressive 230% higher lycopene content (cultivar Vasanta), while conventional cultivation with the same microsphere type had an increase in lycopene content up to 99%, relative to the control (untreated). An increase of up to 164% in lycopene content was observed in the hydroponic cultivation of tomatoes (cultivar Vasanta) after the second harvest. A somewhat lesser influence was observed on other cultivars, e.g., treatments with Ca-alginate microspheres without the _T. viride_ spores on Abellus cultivar had an increase of up to 90% in hydroponic cultivation. The same treatment yielded a significant 63% higher lycopene content in conventional cultivation. Cu-based microspheres had a somewhat lower influence on synthesizing carotenoids, but still, some treatments were significantly (post hoc _t_-tests with Bonferroni correction (_p_ < 0.05)) higher when compared to the control samples. Also, it should be noted that Ca-microrparticles loaded with _T. viride_ spores had a significant influence on synthesizing polyphenols. Generally, relative to the Ca-basedmicroparticles, treatments with Cu-based microparticles had a somewhat lesser influence on synthesizing lycopene, total polyphenols, and antioxidant activity. Treatments with Zn-alginate microparticles in hydroponic cultivation of strawberries (_Fragaria \(\times\) ananassa_ Duchesne) on two different cultivars (San Andreas and Albion) revealed significant (post hoc \(t\)-tests with Bonferroni correction (\(p<0.05\))) changes in plant secondary metabolites. A total of 180 plants were used in this research, and the application of 4 grams of microparticles corresponded to 33.64 mg of Zn\({}^{2+}\). Prepared Zn-alginate microparticles were spherical with no deformities noticed, with about 1830 \(\upmu\)m in size. No significant changes in size and shape were observed in chitosan-coated microparticles (microcyapsules). When comparing the microcapsules and microspheres, uncoated Zn-alginate microspheres had a higher impact on the synthesis, probably due to the initial burst release, followed by a slow continuous release of active agents. Relatively to the control, total polyphenolic content (26%), total flavonoid content (21%), antioxidant activity (27%), total anthocyanin (20%), and flavan-3-ols (17%) were significantly increased. Treatments with only chemical agents (Zn\({}^{2+}\)) result in a significantly higher quality product [175]. Except for Zn-alginate microparticles, treatments with the combination of Zn/Fe-alginate microparticles revealed similar trends. Different varieties of strawberries in conventional cultivation were used as a model for the treatment. Treatment with Zn/Fe-alginate microparticles had a significant influence on the increase of total polyphenols (12%), total flavonoids (17%), total anthocyanins (16%), as well as antioxidant activity (11%). Chitosan-coated Zn/Fe-alginate microcapsules did not significantly affect the synthesis of plant secondary metabolites, probably due to the significantly slower release. The above-mentioned research on tomatoes and strawberries treated with tailored microparticles is to be published. There are still a lot of opportunities in this area to be investigated.