SEED TREATMENTS FOR PEST AND DISEASE CONTROL

The need for seed treatments to control pests and diseases of vegetables and many other crops would not arise if seed production crops could be raised free from infection and the seeds from such crops planted into healthy soil.
Neither objective is completely attainable although the growing of seed production crops in arid parts of the world, climatically unsuitable for disease spread, aids the reduction of seed-borne inoculum in certain diseases e.g.
Halo blight (Pseudomonas phaseolicola) of bean, leaf blight (Septoria apilicola) of celery and lettuce mosaic virus.
Crop inspection, seed certification schemes, seed tests and seedling testing help to identify and contain sources of infection.
Nevertheless arid regions sometimes have wet years when disease levels increase and furthermore many seed production crops are not grown in dry regions and are therefore subject to more frequent attack by pests and diseases.
Thus in many cases seeds require some form of treatment before sowing.
In addition the modern objective of a healthy plant for every seed sown not only places a tremendous pressure on seed performance in general but also relies heavily on the effectiveness of seed treatments which can remit specific diseases and pests thus ensuring the healthy establishment and growth of a healthy crop.

Symposium on Seed Problems in Horticulture

R.B. Maude

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1978.83.28