Chemical Management of Seed-Borne Diseases: Achievements and Future Challenges

Abstract

Seed is a basic and most important input for agriculture and high-quality seed is also required in international seed trading. There are many seed-borne diseases and pathogens that have negative impact on seed health and its quality. Seed-borne inoculums are the main source of primary infection leading to disease development. The disease gets established in the field wherever the infected seed is used and causes severe yield losses. Paul Neergaard is considered as father of seed pathology who has contributed a lot in the development of seed pathology. Seed-borne pathogenic microorganisms mainly fungi, viruses and bacteria are greatly affecting seed quality and cause diseases that affect seedling production in the nurseries. Management strategies for the control of various seed-borne diseases are mainly based on chemical seed treatment. Studies have been carried out with a view to find out the best way to use chemicals in seed production. Such studies are very few, and hence, there is a need to conduct further research so that new chemicals could be incorporated into seed-borne disease management programmes. We need to have additional ways to control diseases that are seed-borne, and chemical pesticides are effective against a wide spectrum of diseases. This chapter provides a brief review of seed-borne pathogen problems that affect seeds and discusses established and potential control practices by using chemicals like fungicides, insecticides or defence activators and further gives the future perspectives where focus should be given with respect to seed pathology and management of seed-borne disease.