Seed Treatment Research Articles

Coating of maize seeds with acephate for precision agriculture: Safety assessment in earthworms, bees, and soil microorganisms

Acephate is commonly used as a seed treatment (ST) in precision agriculture, but its impact on pollinators, earthworms, and soil microorganisms remains unclear. This study aimed to compare the fate of acephate seed dressing (SD) and seed coating (SC) treatments and assess potential risks to bees, earthworms, and soil microorganisms. Additionally, a follow-up study on maize seeds treated with acephate in a greenhouse was conducted to evaluate the maize growth process and the dissipation dynamics of the insecticide. The results indicated that acephate SC led to greater uptake and translocation in maize plants, resulting in lower residue levels in the soil. However, high concentrations of acephate metabolites in the soil had a negative impact on the body weight of earthworms, whereas acephate itself did not. The potential risk to bees from exposure to acephate ST was determined to be low, but dose-dependent effects were observed. Furthermore, acephate ST had no significant effect on soil bacterial community diversity and abundance compared to a control. This study provides valuable insights into the uptake and translocation of acephate SD and SC, and indicates that SC is safer than SD in terms of adverse effects on bees and nontarget soil organisms.

Seed treatment with Stimulate® improves the initial development of peanut plants

Seed treatment with biostimulants may be an option to improve the emergence and initial growth of peanut plants. A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of using doses of Stimulate® in seed treatment on the initial growth of plants of two peanut cultivars grown in a sandy Cerrado soil. The treatments were arranged in a randomized block design in a 2 × 4 factorial scheme: two peanut cultivars [IAC Tatu ST (upright growth habit) and Runner IAC 886 (prostrate growth habit)] and four doses of Stimulate® (0; 10; 20; and 30 mL kg-1 of seeds) applied to seed treatment, with three replications. At 21 days after sowing, plant height (PH), main stem diameter (SD), number of lateral branches (NLB), and main root length (RL) were evaluated. Our results showed that peanut cultivars with different growth habits (erect and prostrate) have different responses to the application of Stimulate® doses on plant development, with the IAC Tatu ST cultivar being more responsive to the application of biostimulant. The application of 25 to 30 mL kg–1 of Stimulate® via seed treatment improved initial development of peanut plants grown in sandy soil of the Cerrado Sul-Mato-Grossense under controlled greenhouse conditions.

Review Article on Effect of Pre - Sowing Seed Treatment on Yield Attributing Characters and Seed Yield in Flower Crops

Review Article on Effect of Pre - Sowing Seed Treatment on Yield Attributing Characters and Seed Yield in Flower Crops

Sunflower Yield Depending on the Application of Micronutrients

Background: The article presents the results of field experiments on the use of micro fertilizers on sunflower. The object of the study was a hybrid of sunflower Fausto from the company “Strube DandS GMBH”. Field experiments were carried out with micro fertilizers of the German company “Lebozol”, the Russian “Polydon Agro” and the Lithuanian “Acoustic Biotechnologies (brand Humic Land”). Methods: Foliar application with micronutrients and their treatment of sunflower seeds and their combination were studied. As studies have shown, the variant with the use of micronutrients for seed dressing against the background of foliar application showed the greatest effectiveness. Foliar application without treating seeds with trace elements did not significantly increase the yield and oil yield. Also, the oil content of the seeds according to the variants in the years of research did not differ significantly. In general, the condition of sunflower plants during the years of research before harvesting was satisfactory. At the same time, it should be noted that in 2022 abnormal precipitation affected the quality of sunflower seeds. Result: The analysis of the obtained results indicates the need for further search for optimal ways of using micronutrients to increase the yield of sunflower and its quality. It should also be taken into account the fact that according to economic calculations, the costs of applying micro fertilizers during seed treatment will not exceed 10 rubles/ha and with àoliar application they will amount to 1300-2300 rubles/ha. accordingly.

Seed treatment with Bacillus bacteria improves maize production: a narrative review

Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important crop in relation to its production and consumption. Production of maize is constrained by soil infertility and poor quality seed. Microbial technologies like seed treatment with Bacillus bacteria improves the productivity of maize on infertile soil. However, due to variations in maize growth environments and Bacillus species, this review was conducted to identify the common species of Bacillus species used for seed treatment, and provide an overview of the effect of seed treatment with Bacillus on maize growth and yield. Results show that Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus pumilus and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens were the dominant species used for seed treatment. Bacillus was used as both a biofertiliser and biopesticide. The conspicuous positive effects of Bacillus were in plant height, shoot and root length, and shoot dry matter depending on the species. In terms of grain yield, Bacillus subtilis (8502 kg ha-1), Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (6822 kg ha-1) and Bacillus safensis (5562 kg ha-1) were the bacterial species that had an overall pronounced effect. The highest increase in grain yield was in the interactive effect of Bacillus megaterium + Bacillus licheniformis (18.1%) and sole Bacillus subtilis (15.6%), while Bacillus pumilus reduced grain yield by 4.8%. This shows that the improvement of maize productivity using Bacillus bacteria requires careful selection of the species for seed treatment.

Nanosecond-pulsed plasma protects against bacterial fruit blotch and promotes melon seedling growth.

Bacterial fruit blotch (BFB), known as the 'cancer' of cucurbits, is a seed-borne disease of melons caused by Acidovorax citrulli. Traditional chemical treatments for BFB are ineffective and adversely affect the environment. Using dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) nanosecond-pulsed plasma technology, melon seeds were treated to promote germination and growth and to control BFB. Based on the evaluation parameters of seed germination, seedling growth, leaf yellowing and bacterial infection after seed plasma treatments, 9 min at 20 kV was selected as the optimal plasma discharge parameter. In this study, seedling growth was significantly improved after treating melon seeds carrying A. citrulli using this discharge parameter. The number of first true leaves measured on the eighth day was 2.3 times higher and the disease index was reduced by 60.5% compared to the control group. Attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared measurements show that plasma treatments penetrate the seed coat and denature polysaccharides and proteins in the seed kernel, affecting their growth and sterilization properties. Pre-sowing treatment of melon seeds carrying A. citrulli using nanosecond-pulsed plasma technology can effectively control seedling BFB disease and promote melon seedling growth by optimizing DBD parameters. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

ПРОРОСТАННЯ НАСІННЯ ПШЕНИЦІ ОЗИМОЇ ЗАЛЕЖНО ВІД ПЕРЕДПОСІВНОЇ ОБРОБКИ РЕГУЛЯТОРАМИ РОСТУ

Modern technologies for growing grain crops require the use of environmentally safe measures and methods. The pre-sowing treatment of wheat seeds necessitates the correct choice of drugs with a wide spectrum of influence on the morphological and physiological indicators of seedlings. From 2019 to 2022, the effectiveness of pre-sowing treatment of winter wheat seeds was studied using the growth regulators 1-naphthyl-acetic acid (25 ml/l), succinic acid (0.025 % solution), and the organo-mineral preparation Fulvohumin (1 % solution) both separately and in combination: 1-naphthyl-acetic acid + Fulvohumin, 1-naphthyl-acetic acid + succinic acid, succinic acid + Fulvohumin, and 1-naphthyl-acetic acid + succinic acid + Fulvohumin. The working solution consumption was 10 liters per ton of seeds. Treated winter wheat seeds were germinated for eight days at a temperature of +20°C. Laboratory seed germination, biometric parameters, and dry and wet weight of seedlings were determined and statistically analyzed. It was established that succinic acid significantly increases seed germination by 11 %, but seedlings treated with succinic acid showed slightly smaller seedling length and raw weight than the control. Pre-sowing treatment of winter wheat seeds with Fulvohumin significantly increases laboratory seed germination (up to 95 %), root length, and total seedling length. This treatment resulted in a 34.5 % increase in the dry weight of seedlings compared to the control. The highest content of dry matter was observed after seed treatment with a mixture of 1-naphthyl-acetic acid + Fulvohumin + succinic acid, reaching 17.4 %. The combination treatment with Fulvohumin + succinic acid produced the tallest seedlings (14.12 cm) and the greatest raw weight (131.39 mg). A significant increase in raw and dry mass of 8-day-old seedlings was noted after seed treatment with the mixture of 1-naphthyl-acetic acid + succinic acid. However, pre-sowing treatment of winter wheat seeds with only 1-naphthyl-acetic acid (0.025 % solution) was not effective, as it did not significantly increase germination (only by 1.3 %). Additionally, seedlings treated with 1-naphthyl-acetic acid had the shortest root length (4.99–5.78 cm). Therefore, the use of Fulvohumin enhances the effectiveness of growth regulators such as succinic acid and 1-naphthyl-acetic acid.

Impact of biological fungicides on the formation and functioning of symbiotic system soybean–Bradyrhizobium japonicum

Background. In order to reduce the negative impact of mineral fertilizers and pesticides on agroecosystems, environmentally friendly plant protection systems are increasingly being utilized in soybean cultivation technologies. These systems aim to provide essential nutrients to plants while minimizing ecological harm. Materials and Methods. In vegetative studies, the processes of formation and functioning of symbiotic systems in soybeans with active strains of nodulating bacteria Bradyrhizobium japonicum (РC07, PC09, B78, B144) were investigated under the influence of pre-sowing seed treatment with the biofungicides Mycosan-N and Phytocide-r. Microbiological, physiological, statistical methods, and gas chromatography were employed in the research. Results. The impact of biological fungicides on the nodulation activity of nodule bacteria has been identified. It was determined that with comprehensive treatment of soybean seeds with B. japonicum РC07 and Mycosan-N, the mass of nodules formed on the roots exceeded that of the control plants by 7‒22 %, and under the influence of Phytocide-r, the mass was lower by 6‒20 % throughout the vegetation period. With the combined application of B. japonicum PC09 and Mycosan-N, a decrease in the number of root nodules by 8‒25 % and a reduction in their mass by 18‒35 % was observed throughout the vegetation period. Under the influence of Phytocide-r, with the inoculation of rhizobia strain PC09, the number of nodules was lower compared to the control plants only in the full flowering stage. At the same time, the reduction in their mass was 6‒20 % throughout the entire observation period. A stimulating effect of both biofungicides on the formation of the symbiotic apparatus involving strains B. japonicum B78 and B144 has been identified. With the combined application of B. japonicum РC07 and Phytocide-r, nitrogenase activity of symbiotic systems decreased by 7 % only in the stage of three true leaves compared to plants whose seeds were treated only with rhizobia. The nitrogenase activity of symbiotic systems formed with the participation of B. japonicum B78 and under the influence of Mycosan-N increased by 28 %, 15 %, and 12 % in the stages of three true leaves, budding, and full flowering, respectively. The action of Phytocide-r, with the inoculation by the nodule bacteria B78, resulted in an increase in nitrogenase activity by 14 % only in the budding stage. Under the comprehensive treatment of soybean seeds with involved biofungicides and B. japonicum B144, an increase in the intensity of N2 assimilation was noted by 29‒34 % in the stage of three true leaves and by 10‒16 % in the budding stage. Conclusions. The application of a scientifically justified selection of rhizobial strains and biological plant protection agents for pre-sowing treatment of soybean seeds will enable a more complete realization of their nitrogen-fixing potential and phytoprotective effects.

ВПЛИВ МЕТАБОЛІЧНО АКТИВНИХ РЕЧОВИН ТА ЇХ КОМБІНАЦІЙ НА АСИМІЛЯЦІЙНІ ПРОЦЕСИ ПРОРОСТКІВ GINKGO BILOBA L.

Ginkgo biloba is a valuable ornamental gymnosperm plant. To ensure an adequate supply of planting material for this species, measures must be taken to cultivate high-quality seedlings resistant to adverse conditions. Pre-sowing treatment of seeds with metabolically active substances can serve as such a measure. The aim of this study was to investigate the growth processes, leaf apparatus formation, and photosynthetic activity of young Ginkgo biloba plants under the influence of metabolically active substances and their combinations. Metabolically active substances used to treat ginkgo seeds included vitamin E, ubiquinone-10, paraoxybenzoic acid (POBA), magnesium sulfate (MgSO4), and methionine. Their combinations were also tested: vitamin E + ubiquinone-10, vitamin E + POBA + methionine, and vitamin E + POBA + methionine + MgSO4. The growth biostimulator Stimpo was used for comparison. It was established that pre-sowing treatment with these metabolically active substances and their combinations contributed to the formation of a more robust photosynthetic apparatus in ginkgo seedlings. MgSO4 and the combination of vitamin E + methionine + POBA + MgSO4 had the most significant effect on stem height. Among single-component substances, ubiquinone-10 and the combination of vitamin E + methionine + POBA + MgSO4 most effectively increased the average number of leaves. All studied combinations of compounds positively impacted the average leaf area, increasing it by 44.5-58% compared to the control. Among single-component substances, vitamin E and MgSO4 were particularly effective in increasing leaf area. Ubiquinone-10 and the combination of vitamin E + methionine + POBA significantly enhanced the content of chlorophyll a and b pigments in the leaves. The use of metabolically active substances and their combinations during pre-sowing seed treatment is an effective measure to improve the assimilation processes and overall growth of Ginkgo biloba seedlings.

Penerapan Metode Vikor dalam Pemilihan Bibit Unggul Pohon Karet

Rubber plant is one of the plantation commodities that has an important role in economic activities in Indonesia. The need for rubber seeds continues to increase in line with the increase in the area of ​​smallholder rubber plantations and the government. Quality seeds are a community need in developing rubber plantations in Indonesia from year to year. The first step to get good rubber seeds is that rubber farmers need to use quality rubber seed planting material and are able to produce high latex. Given the very importance of seeds in determining quality rubber repair. With a Decision Support System with the vikor method to build a system that has the ability to be able to assist farmers in choosing superior rubber tree seeds with a system that is able to provide problem solving skills and communication skills for problems with semi-structured and unstructured conditions. This study uses the vikor method because this method is suitable for use in most real-time problems such as making decisions to find quality rubber tree seeds so that this research can be useful for rubber tree farmers in improving the quality of superior seeds.

Food poisoning due to money tree seeds: a case report of toxic encephalopathy

Abstract Background The money tree is a favored indoor potted plant in China. Its seeds resemble chestnuts in both shape and flavor when cooked, which are generally considered non-toxic and safe for consumption. Case presentation This report presents the first published case of food poisoning due to the ingestion of large amounts of money tree seeds. A 67-year-old man exhibited toxic encephalopathy symptoms and dyspnea after consuming the seeds for approximately 6 months. After empirical mechanical ventilation, therapeutic plasma exchange, and other medical interventions, the patient’s clinical status improved significantly. He was subsequently discharged from the hospital. Conclusion Consuming a substantial quantity of money tree seeds within a limited timeframe can lead to poisoning, resulting in adverse outcomes, particularly toxic encephalopathy. Moreover, plasma exchange may have some therapeutic effect.

Evaluation of the effectiveness of the use of humic fertilizers in the cultivation of spring barley in the soil and climatic conditions of the central chernozem region

The results of studies of the effect of humic fertilizers of domestic (ECO-SP) and foreign (Fulvigrain Classic, Gumiful Pro) production on the yield and quality of spring barley grain of the Prometheus variety, when cultivated according to the following scheme: without treatment with humic fertilizers (control); ECO-SP – seed treatment (0.5 l/t) + treatment of plants in the tillering phase (0.5 l/ha) + treatment of plants in the tube exit phase (0.5 l/ha); Fulvigrain Classic – seed treatment (0.8 l/t) + treatment of plants in the tillering phase (0.4 l/ha) + treatment of plants in the tube exit phase (0.4 l/ha); Humiful Pro – seed treatment (0.1 l/t) + processing of plants in the tillering phase (0.1 l/ha) + processing of plants in the tube exit phase (0.1 l/ha). The work was carried out in 2020–2022. in the experiments of the Kursk Federal Agrarian Scientific Center (Kursk region, Kursk district, Cheryomushki village), the soil of the experimental site is a typical powerful, heavy-loamy chernozem. It was found that the treatment of spring barley seeds with humic fertilizers increased their germination energy by 2…7 %, laboratory germination by 3…5 % in comparison with the variant where the seeds were not treated with humic fertilizers. When processing seeds and plants with humic fertilizers, the yield of spring barley increased by 0.46…0.56 t/ha or by 12.7…15.5 %, grain size – by 0.7… 1.6 %, protein content – by 0.2… 0.4 %, starch – by 0.4…0.9 %. Higher yields of spring barley were provided by humic fertilizers ECO-SP and Fulvigrain Classic – 0.52…0.56 t/ha. The effectiveness of humic fertilizer Humiful Pro was lower, the yield increase from its use was 0.46 t/ha or 12.7 %, grain size increased by 0.7 %, protein content – by 0.6 %, starch – by 0.3 % compared to the control.

Improvement of millet cultivation technology in the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic

The article studies the effectiveness of using mineral fertilizers, growth stimulants and bacterial preparations in the cultivating millet technology. The research was carried out in 2021–2023 on the experimental field of the Kabardino-Balkarian Scientific Research Institute of Agriculture, which located in the steppe zone of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic. The object of study is the mid-late millet variety Kavkazskie Zori, bred by Kabardino-Balkarian Research Institute of Agriculture. Inoculation of seeds with Rizoagrin (Agrobacterium radiobacter) and Azophyte (Azotobacter vinelandii) was carried out on the day of sowing, exogenous spraying of plants with growth stimulants Mival Agro (10 g/ha), MS-extra (0.5 kg/ha) – in the three-leaf phase. Treatment of seeds with biological preparations Rizoagrin and Azofit increases field germination by 8.9 and 5.3%, respectively, relative to the control. They also have a positive effecton the preservation of plants for harvesting. The usage of biological products provides an increase in the yield of millet by 0.38–0.54 t/hacompared to the control, fertilizers – 0.64 t/ha, growth stimulants – 0.27–0.46 t/ha. Maximum productivity was achieved with the biological product Rizoagrin and the growth stimulator MS-extra against the background of N10P26K26 – 2.48 t/ha.

Comparative Genome-Wide Identification of the Fatty Acid Desaturase Gene Family in Tea and Oil Tea.

Camellia oil is valuable as an edible oil and serves as a base material for a range of high-value products. Camellia plants of significant economic importance, such as Camellia sinensis and Camellia oleifera, have been classified into sect. Thea and sect. Oleifera, respectively. Fatty acid desaturases play a crucial role in catalyzing the formation of double bonds at specific positions of fatty acid chains, leading to the production of unsaturated fatty acids and contributing to lipid synthesis. Comparative genomics results have revealed that expanded gene families in oil tea are enriched in functions related to lipid, fatty acid, and seed processes. To explore the function of the FAD gene family, a total of 82 FAD genes were identified in tea and oil tea. Transcriptome data showed the differential expression of the FAD gene family in mature seeds of tea tree and oil tea tree. Furthermore, the structural analysis and clustering of FAD proteins provided insights for the further exploration of the function of the FAD gene family and its role in lipid synthesis. Overall, these findings shed light on the role of the FAD gene family in Camellia plants and their involvement in lipid metabolism, as well as provide a reference for understanding their function in oil synthesis.

Effect of Micronutrient Seed Treatments on Nutrient Uptake by Bt Cotton in Vertisol

The present investigation was carried out during the year June 2017 to January 2018 at Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Agriculture, Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani, Maharashtra, India to study the effect of nutrient seed treatments on nutrient uptake, quality of Bt cotton and soil nutrient dynamics in vertisol. The field experiment was undertaken in a Randomized Block Design with nine treatments and three replications. The nutrient seed dressing treatments are absolute control, 100% NPK+Zinc Sulphate (ZnSo4), 100% NPK+Zn EDTA, 100% NPK+Borax (B), 100% NPK+Manganese Sulphate (MnSo4), 100% NPK+Sodium Molybdate (NaMo), 100% NPK+Copper Nitrate (CuNo3), 100% NPK+Ferrous Sulphate (FeSo4), 100% NPK+Fe EDTA seed application to Bt cotton. The maximum N, P, K, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, B and Mo uptake was recorded in the treatment 100 % NPK+Zn EDTA followed by 100% NPK+Fe EDTA treatment. In case of Mo uptake, the treatment 100 % NPK+Zn EDTA was significantly superior overall treatments except treatment 100% NPK+Fe EDTA and 100% NPK+Sodium Molybdate (NaMo). The minimum N, P, K, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, B and Mo uptake was recorded in the treatment Absolute control+100% NPK.

Effect of Germination on Seed Protein Quality and Secondary Metabolites and Potential Modulation by Pulsed Electric Field Treatment.

Plant-based foods are being increasingly favored to feed the ever-growing population, but these need to exhibit improved nutritional value in terms of protein quality and digestibility to be considered a useful alternative to animal-based foods. Germination is essential for plant growth and represents a viable method through which the protein quality of plants can be further improved. However, it will be a challenge to maintain efficient rates of germination in a changing climate when seeds are sown. In the context of the indoor germination of seeds for food, consumption, or processing purposes, a more efficient and sustainable process is desired. Therefore, novel techniques to facilitate seed germination are required. Pulsed electric fields (PEF) treatment of seeds results in the permeabilization of the cell membrane, allowing water to be taken up more quickly and triggering biochemical changes to the macromolecules in the seed during germination. Therefore, PEF could be a chemical-free approach to induce a stress response in seeds, leading to the production of secondary metabolites known to exert beneficial effects on human health. However, this application of PEF, though promising, requires further research to optimize its impact on the protein and bioactive compounds in germinating seeds.

The effectiveness of using a plant growth stimulator based on Ambrosia artemisiifolia when growing corn in the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic

The article presents the results of studies on the use of a biological product based on ragweed, due to its chemical composition, on corn crops. Double treatment of corn crops with a plant growth stimulator based on ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.) was carried out at growth phases of 3–5 and 6–7 leaves in calculated doses with a working solution consumption of 300 l/ha. The repetition in the experiments is 4-fold, the placement of the variants of the experiment is randomized. Plot area – 50 sq.m. The use of a plant growth stimulator based on ragweed as a pre-sowing treatment of seeds and foliar dressings can increase the yield of corn grain by 14–40%, depending on the corn hybrids studied in the experiment. On the variants of the experiment, where the combined use of organic fertilizer Biohumus and plant growth stimulator based on ragweed (solution 3) was studied, the above quality indicators were higher than the values of the control variant by 1.6; 6.0 and 1.5% – in the hybrid Ladoga 191 MV; at 3.2; 3.0 and 3.8% – Krasnodar 196 MV; by 2.9; 5.9 and 2.2% – Darina MV; at 3.3; 6.2 and 3.7% – Kuban. In the variant of the experiment with the joint use of organic fertilizer Biohumus and plant growth stimulator based on ragweed (solution 3), the value of the conditional income indicator decreased by 5400 rubles, according to the variant of the experiment with the joint use of organic fertilizer Biohumus and stimulant growth of plants based on ragweed (solution 4), the value of this indicator decreased by 7200 rubles, relative to the variant of the experiment with the combined use of organic fertilizer Biohumus and plant growth stimulator based on ragweed (solution 1) .

Effect of Treatments of Colchicine, Diethyl Sulphate and Triethylamine in Tomato (<I>Lycopersicon esculentum</I> Mill.)

The present investigation was undertaken in one variety of Tomato, Best of All, to compare the cytogenetic effects of treatments of seeds of tomato with colchicine, diethyl sulphate and triethylamine and also to compare the morphological and physiological effects of these chemicals.Lowest number of seeds germinated from diethyl sulphate treatment. Plants originating from colchicine, diethyl sulphate and triethylamine treatments showed many variant types. Interesting among these were those showing spotting on leaves originating from diethyl sulphate treatment, dwarf ones originating from colchicine and diethyl sulphate treatments and those with abnormal leaves originating from treatment with all the three chemicals.Mitotic irregularities included clumped chromosomes and fragments at metaphase and bridges and fragments at anaphase while in meiosis clumped chromosomes, univalents, trivalents and quadrivalents were noted at metaphase I. Anaphase I irregularities included cells with fragments, bridges with or without fragments, lagging chromosomes and unequal separation of chromosomes. In metaphase II cells with aneuploid chromosome numbers and those with fragments were noticed while in anaphase II cells were found with fragments and unequal separation of chromosomes.The importance of detecting interesting mutants in the Ma generation and the importance of finding translocations and inversions have been pointed out.

Management of Soybean Cyst Nematode and Sudden Death Syndrome with Nematode-Protectant Seed Treatments Across Multiple Environments in Soybean.

As soybean (Glycine max) production continues to expand in the United States and Canada, so do pathogens and pests that directly threaten soybean yield potential and economic returns for farmers. One such pathogen is the soybean cyst nematode (SCN; Heterodera glycines). SCN has traditionally been managed using SCN-resistant cultivars and rotation with nonhost crops, but the interaction of SCN with sudden death syndrome (SDS; caused by Fusarium virguliforme) in the field makes management more difficult. Nematode-protectant seed treatments have become options for SCN and SDS management. The objectives of this study were to evaluate nematode-protectant seed treatments for their effects on (i) early and full season SCN reproduction, (ii) foliar symptoms and root-rot caused by SDS, and (iii) soybean yield across environments accounting for the above factors. Using a standard protocol, field trials were implemented in 13 states and one Canadian province from 2019 to 2021 constituting 51 site-years. Six nematode-protectant seed treatment products were compared with a fungicide + insecticide base treatment and a nontreated check. Initial (at soybean planting) and final (at soybean harvest) SCN egg populations were enumerated, and SCN females were extracted from roots and counted at 30 to 35 days postplanting. Foliar disease index (FDX) and root rot caused by the SDS pathogen were evaluated, and yield data were collected for each plot. No seed treatment offered significant nematode control versus the nontreated check for in-season and full-season nematode response, no matter the initial SCN population or FDX level. Of all treatments, ILEVO (fluopyram) and Saltro (pydiflumetofen) provided more consistent increases in yield over the nontreated check in a broader range of SCN environments, even when FDX level was high.

Seed treatment with essential oils to control Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc

The sclerotia wilt in cowpea caused by the fungus Sclerotium rolfsii has in chemical control an inefficient option. Essential oils have antifungal properties, constituting an alternative to agrochemicals. Here, we evaluated the efficiency of essential oils in the control of S. rolfsii, from seed treatment, as well as their effect on seed germination. Based on the diameter of the colonies of the fungus S. rolfssi submitted to a concentration of 8.0 ml/kg of seed-1, the oils of L. sidoides, L. origanoides and C. zehntneri reduced mycelial growth by 61.5, 67.2 and 40% respectively. The reduction in the percentage of germination occurred at the highest concentrations. The fungus was sensitive to all evaluated oils, being more sensitive to Lippia oils. Seed treatment with essential oils is effective at a concentration of 4.0 ml/kg-1.