Seed Health: Testing and Management

Abstract

AbstractHealthy seeds play an important role in growing a healthy crop. Seed health testing is performed by detecting the presence or absence of insect infestation and seed-borne diseases caused by fungi, bacteria, and viruses. The most detrimental effect of seed-borne pathogens is the contamination of previously disease-free areas and the spread of new diseases. Sowing contaminated or infected seeds not only spreads pathogens but can also reduce yields significantly by 15–90%. Some of the major seed-borne diseases affecting yield in cereals, oilseeds, legumes, and vegetables, particularly in the warm and humid conditions prevailing in the tropical and sub-tropical regions, are blast and brown spot of rice, white tip nematode and ear-cockle in wheat, bacterial leaf blight of rice, downy mildews, smuts, head mould, seedling rots, anthracnose, halo blight, and a number of viral diseases. Hence, detection of seed-borne pathogens, such as fungi (anthracnose, bunt, smut, galls, fungal blights), bacteria (bacterial blights, fruit rots, cankers), viruses (crinkle, mottle, mosaic), and nematodes (galls and white tip), which transmit through infected seed to the main crop, is an important step in the management strategies for seed-borne diseases. Thus, seed health testing forms an essential part of seed certification, phytosanitary certification, and quarantine programmes at national and international levels. Detection of seed-borne/transmitted pathogens is also vital in ensuring the health of the basic stock used for seed production and in maintaining the plant germplasm for future research and product development. Besides the precise and reproducible testing methods, appropriate practices during seed production and post-harvest handling, including seed treatment and storage, are important components of seed health management and sustainable crop protection.