Seed Treatment Seed Treatment for Quality for Quality

EnhancementEnhancementP.K SharmaP.K Sharma

M.sc. Plant pathologyM.sc. Plant pathology

Brief Historical Brief Historical BackgroundBackground

MANUSMRITIMANUSMRITI, a , a 500500 year old Indian scripture, year old Indian scripture, good seed in good soil give abundant yields.good seed in good soil give abundant yields.

Surpala’s Vrikshayurveda Surpala’s Vrikshayurveda (800AD)(800AD)recommends recommends that seeds be steeped in milk and rubbed in that seeds be steeped in milk and rubbed in cow dung, dried and then repeatedly rubbed in cow dung, dried and then repeatedly rubbed in honey mixed with powder of honey mixed with powder of VidangaVidanga ( (Emelia Emelia ribis ribis ), for good yields), for good yields

TullTull (1973)(1973) found that in England while normal found that in England while normal seeds gave wheat crops infected with bunt, seeds gave wheat crops infected with bunt, seeds accidentally soaked in sea water gave a seeds accidentally soaked in sea water gave a healthy yield. This gave practice of treating healthy yield. This gave practice of treating wheat seeds with brine water wheat seeds with brine water

Some Major Successes in Some Major Successes in Seed TreatmentSeed Treatment

Siddiqui et al Siddiqui et al (1987) (1987) were able to control Downy were able to control Downy Mildew of Pearl Millet caused by Mildew of Pearl Millet caused by Sclerospora Sclerospora gramnicola gramnicola by treating the seed with by treating the seed with Apron, DS Apron, DS formulation of metalaxyl.formulation of metalaxyl.

Gaur and Sharma Gaur and Sharma (1992) (1992) , while working on loose , while working on loose smut of wheat caused by smut of wheat caused by Ustilago segatumUstilago segatum var. var. tritici ,tritici ,could find a dry seed treatment of wheat seed could find a dry seed treatment of wheat seed with with Raxil Raxil (-2-(-chlorophynyl ) ethyl (-1,1-dimethyl –(-2-(-chlorophynyl ) ethyl (-1,1-dimethyl –ethyl ) -1,4,-1,2,4-triazole –ethanol) quite effectiveethyl ) -1,4,-1,2,4-triazole –ethanol) quite effective

Wainwright et alWainwright et al (1994) (1994) found liquid or flowable found liquid or flowable formulations of tebuconozole and tria zoxide for formulations of tebuconozole and tria zoxide for control of some seed borne disease of barleycontrol of some seed borne disease of barley

Seed TreatmentSeed TreatmentSeed treatment is a “genetic term which Seed treatment is a “genetic term which

does not specify the application method does not specify the application method but indicates that the seeds are subjected but indicates that the seeds are subjected to a compoundto a compound(nutrient, chemical, (nutrient, chemical, hormones)hormones), a process , a process (such as wetting (such as wetting and drying) and drying) or to vigorous energy forms or to vigorous energy forms (such as heat, radiation, electricity, (such as heat, radiation, electricity, magnetism) magnetism) etc. to enhance the planting etc. to enhance the planting value of seed”.value of seed”.Scott .(1989)Scott .(1989)

Advantages of Seed Advantages of Seed TreatmentTreatment

Seed TreatmentSeed Treatment Local ApplicationLocal Application Limited localization in Limited localization in

soilsoil Reduced application rateReduced application rate Only crop/Plant is treatedOnly crop/Plant is treated Protection right from the Protection right from the

time of sowingtime of sowing Taken up systemically by Taken up systemically by

the plantthe plant Farmer save extra workFarmer save extra work No driftNo drift

SprayingSpraying Treatment of whole areaTreatment of whole area Contamination of soil Contamination of soil

surfacesurface High application rateHigh application rate Surrounding vegetation Surrounding vegetation

also effectedalso effected No protection from soil No protection from soil

pestspests Possible danger of Possible danger of

sprayingspraying Extra work involvedExtra work involved Potential rick of driftPotential rick of drift

Seed Treatment MethodsSeed Treatment Methods

PESTICIDAL SEED TREATMENTPESTICIDAL SEED TREATMENT

PHYSICAL SEED TREATMENTPHYSICAL SEED TREATMENT

Pesticidal Seed Pesticidal Seed TreatmentTreatment

Seed CoatingSeed Coating 1Coating with chemical protectant1Coating with chemical protectant 2 Film coating2 Film coating PelletingPelleting Seed PrimingSeed Priming 1Osmopriming1Osmopriming 2 Halo priming2 Halo priming 3 Solid Matrix Priming (SMP)3 Solid Matrix Priming (SMP)

Main Groups Of Chemical Main Groups Of Chemical Formulations Used As Seed Formulations Used As Seed

TreatmentTreatmentDS Powder for dry seed treatment ,containing

the active ingredient along with additives to prevent cohesion of particles to seed surface

WP Wettable powders ,containing active ingredient, fillers and a wetting agent for use in slurry

WS Water dispersible fine powders for dispersion in high concentration, allowing use as slurry Particle size : up to 9 mm.

LS Fungicides in non aqueous solution for direct application to seeds

FS Flow able concentration for direct use on seeds after dilution.

Seed CoatingSeed Coating Seed CoatingSeed CoatingA direct application of substance, botanical A direct application of substance, botanical

or synthetic to cover the outer surface or synthetic to cover the outer surface seed provides a mechanism to protect seed provides a mechanism to protect against pathogen & pests against pathogen & pests

1Chemical protect ant1Chemical protect ant Captan, Captan, Apron,Vitavax etc.Apron,Vitavax etc.

2Film coating2Film coating IntellicoatsIntellicoats3Botanical /microbial3Botanical /microbial

Rhizobium/TricodermaRhizobium/Tricoderma/Neem/Neem

PelletingPelleting PelletingPelleting

Involve rolling of seed seeds with Involve rolling of seed seeds with pesticides, nutrient ,filler and binders pesticides, nutrient ,filler and binders with gradual addition of water with gradual addition of water followed by drying to the seeds until followed by drying to the seeds until correct size /grade of pellet is correct size /grade of pellet is obtainedobtained

Seed PrimingSeed Priming

‘ ‘a pre sowing treatment in which seed a pre sowing treatment in which seed are soaked in an osmotic soln. that are soaked in an osmotic soln. that allow them to imbibe water go through allow them to imbibe water go through the first two stages of germination but the first two stages of germination but does not permit radicle to protrude does not permit radicle to protrude through seed coat’ through seed coat’ Heydecker (1973)Heydecker (1973)

Physical Seed Physical Seed TreatmentTreatment

Solar Heat TreatmentSolar Heat Treatment

Hot Water TreatmentHot Water Treatment

Dry Heat TreatmentDry Heat Treatment

Aerated Steam Treatment Aerated Steam Treatment

Priming Techniques Used Priming Techniques Used Successfully in Horticulture Successfully in Horticulture

CropsCropsCrop Priming

TechniqueRemarks

Bittergourd SMPHydrationOsmo priming

Vermiculite, 20 0C for 48 hWrapping in moist muslin cloth ,20 0C for 48 hMannitol(-1.0MPa) for 3 days at 25 0C

Carrot Osmo priming PEG 6000 (-1.0MPa) for 3 days at 25 0CCauli flower Osmo priming

Halo primingPEG 6000 (-1.0MPa) for 6 days at 25 0CKNO 3 (15mM) at 25 0C

Chilli SMP Vermiculite, 25 0C for 48 h

Okra SMPHydro priming

Vermiculite, 20 0C for 20 hWater soaking at 20 0C for 20 h

Onion Osmo primingHalo priming

PEG 6000 (-1.0MPa) for 6 days at 25 0CMgSO 4 (10 mM) at 25 0C

Papaya PGR GA3 (2.0 mM) soaking for 24 hTomato Osmo priming

Halo primingPEG 6000 (-1.0MPa) for 6days at25 0CKNO 3 (15mM) at 25 0C

Physical Seed TreatmentPhysical Seed TreatmentDifferent Types of Physical Treatments :-Different Types of Physical Treatments :-

RadiationRadiationTemperatureTemperatureMagneticMagneticMicrowaveMicrowaveControlled Gaseous AtmosphereControlled Gaseous Atmosphere

Further research has intensified onFurther research has intensified onionizing radiation, controlled ionizing radiation, controlled atmosphere, cold treatment, conventional atmosphere, cold treatment, conventional hot air , radio frequency and microwave hot air , radio frequency and microwave dielectric heatingdielectric heating

Seed Treatment of Major Seed Treatment of Major Food CropsFood Crops

Crop Pest/Disease Seed TreatmentRice Root rot Disease

& other insect pestsRoot Knot nematodesWhite Tip nematodes

Trichoderma 5-10 g/kg seed(before transplantingChloropyriphos 2.5to 12 ml/kg seed or 3-10 g/kg seedSeed Soaking in 0.2% of monocrotophos for 6 hSeed Soaking in 0.2% of monocrotophos for 6 h

Wheat Termites Treat the seed with Chloropyriphos @4ml/kg or Endosulphan@7ml/kg Seed before sowing

Maize Soil & seed Borne Disease

Trichoderma viride ,T harzianium @4 g/kg

Pearl Millets

Soil borne Disease

Trichoderma viride ,T harzianium @4 g/kg

Sorghum

Soil Borne Trichoderma viride ,T harzianium @4 g/kg

Sugarcane

Root Rot, Wilt Carbendazium (0.1%), Trichoderma .spp.@4-6g/kg seed

Seed Treatment of Seed Treatment of Vegetables CropsVegetables Crops

Crop Pest/Disease Seed Treatment

Chillies Anthracnose sppPsedomonas spp.

Seed Treatment with Trichoderma viride ,T harzianium @ 4 g/kgCarbendazim @ 1gm/100 kg of seed

Pea Root rotWhite Rot

Seed treatment with Bacillus subtilis or Pseudomonas fluorcsensSoil application@2.5 kgin 100g of FYM OrCarbendazim or Captan 2g /kg seed, T harzianium @ 4 g/kgor Thiram+ Carbendazim 2g/kg seed

Onion Smut T. viride @2g/kg seed Benlate or Vitavax @ 0.01 %

Bhindi Coller rotRoot Knot Nematode

Carbosulfan (25 ST) @30 % ( w/w) T viride @2g/kg seed T.viride @ 2g/kg seed

Tomato Early Blight ,Damping off. Trichoderma viride ,T harzianium @ 2 g/100 kg

Bringal Soil Borne Infectious disease of Fungus

Trichoderma viride ,T harzianium @ 2 g/100 kg

Cucubits Soil Borne Disease Trichoderma viride ,T harzianium @4 g/kg

Leguminous Vegetables

Soil Borne Infectous Nematodes T. viride @2g/100 kg seed Carbofuran/Carbosulfan 3% (w/w)

Potatos Soil Borne Tuber disease Seed Treatment with Boric acid 3%for 20 minutes before storage

Seed Treatment of Oil Seed Treatment of Oil &Pulses&Pulses

Crop Pest/Disease Seed TreatmentGround nut

Stem ,seed & Seedling rot Disease

White grubs

Soil application of Castor cake @ 1000kg /ha or Neem cake or seed treatment with Trichoderma viride ,T harzianium @ 4 g/kgChloropyriphos/Quinalphos @ 2.5to 12 ml/kg seed

Seseme

Root Rot Disease, Seedling Blight, Cercospora leaf blight,Dry root rot,Alternaria leaf Spot, Bacterial blight, Bacterial leaf spot.

Trichoderma viride @ 4 g/kgSeed treatment with Thiram 2-2.5 g/kg;Agrimycin-100 (250ppm) or Streptocycline suspension 0.05%

Gram Root Rot Nemotode,Lesion Nemotode Wilt.

Seed treatment with combination of Corbendazim with Carbosulfan @ 0.2 %, Carbendazim with Thiram 2.5g/kg

Water TreatmentWater TreatmentDisease Pathogen Temperat

ure (0C)Duration (min)

Loose Smut of Wheat

Ustilogo segetum var. tritici

49 90-120

Downy Mildew of pearlmillet.

Sclerospora graminicola

55 10

Blackrot of crucifers

Xanthomonas compestris var. compestris

52 10

Pea blight Psedudomonas syringae pv. pisi

55 15

Dry Heat TreatmentDry Heat TreatmentCrop Pathogen Temperature

(0C)Duration

(min)

Pea Psedudomonas syringae pv. pisi

65 24

Beans Psedudomonas syringae pv. pisi

60 72

Treatment with Aerated Treatment with Aerated SteamSteam

Crop Pathogen Temperature (0C)

Duration (min)

Maize Drechslera maydis 54 17

Wheat Septoria nodorum 52-62 30

Beans Psedudomonas syringae pv. pisi

55-60 30-60

Seed Treating DrumSeed Treating DrumDry Formulation Of fungicides is used , which Dry Formulation Of fungicides is used , which includes the active ingredient and an inert matterincludes the active ingredient and an inert matterAdvantageAdvantage :-Can easily be handled by Farmer at :-Can easily be handled by Farmer at any place in field or home courtyardany place in field or home courtyardDis advantage Dis advantage :-Chemical Wastage and also not :-Chemical Wastage and also not uniform on seed surfaceuniform on seed surface

Slurry TreaterSlurry TreaterA wett able powder is suspended in water to A wett able powder is suspended in water to make slurry. A known quantity of seed and make slurry. A known quantity of seed and slurry is dumped in mixing chamber where they slurry is dumped in mixing chamber where they get blendedget blended

Mist-O- Matic TreaterMist-O- Matic TreaterThe mist-o- matic Seed Treater applies the The mist-o- matic Seed Treater applies the treatment directly to the seed in the form of a misttreatment directly to the seed in the form of a mist

Seed Coating MachineSeed Coating MachineThe machine is used to apply a thin The machine is used to apply a thin film coating of water permeable film coating of water permeable coat usually polymer binder coat usually polymer binder containing pesticides/fungicidescontaining pesticides/fungicides

Pelleting EquipmentPelleting EquipmentThe irregular seed become uniform in this The irregular seed become uniform in this pelleting machine thus facilitating precision pelleting machine thus facilitating precision drilling for optimum plant stand.drilling for optimum plant stand.

Thanks