Seed treatment techniques in vegetable crops

Abstract

Good quality seeds are the most important input in agriculture. Seed treatments, in broad terms, are the application of biological, physical and chemical agents and techniques to seed that provide protection to seeds and plants and improve the establishment of healthy crops. Diseases and pests affecting crops can have devastating consequences in agricultural and horticultural production if not properly managed. Breeding is an excellent tool to build resistances against pests and diseases in the plants. However, breeding alone does not address all of the agronomic challenges; therefore crop protection products are often needed and used for good crop management. These crop protection products can be applied during the growth of the crop but can also be added to the seed as a seed treatment. Seed treatments have played and are still playing a significant role in the history of mankind, in starving off hunger and starvation by improving the establishment of healthy crops. The importance and methods of different seed treatments of vegetable crops are discussed in this study.