Clifford George Watrin

Benefits of Chemical Seed Treatments on Crop Yield and Quality

Agriculturists have been treating seeds to protect them from pathogens and pests for centuries, even before the nature of plant diseases was understood. Today, the use of seed treatments is a highly sophisticated strategy that has evolved into a very valuable, effective, and environmentally friendly component of agricultural production practices. Chemical seed treatments can be used to achieve a variety of benefits, including: improved emergence, through protection from seedborne pathogens and soilborne pathogens and insects; prevention of seed transmission of seedborne pathogens; protection of above-ground plant parts from infection by airborne pathogens or feeding by insect pests and disease vectors; improved vigor and uniformity of crop growth; deterrence of deterioration or insect feeding in storage; fulfillment of phytosanitary requirements and prevention of pathogen spread. These benefits all contribute to maximizing crop yield and quality while minimizing negative impacts through efficient use of crop protection chemicals. Seed treatment allows for highly targeted application of low, uniform doses of product, which is effective while reducing the risk of selection pressure for pathogen or pest resistance. Seed treatments are commercially available with contact, locally systemic, or fully systemic activity. Common active ingredients can be used for protection against Oomycetes, fungi, insects, and nematodes. There are numerous examples of improvements in stand establishment and yield as a result of seed treatment use in a wide range of crops. Combinations of active ingredients are becoming more common as products improve for efficacy against specific pathogen groups. In maize, seed treatment is nearly universal and standard practices may include a combination of four fungicides, an insecticide, and a nematicide. This provides a high level of protection across a wide pathogen spectrum as well as prevention of feeding damage to the seed and seedling. Seed treatments are playing an increasing role in the productivity of agriculture, as well as its sustainability and efficiency. Seed application of crop protection compounds provides unique benefits that make it a preferable approach compared to other tactics. It is a reliable technology that guarantees a uniform crop establishment in a variety of environments, soils and cultural practices; benefits provided by seed treatments cannot be duplicated because most of the target diseases and pests cannot be controlled after planting.