Seed Borne Diseases and Their Control in Farming System

Description

Seed is the basic unit in crop production technology. It has attracted the agriculturist even in early days. Seed plays a vital role in associating micro-organisms which prove hazardous for the seed or new plant created from it. Important seed borne pathogen/ micro-organism are various fungi, bacteria, viruses, nematodes etc. Seed-borne pathogens represent a major threat to crop establishment and yield. Traditionally such diseases have been controlled through the use of a range of effective chemical applications. Biological control of plant diseases can be broadly defined as the use of one organism to influence the activities of a plant pathogen. Often several mechanisms function together to make an organism effective. These products are living organisms or dried spore preparations and must be handled differently than conventional fungicides. Seed fungi are found throughout the known ranges of all tree species. Some species of fungi, such as the pitch canker fungus, Fusarium subglutinans, appear to be confined to certain pine species, and the amount of damage they cause varies with geographic location. The book provides comprehensive and integrated information on management of seed health written by experts in the field. It will be especially useful for students and young people involved in seed testing, seed industry as well as in teaching.