Fungicide Seed Treatments

Seed treatment, as defined by the Federal Seed Act, means " ... seed given an application of a substance or subjected to a process designed to reduce or control, repel disease organisms, insects.or other pests which attack seeds or seedlings growing therefrom."A fungicide seed treatment is the application of a fungicide to the seed to protect it from rot or decay caused by disease-causing microorganisms 1n the soU.on the seed.or in the seed. Reasons To Treat Seed With A Fungicide Unpredlctablllty of Weather After PlantingSoU conditions may become adverse for optimum seed germination and growth of the seedlings.i.e., "cool and wet" or just remain wet for various periods of Ume after seed has been sown.Under these conditions, seeds are slow to germinate and emerge, but soU microorganisms grow well and are more likely to infect seed than under warmer and drier soU conditions.A fungicide protects the seed from potential infecting soU microorganisms until soU conditions are favorable for rapid seed germination and growth.This is the most important reason for treating seed with a fungicide.