Seed treatment is a crucial pre-sowing technique that can eliminate and prevent fungal diseases, increasing wheat yields and quality. Fungal diseases in wheat are a significant threat to wheat crops worldwide, causing in severe yield losses and reduced grain quality. If left untreated, fungal pathogens spread from the seedling to the adult plant, leading to lower yield rates and poor product quality. Therefore, seed treatment is essential, providing an efficient and economical way to control these diseases.
Fungal diseases can be caused by numerous pathogenic fungi, including Fusarium, Rhizoctonia, and Alternaria, among others. There are several ways to treat seeds to control fungal diseases, such as physical, chemical, or biological treatments. The most common seed treatments involve fungicides, which generally provide reliable control of fungal pathogens. Chemical treatments disrupt the pathogen’s growth and reproduction, allowing the seed to establish itself and develop without any hindrance from the pathogen.
Biological treatments involve using microbial inoculants or natural plant extracts to inhibit fungal pathogens or encourage the growth of beneficial fungi. These treatments can be used alone or in combination with chemical treatments. Biological treatments have a low ecological impact, and they may be ideal for integrated pest management programs.
Physical treatments include hot water and other heat treatments that are effective in controlling seed-borne pathogens in wheat seeds. Heat treatments involve exposing seeds to high temperatures that kill pathogens without damaging the seeds.
In conclusion, seed treatment is a critical pre-sowing technique that helps control fungal diseases in wheat. Fungal diseases pose a considerable threat to wheat crops, and untreated pathogens can lead to severe yield losses and reduced grain quality. To prevent the spread of these pathogens, seed treatment using chemical, biological, or physical methods must be carried out. Famers should intensely look into the available seed treatments and adopt the most effective, sustainable, and safe method for their farming techniques.