This document summarizes a presentation on seed bio-priming. It discusses how seed bio-priming uses beneficial microorganisms to coat seeds and protect them from diseases. The process involves soaking seeds in a solution containing antagonistic fungi or bacteria, incubating them to allow a protective layer to form, and planting. Several microbes like Trichoderma and Pseudomonas species effectively control various seed-borne diseases of crops like carrots, soybeans, and pearl millet. Bio-priming provides ecological disease management and can increase yields comparable to chemicals with fewer negative impacts. The technique warrants further exploration and adoption by farmers for safer food production.

1. Masters Seminar
Presented By
Rajan Paudel M.Sc(Ag) Plant Pathology
I.D 2605

2.  Background
 Introduction Of Seed bio-priming
 Procedure of bio-priming
 Some Illustrations
 Future Insights
 Photographs
 Conclusion
 Acknowledgements

3.  Seed borne disease refers to the particular plant
diseases that are transmitted by seed.
 They are responsible for considerable loss of yield in
various crops.
 Common seed borne diseases are: Bunts, smuts, spots,
rottings , blights, anthracnose, etc
 Pathogens may be present on seeds either externally or
internally and cause infection during or prior to
germination.

4. Seed borne
disease
management
Physical Methods
(hot air, hot water
treatment etc)
Cultural Methods
(adjusting planting
& harvesting
times, nutrient
and water
management etc)
Chemical Methods
(Use of various
chemicals for seed
treatment)
Biological Methods
( Use of various
bio control agents)

5.  Used since long time.
 Highly accurate and superior in performance.
But...
◦ Implicated in ecological, environmental, and human
health problems
◦ Require yearly treatments
◦ Broad spectrum
◦ Toxic to both beneficial and pathogenic m.o.
So What is the alternate way???

6.  One of the best
alternate to chemical
method.
 Uses various Biocontrol
agents.
 Provides protection to
seed forming coat of
antagonists
 Safe for environment
and human health.

7. Hydration of
seeds
Bio-agents
Bio-priming
Of
seeds
Layer of biocontrol agent is applied over the seed surface as protective coating.

8.  Synonymous term to Biological seed
treatment.
 A new technique integrating biological
(inoculation of seed with beneficial organism
to protect seed) and physiological aspects
(seed hydration) of disease control.

9.  In broader sense it is an ecological approach
and an effective alternative to chemical
control unique from chemical seed treatments
by their utilization of living microorganisms.
 It is considered as a safer, cheaper and easily
applicable biocontrol method (El-Mougy and
Abdel-Kader 2008).

10. Trichoderma viridae
Trichoderma harzianum
Trichoderma hamatum
Clonostachys rosea k/a Gliocladium roseum
Chaetomium bostrycoides

11. Pseudomonas fluroscence
Pseudomonas aureofaciens
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Serratia polymuthica
Pseudomonas chlororaphis
Bacillus subtilis

12. Pre-soak the seeds in water for 12 h.
Mix the formulated product of bio-agent with the pre-soaked seeds
at the rate of 10 g per kg seed.
Put the treated seeds as a heap.

13. Cover the heap with a moist jute sack to maintain high humidity.
Incubate the seeds under high humidity for about 48 h at approximately
25–32 °C.
Bio-agent adhered to the seed grows on the seed surface under moist
condition to form a protective layer all around the seed coat.

14. Non bio-primed rice
seed
Bio-primed rice
seed

15.  Destructive Mycoparasitism
The parasitism of one fungus by another by:
◦ Direct contact(Physical barrier)
◦ Cell wall degrading enzymes
◦ Some produce antibiotics
◦ Example
 Trichoderma harzianum, used as seed treatment
against pathogenic fungus.
 Penicillium oxalicum against Alternaria alternata
(F. Sempere 2010)

17.  Competition between microorganisms for
carbon, nitrogen, O2, iron, and other
nutrients
◦ Most common way organisms limit growth
of others
◦ Example
 P. fluorescens, prevents bacterial blotch by
competing with P. tolaasii

18. Inhibition of one organism by another as a
result of diffusion of an antibiotic.
◦ Antibiotic production common in soil-
dwelling bacteria and fungi
◦ Example: zwittermicin A production by B.
cereus against Phytophthora root rot in
alfalfa

19. Antibiotic Source Target pathogen Disease Reference
2, 4-diacetyl-
phloroglucinol
Pseudomonas
fluorescens F113
Pythium spp. Damping off
Shanahan et al.
(1992)
Bacillomycin,
fengycin
Bacillus
amyloliquefaciens
FZB42
Fusarium
oxysporum
Wilt
Koumoutsi et al.
(2004)
Xanthobaccin A
Lysobacter sp.
strain SB-K88
Aphanomyces
cochlioides
Damping off Islam et al. (2005)
Gliotoxin
Trichoderma
virens
Rhizoctonia
solani
Root rots
Wilhite et al.
(2001)
Pyrrolnitrin,
pseudane
Burkholderia
cepacia
R. solani and
Pyricularia
oryzae
Damping off and
rice blast
Homma et al.
(1989)
Zwittermicin A Bacillus cereus
Phytophthora
medicaginis and
Damping off
Smith et al.

20.  Some strains of T harzianum , T viridae
and T longibrachyatum produced volatile
compounds like lactones, alcohols and
terpene derivatives of pyran which
inhibited mycelial growth of
Macrophomina phaseolina.

21.  Extra cellular enzymes like chitinase and glucanases
produced by T.virens, T. viridae degrade the cell wall of
pathogens.
 Also effect the hyphal tip of pathogen resulting in
thining of cell wall leading to imbalance of turgor
pressure and wall tension causing tip to swell and brust.
 Enzymes like N-acetylglucosaminidase, endochitinase
chitobasidase produced by Trichoderma sps. active
against R. solani.(Dalsoglio et al 1998)

23.  Should possess high rhizospheric competence.
 Should enhance plant growth as a consequence of
seed and root protection against pathogens
 Should enhance plant nutrition through
production of growth stimulating substances.
 Nonpathogenic to host plant and environment.
 Should be cheaper for large scale production.

24. Carrot Damping Off,
 Clonostachys rosea against Alternaria dauci, A.
radicina .
 Pre- and post-emergence death due toAlternaria
dauci and A. radicina was effectively controlled as the
fungicide iprodione (Jensen et al. 2004)
Before biopriming After biopriming
A. radicina – 20% Less than 2.3%
A. dauci- 11% Less than 4.8%

25.  Pseudomonas aeruginosa – most effective
◦ pre- emergence damping off - 48.6 - 51.9%
◦ Post-emergence damping off- 65.0 - 97.2%.
 T. harzianum reduced
◦ Pre- emergence damping off - 42.8–46.8%
◦ Post-emergence damping off-35.0–85.1%
 Effective and an better alternative to the fungicide Benlate
for control of damping off of soybean caused by C. truncatum
(Begum et al. 2010)

27.  Bio-priming of seeds by T. harzianum reduced root rot
incidence caused byF.solani,M phaseolina and R.solani
by 64.0 and 56.3% at pre-emergence stage and by 68.0,
60.1 and 57.1%, 64.0% at post-emergence stage.
 Fresh pod yield was increased by 44.0 and 36.1%
compared with 19.5 and 11.2% in the case of Rizolex-T
treatment.
(El-Mohamedy et al. 2006)

28. Several sps of Trichoderma
alone as well as in
combination with
Pseudomonas sps. @ 10
gm/kg seed found to
provide effective control
against R. solani , H.
oryzae, Pythium seed rot
etc.

29.  Bio-priming pearl millet seeds with Pseudomonas
fluorescens isolate UOM SAR 14 resulted in improved
induction of resistance against downy mildew disease
caused by the fungus Sclerospora graminicola.
 Treatment due to P. fluorescens resulted in
enhancement of germination, seedling vigor, plant
height, leaf area, tillering capacity, seed weight
(measured for 1000 seeds) and yield.
(Raj et al.2004).

30. Pros
Ecologically
safe
Economically
viable
Long term
effectivity
Accessory
functions on
Plant growth

31. Cons
High
specificity
Slow action
Influenced
by Biotic&
Abiotic
factors
Optimality

32. Exploration of possibilities in utilizing Viruses for bio-
priming of seeds.
Extensive research to identify new genera and species of
antagonists suitable for bio-priming.
Researchers should Study the effectiveness of bioagents in
other manifolds like abiotic factors.
Increase compatibility with chemical pesticides.

36.  Bio-priming can provide a high level of protection
against seed and soil borne diseases which can be
almost equal or even superior to the chemical
treatment.
 So, farmers should be encouraged for adopting it
which helps in safe production and increase in yield
with minimal environmental and health hazards.
 Seeds are source of life so lets start protecting
it biologically rather than with chemicals.