Seed treatment involves applying chemicals, nutrients, or other substances to seeds to protect them from pests and diseases. There are several types of seed treatments, including fungicides, insecticides, inoculants, and scarification. Seed dormancy, where seeds do not germinate in favorable conditions, can be overcome through scarification which involves mechanical or chemical processes to soften or damage the seed coat and allow water absorption. Proper seed treatment and overcoming dormancy can help improve seed germination rates and seedling vigor.

1. SEED TREATMENT ,GERMINATION
TEST AND CLASSES OF SEED ON THE
BASED OF LABELS
NAMRATA GURNANI
ADA

2. Concept of seed quality
• Purity
• Healthy
• Vigorous and uniform
• Seed viability
2

3. Seed Treatment
Seed treatment is the mixing, coating, or soaking
of chemicals or Protectants, Nutrients,
Hormones, or Growth Regulators into seeds.
They are exposed to a variety of energy
(Radiation, Heat, Electricity) in order to repel
pests and other insects that attack seeds or
seedlings.
Controlling pests while the seed is in storage and
after it has been sown/planted is also part of
seed treatment

4. Objectives of Seed Treatment
Its main role is to protect seeds from seed borne
diseases and pest attacks.
To revive a seed that has been dormant for a long
time.
Drought tolerance is induced.
Early emergence is used to increase the percentage
of seeds that germinate.
Protection against storage insects.
Controlling Soil insects

5. Characteristics of Ideal Chemical Seed
Treatment
• It must be extremely effective in the face of
harmful organisms.
• Seeds must be somewhat unaffected.
• Even if overused, it should be safe for humans,
animals, and cattle.
• During seed storage, it should be relatively stable
for a long time.
• It should be simple to operate.
• It should be economically competitive

6. Pre Storage Seed Treatment
Fungicide, insecticide, or a combination of
both, as well as any other chemical or plant
product, are applied to seeds prior to storage.
The goal is to keep seeds fresh for longer by
disinfecting them against seed-borne or seed-
storage diseases and storage insects, as well
as minimizing seed deterioration directly or
indirectly.

7. Types of Seed Treatment
Pre sowing seed treatments
• It is the treatments given to the seeds before sowing to
improve the germination and vigour
• Potential and as well as to maintain the health of the
seed.
• Pre sowing seed treatments includes the following
I. Chemical treatments to improve germination and
vigour potential.
I. Insecticidal and fungicidal treatment.
III. Special treatments

8. Chemical treatments to Improve
Germination and Vigour potential
• Soaking / treating the seeds with nutrients
vitamins and micronutrients etc.
• Paddy: Seeds can be soaked in 1 % KCl solution
for 12 hours to improve the germination and
vigour potential.
• Sorghum: Seeds could be soaked in NaCl2 (1 %)
or KH2PO4 (1%) for 12 hours for improving the
germination and vigour potential.
• Pulses : Seeds can be soaked in ZnSO4, MgSO4
and MnSO4 100 ppm solution for 4 hours to
improve the germination and vigour potential.

9. Treatment for Insect and Disease
Control
• Hot Water Treatment
• Loose Smut of Wheat (54C for 10 minutes)
• Loose Smut of Barely (54C for 10 minutes)
• Alternaria Blight of Wheat (38C for 10 min)
• Leaf Spot of Til (54C for 10 minutes)
• Solar Treatment Sun Drying in summer for Loose
smut of Wheat and barely
• Dehumidification For removing humidity
Chemical dehumidifier are used .
• Eg Silica gel

10. Seed Treatment Fungicides
• Seed Disinfection - Disinfection is the elimination
of a pathogen which has penetrated into living
cells of the seed, infected it and become
established-for example, Loose smut of barley
and wheat.
• Seed Disinfestations - Disinfestation is the control
of spores and other forms of pathogenic
organisms found on the surface of the seed.
• Seed Protection - Seed protection is chemical
treatment to protect the seed and young seedling
from pathogenic organisms in the soil.

11. Prevention of Spread of Plant Diseases both Systemic
and Nonsystemic.
• Systemic
Seed treatments is effective in controlling systemic
diseases like Smut of wheat, Helmintho sporium
Blight of Barley, Loose and Covered smuts of oats
etc.
• Non systemic diseases that infect seed during
harvest or storage period such, as Fusorium with
Blight of Barley Oats, Rice, Sorghum, etc. can be
effectively, controlled by appropriate seed treatment.

12. Formulation of fungicides
/insecticides
Fungicides / insecticides are available in the form of dusts,
wettable powders and liquids.
Dusts : It is usually applied @ 200-250 gms / quintal of seed.
Eg Agrosan GN, Vetavax,Cerasan
Wheat ,Barely Coverd smut,Bunt , Jowar Grain smut
Slurry : This type of fungicide is applied to the seed along with
soap like water suspension which can be mixed with seed by
using special slurry treater.
Seeds/seedlings are dipped in a slurry. Rice seedlings, for
example, are immersed in phosphate slurry.

13. • Liquids : The use of liquid solution is known as
the "quick wet ' method. Here a volatile mercurial
fungicide is applied to the seed and it throughly
mixed with them.
• Ex Blitox -50 2% Tobacco Dampling off ,
Formalin 2-5%Tikka disease of Groundnut
• Streptomycin for Bacterial Canker of Tomato
• Pelleting: It is the process of coating seed with
enough seed ingredients to make the seeds
larger, heavier, and consistent in size for sowing
using seed drills. Pesticide pelleting is used to
protect soil organisms and pests, as well as to
repel birds, ants, and rodents.

14. The Rhozobium and Other Inoculums
 The Rhizobium culture is mixed with jaggary solution and
applied to the seed and shade dried.
 Free living micro-organisms such as Blue green algae
(BGA), Azolla, Azotobacter and Azospirillum can fix the
atmospheric nitrogen.
 Azotobacter chroccum is widely used in rice, cotton and
sugarcane crops, and 3-5 kg per ha is required.It can fix
kg of nitrogen per ha.
 Azospirillum is widely used in cereal crops.
 Phosphobacteria is inoculated with seed as seed
treatment to enhance the P availability to crops.
 Now, Azophos is used to replace both Azospirillum and
Phosphobacteria.

15. Controlling Stored Pests
• Seeds quality is reduced by storage pests.
• Fumigants are used for managing the stored
pests effectively.
• Some of the fumigants are, Acrylonitrile (
g/m2), Carbon disulphide (24-32 g/m2),
Carbon Tetra Chloride ( g/m2), Ethyl Bromide
( g/m2), Methyl Bromide (32 g/m2) and
Phosphine (3- 6 g/t of seeds).

16. Recommendation of Seed Treatment
for Major Crops
S.
No
Name of Crop Pest/Disease Seed Treatment
1 Sugarcane Root rot, wilt Carbendazim (0.1%) Trichoderma spp. 4-6
gm/kg. seed
2 Maize Soil & seed borne disease Trichoderma viride,T. harzianium 4g/kg
seed
3 Groundnut Stem rot, Seed rot, Seedling
rot
Soil application of caster cake @ 1000 kg/ha
or Neem cake. Seed treatment Trichoderma
viride @4gm/kg seed.
White grubs Chlorpyriphos/ Quinalphos @ 2.5 to 12
ml/kg seed
4 Cotton Soil & Seed borne diseases, Acid delenting should be followed before
sowing @ one litre commercial H2So4 for 10
kg. seed. Trichoderma spp 4gm/kg seed.
Captan 3g/kg seed Carbendazim 2g/kg seed
5 Chillies Anthracnose spp.
Pseudomonas spp.
Seed treatment with
Trichoderma viride 4g/kg, Carbandazim @
1g/100 gm seed.
Soil borne infection of
fungal disease
Trichoderma viride Trichoderma harzianum
@ 2 gm/kg. seed.

17. 6 Pigeon pea Wilt, Blight Trichoderma spp. @ 4 gm/kg. seed
7 Pearl Millet
(Bazara)
Soil borne disease Trichoderma harzianum
T. viride @ 4 gm/kg seed.
8 Maize Soil borne diseases Trichoderma harzianum T. viride @ 4 gm/kg. seed.
9 Sorghum Soft borne Trichoderma harzianum T. viride @ 4 gm/kg. seed.
10 Pea Root rot ,
White rot
Seed treatment with Bacillus subtilis Pseudomonas fluoresgens Soil
application @ 2.5 – 5 kg in 100kg FYM or Carbendazim or Captan 2 gm/kg.
seed Trichchoderma harziarum 4 gm/kg seed Thiram+Carbendazim 2gm/kg
seed Carbendazim or Captan 2gm/kg seed
11 Onion Smut T. viride @ 2 gm/100gm. seed. Benlate or Vitavax @ 0.01%
12 Soybean Seedling disease Rhizohium spp. and Phosphate Solublizing Bacteria (PSB) @ 5+5 gm/kg
seed
13 Wheat Termite Teat the seed before sowing with any one of the following insecticides. i)
Chlorpyriphos @ 4 ml/kg seed or Endosulfan @ 7ml / kg seeds
14 Sorghum Soil / Seed borne
diseases
Seed treatment with Trichoderma viridi , T. harzianum @ 4 g / kg seeds
15 Gram Root knot
nematode, Lesion
Nematode, Wilt
Seed treatment with Trichoderma viridi , T. harzianum @ 4 g / kg seeds
Combination of Carbendazim with carbosulfan @ 0.2% Carbendazim with
Thiram with carbosulfan @ 0.2%

18. Seed Dormancy
• Seed dormancy can be defined as the state or a
condition in which seeds are prevented from
germinating even under the favourable environmental
conditions .It is due to
• Water impermeability Ex Legumes,Solanace
• Gas impermeability Ex Barely ,Zanthium
• Growth Inhibitors Ex Paddy , Barely
• Presence of Hard seed coat Ex Musturd ,Amaranthus
• Rudimentary embryo Ex Pear ,Peach
• Photo Dormancy Ex Tobacco
• Temperature Dormancy Ex Apple Peer,Rose

19. • Scarification: Scarification is the process of
breaking, scratching, mechanically altering or
softening the seed covering to make it
permeable to water and gases. This helps in
better absorption of water and gases, which
ultimately leads to better germination of the
seeds Three types of treatments
• 1.Mechanical
2.Chemical
3.Hot water treatments.

20. 1.Mechanical Scarification
• Mechanical scarification is generally done by
pounding seeds in a large sized mortar with
pestle.
• Scarified seeds make injury to the seeds and
induces susceptible to pathogenic organisms;
hence,
• Scarification is done at the time of sowing or
a few days before sowing.

21. Mechanical scarification
Chipping hard seed coat by rubbing with sand
paper, cutting with a file or cracking with a
hammer are simple methods useful for small
amount of relatively large seeds.
For large scale, mechanical scarifiers are used.
 Seeds can be tumbled in drums lined with sand
paper or in concrete mixers containing coarse
sand or gravel.
The sand gravel should be of a different size than
the seed to facilitate subsequent separation.
• Eg Cucurbitcs, Beetroot,Potato

22. 2.Chemical Treatment
• Dry seeds are placed in glass or earthen ware
or wood containers and Dil H2SO,
HNO3,HCL(0.5%-1%)is added in twice the
volume of seeds.
• KNO3 (1-3%), NH4NO3((1-3%)
• H2o2 for Potato
• The duration of the seed treatment varies
more depending on the thickness or hardness
of seed coat.

23. • The time may vary from 10 minutes to 6 hours
depending upon the species.
At the end of the treatment period, the acid is
poured off and the seeds are washed to remove
the acid.
 The acid treated seeds can either be planted
immediately when wet or dried and stored for
later planting.
Large seeds of most legume species, brinjal and
tomatoes are reported to respond simple
sulphuric acid treatment

24. 3.Hot water scarification
• Drop the seeds into 4-5 times their volume of hot
water with temperature ranging from 77 to 100oC.
• The heat source is immediately removed, and the
seeds soaked in the gradually cooking water for 12 to
24 hours.
• Following this the unswollen seeds may be separated
from the swollen seeds by suitable screens.
• The seed should be sown immediately after hot water
treatment.
• Ex Gladious , Peer

25. 2.Stratification
• Stratification is a method of handling dormant
seed in which the imbibed seeds are subjected to
a period of chilling to after ripen the embryo in
alternate layers of sand or soil for a specific
period. It is also known as Moist Chilling.
• However, temperate species displaying epicotyl
dormancy (like fringed tree) or under developed
embryo (like hollies) a Warm stratification of
several months followed by a moist chilling
stratification is required.

26. Effect of seed stratification period on per
cent germination of important temperate
fruits
Kind of fruit Stratification
period (days)
% germination
Apple
Kainth (Pyrus pashia)
Peach
Apricot
Almond
Walnut
Pecan
70-75
30-35
60-70
45-50
45-50
95-100
70-75
70-75
90-95
55-60
75-80
85-90
80-85
75-80

27. 3.Putting seed in Water for Leaching
of Inhibitors
• It is established fact that some inhibitors and
Phenolic compounds are present in seed
coverings of many species, which inhibit
germination.
• Therefore, soaking of seeds in the running
water for 12-24 hours or placing them in
water for few hours help in leaching off the
inhibitors and Phenolic compounds, which
help in easy seed germination.

28. 4.Pre-drying
 This is also a useful practice in some seeds
to overcome seed dormancy.
 In this treatment, the dry seeds are
subjected to a temperature of 37-400C for 5-7
days prior to sowing.
After this, seed can be sown in the field.

29. 6.Seed priming
Seed priming refers to the procedures followed to
overcome dormancy in freshly harvested fruits.
• A)In osmo-conditioning
Polyglycol (PEG)
• B)In infusion
• Acetone or dichloromethane solution
• C)In fluid drilling,
• Sodium Alginate, Guar Gum and Synthetic Clay

30. 7.Treatment with Chemicals
Thiourea is one example known to stimulate
germination in some kinds of dormant seeds. The
seeds are soaked in 0.5 – 3 per cent solution of
thiourea for 3-5 minutes.
Afterwards seeds are rinsed with water and are
sown in the field. Similarly, Potassium nitrate and
Sodium hypochlorite also stimulate seed
germination in many plant species

31. 8.Hormonal treatment
• Among various hormones, GA3 is commercially used for breaking
seed dormancy in different types of seeds. The concentration of GA3
depends upon the kind of seed but generally a concentration of 200-
500 ppm is most widely used.
• Cytokinin is another group of hormones used for breaking
physiological dormancy and stimulating germination in seeds of many
species.
• Kinetin and BA(6-benzyle aminopurine) are commercial preparations
of cytokinin used for breaking seed dormancy.
• Soaking seeds in 100 ppm solution of kinetin for 3-5 minutes is highly
effective concentration for overcoming seed dormancy of many
species.
• Etheral also stimulates germination in seeds of some species.

32. Recommended concentrations of growth
hormones in temperate fruits for
increasing seed germination
Crop Chemical Hormone Concentration
Apple,Pear, Peach ,Walnut Thiourea
Kinetin
GA
Ethrel
BA
5000ppm
25ppm
50ppm
100-200ppm
400ppm

33. Special Treatment

34. Seed Hardening
• Seeds are treated with certain chemicals or materials
which results in Drought tolerant and Cold tolerance
and the process is called as seed hardening.
• It improves
• Seed viability
• Water absorption,
• Root development
• Increases relative water content of leaves.
• Seed hardening materials in various Crops
• KH2PO4 in Sorghum and Pearl millet,
• KCl in maize,
• cycocel or succinic acid in Cotton,
• CaCl2 in Groundnut
• Ash in pulses.

35. Seed Fortification
• Main aim is to supply nutrient to the seeds
• To achieve the higher vigour to overcome
unfavourable soil conditions
• Ex Seed fortification with Mnso4 .5% to 1%
will improve oxidation –reduction potential of
seed which ultimately leads to higher
germination

36. Seed Germination Test

37. Seed Germination Test
• Germination is defined as the emergence and
development from the seed embryo, of those essential
structures, for the kind of seed in question, indicates its
ability to produce a normal plant under favorable
conditions.
Principles
• Germination tests shall be conducted with a pure seed
fraction. A minimum of 400 seeds are required in four
replicates of 100 seeds each or 8 replicates of 50 seeds
each or 16 replicates of 25 seeds each depending on the
size of seed and size of containers of substrate.
• The test is conducted under favourable conditions of
moisture, temperature, suitable substratum and light if
necessary.

38. Materials required Substratum
• The substratum serves as moisture reservoir and provides a surface or
medium for which the seeds can germinate and the seedlings grow.
The commonly used substrate are sand, germination paper and soil.
• 1. Sand
• Size of sand particle
1 Sand particles should not be too large or too small.
2. The sand particles should pass through 0.80 mm
sieve and retained by 0.05mm sieve.
• Toxicity
1 Sand should not have any toxic material or any
pathogen.
2 If there is presence of any pathogen found then
the sand should be sterilized in an autoclave.
• Germination tray
1.When we use the sand, germination trays are used
to carry out the test.
2.The normal size of the tray is 22.5 x 22.5 x 4 cm.
The tray may either zinc or stainless steel.
Germination Tray

39. Method of Seed Placement
• Seed in sand(BS)
• Seeds are planted in a uniform layer of moist sand and then
covered to a depth of 1 to 2 cm with sand.
• Top of sand (TS)
• Seeds are pressed in to the surface of the sand.
• Spacing
• We must give equal spacing on all sides to facilitate
normal growth of seedling and to avoid entangling
of seed and spread of disease. Spacing should be 1-
5 times the width or diameter of the seed.
• Water
• The amount of water to be added to the sand will
depend on size of the seed. For cereals, except
maize, the sand can be moistened to 50% of its
water holding capacity. For large seeded legumes
and maize sand is moistened to 60% water holding
capacity. Sand Method

40. Paper
• Most widely used paper substrates are filter paper, blotter
or towel (kraft paper).
• It should have capillary movement of water, at vertical
direction (30 mm rise / min.).
• It should be free from toxic substances and free from fungi
or bacteria.
• It should hold sufficient moisture during the period of test.
• The texture should be such that the roots of germinating
seedlings will grow on and not into the paper.
Methods
• Top of paper (TP)
• Seeds are placed on one or more layers of moist filter
paper or blotter paper in petriplates. These
petriplates are covered with lid and placed inside the
germination cabinet. This is suitable for those seeds
which require light.
Petriplate method

41. • Between paper (BP)
• The seeds are germinated between two layers
of paper. The seeds are placed between two
layers of paper and rolled in towels. The rolled
towels are placed in the germinator in an
upright position. a)Folded Paper b) Rolled
towel c) Rag roll method
Paper Towel Germinated seedling Rolled Paper towel

42. Germination apparatus
• Germination cabinet/Germination room
• This is called chamber where in
temperature and relative humidity are
controlled. We can maintain the
temperature, relative humidity and light
required for different crops.
Room germinator
• It works with same principle as that of
germinator. This is a modified chamber
of larger one and the worker can enter
into it and evaluate the seedlings.
Provisions are made to maintain the
temperature and relative humidity. This
is used widely in practice. Plant Growth Chamber

43. Seed counting board
• This is used for accurate counting
and spacing of seeds. This consists
of 2 plates. The basal one is
stationary and top one is movable.
Both top and basal plates are
having uniform number of
holes viz., 50/100, when the
plates are in different position.
• After taking the sample, the top
plate is pulled in such a way that
the holes are in one line so that
the fixed number of seeds falls on
the substratum. Seed Counting Board

44. • Vacuum seed counter
• Consists of a head, pipe and wall. There are
plates of 50 or 100 holes which can be fitted
to the head.
• When vacuum is created the plate absorbs
seeds and once the vacuum is released the
seeds fall on the substrate.
• Impression board
• Made of plastic / wood with 50 or 100
holes / pins. Here the knobs are arranged
in equal length and space. By giving
impression on the sand it makes uniform
depth and spacing for seed.
Vacuum seed counter
Impression board

45. Evaluation of Germination Test
• The germination test is evaluated as
• Normal seedlings
• Abnormal seedlings
• Hard seeds
• Fresh and ungerminated seeds
• Dead seeds
ISTA classified the seedlings into different
categories based on the development of essential
structures.

46. Normal seedlings
• Seedlings which has the capacity for continued
development into normal plant when grown in
favourable conditions of soil, water, temperature and
light.
• Characters of normal seedlings A well
developed root system with primary root except in
certain species of graminae which normally produce
seminal root or secondary root.
• A well developed shoot axis consisting of elongated
hypocotyls in seedlings of epigeal germination.
• A well developed epicotyl in seedlings of hypogeal
germination.
• One cotyledon in monocotyledon and two in
dicotyledons.
• A well developed coleoptiles in graminae containing a
green leaf.
• A well developed plumule in dicotyledons.

47. Abnormal seedlings
• Seedlings which do not show the capacity for continued
development into normal plant when grown in favorable
condition of soil, water, temperature and light.
• Types of abnormal seedlings
• Damaged seedlings
• Seedligs with any one of the essential structures missing
or badly damaged so that the balanced growth is not
expected.
• Seedlings with no cotyledons, with splits, cracks and
lesions or essential structures and without primary root.
• Deformed seedlings
• Weak or unbalanced development of essential structures
such as spirally twisted or stunted plumule or hypocotyls
or epicotyls, swollen shoot, stunted roots etc.

48. • Decayed seedlings
• Seedlings with any one of the essential structures showing
diseased or decayed symptoms as a result of primary infection
from the seed which prevents the development of the
seedlings.
• Hard seeds
• Seeds which do not absorb moisture till the end of the test
period and remain hard (e.g.) seed of leguminaceae and
malvaceae
• Fresh and ungerminated seeds
• Seeds which are neither hard nor have germinated but remain
firm and apparently viable at the end of the test period.
• Dead Seeds
• Seeds at the end of the test period are neither hard or nor
fresh or have produced any part of a seedling. Often dead
seeds collapse and milky paste comes out when pressed at
the end of the test.

49. Abnormal Seedling
Damaged seed Decayed Seedlings
Hard Seeds
Dead Seeds

50. VIABILITY TEST
• It is the capacity of seed to remain alive
• Respiration Test- It indicates the seed is alive
• Electrical Conductance test –If seeds are
presoaked in distilled water, if the conductivity
increases it indicate the increase of dead
tissue due to leaching of metabolites
• Potassium Permanagate Test- If seeds are
presoaked in solution It became colouless as
dead tissue increases.

51. • Indigo Carmine Test – Stained dead tissue
percentage is calculated .
• Embryo culture Test- It takes 5-7 days as
germinated embryo percentage is
calculated.
• Tetrazolium Test – 2,3,5 Triphenyl
tetrazolium chloride it is Biochemical test
light yellow turns into Red colour indicates
viability
• Grodex Test -Powder form of Tetrazolium
test

52. THANK YOU