ABSTRACT
The bacteria may cause seed infestation, i.e., carried on the surface of the seed or seed infection, that occurs in the seed coat and other parts of the seed. Bacterial diseases of seedling and plant may be established from seed-borne infection or may take place through soil, air, water, insects, and nematodes. The seed-borne bacteria do not form spores. Some bacterial pathogens die before the seed loses its viability, while many others survive even beyond the time of seed germinability. Good information is available on initial penetration, multiplication, and spread of bacteria in plant tissues and penetration of ovule and seed. Bacteria present in seed tissues may have better chances of survival than those present on the seed surface. However, environmental conditions, inherent seed factors, and the inherent characteristics of the pathogen affect survival as well as transmission. Studies on the location of bacteria are meager and mostly inconclusive.
