ABSTRACT

A high germination percentage and vigor level are two very important characteristics of high-quality seeds (Thomson, 1979). Unfortunately for agriculture and horticulture, seed germination and vigor can be markedly reduced by a number of factors, including the action of microorganisms (i.e., bacteria and fungi), viruses, and nematodes. The first part of this chapter deals with seed storage fungi, and includes information on the damage that they cause, the fungi involved, the means by which they are detected and identified, and methods for controlling them. The second part covers seedborne plant disease agents important in agriculture and horticulture, and provides examples of some of the economically important diseases caused by the various types of plant disease agents, the means by which these agents are detected and identified, and methods for controlling them. At the end of the chapter, there is an annotated bibliography of publications that provides the reader with additional information on all aspects of seed storage fungi and seedborne plant disease agents.