ABSTRACT
Seed certification —Certification of seed samples relatively free of seedborne pathogens is gaining an importance as a criterion for high-quality seeds. Seed health testing may detect the presence or absence of toxin-producing fungi in seeds, which would help reduce the risk of using contaminated seed lots as feed or food. More than one method may be available for detection of a particular seedborne pathogen. The selection of a method depends upon the purpose of the test, i.e., whether the seeds are to be tested for seed certification, seed treatment, and quarantine. The method provides quick results, but is only useful for detection of those pathogens which adhere to the seed surface in the form of easily identifiable spores; therefore, it does not have a wide application. The nature of seedborne fungi has been established for many fungi by demonstrating inoculum location within seed tissue using techniques which range from in vitro isolation from seeds to use of electron microscopy.
