ABSTRACT
The use of healthy seed and propagating material is basic to sound agriculture practice, and is often considered a form of sanitation. Selection of the best, healthy seed for planting or food was a concern of ancient traditional farmers. Both true seed and asexual propagating material can introduce pathogens into previously uninfested fields or exacerbate existing disease situations. Seed of various legumes and cucurbits that are affected by seed-borne diseases, characteristically transmitted in wet weather, is often produced in arid areas under furrow irrigation. Seed treatment is a common practice in modern agriculture and utilizes various methods, including chemicals, heat, and anaerobic cold water. The International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) in Central America has shown that healthy seed can produce exceptional yield increases. As the individual farmer can seldom produce quality seed without outside help, the costs and benefits of providing such seed must be carefully considered by each society.
