K. M. Golam Dastogeer, Lecturer, Department of Plant Pathology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202 Page 1 Seed Treatment- Turn your seeds into super seeds In modern times a lot of attention is paid to protecting plants from different kinds of diseases and pests. This is sometimes accomplished by breeding varieties that are resistant to diseases, thereby protecting the crop through its growth cycle. However, when resistant varieties are not available or the level of resistance is not sufficient under high disease and pest pressure, the grower may decide to use crop protection methods i.e., applying plant protection compounds (chemicals or biological material). These compounds can be used in two ways, either as an application to the soil or sprayed directly on the plant. Such crop protection methods may require the use of significant quantities of active substances. An excellent alternative is to apply crop protection compounds directly to the seed before sowing. Such a treatment to the seed requires the use of very small quantities of active substances per unit area of land, and is a very effective and targeted method of controlling pests and diseases. Seed treatments are a valuable tool for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) as they exert little pressure on the environment Seed treatments promote seedling establishment and help reduce yield and quality losses due to many pathogens and insects. Seed treatment is one of the easiest methods of disease control in the home garden even though seed treatments will not control foliar diseases that may attack the plants later on in the season. Seed treatments can be an environmentally more friendly way of using pesticides as the amounts used can be very small. It is usual to add color to make treated seed less attractive to birds if spilt and easier to see and clean up in the case of an accidental spillage. However, the main value of seed treatment is the increase in stand or the number of plants that emerge from the soil. Plants will also have healthy root systems which enable them to get a vigorous start. Another side benefit of seed treatment may be to reduce the introduction of disease-causing fungi found on the seed from getting into pathogen-free soil. SEED TREATMENT FOR PLANT DISEASE CONTROL A Lecture note prepared for Level-4 Semester-1 students April-2013