Before using any pesticide, read and analyze the information about the product. The label contains detailed information about the product such as active ingredient, inert ingredients, warning statement (including "Danger-Keep Out of Reach of Children" or "Poison" and "Handle with Care), antidotes, type seed and rate per bushel, kind of pests controlled, care in handling and use of treated seed, and disclaimer or warranty clause.
Fungicides: Fungicidal seed treatment may be divided into three categories, depending on the nature and purpose of the treatment. These categories are seed disinfection, seed disinfestation, and seed protection. Note, a given fungicide may serve in one or more of these categories.
Seed disinfection--Disinfection is the elimination of a pathogen that has penetrated into living cells of the seed, infected it and become established.
Seed disinfestation--Disinfestation is the control of spores and other forms of pathogenic organisms found on the surface of the seed.
Seed protection--Seed protection is chemical treatment to protect the seed and young seedling from pathogenic organisms in the soil.
Seed treatment materials are usually applied to seed in one of three forms-dust, slurries (a mixture of wettable powder in water) and liquids.
Based on composition, seed treatment fungicides may be organic or inorganic, metallic or non-metallic and until recently, mercurial or non-mercurial. Before the cancellation of the volatile mercurials, fungicides for treating seed were generally classified as volatile and non-volatile. With the elimination of the volatile mercurials, most fungicides now approved for use on seed are classified as nonvolatile. When using this type material, complete coverage of the seed is necessary to obtain effective control.
Some of the systemics, a fairly new class of pesticides, may now be used as seed treatment materials. The desirability of having materials that would move inside the seed or plant and control the pest has long been recognized. Such a material is called a systemic. When used according to the manufacturer's recommendations (see label), a systemic moves through the host plant and controls or retards the growth of certain fungi and insects without affecting the host's metabolic system.
Insecticides: Insecticides are often applied to seed to control or reduce insect damage to seed during storage and to a lesser degree to prevent damage from such insects as wire worms and seed corn maggots in the soil.
Since some of the pesticides are selective in the control of pests, many times two or more compounds are combined in the treater tank, or an extra tank may be used, to give the spectrum of activity needed.
The manufacturers of pesticides are now making combinations available to seed processors but should a processor blend two or more pesticides, the compatability of the materials must be determined, as some combinations of materials may seriously reduce seed germination. When applying two or more pesticides at different times, the sequence of application is also important.
Whether a single pesticide or a combination is to be applied to the seed, read the label and follow the manufacturer's directions carefully.