Page 25 - AWA Vol.41-No.5. 1

SeedS & PLANtStoCK

Biological Seed Treatment – Enhancing Seed Health and Yield

eed is the basis of Agriculture.Yield also reported by USEPA.
Sbegins with germination.Effective In this decade, biologicals/microbials as
Seed Treatment in the first 30 days is the seed treatment have emerged as a viable
best chance to enhance yield alternative ushering in a new era in seed
1- 1- Reduced plant losses from day treatment. Biologicals/microbials once in-
Now that the premise is set for Seed troduced into the soil microclimate grow,
Treatment/ Protection/ Care, it is impor- multiply and persist by colonizing the
tant to consider alternate approaches for surface of plant roots. Most biological/mi-
seed treatment and how these approaches crobials have a quadruple mode of action:
can be in sync with IPM strategies so as (1) Competition for food resources due to
to achieve the Sustainable Development the introduction of a large population of
Goals as laid down by the FAO for 2030, the microbial into the soil micro-climate
wherein Biologicals for agriculture are the with other soil-borne pathogens; (2) PGPR
prime movers. and/or Antibiosis activity : release of me-
The application of biologicals for pest and tabolites/enzymes, increasing availability
of specific nutrients and/or immobilizing
disease management in different crops is By MR. KETAN KISHOR MEHTA soil pathogens; (3) Antagonism/ Mycopar-
widely adopted as on-crop applications, asitism : infecting pathogen is subsumed
their usage in the form of seed treatment is term protection to roots and plant during by the microbe and (4) Induced Systemic
being explored more intensively now than entire crop standing. Although chemical Resistance : a state of enhanced defensive
before. fungicides like, Carbendazim, Carboxin, capacity developed by a plant when ap-
My presentation focus is on development Captan, Metalxyl, Thiram, are successful in propriately stimulated.
and successful use of biologicals/ microbi- controlling diseases, only with limited effi- Thus, there will be an additional advan-
als inoculants as seed treatments and their cacy due to chemicals reaching their half- tage for farmers/ growers who use seeds
impact on germination, vigour, growth and life within 20 days once in the soil. treated with Biologicals as the plants will
disease management by way of trials data. The EU has banned the use of Thiram as be able withstand the disease pressure for
Most crops in developing countries are a Seed Treatment from 2020 onwards (as the entire crop standing i.e., from sowing to
affected by pathogens such as Alternaria, reported in Agro Pages - 12TH October harvest as the Biological keeps multiplying
Aspergillus, Fusarium, Macrophomina, Py- 2018) as because Thiram has caused ma- in the soil and providing protection to the
thium, Rhizoctonia, Sclerotium, etc., caus- jor, irreparable environmental poisoning seed, seedling, root zone and the plant as a
ing yield losses. and pollution of water bodies, soil due whole, which results in increased yield and
Controlling soil-borne pathogens is al- to hazardous leachates in addition to ad- better quality due to continuous manage-
ways a challenge because no chemicals at versely affecting non-target soil micro-flo- ment of the fungal pathogen in the soil.
recommended dosages, can provide long ra, fish, birds and some mammals, which is Circle 31 on enquiry card

KWS expands vegetables breeding activities
Seed specialist KWS is expanding its enable our R&D colleagues to carry out
R&D capacities in Andijk, the Nether- more and higher quality trials. As a result,
lands. On a 10,000m2 site, a state-of- we can accelerate our innovative vegeta-
the-art greenhouse will be constructed, ble varieties that respond to the current
as well as a dedicated preparation and challenges growers and value chain part-
research area for outdoor vegetables ners are facing.”
including an office and laboratory. The Embracing sustainable practices licensed-in varieties. This included the
completion of this project is scheduled In a commitment to sustainable practic- acquisition of the Dutch vegetable breed-
for early 2025. es, the new R&D Centre will harness the ing company Pop Vriend Seeds, a very
The new greenhouse area will be used power of 360 solar panels installed on the important player in spinach and beans
for research in the outdoor crops spinach, roof of the building, creating a renewable breeding. In addition, KWS acquired the
beans, red beet and Swiss chard. Another source of electricity for the Andijk site. Italian vegetable seed company Gene-
part will be dedicated to the fruity crops Additionally, the rainwater will be col- planta S.r.l. (now: KWS Vegetables Italia),
cucumber and pepper with the main fo- lected to realize a grey water circuit in the a specialist in breeding, production and
cus on trials with, and reproduction of whole facility. sales of tomato varieties, in March 2021.
doubled haploid plants, which are de- Background: New business unit for In parallel, KWS has been concentrat-
veloped at the KWS research site in Wa- vegetable seeds ing on staffing the new business division
geningen. KWS is one of the world’s leading plant as well as on launching its own breeding
“The new facilities in Andijk are an breeding companies. With a history of activities in Brazil, Spain, Turkey, Italy, The
important milestone in our efforts to more than 165 years in the seed indus- Netherlands and Mexico. To that end, the
strengthen our strategic position in the try, the company focuses on plant breed- seed specialist is continuously expanding
vegetable seed market,” says Frank Hol- ing and the production and sale of seeds its network of breeding stations, most re-
lenberg, Site Manager Andijk. “Our site for corn, sugarbeet, cereals, rapeseed cently with a new R&D station in Navolato,
in Andijk, in the heart of Seed Valley – and sunflower. In 2019, the company an- Mexico. The aim of KWS is to develop a
the center of vegetable breeding in the nounced its entry into the long-term strategically significant position in the
Northwest of the Netherlands – serves growth market for vegetable seeds, vegetable seed market by focusing on
as a central hub for our Vegetables busi- based on a greenfield approach which breeding for the needs of the value chain
ness unit, allowing us to scale up our core entails organic growth, supplemented and keeping the end-customer at the
activities. The newly gained space will by suitable acquisitions and the sales of forefront of its strategy. Circle 28 on enquiry card
Circle 32 on enquiry card
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