Bresov Practice Abstract - Harmful seed-borne plant pathogens (present in/on the seed), can be the source of infection on the crops that originated from infected seeds. The use of healthy seed is therefore a very important tool for the success of the crop. Seed treatment aims at reducing/inactivating the inoculum of seed-borne pathogens or indirectly improve plant defence response using a mechanism known as biopriming.

Crop losses from pests threaten global food security and safety. In the last six decades, pest control using chemical pesticides has resulted in important yield gains per unit area, worldwide. However, the long-term sustainability of chemical pest control has been increasingly thrown into doubt due to the negative impact on human health, biodiversity, and the environment.