Can seed treatment improve germination?
Whether a seed treatment can improve germination rate of infected soybean seed is complicated. If pathogenic fungi are in seed but the infection is superficial and germination rate is not severely affected, use of seed treatment can prevent damage by these fungi when the seed is planted. However, planting the seeds in cool and wet soil may enhance infection. When tested, such seeds often have high germination rate together with higher than normal fungal isolation. If a test indicates high germination rate with the presence of considerable fungal infection, seed treatment may help, especially if planting in wet soils. If seed vigor is already severely damaged by beetles and by fungal infection, seeds will have low germination rate and seed treatment cannot improve the germination rate. In this situation, you can be misled when using a seed treatment, thinking that planting would be okay with the seed treatments. By the time you find out you have a poor stand, it is too late.
