Understanding potential threats for specific crops is also important. Cereal seed treatments can protect against pathogens such as Pythium, Rhizoctonia, Fusarium and Cochliobolus sativus — which can be found in the soil, crop residue or seed. Fusarium, Rhizoctonia, Pythium, Botrytis, Ascochyta and Anthracnose are common pathogens that can threaten peas and lentils. These pathogens infect cereal and pulse seed, causing reduced plant stand and decreased seedling vigor. Using a seed treatment is the best defense against yield loss due to seedling disease and blights, and uneven crop establishment.
Certain insects such as pea leaf weevils and wireworms can also reduce plant stands and reduce seedling vigor. Using a seed treatment with an insecticide at seeding is the only method of effectively controlling pea leaf weevils and wireworms.
