Seed Coating with Fungicidal Agents: Enhancing Quality, Storability, and Fusarium sp. Inhibition in Vegetable Soybean Seeds
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Abstract
This study evaluated the effects of fungicidal seed coating on Fusarium sp. inhibition, seed quality, and seedling growth in vegetable soybeans. Laboratory tests showed that mancozeb, prochloraz, and carboxin completely inhibited fungal growth for nine days, whereas thiram, captan, and metalaxyl-M provided only partial suppression. Among the tested fungicides, prochloraz was most effective in maintaining seed germination and seedling vigor. In seed coating trials, prochloraz applied at 6 g of active ingredient (g.ai.) increased shoot length to 26.5 cm and root length to 21.3 cm under sand test conditions, while mancozeb and carboxin produced similar but slightly lower values. Seedling survival reached up to 87% with prochloraz at 4 to 6 g.ai., compared with only 65% in uncoated seeds. Storage experiments demonstrated that prochloraz-coated seeds maintained germination above 85% for up to 4 months under controlled conditions, whereas uncoated seeds dropped below 70%. Under ambient conditions, germination of all treatments declined after 4 months, but coated seeds still performed better than untreated ones. Overall, prochloraz at 6 g.ai. was identified as the most effective treatment for improving germination, seedling vigor, and disease resistance, particularly in the short-term storage of vegetable soybean seeds. These findings highlight the practical value of fungicidal seed coating as a cost-effective strategy for protecting soybean seeds from early infection and improving seedling establishment in pathogen-prone environments.
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