seed transmission of diseases

[kurt]

Theres a lot of disussion about seed transmission of diseases let alone the other common vectors.Just a note of caution.Consensus from academia is that it has been proven to occur and cleaning (sterilization) of said seeds should be done.Some blogs say it is not true but these are not scientists just bloggers.

[ContainerTed]

The long hidden magical secret to killing pathogens is FERMENTATION!!! Add to that a final rinse with diluted clorox (bleach) and you get the best that can be done without seriously endangering the viability of the seeds.

Tomatovillians excluded, of course, I think most real scientists don't know much about growing tomatoes, They have someone bring them food.

[ChrisK]

Oh that can be said of so much you read on the 'net!

Originally Posted by kurt

Some blogs say it is not true but these are not scientists just bloggers.

[carolyn137]

Fermentation is fine for common fungal pathogens as proved by Dr. Helene Dillard who got grants from either Campbell's or Heinz for such work, but fermentation is NOT OK for all bacterial and viral diseases looked at so far since they reside in the endosprem of the seed.

I had the pleasureof talking with her on the phone several years ago when she was still working at the Geneva, NY USDA station, but last I knew she was at the main Cornell Campus in Ithaca.

Even with fermentation not all the fungal pathogens are removed, nor by Clorox, but what Fermentation does is to lessen the fungal pathogen burden on the exterior of the seeds and since infection is a quantitative process it lessens the probability of actual infection via contaminated seeds.

If you look at some of the commercial catalogues/websites you'll see that by paying extra one can buy hot water treated seeds that does inactivate a few bacterial pathogens in the endosperm of the seeds. Not to try at home b'c if not done right there can be a huge loss in viability of seeds.

[kurt]

http://www.sdlearn.net/APRTC/ipm_veg/cs5r2.aspC-137,Thanks for clearing that up.Just wanted to make a across the board statement if you offer seeds for free or trade please do not offer seeds from diseased plants.If there is one iota of a transmission just don't do it,it will save a lot of agony for the recipient.

[meadowyck]

Great topic, as when I first started out with flowers and saving seed I never saved seeds from a plant that just had to be given a lot of attention either from it getting disease or just not thriving, those plants were worth it, even when I had several that were rather rare and very hard to find seed or the cost of replacing was really high. So when I started raising my own veggies, I took the same approach. It was that way when I was breeding, as when a puppy that was born and couldn't survive to be able to nurse then that told me mother nature knew best that this puppy wasn't going to be healthy. Thankfully I never had to tube as I didn't believe in that, I only had 4 puppies that were born dead and I never revive puppies, although I did have two of those four that a vet brought back and one the mother ate as she knew there was something wrong with it and the other is a brother to my Saul who I have. Saint you could tell not all his brain cells fired right, which just confirmed what I knew in my heart to be right, don't do anything over what mother nature would provide, then you ensure a health dog. In 25 years I was blessed to breed 5 litters, and I knew where all my babies where and when they passed, my two are the last ones of my kennel, one Saint is with a friend and another of babies she had just pasted on Friday. Broke my heart to hear but my friend gave him the best home and now she is loved by Saint. Sorry to be so long winded, but by trying to save everyone I believe we keep plants that shouldn't be kept (and with puppies, it isn't fare to the new owners to have them love them to then have to deal with medical issues or early death).
Ok I'll shut up now, back to your regular schedule program.