Contribution of Individuals and Organizations in the Development of Seed Pathology

Quality seed is a basic input for crop production in agriculture, and there is always high demand of quality seed in national and international seed trade. The seed health and thereby its quality is affected by various seed-borne pathogens including fungi, bacteria, viruses, nematodes, etc. and also by abiotic factors. The science of seed pathology is an integral part of seed science and technology, which deals with the study of seed-borne diseases, overall seed health status, and management of seed-borne diseases. This science has traveled a long journey of more than a century. Many important institutions have come into existence, and a number of technologies related to seed health testing, detection, and diagnosis of seed-borne microflora and management of the seed-borne pathogens have been developed. To investigate seed health, many tests were standardized by individual researchers and organizations. Paul Neergaard made great contribution in the development of seed pathology, and hence he is considered as the father of seed pathology. Three primary organizations publish standardized seed health testing methods, and these are the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA), the International Seed Health Initiative (ISHI), and the USDA’s National Seed Health System (NSHS). Among them, ISTA is key institution which provides internationally agreed set of rules for seed sampling and testing, gives authority to seed testing laboratories, and provides international seed analysis certificates to facilitate seed trading nationally and internationally. Keeping in the view above facts, the major contributions of different individuals and various organizations are being discussed in this chapter.