Major Seed-Borne Diseases in Important Vegetables: Symptomatology, Aetiology and Its Economic Importance

Diet without vegetables would lead to numerous nutritional malformations and physiological deformities in human health. However, despite its importance, uncountable seed-borne diseases pose a major threat causing economic yield losses and its reduction in production and productivity. The importance of the seed-borne diseases of vegetables has been ignored. Therefore, the prime need is to identify those seed-borne diseases caused by various biological agents like fungi, bacteria and viruses. These pathogens are inevitable guest menacing at different growth stages starting from emerging seedling stages to harvesting and continue till post-harvest interlude. They affect seed storability, physical appearance, viability and germinations. The proper identifications of these pathogens, their symptomatological appearance on the affected plants and their host pathogen relationship will definitely help us to formulate management strategies effectively that will ultimately increase the yield of the vegetables and improve the market quality. Therefore, our primary aim in this chapter is to discuss about the various causal agents for seed-borne diseases intruding in important vegetables and to give an idea about diverse competent control methods which includes cultural, physical, biological and chemical methods.