Control Plant Diseases 
yard and garden BP 8-6 April 1974

VEGETABLE DISEASE CONTROL IN THE HOME GARDEN
Walter R. Stevenson, Donald H. Scott, Paul C. Pecknold Extension Plant Pathologists

As a home gardener you are confronted at some time during the growing season ilthplant diseases. In most cases the treatment you decide upon will determine the success of your gardening venture. Control of certain plant diseases can be accomplished in the early planning stages of the prden when you decide to utilize clean seed and clean soil. Control of other diseases throughout the growing season re -attires your careful observation and recognition and selection of the correct control measure.

This publication is intended to briefly online available control measures useful lor the control of vegetable diseases in mdiana. Supplemental information can be trained from additional mimeos prepared ® specific vegetable diseases.

Vegetable Seed Treatments

Treatments of vegetable seeds are grouped into two general classifications: ‘(treatments that eradicate or destroy pathogens carried within or on the sur-of seeds (eradicative seed treatments). (Treatments that protect the seed and doping seedling from soil-borne pathos's responsible for seed decay and damp-off (protective seed treatments).

Eradicative Seed Treatments

Hot water treatment, properly used,
will kill most disease-causing organisms (plant pathogens) on, or within the seed.
The treatment is designed to heat seed to a temperature lethal to plant pathogens, but not lethal to the seed. Obviously the temperature of the water bath and time of exposure is critical to success of this treatment. Improper treatment can result in severe seed injury, particularly on old seed. Seeds of cucurbits can be severely damaged by hot water treatment. A small sample of any seed lot more than 1 year old should be treated and tested for germination to determine the amount of injury, if any, that might occur. To heat-treat seed, place seed loosely in a cloth bag, and soak for 10 minutes in water at 110 degrees F to warm the seed prior to treatment at the prescribed temperature. Then place seed in a water bath at the desired temperature and time of exposure (Table 1). After treatment, seeds should be cooled in cold water and spread out to dry. Protective fungicides are generally applied to hot water treated seed after treatment.

Protective Seed Treatment

Protective seed treatments consist of coating the seed surface with organic fungicides effective against soil-borne organisms responsible for seed rot and seedling damping off. Vegetable seed protectants include
the following chemicals: captan -- available as Orthocide 75, Captan 75, Orthocide Garden Fungicide

COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE, PURDUE UNIVERSITY, WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA
Deportment of Botany and Want Pathology, Uh Wmci Building