Purdue University
Department of Botany and Plant Pathology Lilly Hall of Life Sciences
BP-8-6
Plant Disease control

Vegetable Disease Control in the Home Garden
Walter R. Stevenson, Extension Plant Pathologist

is a home gardener you are confronted se time during the growing season plant diseases. In most cases the Bent you decide upon will determine access of your gardening venture. Con- of certain plant diseases can be accom-ed in the early planning stages of the la when you decide to utilize clean and clean soil. Control of other dis- throughout the growing season re_ your careful observation and recog- and selection of the correct control __sure.
This publication is intended to briefly __ available control measures useful the control of vegetable diseases in __. Supplemental information can be __ed from additional mimeos prepared specific vegetable diseases.

Vegetable Seed Treatments

Treatments of vegetable seeds are ___ into two general classifications:
treatments that eradicate or destroy pathogens carried within or on the sur-seeds (eradicative seed treatments). Treatments that protect the seed and
developing seedling from soil-borne pathogens responsible for seed decay and damping 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

Extension Work in Agriculture and Home Economics, State of Indiana, Purdue University and U.S. Department of 
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