Chemical treatment of wheat seeds

Abstract

Treating wheat seeds with insecticides and fungicides is important for protecting them against insects and diseases. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of chemical treatments on the physiologic quality of wheat seeds. The experiment was installed in a completely randomized design, with four replications, in a 2x4 factorial scheme, being the A factor composed by wheat cultivars (Quartzo and Pampeano) and the B factor by insecticides and fungicides: control and, for each 100 kg of seeds, 21 g of the active ingredient (a.i.) of thiametoxan, 55 g a.i. of carboxin + thiram and 21 + 55 g a.i. of thiametoxan + carboxin + thiram. The thiametoxan (21 g a.i.) promoted a higher performance, concerning germination, germination speed index and fresh and dry matter weight, for the Quartzo cultivar. A higher dry matter accumulation was observed for the Pampeano cultivar, under the application of carboxin + thiram, at the 55 g a.i. dose. Both cultivars performed better, concerning the accelerated aging test, under the application of thiametoxan + carboxin + thiram (21 + 55 g a.i.). The seed treatments resulted in healthier seedlings, which will lead to more uniform plants stands, according to the higher germination percentage or protection against pests.