Seed science and technology involves several disciplines such as plant production, agronomy, plant physiology, plant science, entomology and plant pathology.The seed is the most important and essential starting point for a healthy plant. If a seed is not viable a seedling will not emerge. If a seed has low vigour a weak seedling will emerge which in turn may either succumb to environmental conditions or attack by pathogens or insects. It is therefore of the outmost importance to look at the seed to make sure that it is viable and will give rise to vigorous seedlings able to withstand unfavourable environmental conditions and pests.

Correct sampling of a seed lot is essential before any tests can be done on the seed lot. The purity, both physical and genetic, must be determined before testing. All seed should be tested for viability, that is, the germination percentage must be determined and recorded on the seed lot. Furthermore, the vigour of the seed can also be determined using a range of tests. Seed health testing is also of great importance to prevent new pathogens from entering and establishing in the country and to prevent diseases occurring in the field due to seed-borne inoculum. These three aspects are discussed further as they are performed routinely in FABI in the Govender Seed Laboratory.

New Publications

Aveling TAS, De Ridder K, Olivier NA, Berger DK. (2020) Seasonal variation in mycoflora associated with asymptomatic maize grain from small-holder farms in two provinces of South Africa. Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development in the Tropics and Subtropics (JARTS) 121(2):265-275. 10.17170/kobra-202011262275 PDF
Berger DK, Mokgobu T, De Ridder K, Christie N, Aveling TAS. (2020) Benefits of maize resistance breeding and chemical control against northern leaf blight in smallholder farms in South Africa. South African Journal of Science 12(11) 10.17159/sajs.2020/8286
Godfrey, Aveling, B. Flett, M. Truter. (2020) Control of Alternaria leaf blight caused by Alternaria alternata on sunflower using fungicides and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens. Crop Protection 132:1-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2020.105146 PDF
T.A.S. Aveling , Chirwa P, Edgar Mangwende. (2020) Evaluation of seed treatments against Colletotrichum kahawae subsp. cigarro on Eucalyptus spp.. Crop Protection PDF
Zelda, Zelda, Terry, D.A. Cowan, A. Jacobs. (2020) Diversity and seasonality of fungal communities in soil from the SucculentKaroo biodiversity hotspot, South Africa. Journal of Arid Environments 172:1-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2019.104020 PDF
Mangwende E, Kritzinger Q, Aveling TAS. (2019) Control of Alternaria leaf spot of coriander in organic farming. European Journal of Plant Pathology 10.1007/s10658-019-01682-6 PDF
Mandiriza G, Kritzinger Q, Aveling TAS. (2018) The evaluation of plant extracts, biocontrol agents and hot water as seed treatments to control black rot of rape in South Africa. Crop Protection 114:129-136. 10.1016/j.cropro.2018.08.025 PDF
Mandiriza G, Kritzinger Q, Aveling TAS. (2018) Seed health and germination of Brassica spp. from seed companies in South Africa. Acta horticulturae :171-176. 10.17660/ActaHortic.2018.1204.22 PDF
Pieterse E, Aveling TAS, Jacobs A, Cowan DA. (2018) Seasonal variability in fungal endophytes from Aizoaceae plants in the Succulent Karoo biodiversity hotspot, South Africa. Journal of Arid Environments 156:19–26. 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2018.05.004
Mangwende E, Aveling TAS, Kritzinger Q, Truter M. (2018) Alternaria alternata: A new seed-transmitted disease of coriander in South Africa. European Journal of Plant Pathology 152(2):409-416. 10.1007/s10658-018-1484-x PDF
van den Berg N, Christie JB, Engelbrecht J, Aveling TAS. (2018) Callose and β-1,3-glucanase inhibit Phytophthora cinnamomi in a resistant avocado rootstock. Plant Pathology 67(5):1150-1160. 10.1111/ppa.12819
Terry Aveling, Truter M, Ramusi TM, Flett B, Godfrey Kgatle. (2018) Alternaria alternata, the causal agent of leaf blight of sunflower in South Africa. European Journal of Plant Pathology (151):677 – 688. 10.1007/s10658-017-1402-7 PDF
Appolinaire A., Thierry R., Theresa A.S. Aveling. (2017) Phenolic content as an indicator of resistance of cowpea seedlings to Sclerotium rolfsii.. European Journal of Plant Pathology 149(2):245-251. 10.1007/s10658-017-1178-9 PDF
Ramusi TM, Van Der Waals JE, Labuschagne N, Aveling TAS. (2017) Evaluation of mefenoxam and fludioxonil for control of Rhizoctonia solani, Pythium ultimum and Fusarium solani on cowpea.. South African Journal of Plant and Soil 34(1):27-33. 10.1080/02571862.2016.1155764 PDF
Masangwa J, Kritzinger Q, Aveling TAS. (2017) Germination and seedling emergence responses of common bean and cowpea to plant extract seed treatments.. The Journal of Agricultural Science 155(1):18-31. 10.1017/S0021859616000113 PDF
Kandolo SD, Thompson AH, Calitz FJ, Laurie SM, Truter M, Van Der Waals JE, Aveling TAS. (2016) Field tolerance of selected varieties to and fungicide efficacy against Alternaria blight of sweet potato.. African Crop Science Journal 24(3):331-339. 10.4314/acsj.v24i3.9 PDF
Ndunguru J, Ascencio-Ibáñez JT, Aveling TAS, Tohme J, Thompson G, Legg JP, Plata G, Sseruwagi P, Doyle CD, De León L, Hanley-Bowdoin L. (2016) Two Novel DNAs That Enhance Symptoms and Overcome CMD2 Resistance to Cassava Mosaic Disease. Journal of virology 90(8):4160-4173. 10.1128/JVI.02834-15 PDF
Mandiriza G, Kritzinger Q, Aveling TAS. (2016) A survey of brassica vegetable smallholder farmers in the Gauteng and Limpopo provinces of South Africa.. Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development in the Tropics and Subtropics 117(1):35-44. PDF
Rudolph N, Aveling TAS, Labuschagne N. (2015) The effect of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria on seed germination, vigour and seedling growth of maize. Seed Science and Technology 43(3):507-518. 10.15258/sst.2015.43.3.04
Mangwende E, Kabengele JBK, Truter M, Aveling TAS. (2015) First Report of White Rust of Rocket (Eruca sativa) Caused by Albugo candida in South Africa. Plant Disease 99(2):290. 10.1094/PDIS-09-14-0947-PDN