Effectiveness of Chemical Seed Treatments in Controlling Karnal Bunt Disease of Wheat

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Abstract
Forty-seven chemical products recommended for the control of bunts and smuts were screened for their effectiveness as wheat seed treatments to control Tilletia indica. Chemicals that reduced telispore germination appeared to be limited in the length of their activity. Most were effective for up to 6 mo, but only a few for longer periods of time. Of those with a longer period of activity, triphenyltin hydroxide, methoxyethylmercury acetate, and ethylmercury chloride were effective for up to 18 mo. However, with the possible exception of the mercurial compounds, none was capable of killing T. indica teliospores when applied to infected seeds. There is currently no chemical seed treatment than can guarantee that wheat seed is not carrying viable T. indica teliospores.