Seed Transmission of Plant Viruses and Seed Health

Seeding is a major industry in the world and in Turkey. Seed is the most important generative production material. About 90% of all food crops in the world are propagated by seed and losses caused by seed-borne pathogens, including viruses, therefore, are of great significance. Seeds are instrumental in an effective worldwide spread of a range of diseases through international exchange of seeds. Approximately 20% of plant viruses are transmitted from generation to generation in the seed. Seed transmission of plant viruses plays an important role for the early outbreak of crop diseases and for the survival of inoculum from one crop season to the next. Therefore, seed health is an important component in the production and in disease management for quarantine and certification. In this review, researches on the detection of seed-borne viruses and importance of their epidemiology in Turkey, disease control through virus-free seed and phytosanitary regulations are discussed.