Up to 15 types of diseases in one seed: Kazakhstan scientists revealed mass contamination of seeds

In Kazakhstan, scientific research of seed material has revealed serious problems with seed contamination, despite their pre-sowing treatment and examination, the agency "APK News" reports. The study, conducted by specialists of the Kazakh Research Institute of Plant Protection and Quarantine named after Zhazken Zhiyembayev, found up to 15 different types of diseases in one seed.

This information was announced at a scientific conference on phytosanitary safety held last week in Almaty. Scientists emphasize the increase in foreign tourism and imports of plant products as factors contributing to the spread of potentially harmful organisms in Kazakhstan.

An example of this problem is the ban on the import of 50 shipments of tomatoes from Central Asia and Turkey in 2021 due to the detection of brown fruit wrinkle virus. There has also been an increase in the number of phytosanitary and environmental disasters caused by biological invasions of alien species, such as the Asian subspecies of gypsy moth and melon fly.

Seed analyses of various crops, including sugar beet, chickpea, wheat and others, have confirmed seed infestation. This significantly worsens the phytosanitary condition of crops in Kazakhstan. Scientists insist on the need for modernization of domestic seed production, including improvement of phytoexamination and health improvement of seed material.

The conference put forward a number of proposals to improve the situation, including updating legislation on plant protection and quarantine, revising the list of quarantine pests, strengthening educational programs and improving the qualifications of specialists in the field of phytosanitary. The need for further research and cooperation between scientists from different countries in this field was also discussed.