Infestation of seeds

Seeds can be infested with disease or pests, causing a reduction in yield and quality. Sources of infection are smut saccules, sclerotid of fungi, spores and bacteria on the surface or inside the seeds. The most common pests are insects, ticks and worms, and they can infect the seeds either in storage or in the field. In their hidden form, as opposed to the overt, the infestation is not detectable except by special measures.