Clorox treatment of seed for virus prevention

[elainev]

I read this information from several sources on the net, including a lot of farm publications from universities. It's news to me, but if I had known, I would have treated the tomato seeds before planting my farm sprout tray. I have about 12 tomato plants growing that will be transferred to Earthboxes. In the south, we get every tomato disease and virus known to man. Seems like a simple step to take for some prevention.

-----------------

Clorox seed treatment for peppers & tomatoes:
a few drops of Dawn dish washing detergent
1 cup Clorox
4 cups water

Add seeds and stir the Clorox mixture continuously for 1 minute to allow the treatment to reach every seed.

Continue soaking seeds for up to 40 minutes to further purify them.

Pour your seeds in a strainer. Hold the strainer under cold running water to rinse the seeds for 5 minutes. Plant seeds immediately, or dry them:

to dry: Place your seeds on a screen. Spread the seeds out so that they do not touch each other and allow them to dry.

[Shawn]

I appreciate you posting this but for me personally would never do this.  If seeds are treated prior fine but I would not do it. 

I don't know what others think but someone should comment.

[airscapes]

Very interesting.. not sure this is a big issue retail seeds  from established seed provides, but can see how it would be an issue in bulk seed areas for farming.  A quick google brings this back.
www.vegetables.cornell.edu/pest-management/disease-factsheets/treatments-for-managing-bacterial-pathogens-in-vegetable-seed/#:~:text=To%20Clorox%20treat%20seed%2C%20prepare

[Sher]

That was interesting, but I would never do it.

 I have seen microgreens growers treat their seeds for 5 minutes in hydrogen peroxide. I like that solution, as I often add hydrogen  peroxide to my AG tanks to kill pathogens and prevent root rot, and it has proven to be safe and effective.

[elainev]

May 7, 2021 16:29:56 GMT -5 Sher said:

<abbr title="May 7, 2021 16:29:56 GMT -5" data-timestamp="1620422996000" class="o-timestamp time">May 7, 2021 16:29:56 GMT -5</abbr> Sher said:

"I would never do it.  I have seen microgreens growers treat their seeds for 5 minutes in hydrogen peroxide."

 A scientific paper I found said this about peroxide and household bleach:

"...surface sterilization of the seeds is recommended. Use 1 of these methods:
• Soak seeds in a 1:1 (volume) solution of 3% hydrogen peroxide and water for 10 min.
• Soak seeds in a 1:8 (volume) solution of 5.25% sodium hypochlorite (household bleach) and water for 10 to 15 min.
• Soak seeds in a 1% potassium permanganate solution for 20 min."

Strength and time would be important, I think. The paper also said, once seeds are soaked, never let them dry out before planting.

Either bleach or peroxide would be my choice, but for tomatoes, I'm definitely going to start "sanitizing my seed" before growing.

I can spare 10 minutes to fight all the blights, viruses and fungus that attacks tomatoes where I live. (I'm talking about tomatoes grown in the AG that I plan to eventually plant outside in Earthboxes.) As far as soaking other seeds for the AG? I don't think I'll bother. Seems the AG does a good job of keeping seeds moist.

[Shawn]

As airscapes has said, the treatments are more for farming.  As far as other vendors, some treat depending on the type of seed and region they come from.

For any and all the seeds I purchase I would never even think to treat. 

Everyone is entitled to their opinions.  For this topic I am, respectively disagree on treating seeds.

[Sher]

My guess is that when you buy from a reputable vendor, their bulk suppliers have aleady done the groundwork before packaging the seeds.

I can see how if you saved seeds from  your own soil grown  heirloom tomato seeds, you might  want to treat them, as they are very disease prone.

[airscapes]

elainev if you try it let us know how it works.. I mean it is a simple enough experiment to try.  Take 8 seed from the same pack treat 4 and germinate and grow all.  See if there is any detrimental effects to the treated seeds compared to the non treated..  Suggesting 4 each since germination is only 75% guaranteed.. I would think just germination and growth until 2 real leaves would prove if there is any harm in doing this. Don't think I would bother with it when buying from Parks, Burpees and the like, but if your so inclined please post the process with picture so we can all watch how it goes!

[ERR0R1755]

I may try treating my spinach seeds using hydrogen peroxide if they don't germinate - I planted three different varieties from the Seed Saver Exchange's ADAPT program and they all developed a white fuzzy mold/fungus overnight, within 12 hours.

I am not sure if that was something the seeds were inoculated with though, so I'm just waiting to see if they germinate fine.

(I've had nothing but good results with seeds from the SSE, so the fact that all three had that happen at the same time makes me suspicious)