Identification, significance and transmission of seed borne pathogens

Several pathogens which cause important diseases in chickpea, faba bean, pea, and lentil are seed borne and seed transmitted. Examples are given to illustrate the importance of contaminated and infected seeds in the dissemination of diseases. Comments have been included on transmission by soil, infected plant debris, and vectors. Current laboratory seed health testing methods for detecting important fungi, viruses, and bacteria in pea, lentil, faba bean and chickpea are described