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Effect of Three Fungicides on Internally Seed-Borne Fungi and Germination of Soybean Seeds. M. A. Ellis, Graduate Research Fellow, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Illinois, Urbana 61801; M. B. Ilyas(2), and J. B. Sinclair(3). (2)(3)Graduate Student, and Professor, respectively, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Illinois, Urbana 61801. Phytopathology 65:553-556. Accepted for publication 4 December 1974. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-65-553.

Captan, thiram, and benomyl at .016, .033, and .033 g active ingredient/20 g seed, respectively, were used to treat three lots of soybean (Glycine max) seeds with high levels of internally seed-borne fungi and low percentage germination. Seeds treated with fungicides had a higher germination in vitro, and emergence in vermiculite and field soil than nontreated controls. The internally seed-borne fungi were primarily located in seed coat (testa) tissues and only occasionally were found in embryo tissues. Captan and thiram moved into seed coat tissues, but did not penetrate the embryo, therefore, were effective only against fungi in the seed coat. Benomyl penetrated the seed coat and embryo and was effective against fungi in seed coat and embryo, but was phytotoxic.