Poor quality seed with low germination should be avoided. Be sure to plant only fungicide treated seed. Using in-furrow fungicides may give further benefits. Be sure to follow label recommendations since formulations change from year to year. In particular, Ridomil Gold generally is applied at lower rates than Ridomil.
All cotton seed offered for sale in North Carolina is treated with fungicides.
Seed treatments are categorized as protectants and systemics. Protectant fungicides, such as captan or thiram, provide surface protection from disease organisms carried on the seed and from organisms found in nearby soil that cause seed rot. Systemic fungicides provide temporary protection from certain types of preemergence and postemergence damping off. For specific fungicide recommendations and formulations refer to the NC Agricultural Chemicals Manual . In most years, seed treatment fungicides are sufficient for controlling seedling disease, unless the quality of the seed is low or weather conditions are unfavorable for germination.