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Seed Coating: Science or Marketing Spin?

Article  in  Trends in Plant Science · December 2016

DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2016.11.002

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Opinion
Seed Coating: Science or
Marketing Spin?
Simone Pedrini,1,2,* David J. Merritt,2,3 Jason Stevens,2,3 and
Kingsley Dixon1,3
Seed coating is the practice of covering seeds with external materials to
Trends
improve handling, protection, and, to a lesser extent, germination enhancement
Artificial coating of seed is used to
and plant establishment. With an annual value exceeding US$1 billion dollars, improve handling and for the delivery
this technology is mostly the preserve of the private research sector, with few of protectants, symbiotic microorgan-
isms, micronutrients, soil adjuvants,
links to the scientific community. Here, we analyse the science and industry of germination promoters, growth regula-
seed coating and its contribution to seed establishment and plant performance. tors, and colours.
We posit that a closer collaboration between academia and industry is critical to
The private sector owns and controls
realising the potential of seed coating both as a tool for enhancing plant most of the technology, with the bulk of
establishment in the face of the challenges posed to agricultural systems the expertise and capacity residing in a
few multinational companies that have
and to propel the multibillion-dollar global push for ecological restoration of
limited research connection with
degraded ecosystems. academia.

The research effort of industry is

What Is Seed Coating and Why Is It Done? focussed on protective treatments (e.
Almost a century old [1], the practice of seed coating has become the mainstay for many of the g., insecticides and pesticides), seed
horticultural and crop industries worldwide, with a global value estimated at US$53.76 billion/ bulking, and embellishment for market-
year in 2014i. Seed coating is the process of applying exogenous materials to the surface of the ing purposes. The deployment of phy-
toactive promoters is rarely reported.
natural seed coat. This practice is used to modify the physical properties of seed [1,2], and for
the delivery of active ingredients. The physical modification of seed aims to improve seed Seed coatings are mostly applied to
handling through standardisation of seed weight and size [3]. In some cases, where the aim is to crop and vegetable varieties. Despite
reduce friction and improve flowability, the alteration of seed morphology is minimal, but for small the global push for ecological restora-
tion, the scientific community rarely
(e.g., begonia or tobacco), expensive, or morphologically uneven seeds, a thicker coverage is considers seed technologies for use
often applied. The artificial coat is frequently used as a carrier for a variety of active ingredients. on native species and there is no
recorded interest from the corporate
sector in restoration.
With the introduction of seed-coating technology in developing countries, the global market for
the materials alone (polymers, colourants, and bulking agents) that are used in seed coating is
expected to reach US$1.63 billion/year by 2020ii.

Currently, seed coating is performed almost exclusively on crop and vegetable varieties and the
application of this technology to wild plant species for ecological restoration, whose market is
estimated at US$18 billion/year [4], has been rarely explored by the private companies involved 1
Department of Environment and
in the development and application of seed coatings. Agriculture, Curtin University, Kent
Street, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia
2
Kings Park and Botanic Garden,
The Case for Expanding Seed-Coating Technologies to Wild Species Fraser Avenue, Kings Park, WA 6005,
Seed-coating technologies have been developed on crop and vegetable species for the most Australia
3
School of Plant Biology, University of
part, and, to a lesser extent, on seeds of turf grass, pasture, and flowers. The application of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway,
coatings to native species for ecological restoration has received little attention, with only Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
sporadic evaluation in the scientific literature [5–7] and, so far, this field remains overlooked
by the major agrochemical and seed technology companies. Yet, seed is fundamental to
*Correspondence:
meeting global restoration targets, such as the rehabilitation of 150 million ha of degraded [email protected]
land by 2020, which is one of the United Nations (UN) sustainable development prioritiesiii. With (S. Pedrini).

106 Trends in Plant Science, February 2017, Vol. 22, No. 2 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tplants.2016.11.002
© 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
the success rate of seedling establishment in restoration programs generally < 10% [8,9], the Glossary
scope for seed improvement of native plant species is vast. Binder: a liquid with adhesive
proprieties used to provide structural
There is a pressing need for new approaches to seed-based restoration and seed-coating support and retention of active
ingredients.
technologies could be key to improving seedling establishment [10], plant growth [6], and the Dust-off: the release of dusty
restoration efficacy of native seed, most of which is collected from wild sources and represents a material from the surface of treated
finite resource not to be wasted [11]. or coated seeds as a result of
mechanical stresses and frictions
during handling and sowing.
If the UN goals for ecological restoration are to be met, it is time to forge enhanced links between Encrusting: a coating process
private and public seed technology research efforts. The development and commercialisation of whereby powder and liquid binders
seed-coating solutions for the emerging restoration ecology market could represent a major area are applied to the seed, causing a
significant increase in weight and
of business for seed technology and agrochemical corporations, improve their environmental
volume without altering the original
credentials, and provide new opportunities to deliver on their stated social obligations. seed shape.
Filler: a powdery, inert material used
Equipment, Materials and Biological Effects to increase seed shape and size.
Film coating: the application of a
It is common for studies of seed coating published in the scientific literature to have outsourced
thin layer of material onto the seed
the coating process to private seed companies (Box 1), meaning that the specific details of the surface. Weight gain, shape, and size
application technologies and materials are not disclosed. Where academia has performed seed modification of the seed are limited.
coating independently (without industry participation), simplified small-scale approaches (e.g., Hydrogels: polymers with hydrophilic
structures that allow for the
laboratory mixers or shakers, manual coatings, seeds shaken in plastic bags, or experimental
absorption and retention of a large
technologies, such as liquid nitrogen [12], seed moulding [13], and seed extrusion [7]) in amount of water.
preference to the industrial standards (Figure 1, Key Figure) (Figures S1 and S2 in the supple- Pelleting: the application of sufficient
mental Information online). The dissimilarity in the equipment used and the difficulty in accessing material to significantly modify seed
morphology into a flowable spherical
information on materials and methods are indications of the scarce transparency of industry. or ovoid shape; the most
This lack of disclosure limits the capacity for independent scientific evaluation of the improve- conspicuous of the coating
ments delivered by seed coatings, and potentially compromises the critical analytical processes treatments available.
that could improve the understanding and adoption of seed-enhancement technologies. Protectants: various active
ingredients aimed at protecting the
seed from seed or soil-borne
Nevertheless, the materials used in the seed-coating process can be broadly categorised diseases and threats, such as
according to their function as binders (see Glossary), fillers, and active ingredients (Box 2). nematodes, bacteria, fungal
infections, predator insects, and
competing plant species.
Box 1. Seed-Coating Equipment
Phytoactive compounds: active
The rotating pan was the first machine used for seed coating and derived from a patent lodged at the end of the 19th ingredients that promote germination,
century [55]. It comprises a round pan, usually inclined, on a rotating motorised pivot. Seeds are placed inside the pan enhance seedling emergence,
and, while the pan is rotating, liquids are applied with a spray nozzle and powders are added through a hopper or by survival, and growth, and provide
manual dusting. Rotating pans are mostly used to form pellets and rely on a slow rotating motion (5–35 rpm depending resistance to biotic and abiotic
on diameter) [24] and the gradual addition of materials to increase pellet size [56]. The friction of seeds tumbling on each stresses.
other is responsible for the spherical shapes produced and acts to smooth the external pellet surface. The process is
followed by size sorting with sieves, and then drying [57]. A low-cost alternative to the rotating pan used in some studies is
a cement mixer [58]; this may have application in developing countries with limited resources.

The fluidised or spouted bed apparatus, originally conceived in 1970 for drying solids [59], was first adapted for seed
coating in 1975 [60]. This apparatus is cylindrical, with seeds subjected to a constant subfloor airflow that is adjusted to
enable the seeds to remain buoyant in the air [57]. A spray nozzle atomises the coating liquid or slurry towards the
suspended seed mass. This process is used for film coating and superficial encrusting, but is not feasible for pelleting.

A machine that allows for both film coating and pelleting is the rotary coater or rotor-stator. It comprises a cylindrical
drum, with a concave disk at the base, whose rotation causes the seed mass to move in a regular flow along the walls of
the drum. A smaller rotating disk that is responsible for the atomisation and projection of liquid or slurry to the rotating
seed mass is usually attached to the drum lid and suspended in the middle of the drum [3,7].

These three systems are standard in the seed-coating industry and are integrated into many seed treatment plants to
allow for automated procedures and for continuous batch applications. Due to the high number of variables involved,
including the material combinations, machine tuning, and seed morphological differences, it is not always feasible to rely
entirely on automated systems and the ‘art and craft’ of an experienced operator is often required to ensure the quality of
the final product [57].

Trends in Plant Science, February 2017, Vol. 22, No. 2 107

Key Figure
Seed-Coating Ingredients, Equipment, and Coat Type

(A) Seed-coang ingredients

Protectants
Nutrients
Symbionts
Soil adjuvant
Phytoacvepromoters
Colours and tracers

Binder: liquid Fillers: powder Acve ingredients

(B) Seed-coang mechanisms

Fluidised bed Rotary coater Rotang pan
Fillers: powder
Binder: liquid Binder:
liquid
Equipment

Fillers: Spray nozzle

powder
Powder feeder
Binder: liquid Atomiser
Air flow
or slurry
Coat type

Film coang Encrusng Pelleng

Figure 1. (A) Seed-coating ingredients. (B) Seed-coating mechanism. The orange arrows on the equipment represent the
motion of the moving components; the equipment parts and arrows in blue illustrate the method of delivery of the liquid
binding agent; and the gold arrows show where the fillers and/or powders are applied. Active ingredients can be added
either mixed with the liquid, with the powder, or independently. The red arrows indicate which coatings can be achieved
from each of the equipment types. The weight of these red arrows represents the effectiveness of any particular machine for
producing the various types of coating.

108 Trends in Plant Science, February 2017, Vol. 22, No. 2

 Box 2. Seed-Coating Type and Materials
Seed coatings are categorised according to their physical characteristics. Although the nomenclature used in the
literature is not consistent, the terminology most used and recognised among industry and academia is based on the
weight, size, and sorting properties of the coated seeds. The basic coating treatment is film coating, where a thin layer
of external material (usually < 10% of seed weight) is applied. Where seed weight is increased up to 100–500%
(depending on seed morphology), the procedure is described as ‘encrusting’, and is defined as such as long as
the original shape of the seed is still evident [57,61]. Where the amount of external material makes it impossible to
discriminate the initial seed shape (the result usually being a spherical shape), the process is named ‘pelleting’ [50]. While
film coated and encrusted seed are discerned by weight, pellets are sorted by diameter.

The structural materials used in seed coating are categorised into binders and fillers. Binders are polymers of both natural
and synthetic origin that provide adherence and cohesion of material onto the seed and the retention of active
ingredients. They are usually applied in liquid form (in water or solvents) and, when dried, the dissolved monomers
are rejoined in long polymeric chains forming a continuous film surrounding the seed, binding particles, and chemicals.
Different layers of polymer can be applied at different stages of the coating process, some carrying treatments and others
providing a buffer to avoid direct contact between the ‘active layers’ and the seed, the external environment, or other
active layers.

In the majority of published scientific papers, seed coating has been undertaken with commercial binders of undisclosed
composition. However, the most commonly reported binders are methylcellulose, polyethylene glycol, chitosan, polyvinyl
alcohol, ethyl cellulose, polyvinyl acetate, and gum arabic.

Pelleting and encrusting processes require the addition of a bulking agent that allows physical modification. This process
is performed with either a single material, or a combination of multiple materials.

Fillers are usually inert powders, such as bentonite, calcium carbonate, talc, diatomaceous earth, sand, and wood dust
(Figures S2 and S3 in the supplemental information online).

The physical and chemical proprieties of the different powders, in combination with the binders, provide a variety of
possible mechanical and biological outcomes for coatings. Particle size distribution [24], for example, strongly affects the
pellet behaviour; small particles provide higher physical resistance but limited gas and water exchange [62], whereas
larger particles increase porosity, but reduce mechanical integrity and coat resilience.

Binders and fillers must be compatible with active compounds, and not adversely impact the
ability of a seed to germinate and grow.

According to the characteristics of the natural seed coat (testa), applied compounds can be
dissolved and transmitted into the seed via imbibing water or, if the testa is impermeable to those
substances, through the uptake by the emerging radicle and root system [14,15].

Protectants
The most commonly reported active ingredients in coatings include fungicides, pesticides,
insecticides, nematicides, predator deterrents, and herbicides (Box 3). The use of protectant
treatments at best only slightly promotes germination and emergence, and sometimes in fact
negatively affects the rate of germination [16]. However, protectant compounds do usually
benefit plant growth and yield through reducing predation and infection by pathogens (Figure S4
in the supplemental information online).

Despite these benefits, the protectants used in coatings sometimes have negative off-target
environmental impacts. For example, neonicotinoids, the most widely used insecticidal com-
pounds [17] in crop seed coatings, have been shown to have a detrimental effect on wild bee
diversity and distribution [18], with indirect impacts on honeybee health [19]. Moreover, fungi-
cidal and insecticidal coating products have indirect effects on the soil seed bank, potentially
interfering with agroecosystem processes [20].

Further commitment is required by the agrochemical companies in developing new seed

treatments to reduce off-target ecological impacts. Collaboration with the scientific community

Trends in Plant Science, February 2017, Vol. 22, No. 2 109

could help improve the testing of the efficacy of such products, and a broader ecological
approach will allow for a more comprehensive assessment of potential biological impacts.

Nutrients
Where studies have evaluated nutrient amendments in seed coatings, their effects on germina-
tion, growth, and yield are usually positive (Figure S5 in the supplemental Information online).
However, although the application of macronutrients, such as phosphorus [21] and potassium
[22], improve growth and yield, there is the possibility of deleterious impacts on germination and
emergence [21,23] caused by nutrient-induced osmotic stress [24]. Most nutrient amendments
have instead focussed on the delivery of micronutrients, such as boron [25,26], copper [27,28],
manganese [29], molybdenum [30], and zinc [31,32]. These amendments have been used to
compensate for soil deficiencies in these trace elements [33]. The integration of seed biology,
plant physiology, and soil science with a broader collaboration with the seed industry could
optimise the use of seed coating as a way of delivering nutrients, ultimately allowing for the
cultivation of varieties with predefined micronutrient requirements tailored to soil types with
different trace elements deficiencies.

Symbionts
The integration of symbiotic organisms into coatings most commonly involves rhizobia for the
inoculation of legumes [34], leading to improvements in seedling growth and, to a lesser extent,
germination (Figure S6 in the supplemental Information online). However, the incorporation of
inocula in an artificial seed coat can result in the loss of microbial viability, with coated seeds
unable to be stored for extended periods [24].

The artificial seed coat is usually a hostile environment for the rhizobia, mostly due to osmotic [35]
and desiccation stress [36] and, when protectant compounds are present, their biological
activity could pose a threat to the survival of symbiotic bacteria [24]. The evaluation of more
‘rhizobia-friendly’ coating formulations, along with the selection of desiccation-resistant bacteria,
could improve symbiotic organism survival and the useful storage life.

Soil Adjuvants
Soil hydrophilic materials or hydro absorbers (hydrogels) are the most commonly used com-
pounds in seed coatings because of their inherent capability to attract and retain water in proximity
to the seed [37–39]. Another strategy to increase water availability to seeds and seedlings in
water-repellent soil is to apply a soil surfactant within the seed-coating material [40,41].

Box 3. Science and Industry of Seed-Coating Active Ingredients

Using the last published major review on seed enhancement in 1998 [50] as the starting point, we analysed those
publications examining seed-coating technologies since that time, evaluating in all 145 refereed publications. With
additional research into the web-published, trademarked, and registered seed-coating materials developed by the main
agrochemical and seed technology companies, we identified 191 products that have been used in coatings.

A comparison between the academic and industrial application of seed-coating technologies shows some similarity in the
kind of species tested; that is, mostly crop and vegetable varieties (Figure I).However, where the use of active ingredients
has been reported, some differences between the public and private research sectors start to appear. Coating products
used by industry contain mostly colours and protectants, with limited records of the use of inoculants, nutrients, and
phytoactive promoters. By contrast, published scientific literature reports mostly on protective compounds, with
inoculants and other ingredients also commonly reported.

Moreover, the seed industry claims benefits of coatings focussed on those products that deliver cosmetic outcomes and
enhanced mechanical proprieties, such as improving flowability and handling, product adherence, and reduction of the
dust-off effect. This diverges from the academic research, which concentrates mostly on the germination, emergence,
and growth responses of coated seeds. It is clear that the scientific and industrial research sectors have had limited
interaction and that the development of coating technologies has followed separate paths.

110 Trends in Plant Science, February 2017, Vol. 22, No. 2

 Industry Academia

Flowers Forage Turfgrass

Forage
Turfgrass
4% 2% 0% 7%
6%
Restoraon
6%
Species

Vegetables Crop Vegetables Crop

33% 61% 15% 66%

Nutrients Promoters Soil

Inoculants 2% 0% adjuvant
4% 10% Protectants
Protectants Promoters
33% 40%
9%
Ingredients

Nutrients
Colour
23%
61%
Inoculants Tracers
10% 8%

Yield Germinaon Growth Protecon Yield

3% 2% Flowability 5% 6% Germinaon
4%
Protecon 28% 36%
Physiology
11%
Claims/outcomes

9%

Growth
Adherence 22%
15%
Dust-off
20% Emergence
Cosmec 22%
17%

Figure I. Differences among Seed Industry and Academia in terms of Species Evaluated, Seed-Coating Ingredients
Used, and Outcomes or Claims Effects of the Coating Treatment.

Some coatings have also been used to delay germination through influencing water absorption,
in a sense creating an artificial dormancy. This kind of coat inhibits germination when climatic
conditions are not optimal [42] and usually provides protection from pathogens, fungi, and
predators [43]. This approach allows for early planting, relying on the coat to trigger the
germination process when suitable conditions arise [42,44,45] and can thereby improve

Trends in Plant Science, February 2017, Vol. 22, No. 2 111

seedling emergence in no-tillage soil [46]. The delay is usually achieved through temperature-
activated polymers that regulate water uptake at predefined temperature thresholds.

Phytoactive Promoters
Phytoactive promoters comprise a range of compounds that, once incorporated into seed
coatings, potentially stimulate germination, promote growth, and improve stress resistance
(Table 1). The limited number of promoters considered or disclosed in publications and in
commercial products show how those potentially highly beneficial compounds have been
mostly overlooked. However, the advantages of phytoactive compounds in the few cases
where they have been tested (Table 1) suggests potential benefits for large-scale improve-
ment in crop performance. Further investigations of these compounds are needed to better
understand the efficiency of delivery through the seed coat. The use of promoters has the
potential to improve: seedling and plant vigour; resistance to biotic/abiotic stresses; and
performance under water, salinity, and temperature stress conditions. Innovation in the
deployment of phytoactive compounds via seed coats and pellets could be a key part of
making farming possible in degraded areas or those areas adversely affected by climatic
change.

Tracers and Colours

The incorporation of fluorescent dyes and magnetic powder into coatings [47] has been
developed to improve the traceability of seed batches through the supply chain, thereby
limiting the risk of mislabelling and misplacement and allowing for the detection of counterfeit
seed batches. Colours are the most commonly used amendment used in seed-coating
processes (Box 3). US federal regulation of seed treatments iv mandates the use of artificial
non-natural colours for seed treated with pesticide to highlight to seed-users the presence of
harmful compounds and reduce the risk of inadvertent consumption. Moreover, colour in seed
coatings can help companies and users to differentiate seed of different origin, variety, or
treatment; it also facilitates the identification of seed in the field during sowing operations for
ease of calibration of seeding equipment and for controlling seeding efficiency. Furthermore,
the use of brightly coloured coats, in combination with layers of inert material and binders, has
been found to limit the predation of corn seed by birds [48]. Notwithstanding these applications
for the use of colour, there is a notably strong focus of industry on colour as an ingredient in
coatings (Box 3); clearly, the cosmetics of coatings [27,49,50] provide a marketing boon for
seed companies.

The Market for Coated Seed

Although many private companies have been working on the improvement and commercialisa-
tion of seed-coating technologies and coated seeds, much of the global market is currently
controlled by six transnational agrochemical companies: Bayer Crop Science (Germany),
Syngenta (Switzerland), Monsanto (USA), BASF (Germany), DuPont-Pioneer (USA), and Dow
(USA). The core business and research focus of these enterprises lie mainly in the development
of new plant varieties through breeding, genetic engineering, and the improvement of chemical
and biological protectantsv. Seed-coating technologies represent an effective means of applying
these compounds onto selected seeds to combine the effect of genetically enhanced varieties
with protectants. Smaller enterprises, such as Incotec (Netherland/UK) and Germains (UK), are
dedicated to seed technology development and are major innovators in the seed-coating market
(Figure S7 in the supplemental information online). They specialise in the physical-mechanical
aspects of seed coating, with a focus on improving the retention of active ingredients, handling
proprieties, and the overall efficiency of seed delivery (sowing). However, the information
provided by companies through websites, marketing campaigns, and press releases are neither
peer reviewed nor independently tested and, therefore, should be considered carefully
and critically.

112 Trends in Plant Science, February 2017, Vol. 22, No. 2

Table 1. Effects of Phytoactive Compounds
Species Condition Phytoactive Compound Recordeda Resultsb Refs

Zea mays Lab: chill stress 0.5 g/kg salicylic acid Germination F = + [63]

Growth F +

5 g/kg salicylic acid Germination F –

Growth F –

0.5 and 5 g/kg salicylic Germination F +

acid + hydrogel
Growth F +

Nicotiana tabacum Lab: drought 0.5 g/kg salicylic acid Germination F = [64]
stress
Growth F =

1.0 g/kg salicylic acid Germination F +

Growth F +

1.5 g/kg salicylic acid Germination F –

Growth F –

0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 g/kg Germination F +

salicylic acid + hydrogel
Growth F +

Zea mays Lab: optimal 8 mmol/l hydrogen peroxide Germination R and F = + [65]

Glasshouse: 8 mmol/l hydrogen peroxide Emergence F = +

optimal
Growth F = +

Oryza sativa Field trial 1000 mg/l gibberellic acid Emergence F + [66]

Growth F +

Yield +

Festuca arundinacea Field trial Commercial growth stimulant Emergence F and R = [67]

Poa pratensis Field trial Commercial growth stimulant Emergence F and R =

Oryza sativa Lab: optimal 0.002% gibberellic acid Germination F = + [68]

Growth F = +

Field trial 0.002% gibberellic acid Emergence F = +

Capsicum annum Lab: optimal 50 mg/l gibberellic acid, Germination F = [69]

90 mg/l kinetin, and
Growth F =
50 mg/l auxin
(commercial mix)

Oryza sativa Lab and field: Abscisic acid 10 mg/l Injury resistance + [70]
chill stress
Root vigor +

Chlorophyll and sugar +

Lactuca sativa Glasshouse Gibberellic acid, kinetin, Emergence F and R + [71]

and auxin (commercial mix)

Zea mays Field trial Commercial biostimulant Yield = [72]

F, final; R, rate.
a
b
Due to the diversity of experimental approaches and heterogeneity of the data, a qualitative scale was designed to
represent the results based on the statistically significant difference between the coated seed compared with untreated
control. To account for the outcomes, when different coating treatments were tested, the result is reported on a scale that
incorporates the potential combinations: negative (–), negative or neutral (– = ), neutral (=), neutral or positive (= + ) and
positive (+).

Marketing Benefits
Seed companies stress the importance of a coloured, coated seed as evidence of seed quality.
End-users now expect their seed to be in a coloured and/or bulked state, and the supply of such
seed is now the industry norm. Although the modification of seed size through encrusting and

Trends in Plant Science, February 2017, Vol. 22, No. 2 113

pelleting improves seed handling and allows for the application of active ingredients in greater Outstanding Questions
quantity, these build-up processes are portrayed by companies, and perceived by customers, To what degree are seed-coating and
as high-tech and somewhat crucial for enhancing seed establishment and plant performance. pelleting technologies exploited
beyond their actual practical benefits
However, the lack of independent testing to support these claims and the difficulty in accessing for marketing purposes?
company information on the pelleting processes and compositions, raises the question: is all that
inert material necessary? After all, the main goal of any commercial enterprise is to generate Is there more-advanced seed technol-
revenue, maximising profit, and the exploitation of such a powerful marketing tool that is afforded ogy applied in practice than is dis-
closed by industry?
by coating is understandably driven by market expectations.
What are the benefits of greater disclo-
However, to what degree do seed companies bulk seed to maximise profit, demanding premium sure of seed-coating protocols and
prices for small amounts of seeds pelleted in large quantities of relatively inexpensive, inert coating materials to enhancing existing
materials containing few active ingredients? and new research areas?

Is there interest from seed companies

The global seed market is progressing toward consolidation [51], with the merging of the major
in collaborating more with academia to
transnationals, including the ongoing acquisition of Syngenta by ChemChinavi, and the takeover develop more environmentally friendly
of Monsanto by Bayervii. Such a trend increases the risk of oligopoly or even monopoly of the seed treatments than the ones cur-
seed enhancement market with company behaviour no longer kept in check by the pressure of rently in use?

competitors [52]. Moreover, the many collaborations and connections recorded among com-
Could the use of seed phytoactive pro-
panies [51] suggest that a similar scenario is already unfolding, with trade secrets and trademark
moters reduce the need for pesticide
barriers in place to conceal technological know-how that might not be as advanced or effective treatment?
as customers, and society in general, are bound to believe. This has important consequences if
seed-coating technology is to deliver the crop benefits for feeding an ever-increasing global Can coating technologies be applied to
population, particularly in economically disadvantaged countries. native seeds and integrated with other
aspects of seed enhancement, such as
dormancy alleviation or seed-priming
Concluding Remarks and Future Opportunities treatments, to improve plant establish-
This critique is aimed at increasing the transparency of seed companies, in the hope that the ment for ecological restoration?
active (and well-funded) industry research departments will consider sharing and disclosing
methodological and experimental results, to back up commercial claims with verifiable data and What are the commercial advantages
of multinational seed companies
to promote the overall advancement of seed-coating technologies. The research foci of acade- engaging in large-scale seed enhance-
mia and industry in this field have historically diverged, with private companies improving the ment technologies for native species?
mechanical proprieties of seed coatings, and the scientific community mostly focussed on
evaluating the efficiency and impacts of active ingredients. Their integration could be highly
beneficial for both the private sector and academia. For example, a recently developed frame-
work for the analysis of wild seed recruitment identified the critical plant life-stage transition(s)
that contribute most to establishment failure [9]. This approach is a powerful tool that could be
easily adapted to crop farming, directing seed-coating solutions that maximise seedling estab-
lishment, plant growth, and yield.

The disclosure by industry of the innovative and already optimised materials used in coating (in
terms of mechanical performance) would allow researchers to improve seed coatings in their
area of expertise, rather than engaging significant effort in the fine-tuning of those materials and
processes that have already been developed within the private sector. This could then increase
the interest and engagement of the scientific community in seed-coating technologies, resulting
in more studies, publications, and breakthroughs that could subsequently be adopted by
industry. For example, further research and development of the use of phytoactive promoters
in coatings, largely overlooked to date, could improve seed germination, seedling establishment,
and stress resistance, potentially reducing the need for environmentally harmful protectants and
increasing food security despite the threats posed by climate warming, pollution [53], and
drought [54] to agricultural systems (see Outstanding Questions).

The field of endeavour that could benefit the most from the application of coating technologies is
ecological restoration. At present, seed availability, high cost [8], and low seed establishment

114 Trends in Plant Science, February 2017, Vol. 22, No. 2

rate [4] represent serious limitations to the effective use of native seed. Advanced seed
technologies, such as seed coating, could be a key step in achieving cost-effective ecosystem
recovery at the planetary scale, while providing the benefit of new business opportunities for
seed companies.

Acknowledgements
S.P. was the recipient of a Curtin University International Postgraduate Research Scholarship. Support was provided by the
Australian Research Council, Industrial Transformation Training Centre in Mining Restoration.

Resources
i
www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/seed.asp
ii
www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/seed-coating-materials-market-149045530.html
iii
http://vote.riodialogues.org/
iv
www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/40/153.155
v
http://news.agropages.com/News/NewsDetail—14163.htm
vi
www.reuters.com/article/us-syngenta-m-a-chemchina-idUSKCN12P186
vii
www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-09-14/bayer-clinches-monsanto-deal-with-fourth-offer-of-66-billion

Supplemental Information
Supplemental information associated with this article can be found, in the online version, at doi:10.1016/j.tplants.2016.11.
002.

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