Improved Detection and Monitoring of Seed-Borne Fungal Plant Pathogens in Europe

The main goal of seed pathology research and practice is the production and dissemination of high-quality, disease-free seed that maximizes potential crop productivity and value. Presently, the largest part of official seed health tests requires the growth of pathogens (direct methods) but molecular biology offers new tools to diagnose fungal pathogens in/on seeds (indirect methods), reducing the time required by direct methods and improving the output of seed health tests. However, molecular methods suffer some drawbacks and require a more difficult validation procedure than direct methods. This chapter aims at describing the historical context, and the development and implementation of methods for the detection and monitoring of seed-borne plant pathogenic fungi in Europe, with special emphasis on innovative methods.