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Seed Coating Technology: An Innovative and Sustainable Approach for

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DOI: 10.1016/j.jssas.2022.03.003

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 Journal of the Saudi Society of Agricultural Sciences 21 (2022) 536–545

Contents lists available at ScienceDirect

Journal of the Saudi Society of Agricultural Sciences

journal homepage: www.sciencedirect.com

Review article

Seed coating technology: An innovative and sustainable approach for

improving seed quality and crop performance
Talha Javed a,b, Irfan Afzal a,⇑, Rubab Shabbir b,c, Kamran Ikram d, Muhammad Saqlain Zaheer d,⇑,
Muhammad Faheem e,f, Hafiz Haider Ali g, Javaid Iqbal h
a
Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan
b
College of Agriculture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
c
Seed Science and Technology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan
d
Department of Agricultural Engineering, Khwaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology, Rahim Yar Khan 64200, Pakistan
e
Department of Farm Machinery and Power, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, 38000, Pakistan
f
Key Laboratory of Modern Agricultural Equipment and Technology, Ministry of Education, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, Jiangsu, China
g
Sustainable Development Study Center (SDSC), Government College University, Katchery Road, Lahore, Pakistan
h
Department of Plant Protection, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: Crop establishment is the most important phenological stage in the life cycle of crop plants which is gov-
Received 31 December 2021 erned by the pre-sowing quality of seed. From harvesting to sowing, a broad range of factors including
Revised 22 February 2022 genomics and prevailing environmental conditions can have marked influence on the quality of seed.
Accepted 9 March 2022
These factors solely or in combination can cause a huge financial loss. However, control of all these fac-
Available online 14 March 2022
tors for improving seed quality is a difficult task for the farmers to accomplish, however, some of the fac-
tors could be controlled. To tackle the issue, physical properties of seed are modified by the exogenous
Keywords:
application of certain physical, chemical or biological compounds directly to the surface of a natural seed
Food security
Modern seed technology
coat. Application of coatings through seed coating improves germinates phases, advances phenological
Productivity events, enhances physio-morphological attributes, yield and most importantly the restoration efficacy
Seed coating of seed. In addition, seed coating offers an attractive option as a tool for enhancing crop establishment
Seed quality by propelling the challenges faced to agricultural systems and restoration of degraded systems. This
Sustainability review summarizes comprehensive information on various seed coating technologies and their potential
role for achieving a cost-effective ecosystem by increasing food security.
Ó 2022 The Authors. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of King Saud University. This is an
open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Contents

1. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 537
2. Seed coating technologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 537
2.1. Film coating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 537
2.2. Seed encrusting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 538
2.3. Seed pelleting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 538
3. Mechanism of seed coating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 539
3.1. Coating equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 539
3.2. Adhesives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 539

⇑ Corresponding authors.
E-mail addresses: irfanuaf@gmail.com (I. Afzal), msaqlainzaheer@gmail.com (M. Saqlain Zaheer).
Peer review under responsibility of King Saud University.

Production and hosting by Elsevier

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jssas.2022.03.003
1658-077X/Ó 2022 The Authors. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of King Saud University.
This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
T. Javed, I. Afzal, R. Shabbir et al. Journal of the Saudi Society of Agricultural Sciences 21 (2022) 536–545

3.3. Coating materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 539

4. Coating types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 540
4.1. Inoculant coating. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 540
4.2. Lime coating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 540
4.3. Protective coating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 540
4.4. Nutrient coating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 540
4.5. Other coatings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 541
5. Seed coating effects and crop improvement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 541
5.1. Modulations of pre-germination metabolic processes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 541
5.2. Effects of seed coating on stand establishment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 541
5.3. Effects of seed coating on growth and physiology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 542
5.4. Effects of seed coating on yield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 542
6. Conclusions and future prospects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 542
Funding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 542
Declaration of Competing Interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 542
Acknowledgements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 542
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 542

1. Introduction mechanism resides in patent literature (Bueno et al., 2017). The

Seed with high physiological quality is always demanded by
farmers. Seed industry can contribute about 15–20% increase in
crop yield (Pedrini et al., 2017). For any crop, the time from har-
vesting to sowing and seedling establishment is very crucial as
seeds are exposed to a wide range of environmental stresses viz.,
biotic and abiotic stresses that can alter the quality aspects of seeds
(Zinsmeister et al., 2020; Zaheer et al., 2021b). However, judicious
use of crop specific physical, physiological, chemical and biological
agents could offer an attractive option for the development of sus-
tainable good crop establishment, growth and productivity
(Sharma et al., 2015). Seed treatments is a crop specific and objec-
tive oriented method and practiced ensuring improved seed qual-
ity to promote uniform and vigorous crop establishment and
protection from different biotic and abiotic environmental stimuli
(Halmer, 2008). Seed treatments of different type’s viz., priming,
pelleting and coating etc. are being practiced locally and commer-
cially as a means to substantially enhance the quality of seed with
the ultimate objective to enhance productivity under optimal and
stressed environments (Afzal et al., 2016). Among these seed treat-
ments, seed coating gives a chance to bundle compelling amounts
of materials with the end goal that they can impact the microenvi-
ronment of each seed to improve seed quality and health by pro-
tecting against different soil, air and seed borne ailments
(Kaufman, 1991).
Seed coating is a mechanism of providing plant growth promot-
ing substances with seeds to improve seed quality (Rocha et al.,
2019a,b). Evolution of seed coating dated back from those which
perform a wide range of seed treatments with the objectives of
which include the protection to different kind of insect pests, fun-
gal strains, rhizobia, provision of plant substances (nutrients) in
sorption zone of roots, provision of substances with higher water
holding capacity, supply of growth promoting and regulating sub-
stances, supply of germination stimulant, provision of substances
having capacity to provide oxygen under partial anaerobic condi-
tion, improving seed size and weight that helps in precision in
plant-ability (Taylor, 2020). Taking together, seed coating technol-
ogy is widely used in many developed and developing countries for
many years as a better option from an economical perspective,
however, to date much of the horticultural and pasture seeds are
sown without any pre-sowing treatment (Farooq et al., 2012).
In scientific literature the information regarding chemical and
mechanical aspects of seed coating is not extensively available,
specific details of application technologies and materials are not
disclosed however limited information regarding seed coating
537
development of seed coating recipes, that can be extensively used
and universally accepted, demands concerted efforts and previous
knowledge of literature (Javed and Afzal, 2020). The factors that
have an important contribution in the success of seed coating
includes particle size distribution, porosity, water absorbing and
holding capacity and extent of toxicity. So, it is desirable that pre-
cise distinguished coating agents and procedures can turn out to be
relatively clear for improving seed quality and to obtain higher
productivity (Ben-Jabeur et al., 2021). In the previous decade, sig-
nificant progress has been made in deciphering the potential role
of seed coating agents for improving seed quality. This review pro-
vides recently updated information on various seed coating tech-
nologies and seed coatings and their potential effects for
improving the crop performance.
2. Seed coating technologies
2.1. Film coating
Film coating involves application of a thin layer (usually up to
5% of seed weight) of beneficial coating agent directly to the sur-
face of seed coat (Pedrini et al., 2017). Liquid adhesive is used to
dissolve/dispensed active ingredients prior to application on seeds.
Fluidized-bed treaters or pharmaceutical coating drums can be
used for the application of dissolved material to the surface of seed.
This technique is more useful as more than 90% of the recovery rate
has been reported (Pedrini et al., 2017). A wide range of environ-
mental conditions (biotic and abiotic stresses) can be experienced
by the seed after sowing. Therefore, coating technologies have
been reported to ameliorate the harmful impacts of these biotic
abiotic stresses from imbibition to seedling establishment
(Chandrika et al., 2017). Among these stresses, waterlogging is an
important constraint and film seed coating of Brassica napus L. with
uniconazole (0.0075%) provided enhanced alleviation of waterlog-
ging stress. In addition, significantly enhanced physiological and
morphological attributes were also reported during the stress. Sig-
nificantly increased activities of antioxidant enzymes i.e., peroxi-
dase, catalase and superoxide dismutase were also reported by
seed film coating with uniconazole during waterlogging stress.
However, on germination no significant impact was observed by
uniconazole coating during waterlogging stress (Qiu et al., 2005).
Enhanced germination was also reported in polymer film coated
canola seeds subjected to low temperature and moisture stress
(Willenborg et al., 2004). Paraburkholderia phytofirmans rhizobia
were successfully used as film coating agent to ameliorate the
T. Javed, I. Afzal, R. Shabbir et al.
drought stress in wheat (Naveed et al., 2014). In addition, microbial
inoculation as film coating was also proved to be effective in cow-
pea under water deficit condition (Rocha et al., 2019a,b). The per-
formance of cumin seeds was significantly enhanced when coated
with Trichoderma (T36) fungi and Pseudomonas fluorescence
(CHA0) bacteria (Piri et al., 2019). Taking together, film seed coat-
ing can be a better adaptive approach for improving crop perfor-
mance under different abiotic stresses.
Physical, physiological and sanitary characteristics of corn seed
were investigated by treating the seed with polymers. Statistically
lower percentage of skips and double seeds were reported in
experimental units receiving corn seeds coated with polymer Poly-
Seed CF compared to graphite treated seeds, those with other poly-
mer treated or no treated seeds thereby improved the plant-ability
of seeds. A significant reduction in dust formation and leaching of
applied insecticides was also observed by film seed coating with
polymer PolySeed CF (Avelar et al., 2012). Effectiveness of Pythium
oligandrum was evaluated to control damping-off caused by
Pythium ultimum. Film coating of cress and sugar-beet was per-
formed with oospores of P. oligandrum followed by sowing in
infested soil. Significantly higher levels of disease control were
observed with seed coating compared to non-treated seeds. Mc.
Nanoparticles of zinc and iron (750 ppm) were applied as film
coating on pigeon pea seeds and significantly increased seedling
emergence, vigor, dehydrogenase and amylase activities were
reported as compared to untreated seeds (McQuilken et al.,
1990). Corn and canola growth was positively stimulated with Tri-
choderma harzianum coating. Higher shoot and root lengths were
observed in corn seeds containing T. harzianum as seed coating
agent as compared to control. In addition, seedlings obtained from
seeds coated with a mixture of imidacloprid, metalaxaxyl-M and T.
harzianum were more vigorous with less susceptibility (Accinelli
et al., 2016).
Enhanced germination, vigor and shelf life of cowpea seed has
been successfully reported in experimental units received polymer
film coated mediated delivery of insecticide under biotic stress and
natural ageing (Maity et al., 2018). Chitosan and polyethylene gly-
col (PEG) mediated film seed coating was effective in enhancing
germination and vigor plant growth of castor (Chandrika et al.,
2019). Degradation rate of imadacloprid and thiacloprid was
reported very low when seeds were coated with a polymer. Inter-
estingly, degradation rate was significantly increased with addition
of plant growth promoting rhizobia (Bacillus) in the mixture. Over-
all, polymer coated seeds were more tolerant to biotic stresses and
less leaching of coating agents was reported (Accinelli et al., 2019).
In contrast, negative impacts of polymer (polyvinyl) seed coating
were also reported in sugar-beet. Reduced germination percentage
was noticed due to the restricted supply of moisture during imbi-
bition and oxygen during embryo development (Duan and Burris,
1997). Overall, film seed coating can be a powerful tool for improv-
ing seed quality and protecting the seed and seedlings from various
biotic and abiotic stresses.
2.2. Seed encrusting
Encrusting involves application of seed coating in such a way
that the seed weight is increased up to 8–500% with less or no
impact on original shape of the seed (Pedrini et al., 2017). To
ensure successful encrusting, two phases ‘‘before coating (BC)”
and ‘‘coating phase (CP)” have significant importance. The process
of encrusting started with the before coating phase in which initial
weight of seed, powder, and binder are recorded. Finally, during
the coating phase small quantities of powder and binder is applied
on seed to ensure proper binding of powder with the seed (Pedrini
et al., 2018). Previous study showed that improved radicle emer-
gence without hindering the vigor and uniform seedlings emer-
538
Journal of the Saudi Society of Agricultural Sciences 21 (2022) 536–545
gence was resulted from encrusted seeds. Encrusted seeds also
blocked the adverse effects of herbicides on the germination of
sunflower seeds (Szemruch and Ferrari, 2013). Significantly higher
germination and vigor of fescue seeds was observed when seeds
were encrusted before storage compared to encrusting after stor-
age and non-treated seeds. In addition, seed encrusting also diluted
the negative impact of commercial herbicides on germination and
seedling growth (Olivera et al., 2017). Amount of powder encrusted
on cabbage seed depicted a variable trend in germination. Seed
germination was significantly decreased with the increase in
weight of seed due to encrusting. In addition, seed disintegration
time and granulate strength was also affected with the increase
in seed weight (Wu et al., 2018). However, improvement in integ-
rity, granulate strength and splitting time of encrusted seeds was
reported by the addition of soy flour in encrusting blend (Qiu
et al., 2020).
Seed encrusting was successfully used for the delivery of bene-
ficial plant substances or rhizobacteria near the sorption zone.
Availability of plant substances stimulated the growth and devel-
opment under normal and unfavorable environmental circum-
stances (Halmer, 2006). Higher germination, vigor index, root
length and shoot length was recorded in onion seed encrusting
with Thiram: Genus’s coat (1:1.2) (Patil et al., 2019). Seed encrust-
ing was also beneficial for enhancing the survival rate and perfor-
mance of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) (Zaheer
et al., 2019a, 2019b). Higher viability of PGPR and shelf life of
encrusted seed was reported under fluctuating temperature and
light during storage compared to non-treated seeds (Ma, 2019).
Use of protectants slightly promotes germination however some-
times negatively affect crop performance as well as directly or indi-
rectly interfere with the ecosystem. The negative impacts of seed
and plant protectants can be minimized to a major extent by seed
encrusting (Pedrini et al., 2017). Overall, improvement in seed
quality attributes and survival of beneficial microbes can be suc-
cessfully achieved by seed encrusting. In addition, seed encrusting
can also be utilized for minimizing the negative impacts of differ-
ent plant protecting chemicals especially during storage.
2.3. Seed pelleting
Seed pelleting is the process of increasing seed size with the
application of external natural or chemical materials in such a
way that it would be impossible to discriminate in original shape
of the seed (Pedrini et al., 2017). Seed pelleting was successfully
used for improving the germination, vigor and storage of tomato
seeds (Javed and Afzal, 2020). Enhanced growth and yield param-
eters of soybean were resulted from ammonium molybdtae, ferrus
sulphate and rhizobium seed pelleting (Ramesh and
Thirumurugan, 2001). Damping-off disease incidence was signifi-
cantly reduced by sesame seed pelleting with PGPR (strain E681).
Seed pelleting also improved the efficacy of strain Paenibacillus
polymyxa E681 for biological control of disease compared to non-
pelleted seeds (Ryu et al., 2006). Study on locally grown tomatoes
revealed that seed pelleting can address the poor performance of
seeds through increased germination subsequent to enhanced
vigor (Govinden-Soulange and Levantard, 2008). Seed pelleting
was also effective in the traditional method of sesame planting,
as it significantly enhanced the plant height, lateral branches and
number of capsules per plant as compared to non-pelleted seeds
(Dogan and Zeybek, 2009).
Growth and yield performance of vegetable cowpea was
improved by seed pelleting with a combination of micronutrients
and botanical extracts (Masuthi et al., 2009). Plant-ability of
tomato seed was enhanced by seed pelleting with a combination
of talcum, calcium oxide and bentonite (Javed and Afzal, 2020).
Rice crop establishment was significantly improved with calcium
T. Javed, I. Afzal, R. Shabbir et al.
Table 1
Comparison of seed coating technologies for the number of components and time needed to coat (Afzal et al., 2020).
Seed Coatings Active Ingredients Polymers/Liquids
Film coating 2 1
Encrusting 3 3
Pelleting 4 4
peroxide seed pelleting under submerged conditions (Mei et al.,
2017). Investigation on the storage of pelleted cowpea seeds
revealed that quality of seed was improved compared to non-
pelleted seed (Singh et al., 2018). Physiological indexes and bio-
chemical attributes were reported high in pelletized rice seeds
than pelletized seeds (Sun et al., 2019). Comparison of amount of
coating components and time needed for the film coat, entrust-
ment and seed pellet technologies has been given in Table 1. More-
over, seed coating technologies and percentage seed weight
increase has been shown in Fig. 1.
3. Mechanism of seed coating
3.1. Coating equipment
The success of seed coating equipment relies on the fact that a
defined quantity of material should be attached with the single
seed with minor injuries to seed during the whole process (Afzal
et al., 2020). The breadth of seed coating equipment, speed of rota-
tor, spinner, coating agent fines, porosity, water holding capacity,
cementing properties have significant impact on the coating pro-
cess and quality of final produce after coating (Gorim and Asch,
2012). The success of coating also relies on the fact that coated
equipment should allow the uniform spin of seeds in the coating
pan and accurate attachment of binder and powder with seeds
(Javed and Afzal, 2020).
Procedure and equipment used in the pharmaceutical industry
for coating tablets has been elaborated by Sauer et al. (2013).
Application of protective agents including fungicides, pesticides
by seed industries and equipment used for that process has been
described by El-Mohamedy and Abd El-Baky (2008). Improving
seed health by seed coating and equipment used for the whole pro-
cess has been described by Knowles (2005). Equipment with open
and broad area for seed and coating materials required when seed
coating has been performed on an extensive scale. The objective
could be achieved by using equipment used in the cement industry
having a broad, inclined drum providing the residence time for
Fig. 1. Modern seed coating technologies and % seed weight increase [43].
539
Journal of the Saudi Society of Agricultural Sciences 21 (2022) 536–545
Solid/filling Materials Duration/time to Coat
0 1
3 3
4 4
proper mixing of materials with uniform rotating speed
(Leetham, 2015).
3.2. Adhesives
The success of seed coating also relies on the fact that the coat-
ing substance should remain intact with the seed and easily dis-
solved when exposed to water. The objective can be achieved by
using some adhesives including binders, glues, sticking substances
that maintain the shape of the coat and prevents the cracking and
dusting during handling and transportation (Afzal et al., 2016). The
most commonly used binders for maintaining physical integrity of
seeds are polyvinyl alcohol (Ryu et al., 2006), soy flour (Amirkhani
et al., 2016) and arabic gum (Javed and Afzal, 2020).
Imbibition and radical protrusion are largely affected by the
binding ability of the binder applied to seed for the attachment
of coating agents. Materials having high water holding capacity
and porosity offered low resistance to moisture absorption consid-
ered as most effective (Fasina, 2008). Cho et al. (2000) observed a
wide range of materials as binder and found that the experimental
units having arabic gum showed highest physical integrity with
minimal hindrance to moisture intake and radical protrusion. The
success of binders not only relies on the retention of coating agents
with the seed but also on the survival of plant growth promoting
rhizobacteria (PGPR) (Zaheer et al., 2019a, 2019b; Javed et al.,
2021). Due to ease of availability, use, less toxicity, high water sol-
ubility and low-rate methyl cellulose was the most effective binder
as compared to arabic gum for lime coating (Phillips and Saunders,
2016). Seeds coated with biochar and other materials that are the
source of activated carbon were successfully maintained by polyvi-
nyl alcohol (Ryu et al., 2006), gum Arabic (Asghar et al., 2006) and
as binders (Apandi et al., 2013).
3.3. Coating materials
In previous research different kinds of materials were used for
seed coating that have positive impact on seed health and quality,
and also provide residence and survival platform to rhizobia. Fur-
T. Javed, I. Afzal, R. Shabbir et al.
ther, lime, gypsum, montmorillonite, kaolinite, rock phosphate and
bentonite were most common and effective materials used as pro-
tectants for rhizobia (Pedrini et al., 2017) and other materials men-
tioned in previous studies include vermiculite (Cho et al., 2000)
and dolomite (Nasatto et al., 2015). Application of organic materi-
als for seed coating like moringa leaves powder have been used
widely for improving seed quality, having significant quantities
of calcium, potassium, antioxidants proteins, ascorbates, phenols
and cytokinin in the form of zeatin (Makkar et al., 2007). In addi-
tion, application of moringa leaf extract increased the shoot and
root dry weight with higher number of fruits per plant in rape
and cabbage (Culver et al., 2012). Organic materials that have been
used in coatings include peat, poultry and farmyard manure, muci-
lage, bonemeal (Delin et al., 2018). However, in literature informa-
tion regarding the properties, purity, mode of action of the
compounds present in these organic materials is not present. The
formation of coating layers largely depends on the mean particle
size and particle size distribution thus selection of coating agent
and properties should be well understood before coating to be per-
formed (Lisowski et al., 2020).
4. Coating types
4.1. Inoculant coating
The process of inoculating seeds with different beneficial micro-
bial strains has been studied by Sogut (2006), and the impact of
rhizobia inoculation on stand establishment growth and develop-
ment of legumes have been suggested by Mia et al. (2012). The
principle and procedure for inoculation involve the attachment of
viable bacterial strains that could have beneficial impact on seed
health, quality and provision of food substance for the survival of
rhizobia strains. The most common method involves binding of
rhizobia with adhesive and a carbon source that aids its survival
and improves the binding of rhizobia with the seed (Kücük and
Kivanç, 2008). Combination of a carbon source of other materials
with rhizobia not only aids in the survival of bacterial strains as
a food source but also provides protection from the external envi-
ronment by providing a hostile environment (Tufail et al., 2018).
After the seed coating of bacterial strains, rapid desiccation should
be prohibited, and the objective could be achieved by selection of
appropriate supporting material like peat. Peat and biochar were
effective for providing protection to the rhizobia by tightly absorb-
ing it and preventing the direct exposure to external injuries
(Glodowska et al., 2017). The success of rhizobia coating largely
depends on selection of suitable rhizobia strain, protective mate-
rial and toxicity of the material (Deaker et al., 2006).
4.2. Lime coating
On acid soils rhizobia coating could be more successful if lime
coat on rhizobia should be used as a protective substance. How-
ever, the lime to rhizobia ratio is the most important aspect before
performing the coating for commercial scale. For legume seeds, a
complete practical guide for the procedure involved for rhizobia
lime coating was provided by Bambara and Ndakidemi (2010).
On soils having acidic pH, lime coating with rhizobia could increase
emergence potential and seed yield as compared to experimental
units receiving uncoated seeds (Padhi and Pattanayak 2018).
4.3. Protective coating
To control seed and seedling associated diseases, different kinds
of fungicides and biological agents can be coated with the seeds.
Enormous losses caused by different diseases to crops can be com-
540
Journal of the Saudi Society of Agricultural Sciences 21 (2022) 536–545
bated by the application of different protective substances as seed
coating agents (Adhikari et al., 2001). Fungal infestations to seeds
and seedlings carried from soil and seed itself was prohibited by
application of different fungicides or other natural substances as
seed coating (Ozere and Coskuntuna, 2016). Bunt and smut dis-
eases in cereals (Murray et al., 2008) and powdery mildew of
wheat (Wang et al., 2014) have been controlled by application of
different protective agents as seed coating. With the success in
the seed treatment sector, different fungicides have been devel-
oped that not only provide protection against different diseases
but also have a curative effect (Khanzada et al., 2002). Successful
control of Pythium and Phytophthora diseases was achieved by
application of fungicide as seed treatment Lamichhane et al.,
2017). In fodders, damping off disease has been effectively con-
trolled by seed coating of fungicide that improves seed health,
stand establishment and growth of seedlings (Helal 2017). Success
of seed coating with fungicides becomes apparent when external
conditions suit the development of fungi. Higher efficacy of fungi-
cides as seed coating have been achieved with proper adhesion,
less dusting, no toxicity to seed and no ailment to worker and user
(Poole and Arnaudin, 2014). Nowadays disease control has been
achieved with application of fungicides in the form of solvent that
delivers within the seed and release of protective substances
depending on alarming situations (Campos et al., 2014).
In cotton and pastures, control of spider mites and earth mites
was achieved by acaricide seed coating (Pan et al., 2006). For the
control of different insect pests and diseases, combination of fungi-
cides and insecticides have been widely used as seed treatment
(Keyser et al., 2016). Seed treatments may also be used as repel-
lents of biological organisms. Methiocarb, endrin, resorcinol or
thermal seed coating showed effective results to protect the newly
sown wheat from crows (Kennedy and Connery, 2008). Attack of
birds and rodents can be reduced to greater extent by appropriate
chemical seed coating (Carlson et al., 2013).
A recent innovation is the incorporation of herbicide coating
with seeds to control the weeds. Imazapyr (non-selective herbi-
cide) was used as a seed coating agent to promote maize seedling
growth as well as for inhibiting weeds competition (Kanampiu
et al., 2015). Combination of Imazapyr and pyrithiobac herbicides
coating on maize seeds resulted in reduction of weeds growth
especially striga along with significant improvement in yield of
maize (Kanampiu et al., 2003). Storage of herbicide coated seeds
expressed higher germination rate compared to control (Lynch,
2004). Due to selective mode of action of thiocarbamates S-ethyl
dipropylthiocarbamate (EPTC), little damage to seeds and seedlings
of potato occurred. EPTC controlled weeds by moving away from
the seeds. A negative correlation found between dose of herbicide
and emergence of potato seeds (Tonks et al., 2000). Application of
fluazifop-butyl as seed coating provided better weeds control
(Wang et al., 2017).
4.4. Nutrient coating
Seed coating with appropriate amounts of different macro and
micro-nutrients preferentially will not only aid in reducing the
nutrient losses by providing the nutrients in the sorption zone
but also reduce the competition from weeds. Losses of nutrients
by seed coating reduced to greater extent along with reduction
in cost of production (Johnson et al., 2005). Requirement of nutri-
ents is very important during the early life cycle of plants. Amount
of nutrients required largely depends on the size of seeds as smal-
ler size seeds require a small amount of nutrients as compared to
seeds having large size (Ali et al., 2008). Germination and seedling
growth can be hindered by macronutrients coating due to toxicity.
To prevent such toxicity, direct contact of nutrients should be
avoided with seeds by including the initial layer of any inert matter
T. Javed, I. Afzal, R. Shabbir et al.
Table 2
Effect of nutrient seed coating for improving seed quality and performance of different crops.
Source Application Application Rate
Mode
Boron Seed Coating 1.5 g B/kg
Fertilizer Seed Coating 10 mL/100 g seeds
MasterminsÒ
ZnSO4 Seed Coating 8.81 g of
ZnSO4
7H2O/
kg of seeds
Calcium Seed Coating 6 g/20 g seeds
peroxide
Zinc Seed Coating 1.5 g Zn/kg seeds
followed by nutrient coating. Successful coating of phosphorus
improved the seed quality (Peltonen-Sainio et al., 2006). A small
quantity of phosphorus incorporated with the seeds of barley in
direct seeding improved the growth (Mašauskas et al., 2008) and
increased wheat yield (Sekiya and Yano 2010). Successful coating
of sulphur resulted in increase in twice the emergence potential
as compared to non-coated seeds of clover (Balasubramanian and
Hill, 2002). Conventional methods of fertilizer application like
broadcasting have higher losses and lower productivity, while
coating of equivalent rate of nutrients significantly produced
higher yield of maize (Guan et al., 2014). Slow-release nutrient
coating on maize seeds resulted in improved emergence potential
and yield attributes (Dong et al., 2016). In rice, coating of phospho-
rus and zinc produced higher biological and economic yield along
with improved quality of produce (Rose et al., 2013). Seeds of rice
coated with the combination of nitrogen, phosphorus and lime
produce better growth and yield as compared to nutrient alone
(Shahane et al., 2018). Seeds of various crops coated with pre-
defined quantities of different micronutrient have been given in
Table 2. Zinc deficiency in cereals has been decreased by seed coat-
ing with zinc as compared to foliar application and mixing of zinc
in irrigation water (Zulfiqar et al., 2021). Soil suffering from boron
deficiency has been overcome by boron seed coating in cowpea
(Masuthi et al., 2009).
4.5. Other coatings
Seed coatings with hydrophilic substances aimed at improving
the germination potential by early and rapid completion of imbibi-
tion and active metabolism phases by improving water and air
movement (Hussain et al., 2020). Decrease in emergence could
be suggested by the unavailability of oxygen for respiratory activ-
ity due to high moisture contents and toxicity caused by higher
concentration of calcium per-oxide (Gorim and Asch, 2017). Pigeon
pea seeds coated with polymer expressed higher emergence due to
early accomplishment of imbibition and lag phases (Kumar et al.,
2014). Calcium carbonate was used as hygroscopic material having
higher water holding capacity (Hartley et al., 2004). Seed coating
with lime was resulted in early accomplishment of imbibition,
active metabolism and ultimately radical protrusion (Padhi and
Pattanayak 2018).
The use of hydrophobic adhesives as seed coating agents can
improve the seed quality and crop performance. A significant
improvement in emergence potential and vigor of seeds and seed-
lings was observed in rice seeds coated with hydrophobic agents as
compared to control after twelve months of storage (Sharma and
Dhiman, 2017). Ambika et al. (2014) was also reported the similar
results in rice seeds coated with different polymers viz., genius
coat 171, genius coat 172, arcus, myconate and quick roots when
Journal of the Saudi Society of Agricultural Sciences 21 (2022) 536–545
Crop Main Findings References
Chickpea Improved seedling growth, nodulation, (Hussain et al.,, 2020)
and grain yield
Campo Grande Significantly increased shoot dry mass (Baroni and Vieira, 2020)
Stylosanthes
Rice Higher activities of sulfur-metabolism- (Da-Costa et al., 2020)
enzymes
Rice Significantly enhanced stand (Javed et al.,, 2021)
establishment,
physio-morphological and biochemical
attributes
Wheat Improved seed germination (Mohammad and Peksßen,
2020)
the seeds placed in polythene bags for nine months (Ambika
et al., 2014).
5. Seed coating effects and crop improvement
5.1. Modulations of pre-germination metabolic processes
During the phase I of germination, seeds uptake water till the
start of active metabolism phase II (Afzal et al., 2013). Moisture
uptake continues until the hydration state of all the contents of
the cell is achieved (Weitbrecht et al., 2011). Imbibition was
observed in both coated and non-coated seeds. However, much
steeper initial uptake of moisture might be due to the uniform
availability of moisture throughout the phase I (Nonogaki et al.,
2010). Contradictory reports were obtained in wheat where coated
seeds showed more time to enter in phase II of germination. The
reason behind slow moisture absorption was that the coating agent
restricted the movement of water towards micropyles of the dry
seed or temporal membrane damage. Exposure of hydration to
coated seeds with membrane damage showed leakage of solutes
as compared to uncoated seeds (Afzal et al., 2021).
With the help of micro sensors, in situ assessment of oxygen
concentration in germination seeds revealed a significant relation
between oxygen supply to embryo and enzymes activity viz.,
invertase and synthase (Rolletschek et al., 2009). Hypoxic condi-
tion in coated seeds (wheat, barley and oat) with hydro-absorber
agent was observed in the center of embryo. The speed of endo-
sperm reserve mobilization was slower in coated seeds due to
restricted supply of oxygen within the embryo as compared to
un-coated seeds. Restricted supply of oxygen to embryos was
exhibited in coated seeds due to high moisture uptake (Aoki
et al., 2006). Secretion of sucrose into endosperm and taken up
by the embryo for energy source occurs in both coated and non-
coated seeds. Hypoxic conditions created within the embryo result
in decreased activity of enzymes and cleavage of sucrose that ulti-
mately affects the phase II of germination (Koch, 2004, Zaheer
et al., 2021a). Coating agents have a significant impact on the dura-
tion of the phasing of imbibition and active metabolism phases of
germination. Consequently, more duration for completion of phase
I and phase II has been observed in wheat and barley in case of
coated seeds that ultimately increases the time for radical protru-
sion due to delay in sucrose transport for glycolysis (Weitbrecht
et al., 2011).
5.2. Effects of seed coating on stand establishment
Seed coating with natural or chemical agents can be effective
for improving emergence potential and seedling establishment.
Less time taken to emergence and coleoptile elongation was
541
T. Javed, I. Afzal, R. Shabbir et al.
observed in barley seeds coated with phosphorus (Zelßonka et al.,
2005). Seed coating with biological and chemical agents was effec-
tive for improving seed quality and enhancing emergence potential
in vegetables (Taylor et al., 2004). A significant improvement in
stand establishment of tomato seeds was observed when seeds
were treated with calcium oxide (Javed and Afzal, 2020). Under
submerged condition, seed coating proved to be effective for
improving imbibition, respiratory activity, reserve mobilization
followed by uniform stand establishment in rice (Mori et al.,
2012). Similar results were obtained in stabilizing stand establish-
ment by rice seed coating with iron (Yamauchi, 2017). Improved
stand establishment was also observed with rice seed coating
under dry conditions (Wang et al., 2016).
5.3. Effects of seed coating on growth and physiology
Seed coating with suitable concentration of agents can have
marked influence on growth and physiology of different crops
under varying environmental conditions (Berto et al., 2021). Simi-
lar results regarding improved vigor and physiology were also
observed in coated rape seeds under waterlogging stress (Qiu
et al., 2005). Improved stand establishment and vigor was also
observed under direct seeding of rice seeds that were coated with
calcium per-oxide (Sato and Maruyama, 2002). Similar results
reported by Wang et al. (2016) regarding improvement in growth
and physiology to observed rice growth under chilling stress
(Wang et al., 2016). Higher seedling length was observed in tomato
seeds coated with a combination of talc, calcium oxide and ben-
tonite (Javed and Afzal, 2020). Application of micronutrients as
seed coating also showed higher values for seedling growth and
development as compared to control (Rehman and Farooq, 2016).
Similar results were also observed in zinc coated chickpea seeds,
but negative relation was observed between higher concentration
of coating agent and seedling growth (Ullah et al., 2019).
5.4. Effects of seed coating on yield
Increased wheat yield was observed in experimental units
receiving wheat seeds coated with slow-release fertilizers and
nanomaterials (Dimkpa et al., 2020). Application of different fungi-
cides as seed coating agents restricts the fungal infestation during
storage, thereby resulting in improved seed quality and yield
potential of rice (Thobunluep, 2009). Application of botanicals
(Pungam, prosopis, arappu and vasambu) and bio-fertilizers
(Azospirillium, Phosphobacteria and Rhizobium) as pre-sowing seed
treatment was proved to be more effective for improving yield of
mustard (Geetha and Balamuruga, 2011). Higher values for seeds
weight per spike, seeds number and quality were observed in
wheat seeds coated with endophytic fungi (Colla et al., 2015). Yield
of rice was significantly improved by seed coating with combina-
tion of thiamethoxam and chlorantraniliprole (Lanka et al., 2017).
6. Conclusions and future prospects
Seed coating technology has a wide era for improving seeds
quality. The main objective to obtain higher yield is linked with
good quality seeds, improved stand establishment, growth and
development. Establishment ability of a crop largely depends on
the quality of seeds having higher emergence potential and vigor.
Improved stand establishment and seedlings vigor can be achieved
by using an appropriate seed coating agent in appropriate concen-
tration. It is clear from much of the literature reviewed that the
problems faced by seedlings during the establishment phase are
not going to be solved by one or two simple seed coatings acting
as a panacea for all limitations to early seedling growth and devel-
542
Journal of the Saudi Society of Agricultural Sciences 21 (2022) 536–545
opment. In the future, development of sound principles and proce-
dures on which to build a model of seed coatings and their
interactions that requires a more deliberate attempt to resolve
the complexity involved in seed coating research. A multidisci-
plinary effort from chemical and mechanical engineers, chemists,
agronomists, soil scientists, and microbiologists could combine to
reduce risks and problems associated with seeds thereby improv-
ing the seed quality. It is necessary that the basic information
should be available to understand the behavior and performance
of coating agents that would be helpful for developing principles
and protocols for seed coatings. In addition, further transcrip-
tomic/proteomic studies are required to explore the molecular
mechanisms of seed coating induced seed quality improvement.
Funding
The current work was financially supported by Pakistan Science
Foundation under a research project No. PSF/NSLP-489 entitled
‘‘Development of technology rich seeds for improving the perfor-
mance of crops”.
Declaration of Competing Interest
The authors declare that they have no known competing finan-
cial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared
to influence the work reported in this paper.
Acknowledgements
The authors extend their sincere appreciation to Pakistan
Science Foundation under a research project No. PSF/NSLP-489
entitled ‘‘Development of technology rich seeds for improving
the performance of crops” for financially supporting the current
work. The authors thank Sidra hanif for helpful suggestions and
critically reviewing the manuscript.
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