Seed coating for value addition

A number of natural biopolymers containing pesticide active groups have been in the market for the purpose of developing ideal controlled release formulations for fungicides and herbicides. These biopolymers have been derived by natural exudation. Several factors appear to be important in governing the rates of release of active moieties. These factors include environmental conditions as well as the effects of the biopolymers compositions, properties and chemical structures, and the simulated conditions necessary to prolong the activity under suboptimal conditions such as the pH and temperature. 

The seed coating effect of the biopolymer zein, extracted from the gluten meal of maize, was tested on the germination rate of sugar beet Beta vulgaris L.) and broccolis (Brassica oleraceae var italic L.) seeds under laboratory conditions. 

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