Method for controlling pathogens and/or preventing diseases resulting from the presence of the pathogens in and/or on seeds

A method for the treatment of seeds, said treatment allowing to control the amount of pathogens in and/or on the seeds and/or allowing to prevent diseases associated with the presence of said pathogens in and/or on seeds and/or parts of seeds, said method comprising the steps of

• (i) providing seeds having an initial moisture content and contacting the seeds with a sanitizing composition comprising:
• at least one agriculturally acceptable sanitizing agent, and
• water;
• such a contact contributing to control the amount of pathogens in and/or on the seeds, and/or to prevent diseases associated with the presence of said pathogens in and/or on said seeds;
• while increasing the moisture content of the seeds;
• (ii) heating/drying the seeds obtained from step (i) at a temperature varying from 160° F. to 230° F. for a period of time varying from 9 to 16 minutes, to further control the amount of pathogens while reducing the moisture content of the seeds toward the initial moisture content of the seeds and preventing a core of the seeds to reach a temperature ≥158° F.;
• and
• (iii) optionally heating/drying the seeds obtained from step (ii) at a temperature <158° F. until the seeds reach a moisture content close of the initial moisture content;
• and
• (iv) optionally recovering the treated seeds;
• wherein the at least one agriculturally acceptable sanitizing agent which is an oxidizer, said oxidizer being a liquid peracetic acid, an in-situ generated peracetic acid released from a powder precursor;
• a liquid hydrogen peroxide, hydrogen peroxide released from a powder persalt, or a mixture thereof;
• and
• wherein the at least one sanitizing composition further comprise at least one agriculturally acceptable alcohol is at least one of a glycol ether, a propylene glycol, an ethylene glycol, a C1-C6 linear alkanol or a C3-C6 branched alkanol;
• and wherein the sanitizing composition comprises from 1 to 10 wt.-% of the at least one sanitizing agent, from 1 to 40 wt.-% of the at least one agriculturally acceptable alcohol, and from 50 to 98 wt.-% of water.