Overview of product registration for seed treatment agents; microbial nematicides are currently a research hotspot.

Seed treatment agents offer numerous advantages, including cost-effectiveness, high efficiency, and compatibility with mechanized application. They represent an effective strategy for reducing pesticide use while enhancing efficacy, and constitute one of the most advanced applications of modern plant protection principles, aligning with future trends in crop protection. At present, domestic production of seed treatment agents falls far short of demand, leaving a substantial market gap. Consequently, these products are attracting growing attention from agrochemical companies; multiple active ingredients have been formulated into seed treatments, with the number of registered products steadily increasing, and farmer acceptance continuing to rise.

With the advancement of modern agrochemical science and the improvement of application technologies, an increasing array of technical approaches is endowing seed treatment products with more functionalities. However, seed treatments are not conventional pesticides; they are applied directly to seeds in a coating process, and improper use can lead to phytotoxicity. As a “high‑risk” operation, seed treatments are explicitly distinguished from standard formulation types in the pesticide formulation guidelines developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), with the aim of ensuring more specialized and effective management of this particular category. The innovative research and development, widespread adoption, and establishment of robust quality‑control systems for seed treatments will lay the foundation for the healthy future growth of the seed‑treatment industry. This paper provides a detailed analysis from several perspectives: the current status of seed‑treatment product registration, emerging trends in product development, and recommendations and prospects for industry advancement.

1 Current Status of Registration for Seed Treatment Products

1.1 Introduction to Registration Categories, Target Pests and Diseases, and Mainstream Varieties

As of June 2022, the total number of registered seed treatment products stood at 1,055. At the end of 2017, China had only 762 registered seed treatments; in less than five years, the number of registrations increased by nearly 300. Among all registered formulations, fungicides accounted for the largest share, with 448 entries, followed by insecticides (337), insecticide–fungicide combinations (260), plant growth regulators (6), insecticide–acaricide mixtures (2), and nematicide–fungicide combinations (1), as well as a single nematicide (see Figure 1). In the most recent registration year, 2021, 151 seed treatment products were registered, including 61 insecticide–fungicide combination formulations, which represented over 40% of the total—indicating that “insecticide–fungicide” blends are increasingly becoming the mainstream approach (see Figure 2).

Among the top 15 best‑registered active ingredients in 2021 were fludioxonil, thiamethoxam, thiazole‑thiazine, metalaxyl‑M, difenoconazole, thifluzamide, azoxystrobin, tebuconazole, pyraclostrobin, imidacloprid, dinotefuran, prochloraz, mancozeb, triadimefon, and epoxiconazole (see Figure 3). The primary registered crops included peanuts, corn, wheat, rice, soybeans, cotton, and potatoes (see Figure 4), with target pests and diseases mainly comprising root rot, aphids, grubs, stem base rot, and smut.

Among the many fungicide formulations, fludioxonil has the largest number of registrations. To date, it is one of the best‑selling seed treatments worldwide, primarily used on both cereal and non‑cereal crops. Developed by Syngenta, fludioxonil is a novel, non‑systemic phenylpyrrole fungicide that is taken up in small amounts during seed germination, thereby controlling pathogens within the seed and spikelet. Moreover, fludioxonil exhibits virtually no mobility in the soil, providing long‑term protection to the crop roots. Of the 232 products containing fludioxonil as the active ingredient, more than 80% are formulated in combination with other agents; the most commonly paired partners are thiamethoxam, metalaxyl‑M, azoxystrobin, and difenoconazole. Thifluzamide, a succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor developed by Monsanto, boasts excellent systemic translocation and prolonged residual activity, exhibiting efficacy against a broad spectrum of pathogenic fungi. In recent years, the number of registrations for thifluzamide as a seed treatment has been steadily increasing, and field trials have demonstrated its safety and high effectiveness.

Pyraclostrobin is a methoxyacrylate fungicide developed by BASF in 1993. It exhibits systemic translocation and resistance to rain wash‑off, with a long residual efficacy. Notably, when applied to crops such as cereals, it can induce physiological changes that enhance disease resistance and significantly boost yields. Lu Yong found that seed treatment with pyraclostrobin effectively controls wheat sheath blight, promotes seed germination and growth, and increases wheat yield. Among nicotinoid insecticides, imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, clothianidin, and flonicamid are the mainstream active ingredients registered for use as seed treatments. They provide effective control of a wide range of aboveground pests on crops including wheat, maize, rapeseed, and cotton. Analysis of registrations from 2021 indicates that clothianidin has emerged as the leading insecticidal component in seed‑treatment formulations. Developed jointly by Bayer and Japan’s Takeda, clothianidin is a novel neonicotinoid featuring a thiazole ring. Its key advantage is its low susceptibility to degradation in the soil, resulting in a longer residual activity and superior performance compared to thiamethoxam and imidacloprid.

1.2 Main Dosage Forms Registered

Among the 1,055 registered seed treatment formulations, there were 640 suspension‑coated seed treatments and 267 suspension seed treatments (see Figure 5). With the implementation of GB/T 19378–2017 “Pesticide Formulation Names and Codes” on May 1, 2018, the “suspension‑coated seed treatment” formulation was discontinued. Applicants were permitted, without altering the product’s composition, to consolidate these two formulations under the single designation “suspension seed treatment” for registration purposes. Accordingly, the number of registrations combining these two formulations totaled 907, accounting for 85.9% of the total. Due to their ease of use, environmental friendliness, high active‑ingredient adhesion, and user‑friendly handling, suspension seed treatments have grown increasingly popular in the market and have become the dominant formulation type in registration.

2 Future Development Trends of Seed Treatment Products

2.1 Seed treatments with high residue, high toxicity, and high resistance are being phased out.

Seed treatments are applied directly to the soil. Traditional organophosphate and carbamate insecticides, which are highly toxic—such as chlorpyrifos, phoxim, and carbofuran, commonly used in peanut production to control underground pests—are increasingly being banned or subject to restricted use. Consequently, environmentally friendly formulations with low toxicity and minimal residue have emerged as viable alternatives. Prolonged, single‑crop application of insecticides and fungicides readily fosters resistance; for instance, aphids, Colorado potato beetles, whiteflies, and rice planthoppers have developed high levels of resistance to imidacloprid, while Fusarium oxysporum has exhibited strong resistance to carbendazim and prochloraz, which are employed to manage rice bakanae disease. Similarly, cyanofenphos, owing to its extensive and often monolithic use, now poses a moderate risk of resistance development. Currently, new products are being developed to replace highly toxic, persistent, and resistant insecticides. For example, chlorantraniliprole seed treatment demonstrates excellent efficacy and long‑lasting control against peanut‑damaging underground pests such as wireworms and copper‑green scarab beetles, while also providing some secondary control of peanut aphids, thereby delivering clear benefits in pest suppression and yield enhancement. Moreover, bromcyhalothrin, when used as a seed coating for maize, has shown promising laboratory and pot‑test results against grubs and wireworms. In response to fungicide resistance, innovative solutions continue to emerge, such as the novel succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) inhibitor fluopyram. Fluopyram is the first benzylpyrazole amide‑based SDH inhibitor developed by Syngenta Crop Protection.

2.2 Multi-component formulations that simultaneously control both diseases and pests will become a major focus in registration applications.

Multi‑component seed treatments offer distinct advantages over single‑ingredient formulations, enabling simultaneous control of multiple targets. For example, combining active ingredients to manage soilborne pests, seedling‑stage insects, and oomycete fungi not only saves time and labor but also reduces processing costs. Domestic registration data reveal that, among the 151 seed‑treatment products approved in 2021, nearly 70% were multi‑component formulations. Abroad, such compound seed treatments are even more prevalent; Bayer CropScience has developed over ten multi‑component seed treatments based on prothioconazole, including more than five four‑component blends. Meanwhile, Syngenta’s newly registered peanut seed‑treatment fungicide in the United States incorporates five active ingredients—metalaxyl‑M, fludioxonil, azoxystrobin, fluopyram, and fluxapyroxad—highlighting the growing preference for multi‑component seed treatments over single‑ingredient ones and their emergence as the industry standard.

2.3 Application of Immune Inducers with “Safety, Stress Resistance, and Plant Health” Functions in Seed Treatments

Safety and health in the application of seed treatments have become the industry’s primary focus. After sowing, seeds are exposed to various abiotic stresses: for example, the triazole fungicide tebuconazole can cause phytotoxicity under low‑temperature conditions, while seeds also face adverse environments such as drought and salinity—factors that hinder their healthy development. Plant immune elicitors, often referred to as “plant vaccines,” have evolved through long‑term co‑evolution, enabling plants to recognize pathogenic microorganisms—including fungi, bacteria, viruses, and nematodes—as well as abiotic stresses like cold, drought, salinity, and chemical injury. These elicitors activate the plant’s innate immune system, providing intrinsic protection. They are broadly classified into protein–peptide, oligosaccharide, organic acid, and inorganic compound types; more broadly, they also encompass plant‑immune‑inducing microorganisms such as Trichoderma and Bacillus species. Today, plant immune elicitors have increasingly emerged as key products in fertilizer and pesticide promotion, driving improvements in crop quality and yield, and serving as one of the critical factors for plant health. Numerous studies have demonstrated that these elicitors effectively mitigate abiotic stress. For instance, Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides, which belong to the β‑(1,3)‑glucan family, efficiently scavenge free radicals within the plant, thereby delaying senescence. Research has shown that wheat seeds treated with Ganoderma polysaccharides exhibit higher chlorophyll content in leaves, enhanced activity of plant defense enzymes, reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, increased root vigor, improved germination potential, and accelerated seedling growth.

2.4 Microbial nematicides are a current research hotspot.

Plant nematodes are soil-borne pathogens, and the use of microbial biocontrol agents to manage them is a current research hotspot. Treating seeds with such agents is considered the most scientifically sound application method. Nematode damage is widespread; for example, in Brazil, a major soybean-producing region, nematodes are one of the primary factors limiting soybean yields. In 2019, FMC launched Presence R, the first microbial nematicide approved for seed treatment in the Brazilian market. Containing Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis, it leverages symbiotic interactions with plants to deliver robust control while enhancing soybean health, promoting root development, and boosting both yield and quality. Also in 2021, Sumitomo Chemical introduced Aveo R, a bio‑nematicidal seed treatment (active ingredient: Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain PTA‑4838), and BASF launched Votivo Prime R (active ingredient: Bacillus firmus). These products not only effectively control nematodes but also stimulate root growth, increase soybean yields, and can be applied to rice, corn, wheat, and cotton.

2.5 Novel seed treatments based on long‑acting, sustained‑release formulations will unlock greater potential.

Slow-release seed treatments primarily achieve their sustained‑release effect by employing slow-release carriers or by encapsulating the active ingredient in microcapsules. These carriers or microcapsule wall materials are typically derived from natural, semi‑synthetic, or synthetic polymers, such as dextrin, sodium alginate, chitosan, modified starch, polyamide, and polyurea. The principal advantage of slow-release seed treatments is their ability to maintain prolonged efficacy. Moreover, they offer additional benefits: for instance, formulating them into microencapsulated suspension concentrates can reduce the toxicity of the active ingredient and mitigate the cold‑temperature inhibition associated with triazole fungicides. As more novel materials are incorporated, the future potential of slow-release seed treatments will continue to expand.

3 Industry Development Recommendations

3.1 Plant protection authorities at all levels should strengthen technical guidance on pesticide application.

Seed treatment agents represent the application method with the highest active‑ingredient loading per unit area. Currently, many seed coatings are applied directly without dilution, which poses significant risks. It is recommended that plant protection and quarantine agencies at all levels intensify trials and demonstrations of seed treatment products, establish demonstration zones for seed treatment, and dispatch technical personnel to areas with recurrent outbreaks and regions where technical capacity is limited. Through on‑site training sessions and field observation events, farmers should be guided in implementing chemical seed treatments, thereby effectively increasing the coverage of coated (or treated) seeds and enhancing pest‑and‑disease control. Furthermore, guidance on the safe use of pesticides should be strengthened for new agricultural business entities and seed companies to ensure medication safety.

3.2 Enterprises should improve their own quality control systems for seed treatment agents.

3.2.1 A Robust Corporate R&D Quality Control Process

The principle that “quality is designed in” underscores the importance of controlling quality at the source. By initiating quality planning at the very outset of the design process, resources can be leveraged effectively to enhance the overall performance of new products. The emphasis is on prevention and proactive control, with all quality‑related requirements integrated into management throughout the product’s entire life cycle. Seed treatment agents represent one of the highest‑risk applications among the many ways pesticides are used; therefore, it is essential to embed quality‑control principles into product design from the earliest stages of development. First, based on the target market, crop type, and pest or disease targets, as well as local resistance levels, conduct laboratory screening of active ingredients, in‑vitro bioassays, safety evaluations, and field trials—aiming to refine the formulation of single or combined active components with greater precision. Second, establish corporate technical standards for both the finished product and its raw materials, and rigorously evaluate according to the “Laboratory Test Methods for Assessing Crop Safety of Seed Treatment Agents,” with particular attention to setting limits on specific impurities in the active ingredient and testing special solvents, film‑forming aids, and antifreeze agents to ensure the safety of seed treatment products. Third, develop process‑technology standards for seed treatment agents—such as crushing pressure, grinding speed, and heating rate—to guarantee that the final product consistently meets the specified quality criteria.

3.2.2 Establishing an Enterprise Cross-Contamination Control System

A growing number of large-scale formulation plants are evolving into comprehensive dosage‑form processing centers, capable of handling multiple dosage forms and product varieties. Co‑line processing and repackaging of seed treatments alongside other formulations have become commonplace in some facilities. In particular, plants that were built in the early stages often suffer from suboptimal overall layouts, resulting in inherent deficiencies in measures to prevent cross‑contamination—posing a significant risk to the safe use of products. Companies engaged in the production of seed treatments should therefore establish robust cross‑contamination control systems, promote the use of dedicated workshops, specialized equipment, and trained personnel, and impose the strictest controls on shared equipment, personnel movement, and concurrent production. They should also implement scientifically sound residue‑removal validation protocols and develop comprehensive cross‑contamination matrices.

4 Summary and Outlook

Seeds are the “chips” of agriculture. International seed industry giants have long prioritized seed health, with many companies establishing research centers and market‑service organizations centered on this core issue. Seed treatments are among the most critical tools for ensuring seed health; they are no longer limited to disease and pest control. Emerging technologies are endowing these products with additional functions, such as prolonged controlled release, quality enhancement, and yield increase. Building robust quality‑control systems and product‑application frameworks is essential for the healthy development of the seed‑treatment sector. Numerous firms have spun off specialized subsidiaries to manage these operations, achieving strong returns and paving the way for the industry’s sustainable growth. Against the backdrop of global convergence between the seed and agrochemical sectors, the “seed + agrochemical” model holds great promise for unlocking greater value from seeds. Domestically, companies must also consider how to adapt to this new landscape—this has become a pivotal factor for their survival and continued development.

Source: WeChat Official Account: China Pesticide Industry Association