Diseases: the presence of a physical barrier on the soil surface interrupts the life cycle of soil-borne diseases such as Bremia, Rhizoctonia and Sclerotinia. Resting spores in the soil (sclerotia) can still germinate under the seedmat and the resulting fruting bodies (apothecia) still produce spores.  But, the spores don't get splashed onto the leaves and so the life cycle is disrupted.

Pests: the physical barrier can also disrupt the life cycle of soil borne pests that emerge to feed on leaves, such as Flea Beetle.

The blue colour reflected from the seedmat is believed to 'look like water' to a number of flying insect pests as well as acting as a physical barrier to egg laying at the base of the plants, giving some degree of pest control for both root and leaf crops.

Growers have reported reduced levels of pests and disease damage on crops that have passed through the pack houses.  Terraseed plan to investigate these effects to quantify the level of suppression for a range of pest and disease species in a range of crops.