Coated seeds are primarily designed to:

Coated seeds are designed primarily to provide protection against diseases during the germination process. The coating often contains seeds treated with fungicides or other protective agents, which help to safeguard the seeds from potential pathogens that could lead to diseases. This protection is crucial as it ensures that the seeds have a better chance of germinating successfully and thriving when planted. By reducing the risk of disease, coated seeds can enhance overall crop yield and health.

The other choices do not capture the primary function of coated seeds. Increasing the overall weight of the seed might affect handling but does not address the protective purpose of the coating. Similarly, while improving aesthetic value might be a secondary benefit, it is not the primary aim of coating seeds. Facilitating easier planting may occur due to uniform size and shape, but again, this is a secondary consequence rather than the main purpose of the seed coating. The foremost goal of coating seeds is to ensure protection against diseases during the vital germination phase.