What does seed disinfection aim to accomplish?

The goal of seed disinfection primarily revolves around ensuring the health and viability of seeds by addressing the presence of harmful pathogens. This process is focused specifically on controlling surface microbes, which can include bacteria, fungi, and viruses that may reside on the seed coats. By doing so, seed disinfection aims to prevent these pathogens from propagating and infecting the seedlings once germination occurs.

While option C mentions the elimination of pathogens that have penetrated living cells of the seed, disinfection typically targets only the surface-level contaminants. The distinction is essential, as seed disinfection does not penetrate into the living tissue of the seed but instead disinfects the outer surfaces to reduce the risk of disease during the germination and early growth phases.

The other options relate to different aspects of plant health. For example, while disinfection can indirectly help enhance germination rates by promoting a healthier seed environment, its primary function is not to enhance these rates. Similarly, eliminating weeds is not a focus of seed disinfection since weeds are not pathogens, and controlling surface microbes is indeed central to wrapping up the disinfection process.