The recognition of the importance of seed-transmitted diseases resulted in the establishment in 1977, of the Inter-American Seed Pathology Program and, in Brazil, the Brazilian Seed Pathology Program (BSPP) aiming to develop research, training and difusion activities specifically related to seed pathology. The BSPP is coordinated by the Brazilian Enterprise for Agricultural Research (EMBRAPA), through its National Center for Genetic Resources (CENARGEN). There are 137 participant researchers from 13 Universities, 12 EMBRAPAs research units and 6 others, distributed in 14 States. The main products under research are edible beans, soybeans and rice.