Vegetable seeds are often coated or pelleted before planting. Coated seeds have a thin layer of material such as clay, diatomaceous earth, rhizobium, or chemicals, such as a fungicide treatment, added to the seed surface. These materials may make the seeds larger but do not change their overall shape. Seeds are coated to make them easier to handle, to deliver chemical treatments, to improve contact between the soil and seed, or to inoculate the seeds with microbes. Film coating is a popular treatment adapted from the pharmaceutical industry. Film coated seeds look similar to M & M candies because they give the seed a distinct colored coating that is dust-free and improves the flowability of the seeds. Pelleted seeds are coated until they have a round shape like the ones pictured here. The larger round shape makes the seeds easier to handle and plant, particularly when belt seeders are used with a specific hole size. Pelleted seeds are often color coded to simplify identification since seeds cannot be seen inside the pellet. The pelleting treatment shown here splits upon hydration and does not pose a barrier to radicle growth or limit oxygen uptake by the embryo. next slide