Physiological changes in accelerated ageing seeds of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Seed material of five chickpea cultivars viz., Awrodhi, KGD1168, KWR-108, Pragati and Udai were tested for accelerated aging of 2, 4, 6, 9, @ 12 days at 40+1°C temperature and 98+2 per cent humidity over control. The present investigation on physiological changes in accelerated aged seeds of chickpea revealed that the seed quality parameters i.e. seed germination, seedling length, speed of germination and seed vigour index under laboratory condition as well as field emergence and survival percentage of seedlings in field condition drastically reduced with advance in accelerated ageing periods. The better results observed in cultivar Udai followed by Awrodhi, Pragati in comparison to KGD-1168 and KWR-108.