Effect of Water Stress and Hardening on Metabolic Changes in Chick Pea (Cicer Arietinum L.)

Effect of seed priming with zinc (Zinc sulphate), copper (Copper sulphate) and water has been studied on sugar, protein and respiratory metabolism in chick pea germinating under moisture stress. Copper and zinc primed seeds showed higher protein and total free amino acids than oon-primed seeds, however, proline was higher in non-primed seeds. Total sugar, amylase and peroxidase activity was found higher in primed seeds whereas, starch content was higher in non-primed seeds. The results suggest that copper and zinc primed seeds have efficient sugar and protein metabolism over water and non-primed seeds under stress conditions.