PHYSIOLOGICAL QUALITY OF CHICKPEA (CICER ARIETINUM L.) SEEDS UNDER STORAGE AND ENVIRONMENTAL VARIATIONS

Chickpea has recently gained prominence in agriculture, being an excellent option for crop rotation in areas cultivated with soybean or corn. Seeds must have good physiological quality, mainly during storage, to ensure crop success. Seeds undergo metabolic reactions that impair their performance when stored improperly. In this context, a study was carried out to evaluate the physiological variables of the chickpea cultivar BRS Aleppo in different types of packaging and storage environments. The analyses were performed with seeds evaluating water content, germination, first count, and accelerated aging, according to established standards. Therefore, the physiological quality of chickpea seeds can be preserved through controlled storage in hermetic packaging, thus ensuring their viability and vigor over time.