Changes in seed quality of chickpea cultivars under salinity stress

A factorial experiment on the basis of RCB design with three replications was conducted in 2007 to evaluate the effects of salt stress (S-1, S-2 and S-3: control, 5 and 10 dS/m NaCl, respectively) on seed quality of three chickpea cultivars (ILC and Jam from kabuli type and Pirooz from desi type) at different stages of pod filling. Seed viability and germination rate of chickpea cultivars increased with enhancing seed weight on the mother plant under both saline and non-saline conditions. However, seed weight and consequently viability percentage and germination rate decreased as salinity increased. Reduction in seed weight due to salinity was closely related with low pod filling rate. Means of maximum seed viability and rate of germination for seeds produced under control and moderate salinity were not significantly differed, but these traits for seeds produced under high salinity were significantly lower than those for control. Seed quality of Pirooz was generally lower than that of ILC and Jam. Variation of seed quality among chickpea cultivars was attributed to differences in genetic constitution. Thus, the quality of chickpea seeds could be influenced by both genotype and salinity stress.