Seed Storage Potentiation Under Forced Ageing Condition

Storing of seeds is a serious problem in tropical region like Bankura and surrounding areas in West Bengal state of India where high temperature and high relative humidity greatly accelerate seed ageing. Chickpeas are a remarkable source of proteins and carbohydrates. It is also the rich supply of dietary fibre, essential amino acids and vitamins etc. It is also having no cholesterol which making them an acceptable dietary choice for individuals. The potential health benefits associated with chickpeas placed them as one of the most nutrient-dense grain legume for human consumption. Though the seeds having a lot of ethnomedicinal values but it lost viability in a quicker rate under Indian agro-climatic ambient storage condition. Pretreatment of chickpea (<i>Cicer arietinum </i>L.) seeds with aqueous solution of CCC (chlorocholine chloride, 200 μg ml<sup>-1</sup>) for 4 hours before forced ageing treatment (100% RH and 32±2°C) for different incubations (0 to 40 days) reduced the loss of germination and field emergence capacity. The chemical also significantly arrested profuse reduction of protein as well as ageing-induced stimulation of the activity of amylase enzyme in seed during ageing. The treatments also significantly arrested profuse reduction of protein as well as ageing-induced stimulation of the activity of amylase in seed during ageing. The effect of CCC on seed potentiation is established in this study.