Enhancement of seedling growth and phytochemical content of chickpea ( <i>Cicer arietinum L.</i> ) with surface discharge cold plasma

Chickpeas (<i>Cicer arietinum L.)</i> are among the oldest legumes consumed and are also valued as cattle fodder due to their high protein, amino acid, and fiber content. To enhance germination, biochemical properties, and yield, chickpeas were exposed to surface discharge cold plasma treatment for 10 min, with untreated seeds as controls. After 14 days, germination rates were similar (40%) in both groups, but treated plants showed a 15% increase in shoot and root length by day 12 and a 70% germination index compared to controls. Phytochemical analysis revealed higher levels of phenols, alkaloids, and cardiac glycosides in treated plants, highlighting the potential of cardiac glycosides for heart disorder treatments. The study underscores the importance of timing between treatment and application for optimizing biochemical outcomes. With limited research on chickpea phytochemical properties, this study demonstrates that cold plasma treatment can improve yield and grain quality, offering significant agricultural and nutritional benefits.