Impact of High CO ₂ Modified Atmospheres on Chickpea Germination: Effects on Functional Properties, Nutritional Composition, and Bioactive Compounds

This study examined the effects of elevated carbon dioxide (CO2) levels on chickpea seed (Cicer arietinum L.) germination and phytochemical content. The seeds were germinated under two CO2 concentrations: ambient (approximately 400 ppm) and elevated (approximately 750 ppm). The results showed that the high CO2 environment significantly improved germination rates and accelerated seedling growth. More importantly, it led to a substantial increase in bioactive compounds, thereby significantly enhancing antioxidant capacity. Metabolomic profiling confirmed that the elevated CO2 treatment enriched the levels of valuable flavonoids, such as formononetin and biochanin A. Taken together, these findings suggest that elevated CO2 represents an innovative strategy for biofortifying germinated chickpeas, significantly increasing their content of health-promoting phytochemicals.