J. B. PATELPATEL DISHA SANJAYKUMAR2021-07-012021-07-012019-05https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810170001The present investigation was conducted at the Sagdividi Farm, Department of Seed Science and Technology, College of Agriculture, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh during rabi 2017-18, with an aim to study the effect of harvesting stages (H1 = Dark green colour pod stage, H2 = Green to yellow colour pod stage, H3 = Full yellow colour pod stage, and H4 = Copper brown colour pod stage) on seed quality in different chickpea varieties (V1 = GG 1, V2 = GG 2, V3 = GJG 3, V4 = GG 4, V5 = GG 5, and V6 = GG 6) in the field condition as well as during storage after harvesting. The experiment was laid out in field as per Randomized Block Design (Factorial) with three replications. The characters viz., fresh weight of hundred pods (g), dry weight of hundred pods (g), fresh weight of hundred seeds (g), dry weight of hundred seeds (g) and moisture content (%) of fresh seeds were recorded in the field. The seeds harvested as per the treatment combinations from the field experiment were stored in the laboratory for eight months and observations viz., moisture content (%), 100 seed weight (g), germination percentage, root length of seedling (cm), shoot length of seedling (cm), seedling length (cm), seedling fresh weight (mg), seedling dry weight (mg), seedling vigour index (length), seedling vigour index (mass) and electrical conductivity of seed leachates (ds/m) were recorded initially at the time of storage followed by two months interval up to eight months in the laboratory of the Department of Seed Science and Technology, College of Agriculture, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh. The experimental results revealed that irrespective of harvesting stages, significantly the highest and lowest fresh and dry weight of hundred pods and fresh weight of hundred pods were recorded in GG 2 and GG 5, respectively; while dry weight of hundred seeds was recorded significantly the highest and the lowest in GG2 and GG4, respectively. Relatively the highest moisture content (35.18 %) in fresh seeds was noted in GJG 3 followed by GG 2 (34.94 %) and GG 4 (34.82 %). The lowest moisture content was noted in GG 6 (34.44 %). Irrespective of varieties, significantly the highest fresh weight of hundred pods (55.60 g) and seeds (39.50 g) was recorded, when seeds harvested at green to yellow colour pod stage (H2). Significantly the highest (33.51 g and 27.68 g) and the lowest (16.21 g and 7.58 g) dry weight of hundred pods and seeds were recorded in H3 (full yellow colour pod stage) and H1 (dark green colour pod stage) harvesting stages, respectively. Among the different stages of harvest, significantly the maximum (59.95 %) moisture content was recorded in fresh seeds harvested at dark green colour pod stage (H1) followed by green to yellow colour pod stage (H2) (42.45 %), while it was noted the minimum Abstract ii (13.13 %) in copper brown colour pod stage (H4). Fresh and dry weight of pods and moisture content recorded in fresh seeds at the time of harvesting were decreased significantly with advance in maturity, while dry weight of seeds and pods were increased up to physiological maturity and then decreased. Irrespective of the harvesting stages, the moisture content in the seeds, 100 seed weight and electrical conductivity of seed leachates were increased gradually with increased in storage period, while germination, root length, shoot length, seedling length, seedling fresh and dry weight, and seedling vigour index (length and mass) were decreased gradually with increased in storage period. At the time of storage, the moisture content recorded the highest (8.59 %) in GG 2 and after eight months of storage, the moisture content, on an average, increased to 2 per cent and it was noted the maximum (10.57 %) in GG 4. More or less the same results were observed in 100 seed weight and EC of seed leachates. Germination was recorded the highest (68.83 %) in GG 5 at the time of storage, but after eight months of storage, germination was noted the maximum (58.42 %) in GJG 3 and that is in decreasing order. Seedling vigour index (length and mass) were recorded significantly the highest (2111.10 and 4222.30) in GG 5 at the time of storage and after eight months of storage, they were noted the maximum (1204.60 and 2409.20) in GJG 3. For the remaining traits like, 100 seed weight (25.25 g) in GG 2; root length (5.08 cm), shoot length (10.38 cm), seedling length (15.47 cm), seedling fresh weight (402.13 mg) and seedling dry weight (30.93 mg) in GG 6; and electrical conductivity of seed leachates (1.434 dS/m) in GG 4 recorded the maximum values at the end of 8 months storage. Irrespective of varieties, the seeds harvested at dark green colour pod stage (H1) were not germinated at all. Therefore, no any seed quality observations were recorded. Irrespective of varieties, the moisture content in the seeds, 100 seed weight and electrical conductivity of leachates were increased gradually with increased in storage period, while germination, root length, shoot length, seedling length, seedling fresh and dry weight, and seedling vigour index (length and mass) of seeds harvested at different stages were decreased gradually with increased in storage period. Initially at the time of storage, the maximum moisture content (8.70 %) was noted in green to yellow colour pod stage (H2). After eight months of storage, the moisture content, on an average, increased to 2 per cent and it was recorded significantly the maximum (10.61 %) in the same stage. Irrespective of varieties, at the time of storage, significantly the maximum germination (95.06 %) was recorded in the seeds harvested at full yellow colour pod stage (H3) and after eight months of storage, same trend was observed, as significantly the maximum germination (84.67 %) was recorded in the seeds harvested at full yellow colour pod stage (H3). After eight months of storage, significantly the maximum 100 seed weight (28.79 g), root length (7.46 cm), shoot length (14.71 cm), seedling length (22.16 cm), seedling fresh weight (577.74 mg), seedling dry weight (44.49 mg), seedling vigour index (length) (1876.78) and seedling vigour index (mass) (3767.28) were recorded in the seeds harvested at full yellow colour pod stage (H3). Overall, looking to the seed quality, it could be suggested that for getting the higher yield and quality of chickpea varieties after eight months of storage, chickpea seed should be harvested at the H3 (full yellow color pod stage), as the seeds harvested at full yellow color pod stage recorded the germination percentage (84.67 %) even after eight months of storage with good vigour. For maintaining better quality up to the next season sowing, seeds could be stored under proper storage condition, because with increase in storage period, quality of seed deteriorated.EnglishThesis