author(s)
Gnyandev B, MB Kurdikeri and PM Salimath

abstract
The field studies were conducted to ascertain the influence of harvesting stages on seed quality in five varieties of chickpea seeds harvested at four different stages the selected varieties are Desi type (A-1, Bheema and BGD-103) and two Kabuli (ICCV-2 and KAK-2) chickpea varieties seeds are sown and pods were harvested from each variety at different pod colour stages viz. dark green, green to yellow, full yellow pod colour stages and copper brown pod colour stage. In all the chickpea varieties, fresh weight of pod and seed, 100 seed weight, moisture content decreased significantly with advance in maturity while, dry weight of pod, fresh and dry weight of seeds, seed germination, seedling length and vigour index increased. Among varieties, BGD-103 recorded maximum fresh and dry weight of pods, fresh and dry weight of seeds, germination, seedling length, seedling vigour index with lower EC values seeds harvested at yellow pod colour stage (H₃) recorded higher dry seed weight, germination (96.40%), seedling vigour with low electrical conductivity (0.993 dSm-¹). In all the chickpea varieties, the seeds harvested at yellow pod stage (H₃), recorded higher pod dry weight, germination, seedling vigour index and lower electrical conductivity. While, seeds harvested at early or later stages than yellow pod stage recorded less germination and seedling vigour index.