BIOMETRICAL ANALYSIS OF FIVE CHICKPEA (CICER ARIETINUM L.) CULTIVARS

Rezumat

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) cultivars can differ substantially in seed biometric and physical characteristics, which are relevant to cultivar characterization and may influence seed processing and utilization. This study aimed to characterize and compare five Kabuli chickpea cultivars (Alamo, Flamenco, Maragià, Reale, and Sultano) grown under the same field conditions in Constanța County, Romania. Seeds were evaluated for diameter, estimated volume, thousand-seed weight (TSW), density, water imbibition, seed coat proportion, and seed coat color using digital RGB analysis. Significant cultivar-dependent differences were
observed for several seed traits. TSW ranged from 264 g in Sultano to 418 g in Alamo, with Alamo, Maragià, and Reale showing the highest values. Water imbibition ranged from 111 to 124%, while seed coat proportion varied from 6.43 % in Flamenco to 11.33 % in Sultano. Alamo, Maragià, and Reale also showed the largest mean seed diameters, whereas Sultano had the smallest seeds and the highest mean seed tissue density. Seed coat coloration was generally similar among cultivars, although Sultano showed a distinctive RGB profile with a higher contribution of the red component. Overall, the results demonstrate substantial cultivardependent variability in seed biometric and physical characteristics among Kabuli chickpeas grown under the same environmental and management conditions. The combined assessment of seed weight, dimensions, hydration behavior, seed coat proportion, and color provides a practical basis for cultivar characterization and contributes to the evaluation of chickpea germplasm cultivated under local conditions