Cicer arietinum

Why are the seeds of this species difficult? The seeds may have physical dormancy, which can be overcome by chipping the seed coat or removing covering structures to allow water uptake.

Cicer arietinum (Image: S. Wood, RBG Kew)

Seed Storage

This species has Orthodox seeds - dry to 15-20% eRH and store at -20ºC, or as cool as possible.

Germination Requirements

The seeds of this species may be Physically Dormant (based on other species in the same genus).

Remove any covering structures and try chipping the seed coat to overcome dormancy. Germinate on agar, germination paper or sand, at 20ºC or under an alternating temperature regime of 30/20ºC (with an 8/16hr photoperiod).

Seed Morphology

Cicer arietinum
(Image: S. Wood, RBG Kew)

See more images of this species at the Digital Seed Atlas of the Netherlands and the Digital Atlas of Economic Plants.

Taxonomy

Family: LEGUMINOSAE-PAPILIONOIDEAE

Accepted name: Cicer arietinum L.

Synonyms: Ononis crotalarioides M.E. Jones, Cicer sativum Schkuhr.

Common name: chickpea

References and Links

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (1994). Genebank Standards. FAO/IPGRI, Rome, Italy.
International Seed Testing Association (2010). International Rules for Seed Testing: edition 2010. ISTA, Bassersdorf, Switzerland.
Rao, N.K., Hanson, J., Dulloo, M.E., Ghosh, K., Nowell, D. and Larinde, M. (2006). Manual of seed handling in genebanks. Handbooks for Genebanks No. 8. Bioversity International, Rome, Italy.

AFPD (African Flowering Plants Database) - Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques de la Ville de Genève, Switzerland, and South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria, RSA: Cicer arietinum.
PROTAbase (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa) - Wageningen, Netherlands: Cicer arietinum.
SID (Seed Information Database) - Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK: Cicer arietinum.
Tropicos - Missouri Botanical Garden, USA: Cicer arietinum.