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 (CO 2 ) levels on chickpea seed ( Cicer arietinum L.) germination and phytochemical content. The seeds were germinated under two CO 2 concentrations: ambient (approximately 400 ppm) and elevated (approximately 750 ppm). The results showed that the high CO 2 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 CO 2 treatment enriched the levels of valuable flavonoids, such as formononetin and biochanin A. Taken together, these findings suggest that elevated CO 2 represents an innovative strategy for biofortifying germinated chickpeas, significantly increasing their content of health-promoting phytochemicals.