Seed growth and assimilate remobilisation in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) as affected by water deficit

[Truncated] Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) has become an important pulse crop in the Western Australian ( W A ) grain-growing region due to its suitability to alkaline soils. This region has a Mediterranean-type climate characterised by a winter-dominant rainfall pattern. Winter-sown chickpea crops inevitably encounter terminal drought near the end of the growing season which not only reduces yield, but also affects seed quality by limiting seed filling. Small seed is unacceptable or less preferred by consumers. The aim of this thesis is to examine the effect of terminal drought on seed filling in chickpea and to determine physiological mechanisms to maximise seed filling under drought.