Phosphorus deficiency stimulated accumulation of Na + in the root but declined in the shoot of chickpea seedlings. K + content in the root and the shoot increased initially followed by a decrease. Phosphorus deficiency inhibited the accumulation of NO3 -, PO4 3-and also sugar content both in the root and shoot. It also caused a decline in the accumulation of total sugar only in the root. The interrelationship between the effect of phosphorus deficiency on ion transport and anatomical structure was discussed.