Exposure of seven day-old broad bean seedlings to chilling temperature (5°C) daily for 21 days, led to significant decrease in all growth parameters determined (length of radicle, length of plumule, water content, fresh mass and dry mass accumulation) as compared with control seedlings. Significant increases were observed in the amount and in the relative composition of photosynthetic parameters (Chl a, Chl b, Chl a+b, Chl a/b, Cars, total pigments) of the variously treated broad beans in relation to control samples. Photosynthetic activity (photosystem (PS) II activity) of the treated broad beans showed significant decrease as compared with control seedlings throughout the entire period of the experiment. These results are discussed mainly on the basis of the mechanism of action of chilling stress on growth and metabolic changes in broad beans during germination.