Australia
February 16, 2010

Chickpea growers in northern New South Wales and southern Queensland are expected to enthusiastically embrace the new variety PBA HatTrick* , released by Pulse Breeding Australia last year.

However, Pulse Australia is warning that its enhanced disease resistance is no replacement for good management.

Gordon Cumming, Industry Development Manager for the Northern Region for Pulse Australia, says there is no room for complacency.

“About 60 per cent of the chickpeas grown in the region last year were Jimbour because of its broad regional adaptation and high yield potential,” Mr Cumming said.

“PBA HatTrick maintains this yield potential and adds enhanced disease resistance, being classed as moderately resistant/resistant to ascochyta blight and moderately resistant to phytophthora root rot - the two key chickpea disease threats in north-eastern Australia.

“Under normal conditions there is no cost benefit for growers using PBA HatTrick to apply a preventative fungicide before ascochyta is detected. This is a direct financial saving; but of even greater importance is the ease of management the variety provides to growers when making disease management decisions.

“Growers need to be aware that other varieties still need a preventative spray program, in accordance with their levels of varietal resistance. Only seed from a paddock clean of disease in the previous year should be used, and the use of a seed dressing is always advisable,” Mr Cumming said.

All varieties remain susceptible to pod infection by ascochyta blight and appropriate disease management practices may be required during pod fill in conducive spring seasons when the disease is present within a crop.

Regardless of the variety, rotations and disease monitoring are important.

“Chickpeas should not be planted in the same paddock within three years, or next to the previous year’s chickpea crop,” Mr Cumming said.

“A wet winter or spring increases disease risk and crops, including PBA HatTrick , should be checked seven to ten days after rain and treated with a fungicide if ascochyta blight has been found.”

A guide, Symptoms and Identification of Ascochyta blight in Chickpea, is available on the Pulse Australia website. It has numerous photographs to help growers who may not have seen the disease before. Variety Management Packages are also available.

Many agronomists in the region have also been accredited and growers are encouraged to seek their advice in planning for and managing their chickpea crops.

These courses have been run by Mr Cumming in association with the state agriculture departments of Queensland and New South Wales and supported by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC).

The GRDC is investing significant funds into pulses, including chickpeas, to ensure growers have new varieties and better management techniques to remain competitive and make the most of the benefits they bring to farming systems.

This includes partially funding Pulse Australia and Pulse Breeding Australia.

The Pulse Australia website is www.pulseaus.com.au and Mr Cumming can be contacted on 0408 923 474.

* Variety protected under the Plant Breeders Rights Act 1994

Website: http://www.grdc.com.au

Published: February 16, 2010