GROWERS will have access to the first ascochyta-resistant chickpea variety next year following the release of PBA Seamer.
The latest desi chickpea variety has yield projections on par with current varieties such as PBA HatTrick and PBA Boundary, but an increased level of resistance to the plant’s biggest issue, ascochyta.
NSW Department of Primary Industries chickpea breeder Kristy Hobson said she expected high demand for Seamer for the 2017 growing season following this year’s disease issues.
This season’s wet weather has increased the risk of yield loss due to ascochyta blight and botrytis grey mould, making the variety’s disease package sought after.
PBA Seamer, the first desi variety released for the northern growing region since Boundary in 2011, also offers moderate resistance to Phytophthora root rot, on par with PBA HatTrick.
“I think there will be a lot of interest given the improved ascochyta resistance and the way this year’s season has panned out,” Dr Hobson said.
“With each variety, we’re improving the ascochyta resistance, and while Seamer has a similar yield to HatTrick, the improvement in disease resistance should decrease input costs for growers because they won’t be spraying as much fungicide.”
Grains Research and Development Corporation northern panel chair James Clark said the new variety had the potential to deliver valuable yield benefits in high-pressure disease years.
“PBA Seamer has a number of agronomic benefits that will help keep dollars in growers’ pockets through yield improvements and reductions in fungicide costs,” Mr Clark said.
“Under very high ascochyta blight disease pressure, PBA Seamer outperforms with minimal yield loss, compared with 76 per cent yield loss in the current industry benchmark variety.
“This means, through reduced fungicide use, the cost of production will drop by $21 million per annum compared to the current industry standard.”
PBA Seamer is an earlier flowering variety than HatTrick, has a larger seed and is preferred by end users due to a greater dahl milling yield. It’s a semi-erect plant type with superior lodging resistance.
“It’s a bit shorter than other varieties with a lower pod height, but it stands better at harvest, so the lodging resistance will become really important in years with bigger biomass levels, when we’ve had a good season,” Dr Hobson said.
Primary Industries Minister Niall Blair, who announced the new variety at the AgQuip field days last week, said the new chickpea variety would give Australian growers an edge over their global counterparts.
