Take home message

• Seed available now for 2019 sowing
• Tested across 17 CQ trials from 2013-2017
• PBA Drummond on average across trials out yields all CQ varieties including Kyabra and PBA Pistol
• PBA Drummond has more Ascochyta blight (AB) resistance than Kyabra and PBA Pistol
• PBA Seamer remains the best Ascochyta blight and Phytophthora root rot (PRR) disease resistant variety
• PBA Pistol only other central Queensland specific variety available (2012)
• Compare varietal performance for your locality at nvtonline.com.au
• PBA Variety Management Package (VMP) brochure for PBA Drummond is available online at the GRDC, Pulse Australia and Seednet websites

Background

Pulse Breeding Australia (PBA) is contributing to a more profitable chickpea industry by releasing more stable high yielding varieties, requiring fewer input costs and with acceptable seed quality.

Variety releases are a complete agronomic package with plant height, lodging resistance and seed size a given. Yield advantage and disease resistance coupled with acceptable maturity to bring greater profit and sustainability to the farming system.

Every year in CQ, two trial sites are sown with approximately 350+ breeding lines, one in the Dawson Callide and one in the Central Highlands. An additional two National Variety Trial (NVT) sites with 15 key entries sample additional CQ cropping areas.

PBA Drummond resulted from a cross made in 2006 between PBA HatTrick and PBA Pistol. Both these PBA bred parents were released to industry as varieties in 2012. Seven years later a genetic combination of these two varieties is now available.

A single F3, Ascochyta blight resistant, plant was selected at Tamworth and multiplied at Warwick in 2010. Seed went to Biloela in 2011 for selection and entered CQ yield trials from 2012 onwards. Pedigree seed was commenced in 2014 and 300kg delivered to the commercial partner for increase in the 2017 season.

Yield results

Overall CQ yield averages from PBA and NVT trials has shown PBA Drummond to be 7%, 8% and 10% higher yielding than PBA Pistol, Kyabra and PBA Seamer respectively. Data has been obtained from 17 trials (Biloela, Banana, Theodore, Springsure, Emerald, Capella) across 5 diverse seasons from 2013-2017.  The spread of seasonal conditions are summarised in Table 1.

Table 1. Range of field conditions at CQ trial sites 2013-2017

Tables 2 and 3 represent the yield data by site for PBA Drummond from 2013-2017 for the Dawson Callide (DC) region and the Central Highlands (CH), respectively. In the Dawson Callide, PBA Drummond yielded anywhere from 88-121% of PBA Pistol and in the Central Highlands, from 92-123% of PBA Pistol.

Source: Trial results from Pulse Breeding Australia (PBA) and National Variety Trial (NVT) programs (www.nvtonline.com.au).
* Sowing date
¹ Calculated by averaging the year group from the NVT online long-term yield app for 5 Dawson Callide sites 2013–2017

Table 3. Yield of desi chickpea in the Central Highlands from 2013-2017

Source: Trial results from Pulse Breeding Australia (PBA) and National Variety Trial (NVT) programs (www.nvtonline.com.au).
* Sowing date
¹ Calculated by averaging the year group from the NVT online long-term yield app for 11 Central Highlands sites 2013–2017

Disease results

In Table 4, data is given for Ascochyta blight (AB) and Phytophthora root rot (PRR) from yield loss trials conducted over 3 years from 2015-2017 at Tamworth and Warwick, respectively. The Ascochyta northern rating of PBA Drummond (Susceptible -S) indicates that it has better resistance than Kyabra and PBA Pistol (both Very Susceptible-VS) but not as good as PBA HatTrick (Moderately Susceptible-MS) or the best available resistance level in PBA Seamer (Moderately Resistant-MR).

In most CQ seasons, there will be no cost benefit of applying a fungicide before Ascochyta is detected. When conditions do favour Ascochyta, a reactive foliar fungicide program and protective pod sprays are warranted. Monitor the crop 10-14 days after each rain event.

PBA Drummond is rated Susceptible (S) to Botrytis grey mould (BGM) and so managing row spacing and sowing time can assist with risk levels. A registered fungicide seed dressing is highly recommended for early control of seedling root rots, seed transmitted Ascochyta and Botrytis seedling disease. Monitor for Botrytis grey mould in spring as temperatures and humidity rise. Apply a current registered fungicide once Botrytis grey mould has been identified within the crop and before full canopy closure.

Table 4. Disease ratings and yield loss trial data for CQ grown desi chickpea varieties

Source: NSW DPI and DAF Pulse pathology and PBA breeding teams
¹ PBA Pistol and Moti are rated VS with similar AB yield loss as Kyabra
² Ascochyta blight yield loss trial, Tamworth 2015, 2016 and 2017, NSW DPI
³ Northern Region AB Rating Scale
⁴ Yields are in the presence of high disease with no fungicide applications
⁵ Phytophthora root rot yield loss trial, Warwick 2015, NSW DPI and DAF

Agronomic results

Table 5 presents agronomic data across all 17 CQ trials 2013-2017; note that PBA Drummond flowers a few days later than PBA Pistol, Kyabra and PBA Seamer, but matures at approximately the same time as Kyabra and PBA Seamer.

Plant type, plant height, lowest pod height and lodging resistance are all similar to known CQ varieties. At Warwick in 2016, frost data indicated that PBA Drummond had less plant damage when compared to other varieties, a notable improvement particularly over the more susceptible parent PBA Pistol.

Table 5. Agronomic traits for CQ grown desi chickpea varieties

Source: Pulse Breeding Australia 2013–2017
¹ Flower & Maturity score: 1 = very early, 9 = very late
² Lodging score: 1 = fully erect, 9 = flat on ground
³ Frost score (post flowering): 1=low damage, 9=high damage. Frost data collected from Warwick, SQld 2016 (DAQ00193)

Seed quality results

Table 6 gives the seed quality parameters that allow PBA Drummond entry into the bulk export market. Seed size is acceptable, closer to PBA Seamer in size than Kyabra and PBA Pistol. Seed marking percentages fell well within the acceptable range.

Table 6. Seed quality parameters for PBA Drummond relative to current varieties

Source: Pulse Breeding Australia.
100 Seed Weight (unsized) averaged over 15 CQ trials from 2013–2016
Seed Markings, count in 300 seeds as a %, 14 CQ trials 2013-2016 (courtesy of DAN00196)
Milling Performance % = Split Yield %, average of 2 CQ sites x 2 years (2013 and 2016)

Future

It is anticipated that PBA Drummond will replace Kyabra, PBA Pistol and PBA HatTrick which will account for approximately 90% of the CQ area sown.

Varieties to be released in the future are expected to have:

• Yield equal to or greater than PBA Drummond
• Ascochyta blight resistance rating at a minimum of MS
• Large seed size similar to PBA Pistol and Kyabra
• Maintain the agronomic features of PBA Drummond

PBA Drummond is protected under Plant Breeder’s Rights (PBR) legislation. Growers can only retain seed from their production of PBA Drummond for their own use.

An end point royalty (EPR) of $4.95 per tonne (GST inclusive), which includes breeder royalties, applies upon delivery of this variety. Seed is available from the commercial partner Seednet.

Acknowledgements

The research undertaken as part of this project is made possible by the significant contributions of growers through both trial cooperation and the support of the GRDC, the author would like to thank them for their continued support.

Local growers who partnered with PBA to provide on farm trials include the Johnstone’s from Banana, the Conway’s from Theodore and Peter Lablack from Capella. Support from the Qld DAF NVT team is also acknowledged with their data contributing to the yield analyses.

Contact details

Dr Merrill Ryan
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
Hermitage Research Facility, Yangan Road
Warwick QLD 4370
Ph: 07 4542 6710
Email: merrill.ryan@daf.qld.gov.au

Varieties displaying this symbol are protected under the Plant Breeders Right Act 1994

GRDC code: DAN00212