The small seeded, early maturing, ascochyta blight resistant kabuli variety Genesis 079 (currently under seed multiplication) was high yielding in SA chickpea trials in 2008. It had equal or higher yields at all sites than the current standard small kabuli variety, Genesis 090.
In 2008 grain yields of chickpeas were generally lower than field peas and either equal or lower than lentils when compared at the same sites.
This was unlike in 2007 where their yields were generally more comparable to these other crops.
The lack of any useful spring rainfall in 2008, unlike in 2007 where late November rainfall was beneficial to chickpeas in some areas, was the main reason for this lower relative performance last year.
Chickpeas, due to their relative later maturity, are better suited to areas with deep soils which can retain subsoil moisture or environments where spring rainfall is considered reliable.
Grain yields of the 9 National Variety Trial (NVT) and Pulse Breeding Australia (PBA) chickpea trials ranged from 0.7 t/ha at Rudall (Eastern Eyre Peninsula) and Balaklava to 2.7 t/ha at Riverton. Site yields were generally lower than their long term averages.
Post flowering moistures stress and high temperatures during flowering and pod fill were the major factors influencing variety performance in 2008.
Ascochyta blight was only present at Turretfield and Riverton and had a low impact on variety performance at these sites due to the dry spring conditions.
Across all PBA and NVT trials the ascochyta blight susceptible but broadly adapted variety, Howzat, was the highest yielding desi commercial variety in a repeat performance of 2007.
Howzat was 8 percent higher yielding than the ascochyta blight resistant desi line Genesis 509.
Genesis 509 is not as broadly adapted as Howzat but has superior yields in the presence of ascochyta blight.
Howzat also had higher yields than the small seeded ascochyta blight resistant kabuli line Genesis 090. Averaging 13 percent higher yields across all sites.
The absence of ascochyta blight at all sites and Genesis 090’s later maturity timing favoured Howzat’s relative performance. Genesis 090, like Genesis 509 has superior yields to Howzat in the presence of ascochyta blight.
Geneis 090 was very low yielding at the highly moisture stressed sites of Balaklava and Rudall. It also was relatively poor performing at Melton and Turretfield where the season finished rapidly due to premature ‘haying off’ occurring from the lack of sufficient spring rainfall.
Genesis 090’s best relative yields were at the higher yielding sites of Cockaleechie and Riverton and also at Minlaton where conditions during pod fill were likely to be cooler than elsewhere in 2008.
Genesis 079 is currently under multiplication with Australian Agricultural Crop Technologies and is expected to be widely available in 2010.
It was 2 percent higher yielding than Howzat and 15 percent higher yielding than Genesis 090 in 2008. This variety was well suited to the dry and short seasonal conditions which prevailed last year. Genesis 079 had equal or higher grain yields than Genesis 090 at all sites in 2008 and was similar or higher yielding than Howzat (except for at the South East sites).
Genesis 079 offers high yields in SA particularly in short growing seasons or environments. It will be less suited to high rainfall and/or long growing season districts due to its early and more determinate maturity pattern than Genesis 090.
Genesis 079 produces small 6-7mm sized grain compared with Genesis 090 which produces seed sized 7-8mm. Indications of grain price for Genesis 079 are that it will be at the lower end of the Genesis 090 price range.
The soon to be released ascochyta blight resistant desi line from PBA Chickpeas and licensed to AWB Seeds, CICA0503, performed well at all sites in 2008 and was 10 percent higher yielding than Howzat.
This line was also similar or higher yielding than Howzat at all sites in 2007 and will offer a high yielding ascochyta blight resistant desi alternative to Howzat and Genesis 509 when available.
In the kabuli chickpea trials Almaz (medium to large seeded kabuli line with intermediate resistance to ascochyta blight) was 25 percent lower yielding than Genesis 090 across all sites.
The newly released medium to large seeded kabuli type, Genesis 114, also with intermediate ascochyta blight resistance, had grain yields 12 percent lower than Genesis 090 and will provide a higher yielding alternative to Almaz when available.
The lower yields of the larger seeded Kabulis, compared with the smaller seeded types, need to be considered along with their likely higher grain prices if deciding to grow these types.
