Suggested desi chickpea varieties for Western Australian growers are PBA Striker, PBA Slasher, PBA Maiden, Neelam and Ambar. The features listed below should be taken into account when choosing a variety for an area with particular priority being paid to the range of disease resistance they offer and the risk profile in particular environments. Results from National Variety Trials should also be considered.
PBA Striker
- Highest yielding desi chickpea variety across all chickpea growing areas of Western Australia and produces high yields in the low to medium rainfall areas of southern Australia. Yields of PBA Striker are substantially higher (7-13%) than PBA Slasher and Genesis 836 in WA.
- Improved early vigour compared to PBA Slasher, with early flowering and early maturity. PBA Striker flowers 5-7 days earlier than PBA Slasher and is earlier maturing than PBA Slasher and Genesis 836.
- Moderately resistant (MR) to ascochyta blight, it is a semi-spreading plant type similar to PBA Slasher. Plant height and lowest pod height is similar to PBA Slasher but lower than Genesis 836.
- Suitable for both splitting and direct consumption use by traders in India and the Middle East. Medium sized desi seed with excellent milling quality, larger seed size than PBA Slasher and Genesis 836.
PBA Slasher
- Combines aschochyta blight resistance, rated as resistant (R) to ascochyta blight, high yield and good seed quality.
- Excellent adaptation to all areas of southern and western Australia. Yields of PBA Slasher are 5-7% higher than Genesis 836 in WA.
- Mid-flowering and mid-maturity. PBA Slasher flowers 3-7 days earlier than Genesis 836 and is earlier maturing than Genesis 836.
- Semi-spreading plant type. Plant height and lowest pod height is lower than Genesis 836.
- Assessed as suitable for both splitting and direct consumption use by traders in India and the Middle East. Medium sized desi seed with good milling quality, with higher dehulling efficiency and dhal (splits) yield than Genesis 836.
PBA Maiden
- Well adapted to most of southern Australia, particularly the medium and low rainfall environments in WA.
- Moderately resistant (MR) to ascochyta blight, similar to PBA Striker.
- Largest seed size of current desi chickpea varieties, 28% larger than PBA Slasher and targeted at the whole seed market.
- Early to mid-flowering, earlier than PBA Slasher but later than PBA Striker.
- Semi-spreading plant type similar to PBA Slasher with moderate early vigour.
Neelam
- Well adapted to most of southern Australia, particularly suited to the low rainfall shorter growing season environments in WA.
- Highest yielding resistant (R) ascochyta blight rated desi chickpea variety. Yields of Neelam are 2-5% higher than PBA Slasher in WA.
- Mid-flowering and mid-maturity variety similar to Genesis 836.
- Medium/tall plant height, taller than PBA Slasher and similar to Genesis 836.
- Desi type chickpea suitable for the whole and splitting human food markets. Seed size is 17 grams/100 grams (g), marginally larger than Genesis 836 similar to PBA Slasher. However its seed coat colour is lighter than PBA Slasher.
Ambar
- Earliest flowering and earliest maturing of all current desi chickpea varieties making it particularly well suited to shorter growing season (low rainfall) environments.
- Well adapted to most of southern Australia, particularly suited to the northern Wheatbelt of WA. Ambar yields are similar to PBA Slasher.
- Rated as resistant (R) to ascochyta blight.
- Bushy growth habit with profuse branching it has a short/medium plant height slightly shorter than PBA Slasher.
- Desi type chickpea suitable for the whole and splitting human food markets. Seed size is similar to Genesis 836 at 16g/100g. However its seed coat colour is lighter than PBA Slasher.