Chickpea - varieties

A field of Kyabra chickpea

There are two distinct types of chickpea grown in Australia: Desi and Kabuli. Varieties displaying this symbol (*) are subject to Plant Breeders Rights (PBR) and protected under the Plant Breeders Rights Act 1994. Unauthorised sale of seed of these varieties is an infringement under the Act.

Desi chickpea prices generally range between $400 - $500. Chickpeas are becoming increasingly popular in central Queensland with the area being planted to chickpea continually increasing. Central Queensland growers must remain vigilant about sourcing seed free of Ascochyta from central Queensland origin in order to maintain the region's low disease status for Ascochyta blight.

Heliothis is the major pest of chickpea. It is imperative that you monitor larval numbers and factor expected yield, crop value, crop growth stage and soil moisture into any spray decisions - flowering/podding crops are more likely to suffer economical damage than vegetative crops.

Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries (QPIF) and New South Wales Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) have published a comprehensive compilation of research on the numerous benefits of chickpeas in the farming system - Northern Grain Production - a farming systems approach was released at Chickpea Focus in 2005 and is now in its 2nd edition. The book is also available in hard copy from Pulse Australia and QPIF.

Desi chickpeas have relatively small, light brown angular seeds that are used for split pea (dahl) or for flour after the hulls are removed. The main market for this seed type is India and Pakistan. Our main buyer (India) prefers larger, light coloured grain; the new QPIF chickpea Kyabra has received very favourable feedback from overseas marketers and has very large seed size (24g per 100 seeds). Desi varieties are the most widely grown under dryland production in Queensland. With effective management, desi chickpeas are also suitable for irrigated production.

Amethyst: Was released in 1987 by the New South Wales DPI. This is a tall, erect variety that stands well and is relatively easy to harvest, Amethyst is very susceptible to phytophthora, and should only be grown in areas where the disease is not likely to be a problem. The seed is considerably smaller than other varieties and tends to split easily, especially if it receives rain before harvest. Seed quality of Amethyst is variable, as it is prone to throwing black seeds which degrade the sample.

Plant Breeders Rights (PBR)

Some varieties are protected under the Plant Breeder's Rights Act 1994. Seed of these varieties can only be bought from the owner of the variety or an agent authorised by the owner. Trading of seed without authorisation will make offenders liable to prosecution and court action for damages. Once purchased, a grower can maintain seed of a variety with PBR protection. Farmers can sell the products of a protected variety for commercial use as feed or food but cannot sell the variety for seed.

Flipper*: Was bred by New South Wales DPI and released in 2005. Flipper has the highest level of resistance to Ascochyta among current chickpea varieties and is the variety of choice when the risk of Ascochyta is high. Flipper is recommended for production in higher rainfall areas of New South Wales and adjacent border regions of southern Queensland. Flipper's disease resistance needs to be balanced against later matuirty and reduced yield potential. It is does not perform well in western areas of southern Queensland. Seed is available from AWB Seeds. For the Variety Management package see the Pulse Australia website.

Kyabra*: Released in 2005 Kyabra is QPIF's newest chickpea variety and with exceptional seed quality is set to become the industry benchmark. Kyabra is the highest yielding chickpea variety available in southern Queensland and has agronomy similar to that of Jimbour. This variety has undergone limited evaluation in central Queensland; in seven trials between 2005 and 2006 Kyabra produced yields equivalent to Moti. Seed will be available from Plant Tech. Dedicated central Queensland origin seed will be available. For the Variety Management package see the Pulse Australia website.

Jimbour*: This variety was released by the QPIF in 2001. Jimbour is well suited to most of the chickpea producing areas of northern New South Wales and Queensland. The plant is erect with the bottom pods set well above the ground, facilitating easier harvest, particularly in dry seasons and short crops. Jimbour has useful resistance to Phytophthora and botrytis grey mound. Large, creamish grain, suitable for segregation. For further information contact Mt Tyson Seeds. Seed sourced from central Queensland is available.

Moti*: Was released in 2003 by the Western Australian Department of Agriculture (DAWA) specifically for production in central Queensland, Moti must not be grown south of Theodore/Rolleston due to its susceptibility to Ascochyta blight. It is the tallest and highest yielding desi chickpea cultivar currently available and is suited to dryland and irrigated production. In yield trials between 1999 and 2005 Moti out-yielded other commercial varieties by an average of 12%. Moti is faster to flowering and pod set than Jimbour and Amethyst and has offered exceptional performance from planting dates in May through to even late June in central Queensland. Due to its early flowering care should be taken with early planting dates in areas that are prone to heavy frosts. Seed size is similar to Jimbour. Seed is available from AWB Seeds. For the Variety Management package see the Pulse Australia website.

Yorker*: Was bred by New South Wales DPI and released in 2005. Yorker has the highest level of resistance to Phytophthora among current chickpea varieties and is the variety of choice when the risk of Phytophthora rather than Ascochyta is high. Yorker is recommended for production in northern New South Wales, west of the Newell highway and the Darling Downs region of Queensland. Yorker's disease resistance needs to be balanced against later maturity and a potential reduction in yield potential. It is does not perform well in western areas of southern Queensland. Seed is available from AWB Seeds. For the Variety Management package see the Pulse Australia website

Variety trial information

*subject to Plant Breeders Rights (PBR) and protected under the Plant Breeders Rights Act 1994. Unauthorised sale of seed of these varieties is an infringement under the Act.

Table 1

'Predicted yield' is a figure derived from the statistical analysis of yields, not just an average

	Biloela		Central Highlands
	Predicted (t/ha)	Yield (% Moti)	Predicted (t/ha)	Yield (% Moti)
Amethyst	2.75	92	2.30	96
Jimbour*	2.86	95	2.37	98
Kyabra*	2.92	97	2.56	106
Moti*	3.00	100	2.41	100
No. of sites 2005-08	5		5

	Eastern Queensland - combined (east of Leichhardt Highway)		Hermitage		Warra
	Predicted (t/ha)	Yield (% Jimbour)	Predicted (t/ha)	Yield (% Jimbour)	Predicted (t/ha)	Yield (% Jimbour)
Amethyst	2.71	94	3.04	98	2.22	87
Flipper*	2.67	93	2.82	90	2.46	96
Jimbour*	2.89	100	3.11	100	2.55	100
Kyabra*	2.88	100	3.08	99	2.57	101
Yorker*	2.59	90	2.67	86	2.47	97
No. of sites 2006-08	5		3		2

	Western Queensland - combined (west of Leichhardt Highway)		Billa Billa		Roma
	Predicted (t/ha)	Yield (% Jimbour)	Predicted (t/ha)	Yield (% Jimbour)	Predicted (t/ha)	Yield (% Jimbour)
Amethyst	1.71	91	2.11	92	1.32	89
Flipper*	1.60	85	2.02	88	1.19	80
Jimbour*	1.89	100	2.30	100	1.48	100
Kyabra*	1.94	102	2.35	102	1.53	103
Yorker*	1.61	85	2.03	88	1.19	80
No. of sites 2006-08	6		3		3

Varietal maturity

Table 2

Central Queensland

Variety	Days to flowering	100 seed weight (g)
Amethyst	63	15
Jimbour	65	19
Kyabra	65	23
Moti	59	20

Results from QPIF trials 2005-08

Southern Queensland

Variety	Flowering score (1-9)	100 seed weight (g)
Amethyst	4.8	14
Flipper	7.2	18
Howzat	5.1	21
Jimbour	4.8	20
Kyabra	4.3	24
Yorker	6.2	21

Flowering score (1-9) 1 = early, 9 = late, mean across all southern Queenslnad sites 2004-06

Kabuli

Kabuli chickpeas are creamy-white and much larger than desi chickpeas. Kabuli chickpeas are usually sold whole, so seed size and appearance are critically important. Ideally Kabuli chickpea should be above 8 mm in diameter (40 g/100seeds). They flower at a similar time to the Desi types, but do have a significantly longer grain filling period. This renders them more susceptible to both moisture stress and insect damage. They are more attractive to helicoverpa than the desi types.

The kabulis have very thin seed coats. They lack the phenolic compounds present in desi chickpea (that helps reduce fungal/mould attack in the soil) hence, kabulis are extremely susceptible to a range of seed rotting fungi and should always be treated with a fungicidal seed dressing before planting. All kabuli types are extremely susceptible to phytophthora.

Planting seed should be handled with extreme care to avoid any mechanical damage to the seed coat during harvest, storage and inoculation. Hairline cracks in the seed coat allow the entry of seed rotting fungi such as pythium. The fungi are a major cause of seed rots and poor establishment of kabuli chickpeas. Kabuli can bridge over the outlets of standard airseeders and combines, which further adds to the problem of patchy, uneven stands. This problem can be minimised by only filling the planter box half full or by fitting agitators.

Yields are generally lower (15-30%), and more erratic than desi varieties, but this can be offset by premiums for larger chickpeas in the 8 mm, 9 mm and 10 mm size ranges.

As a general rule, kabuli production should only be attempted by experienced chickpea growers. Crop marketing and insect control strategies should be discussed with your seed shed and agronomist well before planting.

Bumper*: Released by New South Wales DPI in 1997, this variety has large creamy-white seeds, consistently in the 9 mm range. Seed is available through various retain outlets.

Garnet: Released in 1987 by New South Wales DPI. Garnet produces mainly 8 mm and 9 mm diameter seed in approximately equal proportions.

Kaniva: Released in 1988 by Victorian Department of Primary Industries (Vic DPI). While yields have generally been slightly lower than Garnet, some buyers still have preference for this variety. Growers are advised to organise contracts before planting.

Kimberley Large: Released in 2004 by DAWA/Centre for Legumes in Mediterranean Agriculture (CLIMA) and intended as a replacement for Macarena in the premium culinary market for very large sized kabulis. QPIF irrigated trials in central Queensland have shown equivalent yield and agronomic performance as well as similar seed sizes between Kimberley Large and Macarena.

Macarena: A very large seeded variety suited to the premium culinary market. This variety was released by DAWA in 1984 but is still widely grown under irrigated producers. It is extremely frost sensitive and should only be grown in frost-free environments in central and northern Queensland. Sound insect management is crucial as compensatory potential is very limited. It is very prone to sprouting and weather damage if wet conditions occur around harvest. Weather damaged beans are very difficult to market. Yields of 2-3 t/ha are readily achievable with well managed irrigated crops.

*subject to Plant Breeders Rights (PBR) and protected under the Plant Breeders Rights Act 1994. Unauthorised sale of seed of these varieties is an infringement under the Act.

Table 3

Kyabra	104	102	100	112	4.3	24
Yorker	90	93	106	82	6.2	21
Central Queensland yields relative to Jimbour 1999-2006
		Biloela (11 trials)	Emerald (10 trials)	Gindie (5 trials) 2001, 2002, 2005,2006	Days to flowering	100 seed weight (g)
Amethyst		94	97	100	64	15
Howzat		96	101	101	n/a	19
Jimbour		100	100	100	66	20
Kyabra	in 2 years of testing Kyabra has demonstrated yield potential greater than Jimbour and equal to that of Moti at Biloela, Emerald and Gindie sites				66	23
Moti		106	105	113	59	20