Eliminating grain defects in chickpea – request for samples

It is vital that the chickpea breeding team, growers and advisors know more about the environmental conditions conducive to these defects and whether any varieties are more susceptible than others. It is important to know what defects are occurring, to what extent and why so that we can try to increase tolerance in new varieties.

This will enable breeding of more tolerant varieties and possibly varied agronomic practices to reduce the risks.

As part of a new GRDC project, work will be undertaken to eliminate grain defects in desi and kabuli chickpeas.

The two defects of particular interested are:

  1. seed markings (particularly seeds with tiger stripe or blotch markings), and
  2. weather damaged seed (symptoms include light weight, brittle seeds or sprouting).

In addition, Northern NSW Integrated Disease Management is interested in diseases and moulds.

Chickpea seed samples of any condition, whether they look clean or contain visibly diseased, marked or weathered seeds are requested. Samples will be collected from QLD, NSW, VIC and SA to determine the percentage of seed affected in each sample. Geographical maps of incidence for each variety and defect will then be constructed to help the breeding effort.

Send a sample of your harvested grain, ideally 500g secured in two plastic bags (double bagged). Do not hand pick the sample prior to sending as it must be representative of your entire harvested crop.

Your grain will be tested for germination, emergence, seed borne diseases and moulds as part of the GRDC Project DAN00176, Northern NSW Integrated Disease Management.

Samples should be addressed to:

Dr Jenny Wood
C/- Kate Keir
Tamworth Ag Institute
4 Marsden Park Rd
Calala NSW 2340