CHICKPEA growers in NSW and Queensland are being urged to take advantage of a no-cost testing service to ensure this season’s planting seed is disease and defect free.

NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Pulse Quality research program leader Jenny Wood said she was particularly interested in seed markings (particularly seeds with tiger stripe or blotch markings), and weather damaged seed (symptoms include light weight, brittle seeds or sprouting).

“We would appreciate chickpea seed samples of any condition, whether they look clean or contain visibly diseased, marked or weathered seeds,” Dr Woods said.

“We want samples from across Queensland, NSW, Victoria and South Australia to determine the percentage of seed affected in each sample.

“Our aim is to investigate whether specific environmental conditions are conducive to these defects and if any varieties are more susceptible than others. This will then enable breeding of more tolerant varieties and possibly varied agronomic practices to reduce the risks of defects.”

Dr Wood said chickpea samples sent in by growers would also be tested for germination, seed borne diseases and moulds by NSW DPI plant pathologist Kevin Moore as part of the Northern NSW Integrated Disease Management project. These tests will also be done at no cost to growers.

Growers should send a sample of harvested grain, ideally 500g secured in two plastic bags (double bagged) to:

Dr Jenny Wood,

C/o Kate Keir,

Tamworth Ag Institute,

4 Marsden Park Rd,

Calala, NSW, 2340.

Samples should not be representative of the entire harvested crop.

Other information required includes: variety; address of the crop paddock (or GPS coordinates would be ideal); dates crop was sown and harvested (and flowering and maturity dates would be helpful if you have them); did you think the plant was stressed in the field?; did the crop show reddening of the foliage?; were there any other varieties near you that were not affected? (if so, what variety?).