Australia
November 11, 2009

The recent launch by Pulse Breeding Australia (PBA) and its commercial seed partners of four new pulse varieties suited to the southern cropping zone has been supported by the development of variety brochures which are now available to growers via the internet.

The brochures outline information regarding each variety’s advantages and areas of adaptation, along with agronomic and disease management and marketing arrangements.
The two new lentils, PBA Bounty and PBA Flash, chickpea PBA Slasher, and broad bean PBA Kareema, will be commercially available for the 2010 winter cropping season, offering growers improved reliability.

David Shannon, Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) southern panel chair, says the new varieties are part of a pipeline of pulse varieties that will be released by PBA over a period of five years.

“The GRDC, along with PBA partner agencies, is pleased to support PBA in bringing growers varieties with improved yield, harvestability, disease resistance, tolerance to abiotic stresses, quality and weed management,” Mr Shannon said.

PBA provides a single world-class breeding and germplasm enhancement program for chickpeas, field peas, faba beans, lentils and lupins in Australia. It aims to fast-track the release to Australian growers of new and improved pulse varieties.

Variety brochures for each of the new pulse varieties are available via www.grdc.com.au/pba

Variety Brochures (PDF)

• PBA Bounty 
• PBA Flash 
• PBA HatTrick 
• PBA Kareema 
• PBA Slasher

Website: http://www.grdc.com.au/pba

Published: November 11, 2009