Pulse Breeding Australia's (PBA) Chickpea national breeding program has made significant strides in improving chickpea since its inception in 2006. However, further investment is required to ensure the progress of other pipeline breeding material and to meet emerging production problems and marketing opportunities. To achieve this the breeding program will retain a national structure although there will be a concentration in north-eastern Australia where production has consolidated.

The project will rely on two conventional breeding methodologies: a (modified) Single Seed Descent (SSD) method will be used for elite crosses, supplemented by a Bulk Breeding method for the remaining crosses. Screening for disease resistance, tolerance to biotic stresses and seed quality will follow protocols already established, and yield evaluation will be conducted at a network of sites chosen to best represent the Australian chickpea environment and complement National Varietal Trial sites.

The project will concentrate on a focused set of breeding objectives:

1. resistance to disease (Ascochyta blight, Phytophthora root rot);
2. appropriate phenology (allied to chilling tolerance);
3. salt tolerance;
4. improved harvestability; and
5. improved seed quality.

The mix of features incorporated into new varieties will reflect the regional importance of the key production constraints.