Pulse Australia is advising growers considering planting chickpeas in 2004 that Pulse Australia Industry Recommended Chickpea Seed ­ from crops where Ascochyta has not been detected and professionally treated with a registered treatment ­ should be their planting seed of choice.

Pulse Australia's program manager for crop support, John Slatter, warns growers that, in 2003, seed was not the primary cause of infection in the vast majority of Ascochyta outbreaks.

"Sources of infection were from stubble from the previous year¹s crop and uncontrolled volunteers over last autumn, combined with a season that favoured the development and spread of Ascochyta during May, June and July," Mr Slatter said.

"However seed can be a source of infection for 2004 crops, particularly if it is from crops that were infected in 2003 and is sown in paddocks considered low risk because they are isolated from previous chickpea crops."

Contact: John Slatter 074635 0726