icane XT variety management package (VMP)
PBA Jumbo is a large-seeded red lentil and a direct replacement for Aldinga and is to be itself superseded by PBA Jumbo2. It is suited to most current lentil growing areas where it has consistently yielded around 15% higher than Aldinga. Attaining larger seed size is more likely in medium to high rainfall zones. PBA Jumbo is moderately susceptible to BGM and this disease will need to be managed in BGM-prone areas. Its resistance to foliar and seed AB is improved over Aldinga. Plant type and lodging susceptibility is similar to PBA Jumbo2 and Aldinga and so it is well suited to no-till, inter-row sowing into standing residue. PBA Jumbo has improved tolerance to soil boron and salinity over Aldinga and Nugget. It has a seed size and shape similar to Aldinga (20% larger than Nugget) and a grey seed coat. PBA Jumbo is well suited to the post-harvest grading out and removal of small broadleaf weed seeds (e.g. vetch). Milling quality is better than Nugget and it is well suited to premium large red split lentil markets (e.g. Sri Lanka). PBA Jumbo variety management package (VMP)
PBA Jumbo2 is a large-seeded red lentil that supersedes PBA Jumbo and is the highest yielding lentil variety available in Australia. PBA Jumbo2 long-term yields are 9–13 per cent higher than PBA Jumbo and it out-performs all other current varieties in medium-rainfall lentil growing regions. This mid-maturing, broadly adapted large red variety is resistant to ascochyta blight (AB) and botrytis grey mould (BGM) and with these attributes will assist in achieving consistent high grain quality for the market and is suitable for early sowing to maximise yield. PBA Jumbo2 variety management package (VMP)
Nipper has resistance to BGM but its resistance to AB appears to have broken down in high lentil intensity areas of South Australia. Vegetative and podding sprays for AB are now recommended for this variety in disease-prone areas. Nipper has a small seed size, similar to PBA Herald XT. Like PBA Herald XT and PBA Hurricane XT, Nipper flowers later than Nugget but often matures earlier than Nugget. PBA Hurricane XT has superseded Nipper. Nipper variety management package (VMP)
Nugget is a medium-seeded red lentil that became the standard red lentil variety in southern Australia for yield and marketing. Newer variety releases, PBA Bolt and PBA Ace, are generally considered more reliable for yield and quality, and so have superseded Nugget. Nugget variety management package (VMP)
Older red lentil varieties
Green lentil varieties
When choosing a variety, consider the disease risk, seasonal outlook and market forecast. The agronomic traits of the current red lentil varieties are provided below along with yield, diseases resistance and seed availability comparisons. The variety management package for each variety provides more detailed information.
Boomer is a large-seeded green lentil that is tall and vigorous but can lodge when growing conditions are favourable. Sowing early can increase lodging and result in smaller than expected seed at harvest. Boomer is moderately resistant to foliar infection by ascochyta blight (AB) but moderately susceptible to seed infection. It is moderately resistant to botrytis grey mould (BGM). Early harvest is important to prevent shattering and maintain good coloured seed. Boomer variety management package (VMP)
PBA Giant is a significant improvement on the large green lentil variety Boomer, having yields 5–10% on average greater than Boomer in Victoria with similar yields in South Australia. On-farm storage will provide strategic marketing options for growers of this variety. PBA Giant has improved shattering resistance compared to Boomer, it is broadly adapted and best suited to the medium rainfall lentil growing regions. It has good early vigour, similar to PBA Ace and Boomer. It is moderately resistant to ascochyta blight and MS to BGM, and has improved tolerance to soil boron, similar to PBA Jumbo, PBA Flash and PBA Bolt. It is well suited to the removal of small broadleaf weed seeds from