entil are set by the pulse industry and maintained by Pulse Australia. Receival and export standards reflect the market requirements for a quality food product. Varieties are segregated with only 1% maximum off-type variety grain allowed. Allowance for up to 1% contrasting colours of seed coat is allowable in specific varieties with that genetic trait (e.g. PBA Blitz with pale seed coat and PBA Herald XT with dense seed speckling). Seeds of contrasting colour are not classed as defective in these designated varieties.
Delivery into number 1 grade requires low discolouration or staining of grain seed coat (1% maximum) and lentil kernel (maximum 1% poor colour kernel), as well as low insect damage and breakages (defectives 3% maximum) and minimal foreign material or impurities (3% maximum). Sizing through round and slotted screens may also occur. Failure to achieve these receival standards may mean price discounts, re-cleaning or, if severe, market rejection.
- Defective grains: includes poor coloured grains, broken, damaged and split, shrivelled, distorted, grub eaten, sprouted and affected by field mould. Do not include contrasting colours in designated varieties.
- Poor colour: if seed coat or cotyledon colour is distinctly blemished and/or off-colour from the characteristic colour of the predominate class, including the 1% visible ascochyta.
- Contrasting colours: For designated varieties, contrasting colour of seed coat is seeds of the same variety that genetically has contrasting colours of seed coats.
- Foreign material: includes unmillable material and all foreign vegetable matter (includes cereals, wild oats, oilseeds, other legumes and weed seeds not otherwise specified).
- Unmillable material: includes soil, stones, metal and non-vegetable matter.
Nominated foreign weed examples
- Type 1 (4 per 200 g): three-cornered Jack
- Type 2: (nil per 200 g): wild garlic, coriander and any other tainting agents
- Type 3a (1 per 200 g in total): Bathurst burr, caltrop
- Type 3b (2 per 200 g total): vetches (tares)
- Type 3c (4 per 200 g total): heliotrope
- Type 4a (10 per 200 g total): cut leaf mignonette, melilotus (if no taint), nightshades, skeleton weed, variegated thistle
- Type 5 (20 per 200 g in total): knapweed, salvation Jane
- Type 6 (5 seeds or pods total per 200 g) medic pods, marshmallow pods, saffron thistle, wild radish pods
- Type 7a (10 seeds per 200 g total): other pulses
- Type 7b (10 seeds per 200 g total): cereals, turnip weed, bindweed
- Type 7c (1 seed in total per 200 g): safflower, sunflower
- Type 8 (100 seeds per 200 g): bellvine.
- Small foreign seeds (0.6% by weight): amsinkia, canola, charlock, marshmallow seeds, hedge mustard, etc
Senior Pulse Research Officer – Pulses, DEDJTR Victoria
Phone: 03 5362 2341
Senior Research Officer - Pulse Agronomy, SARDI
Phone: 08 8842 6265
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Information provided in this guide was correct at the time of the date shown below. No responsibility is accepted by Pulse Australia for any commercial outcomes from the use of information contained in this guide.
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Last updated: 20 November 2015