Market Class: Kabuli Chickpea
Year Released to Seed Growers: 2021
Sub-licensed Outside of SK: McDougall Acres
International Distribution Rights: Not assigned
Breeder: Dr. Bunyamin Tar’an, Crop Development Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK
Plant Breeders Rights: PBR’91
Description
Kabuli chickpea variety CDC Pearl (3647) is a smaller seeded kabuli chickpea with improved resistance to Ascochyta blight. In 5 years of testing in the Chickpea Regional Variety Trials (2019 – 2023), CDC Pearl yielded 109% and 106% of the historical check variety Amit in the brown and dark brown soil zones respectively. CDC Pearl yields similar to the current check, CDC Lancer, in both soil zones (Table 1). Compared to the dominant variety CDC Leader (in terms of acreage in SK), CDC Pearl yields 4% higher in the brown soil zone and 12% higher in the dark brown soil zone. Statistical analysis of 6 years of long-term Regional Variety Trial data ranked CDC Pearl 2nd for yield in the brown soil zone and 3rd in the dark brown soil zone among 8 historical and new kabuli chickpea varieties (Figure 1). CDC Pearl is rated “medium-late” for maturity. In 5 years of regional variety trial data, CDC Pearl matured 1 day earlier than CDC Leader but 1 day later than CDC Lancer (Table 2). CDC Pearl has imazamox herbicide tolerance (Solo ADV as per PMRA label registration). Seed size is smaller than other kabuli varieties making seeding more economical. Markets for this seed size category have been established. CDC Pearl has PBR’91 protection.
Strengths
- Herbicide tolerance (imazamox)
- Improved resistance to Ascochyta blight vs. CDC Orkney or CDC Leader
- Earlier maturity vs. CDC Leader
- High yield – similar to CDC Lancer
Neutral
- Disease resistance similar to CDC Lancer
Weaknesses
- Small seed size
Table 1: Performance data of chickpea varieties from the Co-op and Regional Trials in Saskatchewan
| Variety | Herbicide Tolerance: SOLO® ADV (Imazamox) | Type | Yield (% CDC Lancer) | Height (cm) | Days to flower | Maturity Rating | Ascochyta Blight2 | Seed shape | Seed Coat Colour | Seed Weight (g/1000) | |
| Area 11 | Area 21 | ||||||||||
| CDC Lancer | YES | Kabuli | 100 | 100 | 40 | 52 | M | 4.4 | Ram-head | Beige | 353 |
| Amit | no | Kabuli | 89 | 95 | 46 | 56 | L | 4.4 | Round | Beige | 257 |
| CDC Frontier | no | Kabuli | 97 | 103 | 44 | 55 | L | 4.5 | Ram-head | Beige | 349 |
| CDC Leader | no | Kabuli | 94 | 89 | 41 | 53 | M | 4.6 | Ram-head | Beige | 385 |
| CDC Orion | no | Kabuli | 85 | 89 | 43 | 51 | L | 5.1 | Ram-head | Beige | 426 |
| CDC Orkney | YES | Kabuli | 99 | 103 | 43 | 53 | ML | 4.7 | Ram-head | Beige | 359 |
| CDC Palmer | no | Kabuli | 96 | 92 | 41 | 52 | ML | 4.9 | Ram-head | Beige | 413 |
| CDC Pasqua | YES | Kabuli | 86 | 92 | 42 | 52 | L | 4.6 | Ram-head | Beige | 417 |
| CDC Pearl | YES | Kabuli | 98 | 101 | 43 | 52 | ML | 4.4 | Ram-head | Beige | 291 |
| CDC Consul | no | Desi | 96 | 95 | 45 | 53 | M | 4.0 | Plump | Light tan | 299 |
| CDC Cory | YES | Desi | 99 | 101 | 46 | 56 | M | 4.3 | Angular/plump | Tan | 269 |
| CDC Kala | YES | Black desi | 89 | 87 | 40 | 52 | E | 4.3 | Angular | Black | 237 |
| CDC Sunset | YES | Desi | 93 | 98 | 43 | 53 | M | 4.3 | Angular/plump | Light tan | 285 |
Source: Varieties of Grain Crops (SaskSeed Guide)
1Area 1 = Brown soil zone; Area 2 = Dark brown soil zone
2Ascochyta Blight at pod filling period: 0-9 scale; 0 = no symptom; 9 = plants are completely blighted. Scores 4-6 are considered intermediate.
Table 2. Days to maturity compared to CDC Leader from 5 years of Regional Variety Trial data in SK (2019-2023)
| Variety | Type | Days to maturity | Maturity (+/- days vs. CDC Leader) |
| CDC Leader | Kabuli | 101 | 0 |
| CDC Lancer | Kabuli | 99 | -2 |
| CDC Orkney | Kabuli | 100 | 0 |
| CDC Pasqua | Kabuli | 101 | 0 |
| CDC Pearl | Kabuli | 100 | -1 |
| CDC Sunset | Desi | 100 | -1 |
| CDC Kala | Black desi | 98 | -3 |
Figure 1. Relative yield ranking of kabuli and desi chickpea varieties from 6 years of Regional Variety Trial data in Saskatchewan in the brown (left) and dark brown (right) soil zones. Ranking is from BLUP (Best Linear Unbiased Prediction) statistical analysis.
