A downloadable version [1] of the BBCH Scales, including illustrations, is available from the BBA [2] (Federal Biological Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry)
Phenological growth stages and BBCH-identification keys of cereals
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Code
| Description
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Principal growth stage 0: Germination
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00 | Dry seed (caryopsis)
|
01 | Beginning of seed imbibition
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03 | Seed imbibition complete
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05 | Radicle emerged from caryopsis
|
06 | Radicle elongated, root hairs and/or side roots visible
|
07 | Coleoptile emerged from caryopsis
|
09 | Emergence: coleoptile penetrates soil surface (cracking stage)
|
Principal growth stage 1: Leaf development1, 2
|
10 | First leaf through coleoptile
|
11 | First leaf unfolded
|
12 | 2 leaves unfolded
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13 | 3 leaves unfolded
|
1 . | Stages continuous till . . .
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19 | 9 or more leaves unfolded
|
Principal growth stage 2: Tillering3
|
20 | No tillers
|
21 | Beginning of tillering: first tiller detectable
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22 | 2 tillers detectable
|
23 | 3 tillers detectable
|
2 . | Stages continuous till . . .
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29 | End of tillering. Maximum no. of tillers detectable
|
Principal growth stage 3: Stem elongation
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30 | Beginning of stem elongation: pseudostem and tillers erect, first internode begins to elongate, top of inflorescence at least 1 cm above tillering node
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31 | First node at least 1 cm above tillering node
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32 | Node 2 at least 2 cm above node 1
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33 | Node 3 at least 2 cm above node 2
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3 . | Stages continuous till . . .
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37 | Flag leaf just visible, still rolled
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39 | Flag leaf stage: flag leaf fully unrolled, ligule just visible
|
Principal growth stage 4: Booting
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41 | Early boot stage: flag leaf sheath extending
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43 | Mid boot stage: flag leaf sheath just visibly swollen
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45 | Late boot stage: flag leaf sheath swollen
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47 | Flag leaf sheath opening
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49 | First awns visible (in awned forms only)
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Principal growth stage 5: Inflorescence emergence, heading
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51 | Beginning of heading: tip of inflorescence emerged from sheath, first spikelet just visible
|
52 | 20% of inflorescence emerged
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53 | 30% of inflorescence emerged
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54 | 40% of inflorescence emerged
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55 | Middle of heading: half of inflorescence emerged
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56 | 60% of inflorescence emerged
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57 | 70% of inflorescence emerged
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58 | 80% of inflorescence emerged
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59 | End of heading: inflorescence fully emerged
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Principal growth stage 6: Flowering, anthesis
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61 | Beginning of flowering: first anthers visible
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65 | Full flowering: 50% of anthers mature
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69 | End of flowering: all spikelets have completed flowering but some dehydrated anthers may remain
|
Principal growth stage 7: Development of fruit
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71 | Watery ripe: first grains have reached half their final size
|
73 | Early milk
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75 | Medium milk: grain content milky, grains reached final size,
still green
|
77 | Late milk
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Principal growth stage 8: Ripening
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83 | Early dough
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85 | Soft dough: grain content soft but dry. Fingernail impression not held
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87 | Hard dough: grain content solid. Fingernail impression held
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89 | Fully ripe: grain hard, difficult to divide with thumbnail
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Principal growth stage 9: Senescence
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92 | Over-ripe: grain very hard, cannot be dented by thumbnail
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93 | Grains loosening in day-time
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97 | Plant dead and collapsing
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99 | Harvested product
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1 A leaf is unfolded when its ligule is visible or the tip of the next leaf is visible
2 Tillering or stem elongation may occur earlier than stage 13; in this case continue
with stages 21
3 If stem elongation begins before the end of tillering continue with stage 30