BBCH-scale (pome fruit)

The BBCH-scale (pome fruit) identifies the phenological development stages of pome fruit (apple = Malus domestica, pear = Pyrus communis). It is a plant species specific version of the BBCH-scale.

Phenological growth stages and BBCH-identification keys of pome fruits
Code	Description
Principal growth stage 0: Sprouting/Bud development
00	Dormancy: leaf buds and the thicker inflorescence buds closed and covered by dark brown scales
01	Beginning of leaf bud swelling: buds visibly swollen, bud scales elongated, with light coloured patches
03	End of leaf bud swelling: bud scales light coloured with some parts densely covered by hairs
07	Beginning of bud break: first green leaf tips just visible
09	Green leaf tips about 5 mm above bud scales
Principal growth stage 1: Leaf development
10	Mouse-ear stage: Green leaf tips 10 mm above the bud scales; first leaves separating
11	First leaves unfolded (others still unfolding)
15	More leaves unfolded, not yet at full size
19	First leaves fully expanded
Principal growth stage 3: Shoot development1
31	Beginning of shoot growth: axes of developing shoots visible
32	Shoots about 20% of final length
33	Shoots about 30% of final length
3 .	Stages continuous till . . .
39	Shoots about 90% of final length
Principal growth stage 5: Inflorescence emergence
51	Inflorescence buds swelling: bud scales elongated, with light coloured patches
52	End of bud swelling: light coloured bud scales visible with parts densely covered by hairs
53	Bud burst: green leaf tips enclosing flowers visible
54	Mouse-ear stage: green leaf tips 10 mm above bud scales; first leaves separating
55	Flower buds visible (still closed)
56	Green bud stage: single flowers separating (still closed)
57	Pink bud stage: flower petals elongating; sepals slightly open; petals just visible
59	Most flowers with petals forming a hollow ball
Principal growth stage 6: Flowering
60	First flowers open
61	Beginning of flowering: about 10% of flowers open
62	About 20% of flowers open
63	About 30% of flowers open
64	About 40% of flowers open
65	Full flowering: at least 50% of flowers open, first petals falling
67	Flowers fading: majority of petals fallen
69	End of flowering: all petals fallen
Principal growth stage 7: Development of fruit
71	Fruit size up to 10 mm; fruit fall after flowering
72	Fruit size up to 20 mm
73	Second fruit fall
74	Fruit diameter up to 40 mm; fruit erect Additional recommended knowledge How to ensure accurate weighing results every day? How to quickly check pipettes? What is the Correct Way to Check Repeatability in Balances? (T-stage: underside of fruit and stalk forming a T)
75	Fruit about half final size
76	Fruit about 60% final size
77	Fruit about 70% final size
78	Fruit about 80% final size
79	Fruit about 90% final size
Principal growth stage 8: Maturity of fruit and seed
81	Beginning of ripening: first appearance of cultivar-specific colour
85	Advanced ripening: increase in intensity of cultivar-specific colour
87	Fruit ripe for picking
89	Fruit ripe for consumption: fruit have typical taste and firmness
Principal growth stage 9: Senescence, beginning of dormancy
91	Shoot growth completed; terminal bud developed; foliage still fully green
92	Leaves begin to discolour
93	Beginning of leaf fall
95	50% of leaves discoloured
97	All leaves fallen
99	Harvested product

1 From terminal bud

References

Meier, U.; H. Graf, M. Hess, W. Kennel, R. Klose, D. Mappes, D. Seipp, R. Stauss, J. Streif, T. van den Boom (1994). "Phänologische Entwick-lungsstadien des Kernobstes (Malus domestica Borkh. und Pyrus communis L.), des Steinobstes (Prunus-Arten), der Johannisbeere (Ribes-Arten) und der Erdbeere (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.).". Nachrichtenbl. Deut. Pflanzenschutzd. 46: 141-153.