BBCH-scale (bulb vegetable)

In biology, the BBCH-scale for bulb vegetables describes the phenological development of bulb vegetable plants, such as onion, leek, garlic and shallot, using the BBCH-scale.

The phenological growth stages and BBCH-identification keys of bulb vegetables are:

Growth stage Code (2-digit) Code (3-digit) Description
0: Germination 00 000 Dry seed,1 dormant bulb2
01 000 Beginning of seed imbibition1
03 003 Seed imbibition complete1
05 005 Radicle emerged from seed.1

Roots appearing2

07 007 Cotyledon breaking through seed coat1
09 009 Emergence: cotyledon breaks through soil surface.1

Green shoot visible2

010 Cotyledon visible as hook1
011 Hook stage: hooked cotyledon green1
012 Whip stage: cotyledon has whip-like form1
1: Leaf development (Main shoot) 10 100 Advanced whip stage: whip begins to die off1
11 101 First leaf (> 3 cm) clearly visible
12 102 2nd leaf (> 3 cm) clearly visible
13 103 3rd leaf (> 3 cm)
1 . 10 . Stages continuous till . . .
19 109 9 or more leaves clearly visible
4: Development of harvestable vegetative plant parts 41 401 Leaf bases begin to thicken or extend
43 403 30% of the expected bulb or shaft diameter reached
45 405 50% of the expected bulb or shaft diameter reached
47 407 Bolting begins; in 10% of the plants leaves bent over3

70% of the expected shaft length and diameter reached4

48 408 Leaves bent over in 50% of plants3
49 409 Leaves dead, bulb top dry; dormancy3

Growth complete; length and stem diameter typical for variety reached4

5: Inflorescence emergence 51 501 Onion bulb begins to elongate
53 503 30% of the expected length of flower stem reached
55 505 Flower stem at full length; sheath closed
57 507 Sheath burst open
59 509 First flower petals visible; flowers still closed
6: Flowering 60 600 First flowers open (sporadically)
61 601 Beginning of flowering: 10% of flowers open
62 602 20% of flowers open
63 603 30% of flowers open
64 604 40% of flowers open
65 605 Full flowering: 50% of flowers open
67 607 Flowering finishing: 70% of petals fallen or dry
69 609 End of flowering
7: Development of fruit 71 701 First capsules formed
72 702 20% of capsules formed
73 703 30% of capsules formed
74 704 40% of capsules formed
75 705 50% of capsules formed
76 706 60% of capsules formed
77 707 70% of capsules formed
78 708 80% of capsules formed
79 709 Capsule development complete; seeds pale
8: Ripening of fruit and seed 81 801 Beginning of ripening: 10% of capsules ripe
85 805 First capsules bursting
89 809 Fully ripe: seeds black and hard
9: Senescence 92 902 Leaves and shoots beginning to discolour
95 905 50% of leaves yellow or dead
97 907 Plants or above ground parts dead
99 909 Harvested product (seeds)

1 Seed sown
2 Onion sets, shallot and garlic
3 For onions, garlic
4 For leek

References

edit
  • Feller, C.; H. Bleiholder; L. Buhr; H. Hack; M. Hess; R. Klose; U. Meier; R. Stauss; T. van den Boom; E. Weber (1995). "Phänologische Entwicklungsstadien von Gemüsepflanzen: I. Zwiebel-, Wurzel-, Knollen- und Blattgemüse. Nachrichtenbl. Deut". Pflanzenschutzd. 47: 193–206.