100 Growth stages of the grapevine Australian Journal of Grape and Wine Research 1, 100-110, 1995

IntroductionMany scales for describing accurately the develop-mental stages of various cultivated plants have beendeveloped in order to facilitate the coordination ofexperimental work. Various principles were used asbasis for most of these scales and this, in the finalanalysis, has hindered considerably the scoring andevaluation of experiments and the comparison of datacollected in the field. In order to create uniformityamong these scales, a working party was appointedwhich was given the task to establish uniformityamong the existing scales by creating a new systemfor describing the phenological stages of several mono-cots and dicots. The result was the so-called BBCHScale (Hack et al. 1992). The acronym BBCH was

derived from the names of the coordinating institutions,the Federal Biological Institute (BBA), the FederalVariety Institute (BSA) and the Industry AssociationAgrar (IVA), supported by other institutions that haveappropriate expertise.

Work on developing a scale for viticulture datesback to 1952 when Baggiolini (1952) described variousdevelopmental stages in order to allow better timing ofplant protective measures. This scale covered the periodfrom winter rest to fruit set which was divided into tenstages coded by the letters A to I. The increasingimportance of handling experimental data electroni-cally demanded a more detailed scale which had toincorporate a numerical description of the variousgrowth stages. This resulted in the new scale for thephenological stages of the development of thegrapevine by Eichhorn and Lorenz (1977), here codedthe EL scale. It divides the seasonal growth cycle into24 stages, using for their characterisation two-digitnumbers which range from 00 to 47 for the periodfrom the start of vegetation, i.e. budburst, to its end atleaf fall. A summary of the scales for the phenological

Phenological growth stages of the grapevine (Vitis vinifera L. ssp. vinifera)—Codes and descriptions

according to the extended BBCH scale†

D.H. LORENZ1, the late K.W. EICHHORN1, H. BLEIHOLDER2, R. KLOSE3, U. MEIER4 and E.WEBER2

1State Teaching and Research Institute for Agriculture,Viticulture and Horticulture,Department of Phytomedicine, Breitenweg 71, D-67435, Neustadt/W., Germany

2Agricultural Research Station of BASF, Carl-Bosch Str. 64, D-67117 Limburgerhof, Germany3Federal Variety Office, Osterfelddamm 80, D-30627, Hannover

4Federal Biological Institute for Agriculture and Forestry, Messeweg 11/12, D-38104, Braunschweig, Germany

Keywords: Phenological growth stages, BBCH-Schema, Vitis vinifera grapevine

AbstractThe detailed crop specific descriptions of the phenological growth stages of grapevine are supplementaryto the general BBCH-scale. It will be instrumental in standardising the national and internationalexperimentation in viticulture. The phenological development of the grapevine is divided into growthphases (principal growth stages 0-9) and each growth phase is subdivided into growth steps (secondarygrowth stages 0-9). A two-digit code is attached to each growth stage. The description and coding of thephenological growth stages covers the period between dormancy and leaf fall.

Growth stages of the grapevineEditor’s Introduction

As outlined hereunder, an accurate description of the growth stages of the grapevine, coded numerically,is considered to be an important aid to research and to viticultural practice. The following two papers dis-cuss the descriptive schemes developed up to now. One of these schemes is recommended for adoptionfor the timing of grapevine development in the Australian vineyard; it will be used in articles in thisJournal.

† The article ‘Phänologische Entwicklungsstadien der Weinrebe (Vitisvinifera L. ssp. vinifera) – Codierung und Beschreibung nach dererweiterten BBCH-Skala’ – (Die Weinwissenschaft – Viticultural andEnological Sciences 49, 66-70; 1994) was translated, with permission,by P. May, Department of Horticulture, Viticulture and Oenology,Waite Agricultural Research Institute, The University of Adelaide.

Lorenz et al. Growth stages of the grapevine 101

Principal Sproutinggrowthstage 0 00 Dormancy: winter buds pointed to

rounded, bright or dark brown accordingto cultivar, bud scales more or less closedaccording to cultivar

01 Beginning of bud swelling: buds begin toexpand inside the bud scales

03 End of bud swelling: buds swollen, butnot green

05 "Wool stage": brown wool clearly visible07 Beginning of bud burst: green shoot tips

just visible09 Bud burst: green shoot tips clearly visible

Principal Leaf developmentgrowth stage 1 11 First leaf unfolded and spread away

from shoot12 Two leaves unfolded13 Three leaves unfolded14 Four leaves unfolded15 Five leaves unfolded16 Six leaves unfolded19 Nine or more leaves unfolded

Principal Inflorescence emergencegrowth stage 5 53 Inflorescence clearly visible55 Inflorescence swelling, flowers closely

pressed together57 Inflorescences fully developed, flowers

separating

Principal Floweringgrowth stage 660 First flowerhoods detached from the

receptacle

61 Beginning of flowering: 10% of flower-hoods fallen

63 Early flowering: 30% of flowerhoodsfallen

65 Full flowering: 50% of flowerhoods fall-en

68 80% of flowerhoods fallen69 End of flowering

Principal Development of fruitsgrowthstage 771 Fruit set: fruits begin to swell, remains of

flowers lost73 Berries groat-sized, bunches begin to

hang75 Berries pea-sized, bunches hang77 Begin of berry touch79 Berry touch complete

Principal Ripening of berriesgrowth stage 8 81 Beginning of ripening: berries begin to

brighten in colour83 Berries brighting in colour85 Softening of berries89 Berries ripe for harvest

Principal Senescencegrowth stage 991 After harvest: end of wood maturation92 Beginning of leaf discoloration93 Beginning of leaf fall95 50% of leaves fallen97 End of leaf fall99 Post-harvest treatments

Table 1. Encoding and description of the phenological stages of the grapevine according to theextended BBCH scheme.

development of the grapevine established in Europewas published by EPPO (Anon. 1984). Therein, thehomologous stages of the scales of Baggiolini and ofEichhorn and Lorenz were compared. Baillod andBaggiolini (1993) reworked the earlier scale ofBaggiolini (1957) by including the period after flower-ing, coded by the letters J to P. The attempt to unifythe classification of the various stages of developmentresulted in the general scheme of coding phenologicalstages of development, established by BBCH (Hack etal. 1992). This scheme divides the season into principal(macro-) growth stages used to describe developmen-tal periods (coded 0–9), each of which is divided into

secondary (micro-) growth stages (micro-stages 0–9)which describe shorter periods characteristic for thedevelopment of each crop. This permits the accuratecoding of each stage by numbers of two digits.

The structure of the BBCH Scale for grapevinesThe phenological development of the grapevine isdivided into macro- and micro-stages in accordancewith the general BBCH scheme. By omitting macro-stages 2 (formation of side shoots), 3 (development ofthe shoot) and 4 (development of vegetative propa-gating organs), the scheme deviates from the generallyadopted pattern, but these stages are unimportant for

BBCH- DescriptionCode

BBCH- DescriptionCode

The code has been jointly developed by Biologische Bundesanstalt für Land- und Forstwirtschaft (BBA), Bundessortenamt (BSA) andIndustrieverband Agrar (IVA) in cooperation with Staatliche Lehr- und Forschungsanstalt, für Landwirtschaft, Wein- und Gartenbau (SLFA),Section Plant Pathology, Neustadt/W.

102 Growth stages of the grapevine Australian Journal of Grape and Wine Research 1, 100-110, 1995

defining specific periods for applying e.g. plant pro-tective sprays. In the following, the codes of thephenological development stages defined by Eichhornand Lorenz (1977) are converted to those of the BBCHscale; the latter are recommended for further usage.

The grapevine is a domesticated plant which maysuffer from numerous diseases and pests throughoutits whole growth cycle. Plant protection thereforeplays an important role in maintaining the productivityof the plant and in ensuring its yield, in particular thequality of the crop. While protection with chemicalproducts remains indispensable, biological and bio-technological methods are used in preference, follow-ing the principles of integrated pest control. Here inparticular, the success of such methods depends sub-stantially on the correct timing of the measures takenrelative to the weather, the parasites to be controlled,the grape variety and its stage of development. All thisrequires detailed knowledge of the growth cycle of thecrop as well as of the life cycle of the parasite and ofthe mode of action of the products of plant protectionto be used. The recommendations formulated by themanufacturers for the use of these products, and forfertilisers, have already taken into account biologicaland product-specific factors; they are based in themain on the phenological stages of development ofthe grapevine. This helps the user of these products toapply them at the correct time.

Description of the phases of development

(Refer to Tables 1 and 2 and Figure 1)

Principal growth stage 0 BudburstPrincipal growth stage 1 Leaf developmentThe earliest stage of applying plant protection measures is stage 00 (=EL:01), i.e. after winter pruningand before the swelling of the buds. Sprays at this timeare intended to hit e.g. the overwintering form of phomopsis (Phomopsis viticola), the overwinteringyoung caterpillars of pyrale (‘Springwurmwickler’,Sparganothis pilleriana) and of the geometride(‘Rhombenspanner’, Peribatodes rhomboidaria) and theeggs of the red spider mite Panonychus ulmi. This win-ter treatment results however in incomplete controlbecause the mites Eriophyes vitis and Calepitrimerus vitis,which overwinter under the bud scales, are not hitand the eggs of the mite Panonychus ulmi are still insen-sitive at this time.

The budburst treatments applied between the startof bud swell (stage 01 = EL:02) and the unfolding ofleaves 2 to 3 (stages 12/13 = EL:09) achieve bettercontrol of these and other pests; their timing will varydepending on the pest or disease to be controlled.Hereby, two dates need to be considered:

1. The early budburst treatment from the start of budswell (stage 01 = EL:02) to budburst (stage 07 =EL:05),

2. The so-called spring treatment between budburst(stage 07 = EL:05) and the unfolding of the firsttwo or three leaves (stage 12 or 13 = EL:09)

Preventative sprays against Brenner (Pseudopeziculatracheiphila), whose spores can infect the young leavesshortly after budburst, are applied mainly during the3- or 4-leaf stage (stage 13/14 = EL no code given)and/or the 6-leaf stage (stage 16 = EL:12).

Table 2. Relationship between the Eichhorn andLorenz scheme and the extended BBCH scheme.

00 –01 0002 01– 03

03 0505 0907 1109 12/13– 14

12 15/16/5315 5517 57– 60

19 6121 6323 65

25 6826 6927 7129 7331 7533 77– 79

35 81– 83– 85

38 8941 91– 92

43 93– 95

47 97– 99

Eichhorn BBCHLorenz

Eichhorn BBCHLorenz

Figure 1. The phenological stages of the grapevine.

00 01 05 09 11 13 15 55

57 61 63 65 68

71 73 75 77

81 89 91 93 97

Lorenz et al. Growth stages of the grapevine 103

Principal growth stage 5Appearance of inflorescencesImportant control measures against fungal diseasesand animal pests of the grapevine are taken duringprincipal stage 5. The so-called first pre-bloom spraysare applied, if necessary, when the first inflorescencesare clearly visible (stage 53 = EL:12); this is a secondperiod for controlling Phomopsis and Brenner.

A second pre-bloom spray, applied up to stage 57(= EL:17) when the inflorescences are fully developedand the single flowers are separated, must protect theleaves, shoots and inflorescences from infection bydowny mildew (Plasmopara viticola), powdery mildew(Uncinula necator), botrytis (Botrytis cinerea) and fromattack by animal pests such as the Cochylis andEudemis grubs (‘Traubenwickler’ genera, ‘Heuwurm’ =hay-worm, Eupoecilia ambiguella and Lobesia botrana).Its timing depends on infection pressure and weather.

Principal growth stage 6 Flowering The five petals of the inconspicuous single flowers ofthe grapevine are fused and drop whole as ‘caps’ orcalyptrae at anthesis. The stages of pricipal stage 6 aretherefore based on the proportion of detached caps.Pesticide applications are not recommended during theperiod from the beginning of flowering (stage 61 =EL:19) to full bloom (stage 65 = EL:23) but treatmentsare essential during stage 68 (=EL:25) when mostinflorescences have finished flowering, i.e. when atleast 80% of the caps have fallen. The young, now-exposed ovaries are very sensitive and susceptible toattack and the inflorescences must be protected againstfungal attack, in particular downy and powderymildew. Furthermore, the establishment of botrytisinfections on the flower residues remaining in theinflorescences ought to be prevented.

Principal growth stage 7 Fruit developmentFurther treatments during principal stage 7 are alsonecessary to protect the developing berries, the foliageand the shoots against downy and powdery mildewand botrytis. Summer treatments fall into the periodbetween the start of setting (stage 71 = EL:27) and thestart of bunch closure (stage 77 = EL:33) as protection

against mite genera and the caterpillars of the second-generation of Eudemis and Cochylis (‘Sauerwurm’ =sour worm). This spray should prevent further attacksby the pests and thus limit the formation of their over-wintering forms.

Principal growth stage 8 Fruit maturationDuring stage 81 (= EL:35), when berries commence tocolour, plant protection ends with sprays againstbotrytis, downy and powdery mildew and, if neces-sary, again against the caterpillars of the second gener-ation of the ‘Sauerwurm’.

SummaryThe detailed, crop-specific description of the pheno-logical stages of the grapevine complements the‘General BBCH-scale’ with the aim of contributing tothe coordination of national and international experi-mentation in viticulture. The phenology of the seasonal cycle of the grapevine is divided into devel-opmental phases (macro-stages or principal stages 0-9)and each of these is divided into developmental steps(micro-stages or secondary stages 0-9). Each develop-mental stage is coded by a two-digit number based onthe decimal system. For the grapevine, the descriptionand coding covers the period from the beginning ofthe growth cycle (the start of budburst) through toleaf fall.

ReferencesAnon (1984) EPPO Crop Growth Stage Keys, Echelles OEPP des

stades de développement des plantes cultivées. Grapevine/Vigne,OEPP/EPPO Bulletin 14(2): 295-298.

Baggiolini, M. (1952) Les stades repères dans le développementannuel de la vigne et leur utilisation pratique. Rev. romandeAgric. Vitic. Arboric. 1:4-6.

Baillod, M, Baggiolini, M. (1993) Les stades repères de la vigne.Revue Suisse Vitic. Arboric. Hortic. 25:7-9.

Eichhorn, K.W., Lorenz, D.H. (1977) Phänologische Entwicklungs-stadien der Rebe. Nachrichtenblatt des Deutschen Pflanzen-schutzdienstes, Braunschweig 29:119-120.

Hack, H., Bleiholder, H., Meier, U., Schnock-Fricke, U., Weber,E.and Witzenberger, A. (1992) Einheitliche Codierung der phäno-logischen Entwicklungsstadien mono- und dikotyler Pflanzen–Erweiterte BBCH-Skala, Allgemein. Nachrichtenblatt d. Deutschen–Pflanzenschutzdienstes, Braunschweig 44: 265-270.