Estimation of lily crop coefficient at different phenological development stages in a greenhouse

Phenology is a key trait of plants of all species, as it determines their season and duration of growth and reproduction, as well as their ability to capture variable resources. Understanding the phenology of Elaeagnus multiflora Thunb. a rare but promising fruit and medicinal plant of Ukraine, namely the codification of the stages of seasonal development, according to the international BBCH scale, is important for the evaluation of breeding material and the development of new varieties, improving the technological qualities of fruits. In the climatic conditions of Ukraine (M.M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv), the studied genotypes of E. multiflora go through a full cycle of development. Plants begin the growing season with the development of leaves and shoots. According to the international BBCH scale, they clearly distinguish eight of the ten main stages of seasonal development, in particular: the development of buds (Principal growth stage 0), leaves (Principal growth stage 1), shoots (Principal growth stage 3), inflorescence emergence (Principal growth stage 5), flowering (Principal growth stage 6), fruit development (Principal growth stage 7), fruit ripening (Principal growth stage 8) and senescence and the onset of dormancy (Principal growth stage 9). The proposed BBCH scale for characterizing the phenological stages of E. multiflora plants can be used to guide the growers as to when to carry out orchard management practices such as canopy training and pruning, nutrient and water application, pest and disease control and post-harvest processing. Correct identification of phenological stages is of great importance for the characterization and management of E. multiflora. Thus, this study will ensure the dissemination of knowledge about E. multiflora cultivars among growers and researchers.

The evapotranspiration rates of sesame crop (Sesamum indicum L. cv. RT-127) were quantified using gravimetric lysimeters at Jodhpur during 2009 and 2010 kharif season, maintaining the crop at two levels of irrigation (100% and 50% evapotranspiration, ET) and under rainfed condition. The mean evapotranspiration rates of sesame (100% ET rate irrigated) were 2.5-3.9 mm day-1 during early growth, 6.9-13.5 mm day-1 at vegetative stage, 9.2-9.7 mm day-1 at flowering stage and 5.5-8.5 mm day-1 at seed setting stage. The crop coefficients were 0.3-0.7 at early growth stage, 0.8-1.5 at vegetative stage, 1.6- 1.9 at flowering stage and 0.3-1.2 at seed setting stage with an average value of 0.9 for the season. The mean seasonal evapotranspiration, seed yield and water-use efficiency of sesame were 581 mm, 1479 kg ha-1 and 2.54 kg ha-1 mm-1 for 100%ET irrigated crop, 495 mm, 997 kg ha-1 and 2.12 kg ha-1 mm-1 for 50%ET irrigated crop and 362 mm, 635 kg ha-1 and 1.76 kg ha-1 mm-1 for rainfed crop. Relationships between leaf appearance and branch initiation with growing degree days and advection at vegetative stage of crop were also quantified. Key words: Sesame, arid region, evapotranspiration rates, crop coefficients, water-use efficiency, growing degree days.

Codification and description of almond (Prunus dulcis) vegetative and reproductive phenology according to the extended BBCH scale

Productivity and production components of safflower genotypes affected by irrigation at phenological stages

Estimation of Evapotranspiration ETc and Crop Coefficient Kc of Wheat, in south Nile Delta of Egypt Using integrated FAO-56 approach and remote sensing data

Li, Y., Iwaasa, A. D., Wang, Y., Jin, L., Han, G. and Zhao, M. 2014. Condensed tannins concentration of selected prairie legume forages as affected by phenological stages during two consecutive growth seasons in western Canada. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 817–826. Studies have shown that condensed tannins (CT) at appropriate concentrations improve nutrient digestion in animals and influence ecosystem processes. However, knowledge of CT concentration in different phenological stages and different plant parts of non-conventional legumes growing in the western Canadian prairies is lacking for feed and grazing management. The research objectives were to determine the level and distribution of total CT (TCT), extractable CT (ECT) and protein-bound (PCT) or fiber-bound CT (FCT) concentrations in the whole plant of legume forages at different phenological (vegetative, flowering, seed maturity) stages and plant parts (leaves, stems, inflorescences and inflorescences+seedpods) using the Butanol-HCl procedure. Whole plant samples of purple prairie clover (Dalea purpurea Vent.), white prairie clover (D. candida Michx. ex Willd), sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.) and Canadian milkvetch (Astragalus canadensis L.) were collected in the 2011 and 2012 growing seasons from replicated small trial plots at vegetative, flowering and seed maturity stages. Species, phenological stages and their interactions all significantly affect the TCT, ECT, PCT and FCT concentrations in whole plant and plant parts (P<0.001). Concentrations of ECT and TCT increased for all species as they matured from vegetative to seed maturity, except for sainfoin where the vegetative stage had the highest ECT and TCT levels. The highest mean ECT and TCT concentrations for purple prairie clover and white prairie clover were found in the inflorescences part at flowering stage, while sainfoin had the highest ECT and TCT concentrations in the leaves at vegetative stage. There was little variation for PCT among different phenological stages in whole plant for species except for purple prairie clover and white prairie clover which had higher (P<0.05) PCT at seed maturity than at flowering stage. Only trace amounts of FCT were detected from either whole plant or different fractions of all plant species, except Canadian milkvetch. Condensed tannins were not observed in Canadian milkvetch except for trace amounts in the seed coat at seed maturity stage. The results demonstrate that legumes differ in their condensed tannin content which could potentially be used in pasture management.

Li, Y., Iwaasa, A. D., Wang, Y., Jin, L., Han, G. and Zhao, M. 2014. Condensed tannins concentration of selected prairie legume forages as affected by phenological stages during two consecutive growth seasons in western Canada. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 817-826. Studies have shown that condensed tannins (CT) at appropriate concentrations improve nutrient digestion in animals and influence ecosystem processes. However, knowledge of CT concentration in different phenological stages and different plant parts of non-conventional legumes growing in the western Canadian prairies is lacking for feed and grazing management. The research objectives were to determine the level and distribution of total CT (TCT), extractable CT (ECT) and protein-bound (PCT) or fiber-bound CT (FCT) concentrations in the whole plant of legume forages at different phenological (vegetative, flowering, seed maturity) stages and plant parts (leaves, stems, inflorescences and inflorescences+seedpods) using the Butanol-HCl procedure. Whole plant samples of purple prairie clover (Dalea purpurea Vent.), white prairie clover (D. candida Michx. ex Willd), sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.) and Canadian milkvetch (Astragalus canadensis L.) were collected in the 2011 and 2012 growing seasons from replicated small trial plots at vegetative, flowering and seed maturity stages. Species, phenological stages and their interactions all significantly affect the TCT, ECT, PCT and FCT concentrations in whole plant and plant parts (P<0.001). Concentrations of ECT and TCT increased for all species as they matured from vegetative to seed maturity, except for sainfoin where the vegetative stage had the highest ECT and TCT levels. The highest mean ECT and TCT concentrations for purple prairie clover and white prairie clover were found in the inflorescences part at flowering stage, while sainfoin had the highest ECT and TCT concentrations in the leaves at vegetative stage. There was little variation for PCT among different phenological stages in whole plant for species except for purple prairie clover and white prairie clover which had higher (P<0.05) PCT at seed maturity than at flowering stage. Only trace amounts of FCT were detected from either whole plant or different fractions of all plant species, except Canadian milkvetch. Condensed tannins were not observed in Canadian milkvetch except for trace amounts in the seed coat at seed maturity stage. The results demonstrate that legumes differ in their condensed tannin content which could potentially be used in pasture management.

Yam bean (Pachyrhizus erosus (L.) Urban) is an underutilised tuberous legume crop which has great potential as a food crop. As a root crop, it produces high yields and as a legume, it can produce protein‐rich food. The phenological growth stages of yam bean are first described here using BBCH (Biologische Bundesanstalt, Bundessortenamnt and Chemische Industrie) scale. We have developed a basic and extended numerical BBCH scale for the identification of different phenological growth stages of yam bean. All phenological stages, including germination (stage 0), leaf development (stage 1), formation of side shoots (stage 2), stem elongation (stage 3), tuber formation (stage 4), inflorescence emergence (stage 5), flowering (stage 6), development of pods (stage 7), ripening of pods (stage 8) and senescence (stage 9) are described using the BBCH scale. This BBCH phenological study in yam bean will be helpful for better crop management, crop improvement and characterisation of germplasm. This scale will also be useful for the yield enhancement of this crop as an emerging underutilised tuber crop.

The phenological growth stages of various species of monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants can be uniformly coded using the Biologische Bundesanstalt, Bundessortenamt, und Chemische Industrie (BBCH) scale. The aim of the present study was to determine the duration of different phenological stages and the temperature requirements of the sugar-apple, Annona squamosa, during two crop cycles in the semiarid region of Brazil. Phenological stages were divided into eight of ten possible principal stages: (0) bud development, (1) leaf development, (3) shoot/branch development, (5) inflorescence emergence, (6) flowering, (7) fruit development, (8) fruit maturity and (9) senescence and the beginning of dormancy. The phenological cycle of the sugar-apple from having closed leaf buds to the fruit ripening stage lasted 149 and 164 days with temperature requirements of 1684.5 and 1786.7 degree days (DD) for the first and second crop cycles, respectively. The results provided important information that will inform the correct timing for crop management practices.

Phenological growth stages of pepino (Solanum muricatum) according to the BBCH scale

In-depth information on plant phenology of einkorn (Triticum monococcum L. subsp. monococcum) and emmer, (Triticum turgidum subsp. dicoccun (Schrank) Thell) germplasm is indispensable for better utilization of their available genetic resources as underutilized crops, especially under abiotic stress. Whereas; optimization of their phenology is one of the most effective strategies to achieve this goal as it is a key factor for crop adaptation under abiotic stress. The objectives of this study were to integrate quantitative phenotyping methods to describe and explain phenotypic and genotypic differences or similarities in phenological stages within vegetative and reproductive growth phases between einkorn and emmer germplasm; identify combinations of discriminating traits between einkorn and emmer germplasm at successive phenological growth stages; and estimate multivariate distances between einkorn and emmer germplasm based on their geographical sources and stage of genetic improvement. The evaluated germplasm represented a wide range of geographical origins in the Fertile Crescent of West Asia, East Africa, West and East Europe, and North America. The study developed a method for accurate estimation of synchrony and duration of phenological growth stages of the diverse germplasm; and presented a ‘sliding’ scale capable of discriminating between different ‘maturity classes’ of the species on the basis of five phenology indicators, vis: growing degree days in conjunction with plant height, normalized difference vegetative index, color space coordinates, and green gradient-based canopy segmentation. Reliable relationship was established between visual scoring and color measurements of plants based on digital images at different growth stages. This relationship may become useful for research and crop management in resource-limited areas. Accurate prediction of phenological growth stages of einkorn and emmer wheat is essential, not only for ideotype development through simulation and modeling of weather and management effects, but also to help establish a cottage industry to benefit small-scale farmers, and to improve and maintain high-quality end products from these underutilized wheat genetic resources.

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the process of parameters such as mean temperature; total precipitation on phenology and phenological stages of apple golden type in Razavi Khorasan. For this reason, long-term data of absolute minimum daily temperature, precipitation, humidity, as well as Digital Elevation Model (DEM) was used. After collecting data on phenology and Growing Degree Days (GDD) for golden apple, to pass each phenological stage at different growth stages, the start and end dates, phenological stages of the locations were identified. Then, regression equations with variable longitude, latitude and altitude on SPSS software at level of 50% and 95%, respectively were used, and finally phenological stages and spatial distribution maps of temperature and precipitation variables based on these equations were drawn in ARC GIS software. The analysis of the phenological stages showed that Torbate Heydarieh station has a decreasing trend which is significant at 1% in all stages of phenology and Ghoochan station does not show any significant increase or decrease trend at all stages of phenology.

Goatsrue is a member of the Fabaceae family, native to Europe and western Asia. It contains the toxic alkaloid galegine. The objective of the study was to describe galegine concentration in aboveground goatsrue plant parts and total galegine pools over phenological growth stages. Twenty goatsrue plants at four locations were selected and a stalk was harvested from each at five stages of phenological development and separated into parts. Plant parts were freeze-dried, ground, and analyzed with liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. Galegine concentration was significantly different in plant tissues; reproductive tissues had the highest levels of galegine (7 mg g−1), followed by leaf (4 mg g−1) and finally stem (1 mg g−1) tissues. Galegine concentration and pools varied over plant tissues and phenological growth stages. Galegine pools (dry weight by concentration) or the total amount of galegine per stalk were lowest at the vegetative growth stage (2 mg stalk−1) and increased until reaching a maximum at the immature pod stage (91 mg stalk−1). The pools decreased nearly in half (48 mg stalk−1) by the mature seed stage. Like galegine pools, galegine concentration also reached a maximum at the immature pod stage (4 mg g−1), and decreased by nearly half by the mature seed stage (2 mg g−1). The increased levels of galegine pools at immature pod stage corresponds with the time of meadow hay harvest, implying that goatsrue is potentially most toxic at the phenological stage when it is likely to be harvested as a contaminant in meadow hay.

Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni) is a perennial crop belonging to the Asteraceae family. Its main agronomic and industrial interest is the accumulation in its leaves of steviol glycosides (SG), natural acaloric sweeteners which are 300 times sweeter than sucrose. In order to expand phenotyping knowledge on this emerging crop, researchers and breeders need a universal scale to describe the development of this plant. The objective of this study was to describe the phenological growth stages of stevia through the use of the Biologische Bundesanstalt Bundessortenamt and Chemical Industry (BBCH) scale to provide a standard scale for stevia grown under temperate conditions of production and climate. The observation of phenological stages was performed on genetic resources and validated on stevia progenies grown in field conditions. The 10 phenological stages, namely germination, bud development, foliar development, side shoots appearance, stems elongation, development of harvestable part of the crop, inflorescence emergence, flowering, development of fruit, seeds ripening and senescence, were used to describe the stevia, supplemented with pictures. The chronology and duration of each stage were also observed and described according to the accumulation of degree days during the growing season. This study presents the first BBCH scale established for S. rebaudiana cultivated in temperate conditions and a chronology of phenological stages based on the accumulation of thermal time, through growing degree day calculation (°C/day). This work provides a tool that can be widely used by farmers, breeders and researchers leading to better agronomic management and scientific communication.

Background and objective: Temperature based agro-meteorological indices such as growing degree days and helio thermal unit have been reported quite useful to predict the growth and yield of crops. The efficiency of converting heat and radiation energy to dry matter depends on the genetic factors, sowing date and crop type. Hence, the knowledge of calculation heat thermal summation unit, mostly called the growing degree days and its further mathematical derivations like helio thermal unit and heat and radiation use efficiency will be the basic prerequisite of phenology periods and optimum planting date for different crop varieties. In spite of much researches have been done about onion in country, no paper have already published related to study the agro-meteorological indices at phonological stages of this crop. This experiment was conducted to study the effect of planting date on agro-meteorological indices at phenological stages and yield of Behbahan bred onion. Materials and methods: This research was conducted in randomized complete block deign including four planting dates from 6 September to 21 Octobers with 15 days interval contain four replications at Behbahan Agriculture Research Station for two years (2014-16). In this experiment studied genotype was Behbahan bred onion. Seedlings were transplanted (at two or three leaf stage). Fertilizers were applied based on soil analysis results according the recommendation of Soil and Water Research Institute.Time of bulbing was estimated based on bulbing ratio and cumulative sums. Agro-meteorological indices including growth degree days, helio thermal unit and photo thermal index were calculated at seed germinations, vegetative growth and bulbing and bulb development stages. Bulbs were harvested when 50-80% of foliage top had fallen and collapse. Statistical analysis was performed using MSTATC software and mean comparisons were also performed using Duncan’s multiple range test at P≤0.05. Results: The lowest duration between plant to seedling emergence and minimum growth degree days at seed germination stage were appointed to planting date at 6th September. The maximum photo thermal index during seed germination stage belonged to 21st September and 6th Octeber planting dates in the first and second year of experiment, respectively. The maximum growth degree days and helio thermal unit during transplant production belonged to 21st September planting date as well as with delaying planting date these indices decreased. The differences of obtained growth degree day in all studied planting dates were not considerable in plant growth period (Except of sowing date at 6th October in the first year) during two years. The highest yield, thermal use efficiency and helio thermal ones were recorded for 6th and 21st September planting dates in the first and second year, respectively. Reduction of growth and development of bulb in sowing date at 21st October and being exposed to high temperature at the late of this stage led to produce the lowest yield at this planting date. Conclusion: According to the results, the best planting date is 21st September for Behbahan bred onion and delaying sowing date caused in yield reduction.