BBCH-scale (rice)


The BBCH-scale identifies the phenological development stages of rice Oryza sativa. It is a plant species specific version of the BBCH-scale.
Growth stageCodeDescription
0: Germination00Dry seed
0: Germination01Beginning of seed imbibition
0: Germination03Seed imbibition complete
0: Germination05Radicle emerged from caryopsis
0: Germination06Radicle elongated, root hairs and/or side roots visible
0: Germination07Coleoptile emerged from caryopsis
0: Germination09Imperfect leaf emerges at the tip of the coleoptile
1: Leaf development1, 210Imperfect leaf unrolled, tip of first true leaf visible
1: Leaf development1, 211First leaf unfolded
1: Leaf development1, 2122 leaves unfolded
1: Leaf development1, 2133 leaves unfolded
1: Leaf development1, 21.Stages continuous till...
1: Leaf development1, 2199 or more leaves unfolded
2: Tillering321Beginning of tillering: first tiller detectable
2: Tillering3222 tillers detectable
2: Tillering3233 tillers detectable
2: Tillering32.Stages continuous till...
2: Tillering329Maximum number of tillers detectable
3: Stem elongation330Panicle initiation or green ring stage: chlorophyll accumulates in the stem tissue, forming a green ring
3: Stem elongation332Panicle formation: panicle 1–2 mm in length
3: Stem elongation334Internode elongation or jointing stage: internodes begin to elongate, panicle more than 2 mm long
3: Stem elongation337Flag leaf just visible, still rolled, panicle moving upwards
3: Stem elongation339Flag leaf stage: flag leaf unfolded, collar regions of flag leaf and penultimate leaf aligned
4: Booting41Early boot stage: upper part of stem slightly thickened, sheath of flag leaf about 5 cm out of penultimate leaf sheath
4: Booting43Mid boot stage: sheath of flag leaf 5–10 cm out of the penultimate leaf sheath
4: Booting45Late boot stage: flag leaf sheath swollen, sheath of flag leaf more than 10 cm out of penultimate leaf sheath
4: Booting47Flag leaf sheath opening
4: Booting49Flag leaf sheath open
5: Inflorescence emergence, heading451Beginning of panicle emergence: tip of inflorescence emerged from sheath
5: Inflorescence emergence, heading45220% of panicle emerged
5: Inflorescence emergence, heading45330% of panicle emerged
5: Inflorescence emergence, heading45440% of panicle emerged
5: Inflorescence emergence, heading455Middle of panicle emergence: neck node still in sheath
5: Inflorescence emergence, heading45660% of panicle emerged
5: Inflorescence emergence, heading45770% of panicle emerged
5: Inflorescence emergence, heading45880% of panicle emerged
5: Inflorescence emergence, heading459End of panicle emergence: neck node level with the flag leaf auricle, anthers not yet visible
6: Flowering, anthesis61Beginning of flowering: anthers visible at top of panicle
6: Flowering, anthesis65Full flowering: anthers visible on most spikelets
6: Flowering, anthesis69End of flowering: all spikelets have completed flowering but some dehydrated anthers may remain
7: Development of fruit71Watery ripe: first grains have reached half their final size
7: Development of fruit73Early milk
7: Development of fruit75Medium milk: grain content milky
7: Development of fruit77Late milk
8: Ripening83Early dough
8: Ripening85Soft dough: grain content soft but dry, fingernail impression not held, grains and glumes still green
8: Ripening87Hard dough: grain content solid, fingernail impression held
8: Ripening89Fully ripe: grain hard, difficult to divide with thumbnail
9: Senescence92Over-ripe: grain very hard, cannot be dented by thumbnail
9: Senescence97Plant dead and collapsing
9: Senescence99Harvested product

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 or 30
3 If stem elongation begins before the end of tillering continue with stage 30
4 Flowering usually starts before stage 55; continue with principal stage 6