Phenological growth stages of the cherimoya tree (Annona cherimola Mill.)

Detailed crop-specific descriptions and codes are presented for the growth stages of the cherimoya tree, contributing to the standardization of national and international testing systems in fruit growing. Based on the general BBCH-scale, the codes describe growth stages using a two-digit numerical system and differentiate between principal and secondary growth stages to allow separation of developmental steps. Growth stages for bud, leaf and shoot development, inflorescence emergence, flowering and fruit development were described. A feature of the system is that homologous stages of different crops are presented by the same codes. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.