This document summarizes a phenological monitoring project of selected horticultural fruit tree crops conducted from 2015-2020. The objectives were to standardize phenological monitoring methods, evaluate tree phenology response to climate change, and evaluate best management practices. Selected trees included Bael, Jackfruit, Jamun, and Tamarind. Phenological stages were recorded using a modified BBCH scale. Weather data and tree phenology including leafing, flowering, and fruiting were documented. Analysis of tree canopy growth using image software was also presented.

1. Phenological Monitoring of Selected
Horticultural Fruit Tree Crops
ICAR Research Complex for Eastern Region
Research Centre Ranchi
Project Code: ICAR-RCER/RC Ranchi/2015
PI : Sridhar Gutam
Project duration: Sept. 2015 to August, 2020
Station IRC 2016
18-19, July 2016

2. Objectives
 Standardization of phenological monitoring
methods to track tree phenology of
horticultural fruit crops.
 To evaluate the response of tree phenology of
horticultural fruit crops to changing climate.
 To evaluate the best management practice for
manipulation of the climate change effect on
horticultural fruit crops.
2
Station IRC 2016 18-19, July 2016

3. Selected Fruit Trees
 Bael (Aegle marmelos)
 Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus)
 Jamun (Syzygium cumini) and
 Tamarind (Tamarindus indica)
18-19, July 2016Station IRC 2016
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4. Technical Programme (2015)
Objectives Activity Start End Output
Standardization
of phenological
monitoring
methods to track
tree phenology of
horticultural fruit
crops
Designing the experiment with the
help of published methods for
phenological monitoring of tree
species.
09/15 11/15 Standardised protocol
for data recording on
all aspects of tree
phenology
Daily recording of weather
parameters of the experiment
location.
09/15 09/20 Weather parameters
database
To evaluate the
response of tree
phenology to
changing climate
Periodic recording of phenological
observations.
12/15 12/20 Leafing, flowering and
fruiting dates of trees
Periodic testing of stem C:N ratios 12/15 12/20 Season & tree wise
C:N ratio
Perioidc ‘Ionomics’ - measurement
of the total elemental composition
of tree branches.
12/15 12/20 Tree Ionomics
Annual data analysis and
interpretation
12/15 12/20 Processed data and
Publications
18-19, July 2016Station IRC 2016
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5. Salient findings5
Station IRC 2016 18-19, July 2016

6. Weather @ RCER Ranchi
Station IRC 2016
6
18-19, July 2016
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26-Dec
Minimum Temperature (°c) Maximum Temperature (°c) Accumulative Precipitation (mm)
Source: http://www.awhere.com/products/weather-awhere

7. 18-19, July 2016Station IRC 2016
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Min.Temp.(°c)2015 Min.Temp.(°c)2016 Min.Temp.(°c)Avg2008-16
Max.Temp.(°c)2015 Max.Temp.(°c)2016 Max.Temp.(°c)Avg2008-16

8. Weather @ RCER Ranchi
Year Attribute
Min. Temp.
(°c)
Max. Temp.
(°c)
Precip.
(mm) Min. RH (%)
Max. RH
(%)
Solar Rad.
(wh/m2)
2015 Average 19.14 30.66 4.02 45.49 87.21 4688.36
2016 Average 20.09 32.96 3.12 36.82 83.34 5238.67
2015 Count 365 365 365 365 365 365
2016 Count 203 203 203 203 203 203
2015 Max 27.78 42.23 111.4 83.44 100 7235.77
2016 Max 27.27 42.3 92.66 79.28 100 7210.55
2015 Min 5.17 19.34 0 12.93 49.6 2139.26
2016 Min 6.35 18.03 0 6.97 29.03 2105.77
2015 StdDev 5.5 4.57 12.01 15.19 8.15 1131.73
2016 StdDev 5.58 5.32 8.95 16.29 12.55 1200.42
18-19, July 2016Station IRC 2016
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9. BBCh Scale (Extended/Modified)
 BBCH-scale - to identify
the phenological development stages.
 BBCH officially stands for
"Biologische Bundesanstalt, Bundessortenamt
und CHemische Industrie".
 The abbreviation unofficially represents
Bayer, BASF, Ciba-Geigy and Hoechst.
18-19, July 2016Station IRC 2016
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Source: Wikipedia

10. BBCH scales for Plants
18-19, July 2016Station IRC 2016
10
Source: Wikipedia

11. BBCH (Scale Proposed)
Growth stage Code Description
0: Sprouting/ Bud
development
00 Dormancy: leaf buds and the thicker inflorescence buds
closed and covered by dark brown scales
01 Beginning of bud swelling
03 End of bud swelling: green scales slightly separated
07 Beginning of bud burst
09 Green leaf tips visible
1: Leaf development 10 First leaves separating: green scales slightly open, leaves
emerging
11 First leaves visible
15 More leaves visible, not yet at full size
19 First leaves fully expanded
18-19, July 2016Station IRC 2016
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12. BBCH (Scale Proposed)
Growth stage Code Description
3: Shoot development 31 Beginning of shoot growth: axes of developing shoots visible
32 Shoots about 20% of final length
39 Shoots about 90% of final length
5: Inflorescence
emergence
51 Inflorescence buds swelling: buds closed, light green scales
visible
53 Bud burst: scales separated, floral tips visible
55 Flowers visible, still closed
56 Flower petals elongating; sepals covering half corolla (white
bud)
57 Sepals open: petal tips visible; flowers with white or purplish
petals, still closed
59 Most flowers with petals forming a hollow ball
18-19, July 2016Station IRC 2016
12

13. BBCH (Scale Proposed)
Growth stage Code Description
6: Flowering 60 First flowers open
61 Beginning of flowering: about 10% of flowers open
62 About 20% of flowers open
63 About 30% of flowers open
64 About 40% of flowers open
65 Full flowering: 50% of flowers open; first petals falling
67 Flowers fading: majority of petals fallen
69 End of flowering: all petals fallen
18-19, July 2016Station IRC 2016
13

14. BBCH (Scale Proposed)
Growth stage Code Description
7: Development of
fruit
71 Fruit set; beginning of ovary growth;
72 Green fruit surrounded by sepal crown
73 Some fruits slightly yellow: beginning of physiological fruit
drop
74 Fruits about 40% of final size. Dark green fruit: end of
physiological fruit drop
75 Fruit about half final size
76 Fruit about 60% final size
77 Fruit about 70% final size
78 Fruit about 80% final size
79 Fruits about 90% of final size
18-19, July 2016Station IRC 2016
14

15. BBCH (Scale Proposed)
Growth stage Code Description
8: Maturity of fruit 81 Beginning of fruit colouring (colour-break)
83 Colouring advanced
85 Fruit ripe for picking
89 Fruit ripe for consumption: fruit have typical taste and
firmness
9: Senescence, beginning of
dormancy
91 Shoot growth complete; foliage fully green
92 Leaves begin to discolour
93 Beginning of senescence and abscission of old
leaves
95 50% of leaves discoloured
97 All leaves fallen
99 Harvested product
18-19, July 2016Station IRC 2016
15

16. Bael (Aegle marmelos)
18-19, July 2016Station IRC 2016
16
10 11
19

17. Bael (Aegle marmelos)
18-19, July 2016Station IRC 2016
17
71 74 7572
51 52 53 57

18. Bael (Aegle marmelos)
Date Phenophases Percent
Population
Trees
30/10/2015 Fruiting 100%
22/12/2015 Leafing (Copper Leaf) 60%
08/03/2016 Leafing (Green), Fruiting (Mature) 80%
25/04/2016 Leafing (New Fresh Growth Green),
Inflorescence – Tiny Bud
100%
26/04/2016 Flowering Opening, Leafing (20% New
Fresh Green Leaves)
100%
05/05/2016 Leafing (50% New Fresh Green Leaves) 100%
08/06/2016 Leafing (100% New Fresh Green Leaves) 100%
13/07/2016 Fruiting (Developing), Leafing (100% Fully
Developed Green Leaves)
100%
18-19, July 2016Station IRC 2016
18

19. Bael Flowering Trees
Obs. Tree No. Inflorescence Remarks
1 Yes Flower Buds
2 Yes Flower Buds, Flower Opening
3 Yes Flower Buds
4 Yes Flower Buds
5 Yes Flower Buds
18-19, July 2016Station IRC 2016
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20. Bael Tree Canopy (Leaf Growth) – Pixel
Analysis by ImageJ Software
18-19, July 2016Station IRC 2016
20
05-05-2016 08-06-2016 13-07-2016
Mean StdDev Mean StdDev Mean StdDev
136.56 58.156 106.482 83.405 128.257 92.384
108.079 69.098 107.031 43.88 97.22 75.922
124.552 66.242 103.048 76.825 104.217 42.451
104.571 59.545 139.284 88.184 115.664 75.407
117.605 66.26 99.001 53.005 105.267 52.031

21. Jamun (Syzygium cumini)
18-19, July 2016Station IRC 2016
21
11th June 2016
4th May 2016
31
73 74 79
726960

22. Jamun (Syzygium cumini)
Date Phenophases Percent of Population
04/05/2016 Flowering 100%
Fruit Set (Fertilised Ovary,
Fallen Petals, Anthers),
100%
Fruiting (Green) 100%
Fruiting (Purple) 100%
Fruiting (Black) 100%
04/06/2016 Fruiting (Ripened, Black) 100%
18-19, July 2016Station IRC 2016
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23. Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus)
Date Phenophases
06/01/2016 Fruiting (Developing)
04/06/2016 Fruiting (Ripen Fruits)
18-19, July 2016Station IRC 2016
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24. Tamarind (Tamarindus indica)
18-19, July 2016Station IRC 2016
24
31 32 39
50 51 54 55

25. Tamarind (Tamarindus indica)
18-19, July 2016Station IRC 2016
25
60 6968 71
72 79 91

26. Tamarind (Tamarindus indica)
Date Phenophases
03/09/2015 Leafing (100% Fully Developed Green Leaves), Fruiting
11/09/2015 Leafing (Emergence on Old Wood), Fruiting
21/09/2015 Leafing (100% Fully Developed Green Leaves), Fruiting
28/09/2015 Leafing (100% Fully Developed Green Leaves), Fruiting
12/01/2016 Leafing (Emergence on Old Wood)
30/03/2016 Senescence (Yellow Leaves)
25/04/2016 Leafing (New Fresh Growth Leaves), Flower Bud
05/05/2016 Leafing (100% Fully Developed New Fresh Growth Green
Leaves), Flowering
13/07/2016 Leafing (New), Leafing (100% Fully Developed New Fresh
Growth Green Leaves), Flowering, Fruit Development
18-19, July 2016Station IRC 2016
26

27. Tamarind Phenology 9/6/2016
Obs.
No.
New Leaf
Length
(cm)
Mature Leaf
Length (cm)
No. of
Flowering
Panicles
Buds/
Panicle
Flowers/
Panicle
30 18 15 3 8 2
49 24 15.5 0 0 0
47 24 16.2 0 0 0
43 18.4 11.5 0 0 0
40 21 30 0 0 0
45 13 18.5 0 0 0
49 26.5 15 1 7 2
42 16 16 2 15 2
39 23 18 0 0 0
38 24 15 0 0 0
18-19, July 2016Station IRC 2016
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28. Tamarind Phenology 9/6/2016
Obs.
No.
New Leaf
Length
(cm)
Mature Leaf
Length (cm)
No. of
Flowering
Panicles
Buds/
Panicle
Flowers/
Panicle
33 21.2 22.2 5 12 3
34 25.3 19.8 5 22 2
28 17 16.5 3 14 1
29 40 18.5 2 8 3
17 26 25.5 2 6 1
18 28 23 4 8 2
14 17.5 14 2 8 0
16 23 14 0 0 0
8 12.5 10 0 0 0
4 12.5 10 0 0 0
18-19, July 2016Station IRC 2016
28

29. Mango (Mangifera indica)
Variety/Tree Number Date Phenophases (BBCH Scale)
IB/928 Swarnarekha 22/12/2015 514, 517
IB/885 Vanraj 22/12/2015 517
IB/741 Bangalora 22/12/2015 517
IB/895 Kesar 22/12/2015 315
IB/778 vanraj 02/01/2016 517
IB/767 Zardalu 30/03/2016 619
IB/807 Fazali 30/03/2016 701
Jardalu 21/04/2016 615, 800
Amrapali 21/04/2016 800
18-19, July 2016Station IRC 2016
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30. Other Tree Crops
Fruit Tree Date Phenophases
Cashew 25/04/2016 Flowering, Fruiting
Plum 04/03/2016 Leafing, Flowering (100%)
30/03/2016 Leafing (100%), Fruiting (Green)
21/04/2016 Leafing (100%), Fruiting (Orange)
Citrus 08/03/2016 Flower Buds, Flower Opening
30/03/2016 Flower Buds, Flower Opening, Fertilized Ovary
Guava 01/11/2014 Flowering, Leafing (Old Leaves)
30/03/2016 Leafing (New Fresh Leaf Growth), Flower Bud
13/07/2016 Flowering, Leafing (New Leaves)
Peach 12/11/2014 Flowering
30/10/2015 Leafing
30/03/2016 Leafing (Bud), Fruiting
18-19, July 2016Station IRC 2016
30

31. Other Tree Crops
Fruit Tree Date Phenophases
Pear 30/03/2016 Leafing (Fully Developed Green Leaves), Flowering,
Fruit Set
Pomegranate 30/03/2016 Leafing (Fully Developed Green Leaves)
26/05/2016 Flowering
Sapota 30/03/2016 Leafing (Fully Developed Green Leaves), Flower
Bud, Flower Opening, Fruit Set, Fruit (Development)
Teak 09/07/2016 Flowering
Bamboo 14/01/2016 Flowering (Ranchi)
03/03/2016 Flowering (Bundu)
18-19, July 2016Station IRC 2016
31

32. Pear (Pyrus sp.) Phenology

33. Technical Programme (2016)
Objectives Activity Start End Output
Standardization
of phenological
monitoring
methods to track
tree phenology of
horticultural fruit
crops
Designing the experiment with the
help of published methods for
phenological monitoring of tree
species.
09/15 11/15 Standardised protocol
for data recording on
all aspects of tree
phenology
Daily recording of weather
parameters of the experiment
location.
09/15 09/20 Weather parameters
database
To evaluate the
response of tree
phenology to
changing climate
Periodic recording of phenological
observations.
12/15 12/20 Leafing, flowering and
fruiting dates of trees
Periodic testing of stem C:N ratios 12/15 12/20 Season & tree wise
C:N ratio
Perioidc ‘Ionomics’ - measurement
of the total elemental composition
of tree branches.
12/15 12/20 Tree Ionomics
Annual data analysis and
interpretation
12/15 12/20 Processed data and
Publications
18-19, July 2016Station IRC 2016
33

34. THANK YOU
ICAR Research Complex for Eastern Region
Research Centre Ranchi
34
18-19, July 2016