Protocol for the Assessment of Key Growth Stages

Protocol G&D17-21(Updated October 2015)

AHDB Recommended List

Special Growth & Development plots

Protocol

This protocol was believed to comply with relevant agrochemical, environmental and other regulations at the time of writing but it is the responsibility of the contractor to ensure that it continues to comply. In the event of non-compliance the protocol should not be followed but the Technical Manager should be notified at once of how the protocol requirements would breach regulations.

Any deviation from this protocol other than under the circumstances described above may result in a breach of contract and should be agreed in advance.

AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds, STONELEIGH PARK, KENILWORTH, WARWICKSHIRE, CV8 2TL

Part 1 - General information

1.1 RL Team contact details

Headquarters postal address: RL Project Consortium, AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds, Stoneleigh Park, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8 2TL

Huntingdon office address: Ashton House, Ambury Road South, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, PE29 3EH

Workbooks and all other data should be e-mailed to

RL Trials Coordinator(Primary technical contact)

Mark BollebakkerTel: 01480 482989 (Huntingdon office)

Mobile: 07972 637899

E mail:

Field operations team leader (Technical contact)

Sean BurnsTel: 01480 482584 (Huntingdon office)

Mobile: 07773639936

E mail:

RL & Agronomy Trials Data Analyst(Primary contact: workbooks and data handling)

Beatrice ReyTel: 01480 482987

E mail:

RL & Agronomy Trials Data Analyst(Primary contact: workbooks and data handling)

Dr Bastiaan BrakTel: 02476 478868

E mail:

RL & Agronomy Trials Data Analyst (Primary contact: for purchase orders, invoices etc.)

Tara Ross / Tel: 024 76478744
Mobile:07816171863
E mail:

RL Data Analysis and Reports Manager

Jane Ryall / Tel: 01480 482982
Mobile:07805 820243
E mail:

Technical Manager

Bill Handley / Tel: 01954 232071
Mobile:07743 195581
E-mail:

Senior Research & Knowledge Transfer Manager

Dr Simon Oxley / Tel: 02476 478866
Mobile:07779 330853
E mail:

AHDB Recommended List trials – Growth & Development plots

Protocol

This protocol is specific to Growth & Development plots but should be used in conjunction with the main trial protocol for cereals “Protocol – CER17-21 - AHDB Cereals trials.doc”

Centres: / Two.
Trials: / Winter wheat.
Sowing dates /

‘Early sowing’: End August very early September
‘Middle sowing’: Late September
‘Late sowing’: Early November

Varieties / The full RL sowing list should be sown at all three sowing dates. Since the new RL sowing list will not have been determined by thetime of the ‘early’ sowing, all of the previous year’s NL2 varieties will also be sown but only those NL2 varieties that are promoted into RL trials as candidates will subsequently be recorded.Two spring wheat varieties will also be included in the sowing list for the late sowing.
Reps: / One per sowing date.
Plots size / Drilled plot or single rows sufficient to give enough material for the assessments below. Plant populations to be at or below that specified in the RL protocol.
Treatment / Agrochemicals should be used as appropriate for a commercial crop to promote ‘normal’ growth and to keep the plots substantially free of lodging, disease and weeds.
Assessments: / 1. Date of emergence. Note the date on which the crop is ‘brairding’ – i.e. the point at emergence at which the rows can clearly be seen. This will help determine whether growth and development has influenced by delayed emergence due, for example, to drought.
2. Date when stages GS 31, GS 39 and GS 61 are reached.

Protocol for the assessment of key growth stages

DATE WHEN GS 31 REACHED
Ten plants should be sampled at random from a discard area of the plot. The main stem of each plant should be separated from the secondary tillers and the leaf sheath pulled back to the base of the plant and removed. If the distance between the plant base and the first (and only) node is greater than 1 cm the plant should be counted as being at GS 31.
A variety should be counted as being at GS 31 if 6 or more stems of the 10 examined are recorded as being at that stage. All varieties must be recorded in this way with the process repeated on subsequent visits until a date of reaching GS 31 has been recorded for all varieties.
DATE WHEN GS 39 REACHED
Ten plants to be examined per variety at random. If the flag leaf ligule or collar is visible the plant should be counted as being at GS 39.
A variety should be counted as being at GS 39 if 6 or more stems of the 10 examined are at that stage. These assessments should be repeated on subsequent visits until a date of reaching GS 39 has been recorded for all varieties.
DATE WHEN GS 61 REACHED
Ten plants to be examined per variety at random. If anthers are present on the ear the plant should be counted as being at GS 61.
A variety should be counted as being at GS 61 if 6 or more stems of the 10 examined are at that stage These assessments should be repeated on subsequent visits until a date of reaching GS 61 has been recorded for all varieties.
DATE WHEN GS 91 REACHED
Ten plants to be examined per variety at random. Inspect the grain in the middle third of the ear and if hard (difficult to divide by thumb-nail) the plant should be counted as being at GS 91. A variety should be counted as being at GS 91 if 6 or more stems of the 10 examined are at that stage. These assessments should be repeated on subsequent visits until a date of reaching GS 91 has been recorded for all varieties.

The data produced will be stored and used as Days to GS 31 / GS 39 / GS 61 / GS91.