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

- Pepino (Solanum muricatum) is morphologically and developmentally different from major Solanaceae crops.
- We describe a two-digit and a three-digit BBCH-based phenological scale for pepino.
- The proposed BBCH scale for pepino uses nine principal growth stages.
- We provide a detailed description of phenological stages of pepino together with illustrations.
- The pepino BBCH scale has proved useful to detect differences among varieties for relevant traits.

The pepino (Solanum muricatum) is a solanaceous vegetatively propagated fruit crop of Andean origin. We provide a detailed description of phenological stages because it is of interest for pepino crop management and research. Given the increasing prominence of this crop, and the fact that it morphologically and developmentally variable, and different from other major solanaceous crops, we have developed a pepino specific BBCH (Biologische Bundesanstalt, Bundessortenamt, CHemische Industrie) numerical scale. Nine principal stages are described for germination/rooting, leaf development, formation of side shoots, main shoot elongation, inflorescence emergence, flowering, development of fruit, ripening of fruit and seed, and senescence. Secondary stages (two-digit scale) have been identified for all principal stages. Complementary descriptions using mesostages (three-digit scale) have been developed for leaf development, formation of side shoots, inflorescence emergence, and flowering phenological stages. A description of all phenological stages combined with illustrations is provided. The utility of the BBCH scale has been validated by comparing several traits of agronomic interest at specific developmental stages in a collection of pepino local varieties, modern cultivars and wild relatives. The BBCH scale developed provides uniform criteria for the description, identification and selection of phenological stages of the pepino and will facilitate the management, breeding and conservation of genetic resources of this crop.