Table 2.

Spike sizes in relation to barley external stages

Stage	Spike size (cm)	Number of samples
31	0.52 ± 0.18	15
32	1.17 ± 0.54	30
33	2.46 ± 0.97	58
33.5	3.14 ± 0.72	28
34	3.90 ± 1.15	52
34.5 (35)	4.77 ± 0.89	15
37	6.11 ± 1.12	20
LFE1	7.14 ± 1.29	25
LFE2	9.38 ± 1.27	15
LFE3	9.19 ± 0.77	17

Stages 31–37 follow Zadoks decimal code (Zadoks et al., 1974). The later stages have been replaced by the last flag elongation (LFE) stages to provide a clear system for developmental staging linked to reproductive development. See also Fig. 3.