Functions which predict rate of leaf emergence and final number of leaves, used in a model to predict the date at which growth stages occur, were tested in an experiment on winter wheat cv. Mercia grown with standardized husbandry at six sites in 1992/93, 1993/94 and 1994/95. A study of the number of detectable nodes on the culm and leaf length was also made.

The predicted rate of leaf emergence was mostly within 5% of the observed value. The difference between observed and predicted final number of leaves was mostly less than half a leaf but suspected errors in leaf counts resulted in some differences of more than two leaves.

Variable extension of the basal internode impaired confidence in the detection of nodes. The mean number of detectable nodes differed significantly among sites and between seasons from 3·7 to 4·8 but could not be related to sowing date or final number of leaves. Further information on factors affecting extension of the basal internode is desirable to standardize node detection and improve prediction of culm leaf appearance.

Culm leaves showed successively longer laminae up to the penultimate leaf. There was a significant relationship between length of the flag leaf and the final number of leaves, but it was positive in 1993/94 and negative in 1994/95. This may have been due to greater water stress in 1994/95.