USPP28732P3

USPP28732P3 - Catharanthus plant named ‘Suncathamiho’

Info

Publication number: USPP28732P3
Application number: US14/121,585
Authority: US
Inventors: Masahiro Yamada
Original assignee: Suntory Flowers Ltd
Current assignee: Suntory Flowers Ltd
Priority date: 2013-09-20
Filing date: 2014-09-19
Publication date: 2017-12-05
Also published as: US20150089699P1

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a new and distinct variety of Catharanthus plant having vigorous, upright plant characteristics, abundant branching, especially basally branching, developed from the base of the plant throughout the growing season, great profusion of single, pale pink flowers, the whole bush remaining in bloom for a considerable period of time and deeply bitten petals, shaped of hastate, incurvated.

Description

Botanical designation: Catharanthus roseus.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Suncathamiho’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Catharanthus plant, which is hereinafter referred to by the name of ‘Suncathamiho’.

Catharanthus roseus, which is also known as Vinca rosea, is a very popular plant that is used for flower bedding and potting in the summer and autumn season.

The purpose of this invention is to obtain a new Catharanthus cultivar having vigorous, upright plant characteristics, abundant branching, especially basally branching, developed from the base of the plant throughout the growing season, great profusion of single, pale pink flowers, the whole bush remaining in bloom for a considerable period of time and irregularity incised petals, shaped of hastate, incurvated.

The new Catharanthus plant was originated from a cross-pollination of the female parent ‘MC21-15’ and the male parent ‘MC21-P-2’. The female parent ‘MC21-15’ (unpatented) used in the crossing of ‘Suncathamiho’ is a strain of applicant's breeding lines (i.e., proprietary Catharanthus roseus selection), having white petals, and the male parent ‘MC21-P-2’ (unpatented) used in the crossing of ‘Suncathamiho’ is a strain of applicant's breeding lines (i.e., proprietary Catharanthus roseus selection), having rotund petal shape. The cross-pollination was conducted in August, 2011 at Yame-gun, Fukuoka, Japan.

In February 2012, the seedlings obtained by the crossing were planted in field, and some seedlings were selected in view of growth habit, flower size and color thereof. In August 2012, the stem tip culturing was carried out, and then the propagation was started.

In July 2013, the cultivation of the seedlings was repeated. The botanical characteristics of that plant were then examined, using similar varieties ‘Milk crown blushing pink’ and ‘Daiichi-MC21-25’ for comparison. As a result, it was concluded that this Catharanthus plant is distinguishable from any other variety, whose existence is currently known, and is uniform and stable in its characteristics.

The new variety of Catharanthus roseus plant is named ‘Suncathamiho’.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This new variety is unlike any Catharanthus plants commercially available as evidenced by the following unique combinations of characteristics.

- 1. Vigorous, upright plant characteristics.
- 2. Abundant branching, especially basally branching, developed from the base of the plant throughout the growing season.
- 3. Great profusion of single, pale pink flowers, the whole bush remaining in bloom for a considerable period of time.
- 4. irregularly incised petals, shaped of hastate, incurvated.

The new variety ‘Suncathamiho’ differs from the similar variety ‘Milk crown blushing pink’, which was applied for Japanese plant variety protection (the application number: 23662; the application date: 2009 Apr. 2; the registration number 21019; the registration date: 2011 Sep. 8), in the following points.

- 1. The petals overlap of ‘Suncathamiho’ is contacting. That of ‘Milk crown blushing pink’ is separating.
- 2. The secondary color of surface of corolla lobe of ‘Suncathamiho’ is brilliant purplish pink (RHS 62B). That of ‘Milk crown blushing pink’ is RED-PURPLE (RHS 61C).

The new variety ‘Suncathamiho’ differs from the similar variety ‘Daiichi-MC21-25’, which was applied for Japanese plant variety protection (the application number: 26287; the application date: 2011 Sep. 8; the registration number 22599; the registration date: 2013 Jul. 29), in the following points.

- 1. The main color of surface of corolla lobe of ‘Suncathamiho’ is pale pink (RHS 62D). That of ‘MC21-25’ is purple (RHS N80B).
- 2. The leaf size (L×W) of ‘Suncathamiho’ is 51 mm×23.3 mm. The leaf size of ‘Daiichi-MC21-25’ is 60 mm×33 mm.
- 3. The flower eye of ‘Suncathamiho’ is absent. That of ‘Daiichi-MC21-25’ is present.

This new variety of Catharanthus plant ‘Suncathamiho’ was asexially reproduced by the use of cuttings at Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, and homogeneity and stability thereof were confirmed. The instant plant retains its distinctive characteristics and produces true to type in successive generations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The depicted plants had been reproduced by the use of cuttings and were photographed during October 2013 while growing outdoors in wall pots with about 15 cm of container size at an age of approximately 6 months.

The second sheet is a photograph of a typical plant of the new variety of Catharanthus plant ‘Suncathamiho’ while growing in a pot.

The first sheet is a photograph of a close view of flowers of the new variety of Catharanthus plant ‘Suncathamiho’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In October 2013, the cultivation of the seedlings was repeated at Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The average day temperature was about 25° C., and the average night temperature was about 15° C. The plants were grown under natural sunlight. The number of days to flowering (response time) was about 3 to 4 weeks. The keeping quality was about 180 days. The plants had temperature resistance to about 5° C. (the lowest temperature) and about 35 to 40° C. (the highest temperature). Further, the plants had the same tolerance to pests and pathogens as a typical Catharanthus plant.

For the parentage information: The female parent ‘MC21-15’ (unpatented) used in the crossing of ‘Suncathamiho’ is a strain of applicant's breeding lines (i.e., proprietary Catharanthus roseus selection), having white petals, and the male parent ‘MC21-P-2’ (unpatented) used in the crossing of ‘Suncathamiho’ is a strain of applicant's breeding lines (i.e., proprietary Catharanthus roseus selection), having rotund petal shape.

For the propagation information: the new cultivar was propagated by cutting; the number of days to initiate roots during the summer was about two weeks; approximate soil and/or air temperature during the summer was around 30° C.; the number of days to initiate roots during the winter was about three weeks; approximate soil and/or air temperature during the winter was around 25° C.; the number of days to produce a rooted young plant during the summer was about five weeks; the number of days to produce a rooted young plant during the winter was about six weeks; root density was moderate; root branching was free; root color was white; and root texture was fibrous.

The botanical characteristics of the new and distinct variety of Catharanthus plant named ‘Suncathamiho’ at an age of approximately 4 months are shown in the following Table. In the following description, the color-coding is in accordance with the Horticultural Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England (R.H.S. Colour Chart The 5th edition 2007).

PLANT VARIETY DESCRIPTION

	APPLICATION
	VARIETY
CHARACTERISTIC	Suncathamiho

ANNUAL, BIENNIAL or PERENNIAL?	Grown as annual.
TYPE OF PLANT: i.e., TREE, SHRUB,	Potted plant
SUBSHRUB, VINE, CUT FLOWER, POTTED
PLANT
APPROPRIATE CONTAINERS +/or	Ideal for pots, hanging
CROPPING SYSTEM	baskets.
GROWTH HABIT	Upright
PLANT HEIGHT	About 25.0 cm
PLANT DIAMETER OR AREA OF SPREAD	About 25.0 cm
PLANT VIGOR	Vigorous
BRANCHING HABIT	Freely branching
BASAL BRANCHING?	Present
PINCHING REQUIRED?	Not required.
NUMBER OF LATERAL BRANCHES	About 5
NUMBER OF SECONDARY LATERAL	About 4
BRANCHES
LATERAL BRANCH LENGTH	About 17.3 cm
LATERAL BRANCH DIAMETER	About 3.9 mm
INTERNODE LENGTH	About 19.9 mm
STEM ASPECT	Upright to outward
STEM COLOR (and bark color, if applicable)	RHS Near 144D
STEM COLOR (if any)	RHS Near 51D
STEM PUBESCENCE?	Absent
OTHER PLANT/STEM CHARACTERISTICS	—
LEAF ARRANGEMENT	Opposite
COMPOUND OR SIMPLE?	Simple
QUANTITY OF LEAVES PER LATERAL	About 13
BRANCH
LEAF (LEAFLET) SHAPE	Elliptic
LEAF (LEAFLET) TIP	Acute
LEAF (LEAFLET) BASE	Obtuse
LEAF LENGTH	About 51.0 mm
LEAF WIDTH	About 23.3 mm
LEAF THICKNESS	About 0.3 mm
LEAF (LEAFLET) TEXTURE	Pubescent, both sides
LEAF PUBESCENCE? WHICH SIDE?	Present
LEAF (LEAFLET) MARGIN	Entire
VENATION PATTERN	Reticulate venation
LEAF COLOR, YOUNG, UPPER SIDE	RHS Near 1373
LEAF COLOR, YOUNG, UNDER SIDE	RHS Near 137D
LEAF COLOR, MATURE, UPPER SIDE	RHS Near 143A to
	143C
LEAF COLOR, MATURE, UNDER SIDE	RHS Near 137B
VENATION COLOR, UPPER SIDE	RHS Near 137D
VENATION COLOR, UNDER SIDE	RHS Near 142D
VARIEGATION?	Absent
PETIOLE?	Present
PETIOLE LENGTH	About 9.1 mm
PETIOLE DIAMETER	About 1.6 mm
PETIOLE TEXTURE	Pubescent
PETIOLE COLOR	RHS Near 145B
OTHER FOLIAGE CHARACTERISTICS	—
FLOWER ARRANGEMENT	Borne in upper leaf
	axils.
INFLORESCENCE TYPE OR FORM	Solitary
(if applicable)
QUANTITY OF FLOWERS PER PLANT	About 50
FLOWER TYPE or FORM	Single
FLOWERING HABIT	Continuously
NATURAL FLOWERING SEASON	Early summer to late
	autumn
TIME TO FLOWER OR RESPONSE TIME	About 2~3 weeks
FRAGRANCE	Absent
FLOWER BUD LENGTH	About 35.4 mm
FLOWER BUD DIAMETER	About 5.9 mm
FLOWER BUD SHAPE	Clavate
FLOWER BUD COLOR	RHS Near 19C
FLOWER ASPECT; i.e., UPRIGHT,	Upright
OUTWARD, DROOPING, etc.
FLOWER PARACOROLLA	Absent
FLOWER DIAMETER	About 36.7 mm
FLOWER DEPTH (HEIGHT)	About 38.3 mm
FLOWER LONGEVITY ON PLANT	About 2~3 days
PERSISTENT OR SELF-CLEANING?	Not persistent.
PETAL TEXTURE, UPPER SURFACE	Smooth
PETAL TEXTURE, LOWER SURFACE	Smooth
TUBE TEXTURE	Smooth, slightly
	pubescent
PETAL ARRANGEMENT	Free
PETAL NUMBER	5
PETALS FUSED?	Fused
PETAL SHAPE	Hastate
PETAL MARGIN	Absent
PETAL SHAPE, SYMMETRY OR	Asymmetry
ASYMMETRY?
PETAL TIP	irregularly incised
PETAL BASE	Fused
PETAL LENGTH	About 20.8 mm
PETAL WIDTH	About 12.1 mm
PETAL COLOR, WHEN OPENING,	RHS Near 62D
UPPER SIDE
PETAL COLOR, WHEN OPENING,	RHS Near 65D
LOWER SIDE
PETAL COLOR, FULLY OPENED,	RHS Near 62D
UPPER SIDE
PETAL COLOR, FULLY OPENED,	RHS Near 65D
LOWER SIDE
PETAL SECONDARY COLOR,	RHS Near 62B
UPPER SIDE
DISTRIBUTION OF PETAL	Gradating from base
SECONDARY COLOR, UPPER SIDE	to mid-section.
RATE OF PETAL SECONDARY	Few
COLOR, UPPER SIDE
FLOWER EYE	Absent
FLOWER EYE DIAMETER	—
FLOWER EYE COLOR	—
RECEPTACLE	Present
RECEPTACLE COLOR	RHS Near 3C
TUBE DIAMETER	About 1.8 mm
TUBE LENGTH	About 26.2 mm
THROAT COLOR (inside)	RHS Near 145C
TUBE COLOR (outside)	RHS Near 145A to
	145B Base: with
	anthocyanin
	pigmentation
SEPAL ARRANGEMENT	Single whorl
NUMBER OF SEPALS	5
SEPAL SHAPE	Linear-triangular
SEPAL MARGIN	Entire
SEPAL TIP	Acute
SEPAL BASE	Fused
SEPAL LENGTH	About 3.3 mm
SEPAL WIDTH	About 1.1 mm
SEPAL COLOR, IMMATURE, UPPER SIDE	RHS Near 144A
SEPAL COLOR, IMMATURE, UNDER	RHS Near 144A
SIDE
SEPAL COLOR, MATURE, UPPER SIDE	RHS Near 144A
SEPAL COLOR, MATURE, UNDER SIDE	RHS Near 144A
CALYX SHAPE	Star shape
CALYX LENGTH	About 4.5 mm
CALYX DIAMETER	About 5.1 mm
PEDUNCLE LENGTH	About 3.5 mm
PEDUNCLE DIAMETER	About 1.6 mm
PEDUNCLE ANGLE	Upright
PEDUNCLE TEXTURE	Smooth
PEDUNCLE COLOR	RHS Near 144C
STAMEN NUMBER	5
STAMEN LENGTH	About 2.6 mm
ANTHER SHAPE	Narrow elliptic
ANTHER SIZE (L)	About 2.5 mm
ANTHER SIZE (W)	About 1.1 mm
ANTHER COLOR	RHS Near 8D
AMOUNT OF POLLEN	Few
POLLEN COLOR	RHS Near 4D
PISTIL NUMBER	1
PISTIL LENGTH	About 17.7 mm
STIGMA SHAPE	Transversely
	ellipsoidal
STIGMA COLOR	RHS Near 145A
STYLE COLOR	RHS Near 145C
OVARY COLOR	RHS Near 145B
OTHER FLOWER CHARACTERISTICS	—
QUANTITY OF SEEDS	Seed production has
	not been observed.
ROOT STRUCTURES such as BULBS,	Fibrous root
CORMS or RHIZOMES?
LOW TEMPERATURE TOLERANCE	Around 5° C.
HIGH TEMPERATURE TOLERANCE	Around 35° C.~40° C.
DISEASE RESISTANCE AND/OR	Normal
SUSCEPTIBILITY
RESISTANCE OF PESTS AND/OR	Normal
SUSCEPTIBILITY

This new variety of Catharanthus plant having the above botanical characteristics is suitable for flower bedding and potting, particularly in hanging pots or planters.

Claims

What is claimed:

1. A new and distinct variety of Catharanthus plant named ‘Suncathamiho’, substantially as herein illustrated and described.