USPP5619P - Chrysanthemum plant named Tan - Google Patents

Abstract

A chrysanthemum plant known by the cultivar name Tan and particularly characterized as to uniqueness by the combined characteristics of flat capitulum form; daisy capitulum type; greyed orange ray floret color; diameter across face of capitulum ranging from 5 to 6.25 cm. at maturity; uniform eight week flowering response; medium plant height; semi-spreading branching pattern; and tolerance of both low winter 13° C. to 21° C. and high summer 18° C. to 32° C. temperatures for bud initiation and flower development.

Description

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., named Tan.

Tan is a product of a planned breeding program which had the objective of creating new chrysanthemum cultivars for pinched spray pot mum programs having daisy capitulum type, orange floret color, eight week flowering response and the ability to produce commercially acceptable quality in year round programs. Such traits in combination were not present or required improvements in previously available commercial cultivars.

Tan was originated from a cross made in a controlled breeding program in Salinas, Calif. in 1979. The female parent was Sunny Mandalay, disclosed by U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,231 and originated by the present inventor as a mutation from Yellow Mandalay. The male parent of Tan was an unnamed seedling identified as 79029004, originated from a cross between Mandarin, unpatented, commercially available and an unnamed seedling identified as 71078021.

Tan was discovered and selected as one flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross by William E. Duffett in June 1980 in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Tan was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in October 1980 in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif. by a technician working under formulations established and supervised by William E. Duffett. Horticultural examination of selected units initiated October 1981 has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for Tan are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

Tan has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity and day length. The observations, measurements and comparisons describe plants grown in Salinas, Calif. and Leamington, Ontario, Canada under greenhouse conditions which approximate those generally used in commercial practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics of Tan which in combination distinguish this chrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar:

(1) Flat capitulum form.

(2) Daisy capitulum type.

(3) Greyed orange ray floret color.

(4) Diameter across face of capitulum ranging from 5 to 6.25 cm. at maturity.

(5) Uniform eight week photoperiodic flowering response to short days.

(6) Medium plant height (requiring 2 long day weeks prior to pinch and short days, and 1 to 2 applications of 2500 ppm B-9 SP, the first at 14, the second at 21 days after the beginning of short days to attain a flowered plant height of 25 to 35 cm. in 6" pots).

(7) Semi-spreading branching pattern.

(8) Tolerance of low winter 13° C. to 21° C. temperatures.

(9) Tolerance of high summer 18° C. to 32° C. temperatures.

The accompanying photographic drawings depict typical leaf and inflorescence characteristics of Tan. Sheet 1 is a color photograph of a plant of Tan grown as a pinched spray pot mum, with colors being as accurate as possible with renditions of this type. Sheet 2 is a black and white photograph of three views of the inflorescence of Tan. Sheet 3 shows the leaves of Tan in three stages of growth (mature, intermediate, immature).

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the most similar in comparison to Tan is Cirbronze, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,492. Reference is made to attached Chart A which compares certain characteristics of Tan to those same characteristics of Cirbronze.

Similar traits are the capitulum form, type and diameter, plant height and branching pattern. Tan has a faster response time, a lighter, greyed orange ray floret color, and its tolerance of lower temperatures results in more uniform flowering.

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart. The color values were determined between 4:00 P.M. and 4:30 P.M. on Oct. 26, 1983 under 150 foot-candle light intensity at Salinas, Calif.

Classification:

Botanical.--Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat. cv Tan.

Commercial.--Daisy spray pot mum.

I. Inflorescence:

A. Capitulum.--Form: Flat. Type: Daisy. Diameter Across Face: 5 to 6.25 cm.

B. Corolla of ray florets.--Color (General tonality from a distance of three meters): Greyed Orange. Color (abaxial): 169 B-C oxidizing to between 22A and 23 A. Color (adaxial): 163 B-C suffused with 163A. Shape: Oblong, rounded tip.

C. Corolla of disc florets.--Color (mature): 1A. Color (immature): 154A.

D. Reproductive organs.--Androecium: Present disc florets only; moderate pollen. Gynoecium: Present both ray and disc florets.

II. Plant:

A. General appearance.--Height: Medium. Branching Pattern: Spreading.

B. Foliage.--Color (abaxial): 147A. Color (adaxial): 137C. Shape: Shallow lobed. Smooth with minimum serration.

              CHART A                                                     
______________________________________                                    
COMPARISON OF TAN AND CIRBRONZE                                           
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           RAY FLORET    CAPITULUM                                        
CULTIVAR   COLOR         FORM AND TYPE                                    
______________________________________                                    
TAN        GREYED        FLAT                                             
           ORANGE        DAISY                                            
CIRBRONZE  MEDIUM        FLAT                                             
           BRONZE        DAISY                                            
______________________________________                                    
                         DIAMETER                                         
           BRANCHING     ACROSS FACE OF                                   
CULTIVAR   PATTERN       CAPITULUM                                        
______________________________________                                    
TAN        SEMI-         5 to 6.25 cm.                                    
           SPREADING                                                      
CIRBRONZE  SEMI-         5.5 to 7.5 cm.                                   
           SPREADING                                                      
______________________________________                                    
                    FLOW-                                                 
                    ERING                                                 
          PLANT     RESPONSE   TEMPERATURE                                
CULTIVAR  HEIGHT    PERIOD     TOLERANCE                                  
______________________________________                                    
TAN       MEDIUM    8 WEEK     13° C. to 21° C.             
          25 to                UNIFORM                                    
          35 cm.               18° C. to 32° C.             
                               UNIFORM                                    
CIRBRONZE MEDIUM    9 WEEK     13° C. to 21° C.             
          30 to                UNEVEN                                     
          45 cm.               18° C. to 32° C.             
                               UNIFORM                                    
                               COLOR DULLS                                
______________________________________                                    
COMPARISONS MADE OF PLANTS GROWN AS                                       
PINCHED SPRAY POT MUMS IN SALINAS,                                        
CALIFORNIA AND LEAMINGTON, ONTARIO, CANADA                                
______________________________________                                    

Claims (1)

I claim:

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., plant named Tan, as described and illustrated, and particularly characterized as to uniqueness by the combined characteristics of flat capitulum form; daisy capitulum type; greyed orange ray floret color; diameter across face of capitulum ranging from 5 to 6.25 cm. at maturity; uniform eight week flowering response; medium plant height; semi-spreading branching pattern; and tolerance of both low winter 13° C. to 21° C. and high summer 18° C. to 32° C. temperatures for bud initiation and flower development.

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