Poinsettia plant named ‘QS-86’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Poinsettia plant named ‘QS-86’, characterized by its compact, upright and uniformly mounding plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; early response time; large and full inflorescences with numerous creamy white-colored flower bracts; and excellent post-production longevity.

Description

Botanical designation: Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd.

Cultivar denomination: ‘QS-86’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR/APPLICANT & ASSIGNEE

An European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Assignee of the instant application, Graff Breeding A/S of Sabro, Denmark on Jan. 26, 2023, application number 2023/0252. Foreign priority is not claimed to this European Plant Breeder's Rights application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Poinsettia plant, botanically known as Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘QS-86’.

The new Poinsettia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Sabro, Denmark. The objective of the breeding program is to create uniform and freely-branching Poinsettia plants with attractive inflorescences and good postproduction longevity.

The new Poinsettia plant originated from an open-pollination in August, 2020 in Sabro, Denmark of a proprietary selection of Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. identified as code number P-2012-0205, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with unidentified proprietary selection of Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Poinsettia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated open-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Sabro, Denmark in May, 2021.

Asexual reproduction of the new Poinsettia plant by terminal vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Sabro, Denmark since September, 2021 has shown that the unique features of this new Poinsettia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Poinsettia have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘QS-86’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘QS-86’ as a new and distinct Poinsettia plant:

• • 1. Compact, upright and uniformly mounding plant habit.
  • 2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.
  • 3. Freely branching habit.
  • 4. Dark green-colored leaves.
  • 5. Early response time.
  • 6. Large and full inflorescences with numerous creamy white-colored flower bracts.
  • 7. Excellent post-production longevity.

Plants of the new Poinsettia can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Poinsettia differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in flower bract aspect as flower bracts of plants of the new Poinsettia are undulate whereas flower bracts of plants of the female parent selection are flat and not undulate. In addition, cyathia of plants of the new Poinsettia do not have any stamens whereas cyathia of plants of the female parent selection have stamens.

Plants of the new Poinsettia can also be compared to plants of Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. ‘LAZZPO1319’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,243. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Poinsettia differ primarily from plants of ‘LAZZPO1319’ in the following characteristics:

• • 1. Plants of the new Poinsettia flower earlier than plants of ‘LAZZPO1319’.
  • 2. Flower bracts of plants of the new Poinsettia are whiter than and not as yellow as flower bracts of plants of ‘LAZZPO1319’.
  • 3. Cyathia of plants of the new Poinsettia do not have stamens whereas cyathia of plants of ‘LAZZPO1319’ have stamens.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Poinsettia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Poinsettia plant.

The photograph on the left side of the first sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘QS-86’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the right side of the first sheet (FIG. 2) is a top perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘QS-86’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet (FIG. 3) is a close-up view of the flower bracts and cyathia of the new Poinsettia.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet (FIG. 4) is a close-up view of the upper (left) and lower (right) surfaces of typical leaves of the new Poinsettia.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the winter in 13-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Sabro, Denmark and under cultural practices typical of commercial Poinsettia production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 18 C, night temperatures ranged from 16 C to 18 C and light levels ranged from 40 to 50 klux. Plants were pinched one time eight weeks after planting and plants were 25 weeks old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

• Botanical classification: Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. ‘QS-86’.
• Parentage:
  • • Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. identified as code number P-2012-0205, not patented.
    • Male, or pollen, parent.—Unidentified selection of Euphorbia pulcherrima Wild., not patented.
• Propagation:
  • • Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.
    • Time to initiate roots, summer.—About three weeks at ambient and substrate temperatures about 24 C.
    • Time to initiate roots, winter.—About four weeks at ambient and substrate temperatures about 24 C.
    • Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About eight weeks at ambient and substrate temperatures about 24 C.
    • Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About ten weeks at ambient and substrate temperatures about 24 C.
    • Root description.—Medium in thickness, fleshy; color, close to 161D, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of roots.
    • Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.
• Plant description:
  • • Plant and growth habit.—Compact, upright and uniformly mounded plant habit; inverted triangle with rounded crown; large full inflorescences positioned above the foliar plane; moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate.
    • Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 15 cm to 25 cm.
    • Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 15 cm to 30 cm.
    • Plant diameter or spread.—About 25 cm to 40 cm.
    • Lateral branch description.—Branching habit: Freely branching habit, about three to five lateral branches develop after pinching each with about three to four secondary lateral branches. Length: About 15 cm to 25 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm to 8 mm. Internode length: About 1 cm to 4 cm. Strength: Strong. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy; becoming woody with subsequent development. Angle: Mostly upright to outwardly slanted. Color, developing: Close to 146B. Color, developed: Close to 137A; when woody, becoming closer to 199D.
    • Leaf description.—Arrangement and appearance: Alternate, simple. Length: About 10 cm to 15 cm. Width: About 7 cm to 11 cm. Shape: Rhomboid to ovate. Apex: Acuminate to caudate. Base: Rounded, obtuse. Margin: Lobed; sinuses are medium in depth and parallel. Venation pattern: Pinnate, reticulate. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; leathery; matte. Color: Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N189A; venation, close to 138B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to N138B; venation, close to 138B. Petioles: Length: About 5 cm to 8 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm to 4 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to 143C. Color, lower surface: Close to 147C.
• Inflorescence description:
  • • Inflorescence type and habit.—Large inflorescences are compound corymbs of cyathia with creamy white-colored flower bracts subtending the cyathia; one inflorescence per lateral branch with inflorescences positioned above and beyond the foliar plane.
    • Fragrance.—None detected.
    • Natural flowering season.—Plants flower naturally during the autumn and winter under long nyctoperiod conditions; inflorescence initiation and development can be induced under artificial long nyctoperiod conditions; early flowering habit, response time is about 7.5 weeks after start of long nyctoperiod conditions.
    • Post-production longevity.—Excellent post-production longevity; plants of the new Poinsettia maintain good substance and bract color for about six to eight weeks under interior conditions; flower bracts persistent.
    • Inflorescence diameter (including flower bracts).—About 25 cm to 35 cm.
    • Inflorescence height (including flower bracts).—About 4 cm to 6 cm.
    • Flower bracts.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 12 to 18. Length, largest bracts: About 15 cm to 16 cm. Width, largest bracts: About 11 cm to 14 cm. Shape: Rhomboid to ovate. Apex: Aristate. Base: Acute. Margin: Lobed. Venation: Pinnate. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Rugose, glabrous; matte. Aspect: Mostly horizontal to drooping; undulate. Color: Developing bracts, upper surface: Close to 1D. Developing bracts, lower surface: Close to 150D. Transitional bracts, upper surface: Close to 1C and 137A. Transitional bracts, lower surface: Close to 145C. Fully expanded bracts, upper surface: Close to 157A; color does not change with subsequent development. Fully expanded bracts, lower surface: Close to 150D; color does not change with subsequent development. Flower bract petioles: Length: About 5 mm to 30 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm to 3 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper surface: Close to 144B. Color, lower surface: Close to 144A.
    • Cyathia.—Quantity per corymb: About 5 to 15. Length: About 4 mm to 8 mm. Width: About 4 mm to 6 mm. Shape: Rounded to ovate. Texture, inner and outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, developing, inner surface: Close to 145A. Color, developing, outer surface: Close to 144A to 144B. Color, fully developed, inner surface: Close to 145A. Color, fully developed, outer surface: Close to 144A and towards the apex, close to N144A. Nectaries: Quantity per cyathium: Typically one. Length: About 2 mm to 4 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm to 5 mm. Shape: Fan-shaped. Texture, inner and outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When developing, inner and outer surfaces: Close to 1A. Fully developed, inner surface: Close to 15A. Fully developed, outer surface: Close to 15B.
    • Peduncles.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm to 5 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly upright. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy. Color: Close to 143C.
    • Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Stamen development has not been observed on plants of the new Poinsettia. Pistils: Quantity: If present, typically one. Pistil length: About 3 mm. Style length: About 3 mm. Style color: Close to 145B. Stigma diameter: About 5 mm. Stigma shape: Lobed. Stigma color: Close to 1B. Ovary color: Close to 143A.
    • Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have not been observed on plants of the new Poinsettia.
• Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Poinsettia have not been shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Poinsettia plants.
• Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Poinsettia have been observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 12 C to about 35 C.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Poinsettia plant named ‘QS-86’ as illustrated and described.