Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Kiko’
A Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Kiko’, which when grown as a disbud is characterized by large inflorescences, about 19 cm in diameter, with elongated quilled pink ray-florets, with response time of 56 days.
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‘Kiko’ is a product of a breeding-program which had the objective of creating new Chrysanthemum cultivars with a decorative type flower, a 8 week response and a medium plant height (1 m.). The new plant of the present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant. ‘Kiko’ is a seedling from a cross in a breeding program maintained under the control of inventor. The female parent is #98.0106-unpatented-, an unnamed seedling not available to inventor for description. The male parent is unknown, being a mixed population of a group of male parents. The new and distinct cultivar was discovered and selected as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross by Mark Roland Boeder in a controlled environment (greenhouse) in Rijsenhout Holland in 2001. The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Kiko’ was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken and propagated from the initial selection in 2001 in a controlled environment in Rijsenhout Holland.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is a new and distinct variety of Chrysanthemum bearing spectacularly large blooms with elongated quilled pink ray-florets.
The present invention of a new and distinct variety of Chrysanthemum is shown in the accompanying drawings, the color being as nearly true as possible with color photographs of this type.
This new variety of Chrysanthemum is of the botanical classification Chrysanthemum morifolium. The observations and measurements were gathered from plants grown in Rijsenhout Holland in a photo-periodic controlled crop under conditions generally used in commercial practice. The greenhouse temperatures during this crop were at day-time between 18° C. and 25° C. and at night 20° C. After a long day period of 14 days the photo-periodic response time in this crop was 56 days. After the long day period to flowering growth retardants were applied 2 to 3 times in an average dose of 2.5 gram/liter water. The plants were observed (directly) during the flowering of this crop. When slightly damaged during harvest, the ray florets have proven to be sensitive to botrytis. No tests were done on disease or insect resistance or susceptibility. No tests were done on cold or drought tolerance. This new variety produces large sized inflorescences with elongated quilled pink ray-florets blooming on the plant for 5 weeks. This new variety of Chrysanthemum has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics throughout successive propagations however the phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as light intensity and temperature. To show the phenotype as described ‘Kiko’ can be planted without assimilation lightning (high pressure sodium lamps) between week 4 and week 32 under greenhouse conditions in Holland. With assimilation light (minimum level 2500 lux) it can be planted year round under greenhouse conditions in Holland.
From the cultivars known to inventor the most similar existing cultivar in comparison to ‘Kiko’ is ‘Dance’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,941). When ‘Dance’ and ‘Kiko’ are being compared the following differences and similarities are noticed. Both ‘Dance’ and ‘Kiko’ are typically grown as disbud varieties, producing large sized blooms with elongated quilled ray florets. The differences of ‘Dance’ and ‘Kiko’ are (1) Size inflorescence. The size of the bloom of ‘Dance’ is smaller than that of ‘Kiko’. (2) Length ray floret. The ray florets of ‘Dance’ are shorter in length than those of ‘Kiko’. (3) Color ray florets. The ray florets of ‘Dance’ are purple colored, while those of ‘Kiko’ are pink.
The following is a description of the plant and characteristics that distinguish ‘Kiko’ as a new and distinct variety. The color designations are taken from the plant itself. Accordingly, any discrepancies between the color designations and the colors depicted in the photographs are due to photographic tolerances. The color chart used in this description is: The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, edition 1995.
Claims
1. A new and distinct variety of Chrysanthemum plant as described and illustrated.
Type: Grant
Filed: Feb 23, 2004
Date of Patent: Sep 13, 2005
Assignee: Chrysanthemum Breeders Association, N.V.
Inventor: Mark Roland Boeder (The Hague)
Primary Examiner: Anne Marie Grunberg
Attorney: Parkhurst & Wendel, L.L.P.
Application Number: 10/782,773