plant named ‘Suntabapapi’

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Nicotiana plant named ‘Suntabapapi’, characterized by its upright and bushy plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching and flowering plant habit; long flowering period; light violet-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Description

Botanical designation: Nicotiana×Sanderae.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SUNTABAPAPI’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Nicotiana plant, botanically known as Nicotiana×Sanderae and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Suntabapapi’.

The new Nicotiana plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The objective of the breeding program is to develop new upright, vigorous and freely-branching Nicotiana cultivars with attractive and unique flower coloration.

The new Nicotiana plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan in April, 2002 of a proprietary selection of Nicotiana×Sanderae identified as code number NC44-2, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Nicotiana×Sanderae identified as code number NC31-4, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Nicotiana was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan in September, 2003.

Asexual reproduction of the new Nicotiana plant by vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan since October, 2004, has shown that the unique features of this new Nicotiana plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Nicotiana have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature 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 ‘Suntabapapi’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Suntabapapi’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Nicotiana:

• • 1. Upright and bushy plant habit.
  • 2. Vigorous growth habit.
  • 3. Freely branching and flowering plant habit.
  • 4. Long flowering period.
  • 5. Light violet-colored flowers.
  • 6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Nicotiana can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Nicotiana differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

• • 1. Plants of the new Nicotiana are taller than plants of the female parent selection.
  • 2. Plants of the new Nicotiana and the female parent selection differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection have red-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Nicotiana can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Nicotiana differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in in the following characteristics:

• • 1. Plants of the new Nicotiana are taller than plants of the male parent selection.
  • 2. Plants of the new Nicotiana and the male parent selection differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection have white-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Nicotiana can also be compared to plants of Nicotiana ‘Perfume Red’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, plants of the new Nicotiana and ‘Perfume Red’ differed primarily in the following characteristics:

• • 1. Plants of the new Nicotiana were more vigorous and broader than plants of ‘Perfume Red’.
  • 2. Plants of the new Nicotiana were more freely branching than plants of ‘Perfume Red’.
  • 3. Plants of the new Nicotiana were more freely flowering than plants of ‘Perfume Red’.
  • 4. Plants of the new Nicotiana and ‘Perfume Red’ differed in flower color as plants of ‘Perfume Red’ had red to red purple-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Nicotiana, 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 Nicotiana.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Suntabapapi’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of typical flowers of ‘Suntabapapi’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in 15-cm containers in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, under commercial practice during the late summer in an outdoor nursery. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 25° C. and night temperatures averaged 20° C. Plants had been growing for four and five months when the description and photographs, respectively, were taken. In the following 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: Nicotiana×Sanderae ‘Suntabapapi’.
• Parentage:
  • • Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Nicotiana×Sanderae identified as code number NC44-2, not patented.
    • Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Nicotiana×Sanderae identified as code number NC31-4, not patented.
• Propagation:
  • • Type.—By vegetative cuttings.
    • Time to initiate roots.—About one week at 15° C. to 20° C.
    • Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About three weeks at 15° C. to 20° C.
    • Root description.—Fibrous; white in color.
    • Rooting habit.—Freely branching.
• Plant description:
  • • Plant and growth habit.—Upright and bushy plant habit; freely branching habit with numerous lateral branches developing per plant; pinching enhances lateral branch development; vigorous growth habit.
    • Plant height.—About 34.2 cm.
    • Plant diameter.—About 46 cm.
• Lateral branch description:
  • • Length.—About 25.8 cm.
    • Diameter.—About 3.4 mm.
    • Internode length.—About 2.1 cm.
    • Strength.—Strong.
    • Aspect.—Upright.
    • Texture.—Pubescent.
    • Color.—Close to 137A.
• Foliage description:
  • • Arrangement.—Alternate, simple; sessile.
    • Length.—About 12.6 cm.
    • Width.—About 4.7 cm.
    • Shape.—Ovate.
    • Apex.—Acute.
    • Base.—Truncate.
    • Margin.—Entire.
    • Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent.
    • Venation pattern.—Pinnate; reticulate.
    • Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A; venation, close to 144B. Developing and fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 137C; venation, close to 144B.
• Flower description:
  • • Flower arrangement and habit.—Single salverform flowers arising from upper leaf axils; freely flowering habit with usually about 66 open flowers per plant at one time; flowers face outwardly.
    • Fragrance.—None detected.
    • Natural flowering season.—Early flowering habit, plants of the new Nicotiana initiate and develop flowers about four weeks after planting. Long flowering period; flowering commences naturally during the late spring and plants flower continuously throughout the summer until late autumn in Japan.
    • Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about one week on the plant; flowers not persistent.
    • Flower diameter.—About 4 cm.
    • Flower length (depth).—About 4.5 cm.
    • Tube length.—About 3.8 cm.
    • Tube diameter.—About 4.6 mm.
    • Flower bud.—Shape: Cylindrical. Length: About 4.7 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm. Color: Towards the apex, close to 84B; towards the base, close to 145C.
    • Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and opening into a flared trumpet. Petal length from throat: About 2 cm. Petal width: About 1.8 cm. Petal shape: Ovate. Petal apex: Obtuse to rounded. Petal margin: Entire. Petal texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Throat texture: Smooth, glabrous. Tube texture: Pubescent. Color: Petal, when opening, upper surface: Close to 75A to 75B; midvein, close to N78A. Petal, when opening, lower surface: Close to 84B; midvein, close to N77B. Petal, fully opened, upper surface: Close to 84B to 84C; midvein, close to N78B. Petal, fully opened, lower surface: Close to 84C; midvein, close to N77B. Throat: Close to 145B. Tube: Close to 145B tinged with close to 60B.
    • Calyx.—Arrangement: One star-shaped calyx tube with five sepals fused at the base. Sepal length: About 5.5 mm. Sepal width: About 2.7 mm Sepal shape: Elliptic. Sepal apex: Rounded. Sepal margin: Entire; weakly undulate. Sepal texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, immature and mature, upper surface: Close to 146B. Color, immature and mature, lower surface: Close to 146B.
    • Peduncles.—Length: About 6 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm Angle: Upright to outward. Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 144A.
    • Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity/arrangement: Five per flower. Stamen length: About 2.2 cm. Anther shape: Ellipsoidal. Anther size: About 3 mm by 1.3 mm. Anther color: Close to N199A. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 155B. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Pistil length: About 3.3 mm. Style color: Close to 145C. Stigma shape: Transversely ellipsoidal. Stigma color: Close to 143A. Ovary color: Close to 144C. Seed/fruit: Seed and fruit development have not been observed on plants of the new Nicotiana.
• Garden performance: Plants of the new Nicotiana have been observed to have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain and temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 35° C.
• Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Nicotiana have not been observed to be resistant to pests and pathogens common to Nicotiana.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Nicotiana plant named ‘Suntabapapi’ as illustrated and described.